Hike Morocco's Atlas Mountains - Exodus Adventure Travels - Morocco

Hike Morocco's Atlas Mountains

4.6Based on

Carbon neutral

8 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants

16 peopleMaximum group size

16 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Challenging

Demands good physical fitness and stamina for more intense or extended activities.

Starts

Marrakech, Morocco

Ends

Marrakech, Morocco

2 other people are considering this tour right now.

Highlights

Explore some of the most scenic walking trails in the High Atlas Mountains

Stay in Tighza, a traditional Moroccan village that has welcomed our groups for years

Discover Amazigh culture and traditions through interactions with the friendly local people

Visit a traditional hammam, built as part of a project through the Exodus Travels Foundation

Explore bustling Marrakech, visiting the famous Jemaa el-Fna square in the evening

Itinerary

This trip is the perfect introduction to Morocco: an insight into buzzing Marrakech with varied walks in the High Atlas Mountains. Based in the remote and picturesque village of Tijhza, we stay in a modest but pleasant riad and enjoy optional walks each day. The pace is relaxed, allowing us to enjoy the mountain scenery and learn about the way of life of the friendly Amazigh people. We can also try a traditional hammam as part of our ongoing responsible tourism project in Tijhza. Our time in Marrakech sees us exploring palaces and busy souks with free evenings to experience Jemaa el-Fnaa, a bustling square packed with street food stalls, juice sellers and musicians.

day 1 - Adventure starts in Marrakech

Buzzy Marrakech is a whirlwind of tradition and culture, an invigorating introduction to Morocco. However, today is a relaxing one, a chance for our group to congregate and settle in.

Usually around 6pm, you’ll say hello to your tour leader and fellow travellers at the hotel, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Moroccan welcome over an group dinner together.

Want to explore further? Secure pre-tour nights through your sales representative.

Meals:Dinner

day 2 - Guided tour of Marrakech • Free afternoon

Today is spent in Marrakech, where we can soak up the atmosphere of the bustling bazaars, palaces and mosques. In the morning, we have a guided tour to orientate ourselves and the afternoon is free for individual sightseeing. You can choose whether to brave the haggling of the souks, visit the more peaceful Jardin Majorelle or relax in one of the hammam steam baths.

In the evening, we visit Jemaa el-Fna, the open-air square around which Marrakech revolves. The name literally means 'place of death' as it was where Sultans once displayed the heads of their enemies. Now, with the juice sellers, travelling musicians, acrobats and food stalls, it is a place of entertainment for both the local people and visitors.

Meals:Breakfast

day 3 - Drive to Anmiter • Walk to Tijhza and explore

Today we drive into the High Atlas Mountains. The road up to the mountains is a real switchback but very scenic. Eventually we cross the Tizi'n'Tichka which, at 7,415ft (2,260m), is the highest road pass in Morocco. This is a narrow range of mountains and we soon drop into the gorge on the other side. Here, we turn into a wide valley towards Telouet, where we stop to look at the kasbah. This amazing fortress-palace was the stronghold of the Glaoui clan until the late Fifties. On their downfall, they dispersed and the castle fell into disrepair. Consequently, we can now only look at this labyrinthine mass from the outside.

From here, we travel to Anmiter, where we have lunch with a local family before we hike uphill on a track for about two hours to our riad. The first 30 minutes follow a scenic river trail, and the remaining walk is along a dirt road passing through several villages (our luggage will be transported to the Tijhza for us).

Drive time: 3hr 30min

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

day 4 - Loop through the Tizi'n'Ourghsan and back down the Ouarikt River to the village

Follow a traditional mule path today on a seven-hour loop through the Tizi'n'Ourghsan and back down the Ouarikt River to the village. Starting in the terraced fields of Ouarikt, we climb up through the high summer pastures to reach the col with fantastic views of the Ouarikt Gorge. After around five hours of hiking, enjoy a relaxing lunch close to a waterfall, before following the river back to the village. Along the way, we may meet nomads and villagers going about their business.

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 5 - Hike to the summit of Mount n'Oughlagal

Our goal today is the summit of Mount n'Oughlagal (8,530ft/2,600m). Leaving the riad, we head around the back of the peak, following a clear mule path all the way to the top, where we are met with fantastic views of the valley. The hike includes a scramble along a steep, sandy section of trail, which can be a bit more challenging and is especially tricky in wet weather conditions. After enjoying the summit views, return to the riad for a late lunch.

We have the rest of the afternoon to explore the village, take a short walk or relax with a book on the large terrace overlooking the Tijhza valley.

On our return, we visit the village hammam, built with money raised by our passengers. This is a truly authentic and enjoyable experience. It is very much a local hammam and you are likely to get the opportunity to mix with the villagers, which further adds to the experience. A standard treatment is included, but you will need to purchase a scrubber and soap for 20 dirhams (US$1.90) plus a customary tip of 20 dirhams. Refreshed, we return to the riad for dinner.

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 6 - Trek to Alfergal village

Set out on a steady out-and-back trek along well-used mountain paths, heading deeper into the High Atlas to reach the village of Alfergal. The route follows mule tracks that link scattered settlements, passing terraced fields, walnut trees and irrigation channels that show how mountain life has adapted to steep terrain over generations.

Underfoot, the trail alternates between packed earth and stone, with gentle ascents that reward the effort with broad views across the valley and towards higher peaks.

Returning to our riad, there’s time to relax and share a final evening in Tijhza with the group.

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

day 7 - Walk to Anmiter • To Marrakech across the High Atlas

We say goodbye to Tijhza and return to Marrakech by lunchtime, leaving the afternoon free for more sightseeing; you may want to visit the Menara Gardens or do some last-minute shopping. Alternatively, you may decide to relax in the hotel and enjoy the swimming pool.

Drive time: 3hr 30min

Meals:Breakfast

day 8 - Adventure ends in Marrakech

The adventure ends after breakfast. If you’d like a little more time to explore the city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals:Breakfast

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What's Included

Accommodation

All accommodation, All accommodation: 7 Classic nights (4 riad, 3 hotel)

Meals

All breakfasts, three lunches and five dinners

Transport

All transport and listed activitiesArrival and departure transfersImmersive itinerary with all transport and listed activitiesArrival and departure transfers available

Guide

Tour leader throughout, Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure

Others

Kitbag to keepAll breakfasts, three lunches and five dinnersKitbag to keep

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

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4.6

based on 97 reviews

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AnonymousVerified Traveler

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4.0

4.0 out of 5

Atlas Panorama in February 2023

This was an exceptionally cold trip with snow in the mountains and rain in the lowlands - something that was outside the experience of our group leader and other ‘locals’ that we met. There was just 4 days of snow and it coincided with our 4 days in the mountains! A guided tour of the old city of Marrakesh, and free time to look further, at the start of the trip, and more free time in Marrakesh at the end, with a good ‘filling’ of 4 days in the High Atlas Mountains, is a great sandwich to give an experience of this part of Morocco. Abdullah, our group leader, recommended excellent restaurants from which we were able to look out over the central square. It was unfortunate that the snow in the mountains curtailed our activities there. However in addition to the walks to and from the riad, we were able to make some enjoyable excursions. One to the top of one of the neighbouring mountains before there had been much snow, and an interesting morning walk along the valley when there was 6 inches of snow on the ground. We spent a day and a half confined to the riad when the snow storms prevented walks, and the group spent time reading, playing cards and scrabble, and participating in a ‘pub quiz’ compiled by one of the group. Despite the weather, it was a very convivial group. We were also able to take advantage of the Hammam. The riad has limited heating. However the riad staff made sure that the gas space heater was always on in the communal area when we were there – and they managed to find a second one as it was so cold. A gas lamp was also provided during the two power cuts. Despite fire wood being very limited in that area, the staff willingly provided sacks of wood for the upstairs woodfire. We also took advantage at night of the additional blankets available. The food prepared by the riad staff was excellent – and even though towards the end supplies were limited due to the roads into the mountains being blocked, they still managed to provide nourishing meals. All in all it was a great trip.

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