The Mountains, The Desert, The Berber Villages & A Camel Ride
This a perfert combination of 4 days 4 nights Atlas Valley trek which will take you through the Azzaden valley and over nice mountain passes , Discover the daily life of the berbers and 4days 3nights desert tour .
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3 days Atlas Valley Trek : Trek over nice mountain passes, walk therough berber villages and long valley
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4days desert trip : will allow you to take enough time to visit lot of places on the way such as Ait Benhaddou kasbahs and drive long the dirt road of Assif n Ounilla and visit the famous Glaoui kasbah in Telouet which all the peoples who take 3 days /2 nights miss to do it.
This trek runs all year-round and can depart at any date of your preference.
We usually have several treks departing each week that you may join if you wish , please get in Touch!!
All of our Mountain treks ca be combined with some other tours either to the sahara desert, Imperial cities or to the Atlantic coast,
Pick Up & Drop Off
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech city, many riads does not have access by car so the driver will park nearby and come to get you.
You will be dropped off at the nearest point to your riad/hotel, our driver can call your riad to meet you if needed.
Route Details
Day 01
ARRIVAL. TRANSFER TO THE HIGHT ALTAS MOUNTAINS
You will be picked up from Marrakech airport and transferred to the small town of Imlil in
the Atlas Mountains. Your first night is spent in a friendly family run guesthouse.
Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Adrar
Transport (where relevant): Private transfer from the Airport to Imlil village
Day 02
Imlil – Tizi n Mzik –Tizi Oussem
After breakfast, you will meet your guide and muleteer. Once you have loaded up your bags, the mule and cook set off together, taking a head-start to pick a perfect picnic spot and start cooking your lunch. Your walk starts with a fairly stiff climb up towards the pass at Tizi n Mzik (2489m), which offers dramatic mountain views. From here, the trail descends down into the spectacular Azzadene valley, known locally as the valley of colour. Your day of walking ends in the small Berber village of Tizi Oussem where you will spend the night in a gite. If you’re feeling energetic, you can take a slight route detour to include the D’Irhoulidene waterfalls, this adds a couple of extra hours walking but is worth the effort. Approx. 4-5hours walking, 6-7 hours walking including the waterfalls. (749m ascent and ; 649m descent)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Village Gite
Transport (where relevant):
Day 03
Tizi Oussem – Tinzert
After breakfast you will set off walking through the Azzadene valley, passing traditional Berber mountain villages. The view behind you is of the peaks of the High Atlas, whilst the valley ahead offers beautiful scenery with a rushing mountain stream surrounded by lush walnut groves. As you descend you will eventually enter the Ouirgane National Park, a protected area of natural beauty. Tonight you stay in Tinzert, a rustic Berber village. Approx. 5-6 hours walking (640m descent)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Village Gite
Transport (where relevant):
Day 04
Tinzert – Imi Oughlad – Imlil
Today is the gentlest day of walking; there are fewer steep inclines and descents so you can really enjoy the Mediterranean-esque scenery. Shepherds tend to their goats amongst the pretty valleys dotted with juniper trees, rosemary and thyme. You will be walking towards Imi Oughlad where you will have lunch before saying goodbye to your cook, guide (and mule). After lunch, you will be picked up and driven to your accommodation in Imlil where you can enjoy a hot shower followed by an afternoon of relaxation. Approx. 4 hours walking (200m ascent)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Adrar
Transport (where relevant):
Day 05
Imlil - Tizi n Tichka – Ourzazate – Dades Gorges
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Imlil at 9.00am and head out over the Atlas Mountains, driving over the stunning Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass. You’ll pass through lots of Berber villages, and once you’re in the desert, you’ll see riverside oases and barren hillsides dotted with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house families and their livestock). Along the way, you will have the option either to take a break and visit the Ouarzazate Film Studios or stop for a hike. Once you reach Dades Gorge, you have the option of going for a hike, or relaxing at your hotel. Overnight in Dades. (Total driving time 6 hours)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Kasbah Dades or Hotel Babylon or Dar Essayaha.
Transport (where relevant):
Day 06
Dades gorges- todghra Gorges – Merzouga
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the Dades Valley to Todra Gorge - a massive fault dividing the High Atlas mountains, rising up 300 metres in a narrow valley with palmeries and Berber villages. Here, you can go for a hike to explore the palmery, a green oasis full of large date palms. After lunch you’ll head further into the desert to the gateway town of Merzouga to pick up supplies for your desert trip. You will then drive on to a kasbah to pick up your camel. At sunset, you’ll trek for
an hour-and-a-half by camel to a Berber camp where you will enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner, and sleep under the stars or in tents at a desert camp. (Total driving time 6hours )
Day 07
Ait Benhaddou - Marrakech
Wake to a desert sunrise and then return to the kasbah by camel. You will then have a chance to freshen up and enjoy a breakfast. Once you are refreshed, you will head out of the desert for a drive to Ait Benhaddou. This is an ancient fortified city containing countless kasbahs and has been the atmospheric subject of numerous hollywood movies (The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander, Lawrence of Arabia...) You will have the chance to walk around the buildings and explore with your guide. You will overnight in a hotel close to Ait Benhaddou. (Total driving time 5 - 6 hours)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Auberge Etoile filante or Hotel rose du Sable
Transport (where relevant): 4x4 or Mini-bus
Day 08
Ait benhaddou – Telouet Kasbah – Marrakech
Travel along the Ounilla Valley to the Telouet Kasbah, a crumbling kasbah that was once an important stop for traders. Explore the Kasbah and then after lunch, you will head back over the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass to Marrakech (Total driving time 4hours).
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
Transport (where relevant): 4x4 or Mini-bus
NB : This Program can be extend if time allowed to cover couple of nights in Marrakech & Essaouirra.
Note : Itinerary is just a guideline and subject to change to suit local condition.
Equipment
Please ensure you have packed all safety essentials. See the Equipment List here if you're unsure of what to bring. Our guides will conduct a final gear check in Imlil before we commence the ascent to the higher altitudes of the Toubkal massif.
Tour Rates
Flexible Pricing
Group 1 person : 1015€
Group 2 people : 620€/person
Group 3 people : 570€/person
Group 4 - 7 people : 510€/person
Group 8 - 12 people : 440€/person
What Is Included?
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All transport
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2 Overnight in Dar Adrar or similar (Dinner & breakfast)
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English speaking guide, and cook (Mountain trek)
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2 nights Accommodation in Villages Gites.
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Muleteers and mules for assistance (Mountain trek)
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Full board on trek + mineral water, coffee and tea (Mountain trek)
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4x4 or Mini-bus during Desert tour
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2 overnight in hôtels at Dades gorges & Ait Benhaddou (Dinner & breakfast)
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1overnight camping on Dunes at Erg Chebbi (Dinner & breakfast)
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Camel Ride on Dunes
What Is Not Included
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Travel insurance.
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Soft/alcoholic drinks
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Tips and personal expanses
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Lunches during the desert part.
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Entrance fee (Monuments visits)
Accommodation & Shelters
1st night At Dar Adrar or similar
2nd night in a Village gite
3rd night in a Village gite
4th night in Dar Adrar Guesthouse
5th night in a hotel At Dades gorges.
6th night camping on the dunes at Erg chebbi ( Nomadic tents)
7th night in a hotel at the Ait benhaddou Kasbahs.
Clothing & Essential Equipment
Essential Equipment
Can Be Hired From Us
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Good walking boots and socks / good trainers for valley treks
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Personnel First aid Kit
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3 to 4 season sleeping bag ( winter) or light Sleeping bag ( Summer)
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Lightweight waterproof over-trousers / rain-pants
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Water bottle or camel back (recommended)
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Soft-sided bag (50-80 litres)
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Lightweight daypack
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Sunglasses
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Sunscreen
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Torch and batteries
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Towel & all personal toiletries
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Most of those equipment can be rented locally from our equipment shop in Imlil:
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Walking boots : 5 €/day
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Sleeping bags : 2.5 €/day
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Rain Jackets : 3 €/day
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Walking Poles : 3 €/day/pair
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Back packs : 3€/day
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Ask us to see what we have
What Is Appropriate Attire In Morocco?
Morocco is a conservative and religious country, which means you always need to be mindful of your clothing choices. This is especially true in the country’s more rural areas, which include the Sahara Desert and its surrounding villages. As a general rule of thumb, you should always attempt to cover body parts considered “private”. For women, this means covering the arms (or at least the shoulders) and the knees up. For men, it requires covering up the shoulders and above the knee.
High Energy Meals
Meals on the trek are cooked by the Berber muleteers. The food is fresh and healthy. Example meals:
Breakfast: Jam, bread, cookies, fruit, juice, butter, coffee, milkLunch: salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, fish (sardines, tuna), seasonal fruit
Dinner: Soup, classic Morooccan tajine, couscous, olives, nuts, fruit
Can my dietary requirements be catered to?
Absolutely. Just let us know about your catering preferences when you confirm your booking to ensure any dietary requirements are met. Please remind as well your guide and cook on first day of the trek.
Start Your Journey
Ready to explore the Atlas Mountains? Reach out to us for detailed trek inquiries, tailor-made itineraries, or any questions about our Berber-led adventure tours.
Email: aztat.trek@gmail.com
Phone: +212 668-760165
Location: Imlil, Morocco
Personal baggage, cooking equipment and food are carried by the mules, leaving you to carry only a rucksack with whatever you need close at hand for the day. NB: Left luggage or unnecessary luggage can be left safely in our storage in Imlil till you come back from the trek.