11 days Atlas Mountain trek and Desert Tour and coast

Day 1 : Airport transfer direct to the High Atlas

You will be picked up from airport and taken to the scenic Imlil Valley in the Atlas Mountains, the well-known starting point of various walking and hiking trips. Your first night will be spent in a nice guesthouse in the traditional Berber village of Armed. Meals and WiFi will be provided.

Day 2: Imlil - Toubkal Refuge (3,200 m)

our hike will start after breakfast (2,000 m). Our friendly muleteers will deal with your luggage, food & all other equipment you will need. An experienced local mountain guide will take you through the Berber villages along a mule trail which leads up to the mountain by way of the legendary shrine of Sidi Chamhrouch (2,500 m) where you will enjoy a tasty lunch. After a short break, we will continue on to the refuge (3,200 m),

Day 3: Toubkal Refuge - Toubkal Summit -Toubkal Refuge:

Early in the morning we will begin our hike up to the summit of Jebel Toukbal, the highest peak in Northern Africa. Our route takes us up the south cirque, crossing the stream above the refuge. The walking is relatively straightforward, but the scree and the altitude will make the going quite difficult in parts. However, the views along the way make the effort more than worthwhile. When you reach the the summit you will see that the vistas across the surrounding landscape are quite breathtaking. From this point there are unrestricted views in every direction, from the Marrakesh Plain to the High Atlas in the north and as far south as the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara. Afterwards we will retrace our steps and return down the mountain and head back to the Toubkal Refuge where we will spend the night.

Day 4: Toubkal Refuge – Imlil (Armed village)

This is an easy day compared to the previous one. After breakfast we will head down to Chamharouch where we will stop for lunch, after which we will walk to Imlil where you will spend the night in the Berber village of Armed.

In the evening you can enjoy an authentic refreshing Moroccan Hamam.

Day 5 : Imlil - Ouarzazat - Dades Gorges

Following an invigorating walk after breakfast we will drive through Tizi-n-Tichka (2,260 m) and pass through Ouarzazat, AKA “the door of the desert”. It is a popular filming location, with Morocco’s biggest studios producing many international and Hollywood movies. These include Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), the Mummy (1999) and many others. You will enjoy lunch there after visiting the Atlas Studio, then we will continue on to Dedes Gorge, where you will spend the night in a hotel located in the spectacular gorge. Before arriving we will stop at the rose valley of Kalat Mgouna, where people celebrate a rose water festival each May, and there are many beautiful rose products on offer to anyone interested. We will spend the night in a hotel overlooking the gorge.

Day 6 : Dades Gorges - Toudra gorgest - Merzouga

After breakfast we will check out of the hotel and drive through colorful Berber villages of the Dedes Valley, passing through Tinghir with its beautiful palm groves and old Jewish Quarter. Then on through the Toudra Gorges where you will have the chance to take an easy walk around the canyons which are nearly 300 meters high. The canyon is well known for rock climbing. After that you will have lunch in the town of Tinjdad and then continue on to the awe-inspiring Sahara Desert, where your camels will be waiting to take you on an overnight adventure in the Sahara dunes. On the 90-minute camel ride, you will enjoy the breathtaking Sahara sunset on your way to the bivouac in the dunes of Erg Chabbi.

After arriving at the Berber tents where we will spend the night, you will be free to explore the dunes. After dinner you will love the roaring fire and the Saharan music, and the unique opportunity to see the stars in the clear Moroccan sky.

Day 7 : Merzouga - agdez - Ait Ben Hadou

Wake up early to enjoy the beauty of the sunrise over the Saharan dunes. Return by a 90-minute camel ride to the centre of the village of Merzouga. Have a refreshing shower to wash off the Saharan sand, and enjoy a healthy breakfast. You will then be taken in a 4-wheel drive vehicle to Agdez via the Draa Valley, where you will have the option of walking one to two hours through the palm oasis and the Berber villages, after which you will sit down to a nice lunch in Agdez. In the afternoon we will travel to the stunning Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. Here you will spend your third night in a hotel or guesthouse in the old village.

Day 8 : Ait Ben Haddou - Kasbah Talout - Marrakech

After breakfast you can enjoy a one-hour walk around the old Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified village along the ancient caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. In Ait Ben Haddou you will see the traditional Moroccan architecture in which the Kasbahs are built. It is an ancient trading hub, and a recent location for filming many series, including Game of Thrones. After this you will be driven along scenic roads, colorful landscapes and Berber villages as we make our way to Talouat, where we will stop to visit the Kasbah of Kaid lglaoui. Afterwards we travel through the Atlas Mountains, arriving back in Marrakech at 4:00 pm

Day 9 : Marrakech - Essaouira

Departure at 8:30 from your hotel towards the Atlantic coast through Ounagha to lovely Essaouira, located 170 km from the Red City of Marrakech.

Lunch on the harbor, then lots of free time to explore the medina and the ancient monuments Mellah (Jewish quarter), the Skala and Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah Museum. Finally we recommend you watch the beautiful sunset and enjoy a Mojito on the terrace Taraus Cafe. Dinner and overnight in a hotel or the Mogador Riad in the Medina.

Day 10 : Essaouira - Marrakech

After breakfast we will head to the beach of Sidi Kaouki, one of the best-maintained beaches in the country, where you can walk on foot or ride camels along the beach as a caravan. Lunch at local restaurant followed by a tour of the argan oil cooperative before we return to Marrakech.

Day 11 : Transfer to airport