HIGHLIGHTS :
- Once the Atlas & Amazigh villages is under your belt, you will be driven to discover stunning scenery in the surrealism of Sahara. Here you will pass through an old fortified village known as Kasbah and an Amazighian castle. The Sahara region is arguably the most diverse of its landscapes and tastes and you will discover. Ride a camel in the dunes and stay overnight in a Berber tent.
OVERVIEW :
8-day Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert Comfort Tour: The perfect combination of high Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert trekking for those who want to experience the extremes of Morocco's climate. This itinerary gives you the opportunity to discover real Amazigh life and experience culture, traditions, heritage and panoramic views. tizi mezik and other paths make all the hard work worthwhile. You can stand and see the range of the mountains and get a first glimpse of the Sahara Desert trekking later in the tour.
DAILY TOUR :
DAY 1 : ARRIVAL. TRANSFER TO THE HIGHT ALTAS MOUNTAINS
Picked up from Marrakech Airport and travel to the small town of Imril in the Atlas Mountains. Spend your first night in a friendly family-run guesthouse.
DAY 2 : Imlil / Tizi n Mzik / Tizi Oussem
After breakfast, meet the guide and Aliero. After loading the bags, the mule and cook will set off together, pick the perfect picnic spot and start cooking for lunch. Your walk begins with a fairly stiff climb towards the Tizi n Mzik (2489m) pass, which offers dramatic mountain views. From here, the trail descends into the magnificent Azaden Valley, locally known as the Valley of Colors. A day of walking ends in the small village of Tizi Oussem in Belbe. Here, we spend the night at a glance. If you feel energetic, you can bypass the route a bit and include the D'Irhoulidene waterfall. This will take an extra 2 hours on foot, but it's worth the effort. About 4-5 hours on foot, 6-7 hours on foot including the waterfall. (749m up and 649m down)
DAY 3 : Tizi Oussem / Tinzert
After breakfast, walk through the Azaden Valley and past the traditional village of Mount Berber. The view behind you is the summit of the High Atlas, and the valley in front offers a beautiful view with a torrent mountain stream surrounded by lush walnut groves. When you get off, you will eventually enter the Wilgane National Park, a protected area of natural beauty. Tonight we will be staying in the rustic Amazigh village of Tinzart. About 5-6 hours on foot (640m down)
DAY 4 : Tinzert / Imi Oughlad / Imlil
Today is the calmest walking day. There are few steep uphills and downhills, so you can enjoy the Mediterranean scenery. Shepherds tend to keep goats in beautiful valleys dotted with juniper trees, rosemary and thyme. Walk towards Imi Oughlad for lunch before saying goodbye to the cook, guide (and mule). After lunch, you will be picked up and transferred to your accommodation in Imlil. There you can enjoy a hot shower and then enjoy afternoon relaxation. About 4 hours on foot (200m climb)
DAY 5 : Imlil / Tizi n Tichka / Ouarzazate / Dades Gorges
Pick up from your Imlil accommodation at 9am and drive across the Atlas Mountains to the stunning Tizi-n-Tichka pass. After passing through many Amazigh villages and entering the desert, you can see the barren hillsides dotted with riverside oasis and Kasbah (fortified dwellings for families and their livestock). Along the way, you can choose to take a break to visit the Ouarzazate movie studio or stop by for a hike. When you arrive at Dades Gorge, you can choose to go hiking or relax at the hotel. Overnight at Dades. (Total operating time 6 hours)
DAY 6 : Dades gorges / todghra Gorges / Merzouga
Breakfast at the hotel. Go from Dades Valley to Todra Gorge. This is a huge fault that divides the High Atlas Mountains, rising 300 meters in a narrow valley with palms and the village of Berber. Here you can go hiking and explore the palm trees, a green oasis full of large dates. After lunch, head to the desert, head to the gateway town of Merzouga, and pick up supplies for your desert trip. Next, drive to Kasbah to pick up camels. At sunset, trek for an hour and a half on a camel to the Bell Bell Camp, where you can enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner or sleep under the stars or in a desert camp tent. (Total operating time 6 hours)
DAY 7 : Merzouga / Alnif / Tazarine / draa valley / Ait benhaddou
Wake up to the desert sunrise and return to Kasbah with a camel. Then you have the chance to refresh and enjoy breakfast. After refreshing, drive out of the desert to Ait Benhaddou. It is an ancient fortified city, including a myriad of Kasbah, and has become the atmospheric subject of numerous Hollywood films (mummy, gladiator, Alexander, Lawrence of Arabia ...). You will have the opportunity to roam the building and explore with your guide. Overnight at a hotel near Ait Benhaddou. (Total operating time 5 to 6 hours)
DAY 8 : Ait benhaddou / Telouet Kasbah / Marrakech
Travel along the Ounira Valley to the crumbling Kasbah, True Kasbah, which was once an important stop for traders. Explore the Kasbah, and after lunch, cross the Tijinutika Pass and return to Marrakech (total driving time 4 hours).
INCLUDED / EXCLUDE :
- Transport from and back to Marrakech
- 2 Overnight in Dar Adrar or similar (Dinner & breakfast)
- English speaking guide, and cook (Mountain trek)
- 2 nights Accommodation in Villages Gites.
- Muleteers and mules for assistance (Mountain trek)
- Full board on trek + mineral water, coffee and tea (Mountain trek)
- 4x4 or Mini-bus during Desert tour
- 2 overnight in hôtels at Dades gorges & Ait Benhaddou (Dinner & breakfast)
- 1 overnight camping on Dunes at Erg Chebbi (Dinner & breakfast)
- Camel Ride on Dunes
- Equipment hire
- Soft drinks
- Snacks
- Tips
- Personal Expenses
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fee (Monuments visits)
You need to dress according to your altitude and the environment in which you are. Most hikers are in remote alpine climates. Therefore, there are often large temperature fluctuations. Temperatures are usually lower in the highlands.
- Equipments (Ask)
- Clothes (Ask)
- Electrical (Ask)
- Kit personal medical (Ask)
Trekking equipments list (required)
- Good walking boots and socks
- 3 to 4 season sleeping bag ( winter) or light Sleeping bag ( Summer)
- Lightweight fleece and waterproof outers (summer)
- Layers, windproof jacket, hat, gloves (autumn-late spring)
- Thermal underwear (autumn through late spring)
- Sunglasses.
- Walking stick (useful)
- Personal items e.g. towel, sunscreen, wipes, toilet tissues
- Small First Aid Kit including insect repellent, plasters, meds
- Small rubbish bag to carry out what you carry in.
- Lighter e.g. burn toilet paper
- Day sack/backpack
- Water bottle or camel back (recommended)
- Torch/Flashlight and spare batteries e.g. head torch
- Penknife (useful)
- Trail snacks
- Zip-Up bags for camera etc.
This itinerary is only our suggestion. Please get in touch with us at moroccoinspirations@gmail.com to discuss a more personalised itinerary to your exact requirements.
If the itineraries we offer do not match what you are looking for, do not hesitate to contact us and we will prepare the trip to your needs and requirements and price depending on the number of Travellers, Hotel category and season.
The capacity of our organization is limited to between 2 and 60 people, each group of 4 people takes a separate 4×4 for transfers.
Please note flights are not included. Prices are based on sharing a twin room. If you would like to upgrade to a private single room, this can easily be arrange for you, simply contact our customer experience team.
