There are a variety of trekking opportunities that rival the busy Toubkal region trekking mecca in many ways. The hiking trails we have chosen below are a mix of Berber villages and wilder high country among the peaks and valleys of the front ranges. These are generally short treks for 3, 4 and 5 days, and have their own charm and walking challenges in a variety of landscapes. High Atlas trails starting from Imlil 1.5 hours drive from Marrakech are busy with trekkers hiking to and from Toubkal, but just one valley away you will experience quiet villages on high elevation trails linking valley to valley, used by local people going about their daily lives. You will stay in Berber inns (gites) in the villages or wild camp, and mules carry your food and gear so you can travel light and can explore as much as you wish.
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Morocco Explored travel also has out of the box custom made private tours and desert tours with camel trekking.
Imlil to Imi Ouglad:
3 to 5 days - May to October.
Level Medium Easy
Little visited but close to Marrakech - western Toubkal high passes and plateaus, juniper forests, pretty valley villages and farms, ancient hazelnut groves. Choice of wild camping and Berber guest houses.
Western High Atlas
4 days - April to October.
Level Medium
This high elevation circuit starts at Imlil, and immediately traverses over a number of high passes on the front slopes of the High Atlas. High trails descend to remote villages where Berber life goes on unchanged as it has for centuries. Stay are with Berber families and wild camping.
Setti Fatma to Tigadwine:
4 or 5 days - April to October.
Level Medium
Near Marrakech, this lovely high traverse across the shoulders and valleys of the snowy High Atlas peaks, east to west, with stays in guest houses. Trails thorough juniper forests, upland passes and Berber villages.
PRICE
Per person/per day: 750 MAD dirhams plus transportation costs.
Price Includes:
- English speaking Berber guides,
- Mule handlers and mules for luggage,
- Cook and kitchen,
- Tents and matresses (sleeping bags), refuge shelter or gite d'tape (small Berber inn)
- Complete meals during the trek,
(vegetarians welcome),- Treks run with 2 or more trekkers,
- Price does not include flights, personal insurance, purchases, and tips,
- Transfer costs to and from the trailhead will be calculated according to distance and added onto total cost.
What you need to know about trekking in Morocco
Because the High Atlas can involve some challenging elevation gains and losses over continuous passes (2000 m+), most High Atlas treks are rated medium, meaning you should have recent experience hill hiking, carrying a light day-pack, and a tolerance for climate changes. You will need light hiking style shoes or boots with a full-tread sole and good quality outdoor clothing. Spring and fall, snow remains on the high peaks. Nights might be cold and the days can be hot and sunny. We have a list of what you will need to bring below.
Fitness requirements: You should be confident of your fitness and endurance levels. The main recommendation is a sense of adventure! There is no age limit providing that you are in reasonable physical shape and you are aware of the rigors of trekking in higher elevations and have proper travellers insurance. Please make a point of telling us (quietly if you wish) if you have any medical condition/allergies or are on any medication that you think we should be aware of. We are out there for a great time and we want you to feel comfortable in your environment.
Accommodation in villages inns called gites with kitchens, sleeping areas and showers, or dome tents or, since Morocco is one of the the few areas of the world where warm temperatures combine with an absence of insects, you can sleep under the stars. Nothing can compare with a night under the brilliant starlight of North Africa. Tents, mattresses, fully equipped kitchen, food and personal baggage are carried by mules. You carry only a day pack for your water, snacks, camera and clothing. We have a limited number of sleeping bags, so you might be required to bring your own. We'll do our best to help you out with this.
All Food is included on trek and is very healthy, including Couscous, Tagine, fresh eggs, fish, olives, nuts and fruit. Please let us know whether you are vegetarian. Apart from eggs and fish (Tuna and Sardine) often served at lunch time with vegetable salad, there is not a lot of meat and when meat is available, separate dishes such as vegetarian Tagine is prepared.
Bottled water is usually available, but you might need to use your own method to purify water. Occasional villages allow for purchasing good quality bottled water along the way.
Some people like to bring their own treats and food supplements if they have special dietary requirements. If you like to drink herbal teas, bring your own. Moroccan tea tends to be a real energy booster with Gunpowder green mixed with copious amounts of sugar (refreshing and delicious!). Sugarless tea can be requested but not necessarily understood! Make use of your duty free allowance to obtain your favourite tipple.
As we are trekking in high mountains, geological variations create a full range of climatic conditions, which means it can get cold, wet, and windy. Bring a warm fleece and light weight wind jacket and long pants. During the day temperatures are relatively warm or hot, and normal attire with t-shirts and shorts will be fine. On average you can expect daytime temperatures of 20–30+ degrees Celsius.
*denotes essential or highly recommended
Pack light and pack tight.
Sleeping bag*
Day-pack *
sunglasses *
water bottles (collapsible bladders pack flat!) *
towel (ghites and refuges don't always have them) *
ziplock baggies *
toilet paper * (buy it in Morocco)
needle and thread / safety pins
camera, batteries, memory cards, or film – bring lots!
sealable bag for your Digital camera* (essential!! for sand/dust)Clothing
sarong (can double as a towel, lightweight sheet or scarf)
cotton long sleeved shirt (for intense sun) *
light wind-proof jacket
a hat (sun) *
warm socks*
light weight gloves*
lightweight long pants *
2-3 T-shirts
woolen sweater/fleece *
cotton scarf (doubles as a wash cloth)
Hiking boots or hiking shoes*First aid – make sure you use water proof labelling if re-packaging
disinfectant creme / gel (Polysporin)
bandaids
Ibufrofen (Advil or generic – for pain, swelling) *
Tylenol (colds and fever)
cold medication – Echanacia / zinc lozenges
tweezers
Visine
Aloe vera gel (for burns)
Anti-hystamine tablets
diahrrea medication (Immodium) *Personal
sunblock *
sanitary supplies with ziplock baggies to carry out
moisturiser / lip balm with sunblock *
simple english books / magazines / music – (cassette tapes are common in Morocco and make great gifts.)
small torch / flash-light (small bicycle lights make good travelling torches)
nail clippers
wet-wipes
soap / shampoo / toothpaste / toothbrush etc *
prescriptions in original containers
ear plugs *
Finally...
Please remember that things do change, prices go up and down, activities stop running or change format and weather can send the best laid plans out the door. We will do our best to provide what is described above but please take into consideration the nature of the journey that you are embarking on and the country that you are traveling in and understand that a certain degree of flexibility is necessary!
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FAQ's has important information about visiting Morocco.
PRAISE FOR OUR WALKING TREKS
I hope that you are well in Marrakech. Sorry this has taken me so long to get back to you but I just wanted to say thanks for all of assistance you gave us with organising the trek in the High Atlas Mountains. Steve and I had a fantastic time and Mohammed was amazing (he spoke 5 languages). He was professional, informative and a lot of fun. The meals were amazing and the trek took us through some amazing scenery that was different each day. It was the highlight of our trip to Morocco and we have recommended it to all of our friends. My only regret was that we thought that we had taken more cash with us on the trek as we intended on giving Mohammed a bigger tip as he really was brilliant.
H Deas, Australia 2007
We had a great trek! Everything was really well organised, the guide was very informed, friendly and we got on well with him.
The food was fantastic, so much fresh fruit and vegetables and everything was presented beautifully. Everybody that we met and the muleteers were extremely friendly and helpful. Best of all was the birthday candles and chocolates on Dannys 36th and also the bottle of wine and the phone call from your colleague who we met in Marrakech was such a nice touch.
We definitely would choose your company again should we decide on future treks or tours in Morocco.
F Murphy, Switzerland 2007
You have been recommended by a friend who used your company recently and said you were fantastic! We definitely want to do a trek of some description and will book through you.
A future trekker! 2007
Greetings from the Pacific Northwest! The vehicle and the drivers on our trip were excellent, as was the food (although there was usually too much of it!). The guides were very good.
The High Atlas trekking ghites on the first two nights were nicer than I expected (the second night in particular), but I enjoyed the home-stay on the third night more because it gave us a chance to interact with a Berber family. For the same reason, the lunch we had with a family on the third day was a highlight of the trek.
T Hamerlinck, USA 2007
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Telephone from Morocco:
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