A trekking holiday in the Atlas Mountains allows you to walk through timeless Moroccan Berber villages and along dramatic scenic valleys overlooked by the towering peaks. You’ll be staying in the best possible lodges and boutique hotels, so each day, you will wake up with a smile on your face, ready for the day’s walking. You’ll experience the best of the Atlas Mountains; the Ouirgane Valley, Azzadan Valley, Imlil and Ourika Valley.
The trek itself takes you from the little-visited Ouirgane Valley to the village of Ait Aissa and onto Imlil. You well looked after by a team of guides and porters. Let us take you through it.
To begin with, fly to Marrakech. It’s undoubtedly worthwhile having a night or two to settle into the climate before your trek. Therefore, we suggest two nights in the lovely Dar Zemora. Here you can enjoy the pool and lush gardens before tucking into a fabulous dinner. Furthermore, we can arrange to explore the souks that are only 15 minutes away by car. Besides, we can tailor-made a whole range of experiences in Marrakech, from a culinary adventure or a hot-air balloon ride up over the Agafay Desert.
The following day, your private driver will pick you up and take you to the Ouirgane Valley. This scenic spot is in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and is known for its picturesque orchards and villages. The first day is a light acclimatisation trek, starting at Imi Oughlad (1,450m) to the hamlet of Tinzert for lunch before arriving at Marigha for the night (about 5-6 hours walking). You’ll stay at the lovely Domaine Malika, which even has a surprisingly beautiful pool to cool off.
The next day takes you to the Azzaden Valley with a picnic lunch en route. It’s a steady climb that takes 5-6 hours. You’ll stay at the lovely Azzaden Trekking Lodge. The third day of the trek is the longest, taking between 5-7 hours. You make a pass at 2,500m, and most importantly, it allows you some of the best views of the trek. Afterwards, you descend into Imlil, the iconic Atlas mountain village and a stay at Kasbah De Toubkal.
At this stage, we should say that for our more ardent walkers, we can arrange for a summit of Mount Toubkal, which would take 2-3 days between your stay at Azzadan Trekking Lodge and Kasbah De Toubkal.
From Imlil, there is an off-road track that takes you to the Ourika Valley. We suggest doing this in a 4×4 as it would be a further two-day hike, and you might be craving somewhere to put your feet up. Your solution comes in the shape of Kasbah Bab Ourika, complete with luxury rooms and a suitably inviting pool. Crack open a beer or a glass of wine and admire the views. You can set off on a leisurely walk into the nearby villages or relax as you have two days here.
Afterwards, return to Marrakech, and we suggest a final two nights at Berber Lodge. You might want to dip into Marrakech to do a little bit of shopping or to spend a few days relishing your walking accomplishments. Any element of this itinerary can be tweaked or altered. It’s all about tailor-making your perfect trekking holiday to Morocco.
