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Complete Atlas Mountains Explorer |
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13 days / 12 nights - can be done in reverse (*see notes) |
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Cultural Tours Handcrafted in Morocco
Tour summary
A 13-day private tour with easy and moderate hiking and mule-trekking days that takes in all three ranges of the Atlas Mountains from the south west Anti-Atlas to the Middle Atlas in the north east. Discover the medinas of Taroudant, Marrakech and Fes, travel in 4x4 over the stunning Tizi n Test mountain pass across the High Atlas and through remote valleys, visit the 12th century Tin Mal mosque, enjoy day-hikes, Berber villages and picnics in the beautiful Ait Bougemez valley and the ancient cedar forests, near Azrou in the Middle Atlas Mountains. With easy-to-moderate hikes at a relaxed pace, incredible scenery, a choice of comfortable, characterful accommodation and local knowledgeable guides, this unique Atlas Mountains tour is ideal for couples, small groups, families and outdoor enthusiasts.
Or call us now on +212 (0)615 647918 (Morocco) or +44 (0)208 123 7969 (UK)
Please note: All our Morocco tours can be customised to allow extra days for shorter daily car journeys, extra activities, relaxation days, exploration days etc. We can also adapt tours to connect with different start/end locations in Morocco. Let us know your wishes and we will build your perfect Morocco tour itinerary.
Price: Contact us for a personalised quotation.
Prices will vary according to number of people travelling in vehicle, number of days, time of year, category of accommodation chosen and activities requested.
NB Our Morocco tours are private tours organised upon request.
Day-to-day tour itinerary
Day 1
Agadir/Marrakech - Taroudant
The tour starts from Agadir or Marrakech where we will pick you up in the morning from the airport or your hotel (as required). We drive directly to Taroudant (via motorway from Marrakech 3.5 hours and via main road from Agadir in 1.5 hours). Depending on your arrival time, you will enjoy a guided visit of Taroudant medina in the afternoon. During the visit, you will learn about the history of the city and visit the ‘Arab souk’ and the ‘Berber souk’ and also the tanneries. The rest of the day is free to relax and explore. Taroudant is a pleasant walled town offering opportunities to see local life in action and to explore the souks. Here, we are on the Souss River, whose fertile flood plains provide fresh produce for the whole region. Many of the crafts you will see practiced in the souks are not providing trinkets for tourists, but rather agricultural implements and tools for local farmers.
You stay in a choice of character accommodations ranging from a converted fruit-farm or luxury guest-house in the surrounding countryside or a boutique riad in the old medina.
N. B. If you have a late flight arrival into Marrakech or Agadir then we can make pre-tour accommodation arrangements for this night and you will travel to Taroudant the following morning. If we arrive too late for the guided visit of Taroudant, you may still have time to take a caleche (horse and carriage) around the city’s impressive walls as the sun sets. The guided visit can be moved to the morning of Day 2.
Stay: Boutique guest-house or traditional riad in Taroudant
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2
Taroudant - High Atlas hiking excursion
We set off in 4x4 with a local guide for a full day adventure into the outlying mountains surrounding Taroudant. After about an hours drive into the hills, we set off for easy/moderate trekking to a Berber village where you will have a typical Moroccan meal in a village home. You will see the stunning mountain scenery, fertile flood plains and the traditional way of Berber village life. The visit involves approx 3 hrs drive and 3 hrs trek
N.B. .If we were not able to complete the city visit on Day 1, we can do the 3hrs medina visit of markets, souks and ramparts this morning with our official local guide. The afternoon is then free to relax at hotel
Stay: Boutique guest-house or traditional riad
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch included on trekking excursion)
Day 3
Taroudant – Tizi n Test pass – Tin Mal – Imlil or Ouirgane Valley
Morning departure leaving the medina of Taroudant behind us and then following the Souss river upstream. We veer off northwards into the High Atlas Mountains on the spectacular Tizi n Test route which is a twisting, narrow, panoramic drive that snakes ever higher, straddling the narrow mountain ridge at an altitude of 2,100 metres. The road is exhilarating and must be taken slowly as huge rocky cliffs overhang the route in some places and you will see villages precariously clinging to the hillsides. In the foothills you will spot argan trees, while higher up you will see Holm Oak or ‘test’ in Arabic, form where the Tizi n Test gets its name. At the highest point, with a view north to Toubkal or south to the Souss Valley, you stop for lunch in a simple café. As you head north, the snow-capped peak of Mt. Toubkal, Morocco’s highest peak, can often be seen and then we make a short stop to visit the 12th century historic Tin Mal mosque, whose ruins have been partially restored and was once the seat of power of the Almohad dynasty.There are magnificent arches and columns to admire. The scenery changes yet again as we continue to the Ouirgane Valley as conifer trees and red earthen hillsides surround the sparkling man-made Ouirgane Lake, formed by the Yacoub el Mansour dam. Depending on your choice you can spend the night here in a character guest-house or boutique hotel (both with outdoor pool)l. Alternatively we continue through the valley and then branch off at Asni into the Imlil valley to pass the night at a higher altitude in the shadows of Mt. Toubkal National Park. Here we have chosen a delightful Berber guest-house in a tiny village.
Stay: Boutique guest-house in Imlil/Ouirgane
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4
Imlil/Ouirgane - mule-trekking and lunch with Berber family
Today you will head off direct from your accommodation with an English-speaking loal guide and mules to carry you. You will enjoy spectacular countryside of the High Atlas Mountains in Toubkal National Park, small Berber villages and total peace and tranquility. Lunch is enjoyed at a local family house so you can see the simple traditional way of life. At the end of the day you return to your guest-house/hotel in either Ouirgane Valley or Imlil. N.B: For families with children and/or for summer season, Ourigane is a better option for overnight as it provides easier trekking and the hotels have swimming pools.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON – Include a challenging2-day/1 night trek to the summit of Mt. Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak (high fitness level required and high altitude). Add minimum 2 days for the hike starting/ending in Imlil, with one overnight at a refuge near the summit.
Stay: Boutique guest-house in Imlil/Ouirgane
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5
Imlil/Ouirgane – Marrakech – Demnate
Our journey takes us down through the Imlil Valley via the market town of Asni where there’s a great weekly souk every Saturday. On route there are fruit orchards and groves of organges and olives as we reach the plains surrounding Marrakech. We reach the outskirts of Marrakech around midday and can schedule a short stop for lunch in the royal Kasbah area of the medina where you can sample a camel-burger, or eat some great vegetarian food. The road then continues out east from Marrakech to drive for about 2 hours into the Central High Atlas and to the bustling medina town of Demnate. From here it is a few kilometres more into the hills to reach our splendid boutique guest-house which is perfect all year round - cosy in winter and a refreshing pool in summer. You will arrive at the end of the afternoon, around 4-5.00pm with plenty of time to relax and explore on foot before dinner.
N.B. If you wish to visit the historic and fascinating sights of the Marrakech medina during this tour, we recommend spending the night here on Day 5 and thereby adding an extra day to the length of your tour. You can then also add other Imperial Cities of Fes, Meknes and Rabat at the end of the tour if you wish.
Stay: Boutique guest-house in Demnate
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6
Demnate - Atlas Mountains easy hiking with picnic lunch
Today, we trek with a local guide to Imi N’Ifri natural bridge within the rock and onwards to see the pre-historic dinosaur footprints at the Iroutane excavation site. We can offer donkeys for kids to ride on if required. (Level: Easy). We will have a picnic lunch at this natural beauty spot, where you can take a walk around the natural rock formations and down into the gorge. Back in Demnate, you could also choose to visit the weekly souk (Sundays) which is known for its olives and local pottery.
Stay: Boutique guest-house in Demnate
Meal plan: Breakfast, picnic Lunch & Dinner
Day 7
Demnate - Ouzoud waterfalls – Azilal - Ait Bougemez/Happy Valley
Today is an early start as we continue our journey north eastwards and into the Central High Atlas. We will visit the spectacular Cascades d’Ouzoud waterfalls in the morning (approx 1.5hrs from Demnate). The earlier we get up the better chance we have to see the monkeys which live in the cliffs around the falls! We will complete a circular loop around the falls in order to get photos of every angle and to glimpse the rainbows in the spray. Those who feel the need to get even closer (and wetter!) can rent a small boat to approach the base of the falls (additional cost). We will have early lunch at one of the restaurants with a view of the falls before hitting the road at around 2.00pm. Our route takes us through the market town of Azilal, and up further into the mountains. The route winds along valleys, featuring plenty of hairpin bends and narrow passing places. Along the way, you will glimpse Berber villages made of the local mud, clinging to valley walls and local women washing their clothes in the streams while their kids play nearby. The journey takes around 2 hours and as we enter the Ait Bougemez Valley (the so-called ‘Happy Valley’), you will spot the twin peaks of the valley, unusual in their shape as they rise off the valley floor like isolated pyramids. One is Sidi Moussa, a former Jewish pilgrimage site and now the site of a communal granary (agadir), where local women believe they will be blessed with fertility.
NB: In winter it may be necessary to omit Cascades d’Ouzoud due to short daylight hours for driving in mountain roads
Stay: Boutique eco-lodge/guest-house in Imelghas village in Ait Bougemez valley
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 8
Ait Bougemez Valley - hiking and exploring
Today, we take a walking tour around the Ait Bougemez valley. The valley - a plateau at 2000m - is 14 kilometres long and around a kilometre wide it is a lush, flat expanse of fruit and nut orchards, fields of barley and corn, and green pastures criss-crossed by flowing streams. We will visit the UNESCO-registered Sidi Moussa, a former pilgrimage site to the marabout Moussa, with its granary and museum, where the guardian is said to be anything between 70-120 years old! From here, you get magnificent views of the valley and the surrounding peaks (including Irhil M’Goun, Morocco’s 2nd highest at 4068m). We will walk through beside the streams to Berber villages of mud-built houses to get a glimpse of local life. In good weather, we will take a picnic to be eaten on the walk under the shade of walnut trees; otherwise lunch in the village of Tabant, a few kilometres from your accommodation. Approximately 2 hours walking either side of lunch with a local guide.
N.B. If you are in town on a Sunday, we suggest a visit to the bustling weekly market of Tabant in the morning and a shorter circuit in the afternoon which includes all of the above sites.
Stay: Boutique eco-lodge/guest-house in Imelghas village in Ait Bougemez valley
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9
Ait Bougemez Valley - Ahansal Valley - Cathedral Rock - Bin el Ouidane
We head back out of the valley today on a spectacular and remote mountain route that avoids retracing our steps via Azilal. Our morning journey takes us out of the Ait Bougemez Valley, over twisting stony tracks, off-road in 4x4 vehicle fording rivers and heading north east as we follow the Ahansal Valley (N.B. this section of the route only accessible March-mid-November). We stop for lunch in a simple Berber guest-house, off the beaten track in the village of Amezray at the foot of the Aroudane mountains in the Ahansal Valley, crossing into the MIddle Atlas Mountains range. The afternoon journey then passes under the magnificent escarpment of “Cathedral Rock” and eventually to the huge man-made Lake Bin el Ouidane. At Bin el Ouidane, we spend the night in a choice of either 3-star or 5-star luxury hotel accommodation at the waters edge
Stay: Small hotel (3-star or 5-star) at Bin el Ouidane
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10
Bin el Ouidane - Beni Mellal - Azrou
The morning is free at Bin el Ouidane to enjoy outdoor activities on foot or on the lake, or simply to relax and admire the scenery. After lunch (not incl) we will drive along the northern shore of the lake and continue our journey on the main highway for about 4hrs, passing via Beni Mellal and into the Middle Atlas Mountains to reach the most comfortable accommodation in the area, a European-styled country house hotel near the picturesque village of Azrou by early evening.
Stay: Boutique hotel in Azrou
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 11
Azrou - Day Trekking in Middle Atlas Mountains
Today you enjoy superb, gentle hiking in the Middle Atlas Mountains with our local English-speaking guide. You walk through the ancient cedar forests and countryside, where you may also spot the Barbary apes that live here. You take a packed lunch with you and enjoy panoramic views across the rolling hillsides, juniper forests and small villages. You return to your luxurious hotel in the evening where you might enjoy an early evening hammam and massage before dinner.
Stay: Boutique hotel in Azrou
Meal plan: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner
Day 12
Azrou – Ifrane - Fes
After breakfast and a relaxed morning at the hotel, we depart at around midday to make the short journey to the Imperial City of Fes (approx 2hrs). Along the way we pass through the “little Switerland of Morocco’, Ifrane - which is a popular ski-resort for wealthy Moroccans in winter time and is a picturesque town with a distinctly European flavour and wooden chalet-style architecture. We can stop here for lunch of refreshements before continuing to reach the cultural and spiritual Imperial City of Fes by early afternoon. Here you check in to a traditional riad within the old medina and the rest of the day is yours for your own exploration of this fascinating, medieval labyrinth. Dinner will be served in the courtyard restaurant or on the terrace of your riad this evening.
Stay: Traditional riad in Fes medina
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 13
Fes
The tour ends in Fes this morning and check-out is at midday. We can easily arrange extra time for you in Fes including excursions, guided visits and airport transfers as required (to Fes or Casablanca airports). You can also choose to continue your holiday in Morocco with us by adding-on one of our Suggested Morocco Adventure Tour itineraries (see below).
Stay: N/A
Meal plan: Breakfast
- OPTIONAL CLIMB - For serious trekkers and climbers a 2-day challenging trek to the summit of Mt. Toubkal can be added at Day 4.
- OPTIONAL NIGHT IN MARRAKECH - We recommend adding an extra night at Day 5 to include an overnight in Marrakech. Other Moroccan Imperial Cities can then be added at the end of the tour if required.
- SEASONS: This tour is ideal between March to mid-November. In winter some parts of the remote sections at higher altitudes may be impassable.