General
A trek in the Atlas Mountains, the desert, on Jebl Saghro, or on Mount Toubkal will give you an unforgettable nature experience. Morocco is quite simply an incredible trekking destination. The Atlas Mountains host several 4,060m peaks and the mountain landscape is dramatic and beautiful, dotted with ancient small Berber villages and rushing melt water streams. Whatever the time of year it’s a hiking paradise. Our treks in Morocco are available to book any day for groups and families of two or more people. We do not offer scheduled group treks, but if you would prefer to join a group (or are travelling alone), we usually have several treks departing each week that you can join. Just send us an email with the dates and number of people and we will get back to you.
Trekking is available throughout the winter in the Atlas Mountains. For the vast majority of people the best option is share the day treks or two days trips with a group which stays mostly below the snow-line with fantastic views and traditional Berber villages. This can be extended to a four or five day trek on request. It is possible to arrange Toubkal climbs in winter (Nov – March), but we need to know that you have prior experience with crampons and ice axes before attempting this climb as they are essential. It is possible to hire all the equipment needed for these treks from the village of Imlil. They carry a good selection of equipment, boots and clothing so need to need to worry about bringing extra luggage and weight. Unless you are super fit we recommend allowing a minimum of 2 days for the summit of Toubkal to allow yourself time to acclimatize to the altitude.
We recommend combining a trek with a couple of days in one of the great riads in Marrakech, and all treks are available to book with a standard Marrakech package or as trek alone. We can also combine treks with Essaouira.
All treks include licensed English speaking mountain guides, transfers from Marrakech, cooks and most importantly mules to carry your packs to the refuge, hotel or auberge where you will be sleeping. Essentially they are Porters like they have Sherpas in the Himalayas.
The geography of Morocco is dominated by the High Atlas Mountains which form a rift through Central Morocco. The Atlas Mountains present an enticing combination of verdant valleys, arid peaks, fascinating Berber villages and virtually deserted trails. The main attractions for trekking Morocco are Mount Toubkal from Marrakesh, the Rif Mountains in the north and the delightful off-the-beaten track M’goun Massif.
One of the premier highlights of a walking holiday in Morocco is climbing Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 4,167m. Covered in snow in the winter months, the altitude of Toubkal is a welcome respite from the high summer temperatures in the Atlas valleys. The trek up Toubkal is fairly strenuous but is accessible for most fit hill walkers. The hard work is worth it as the view from the top of Toubkal is out of this world encompassing the Marrakesh plain, the northern parts of the High Atlas and Sahara. Toubkal is only a couple of hours drive from Marrakesh.
By contrast, the M’goun Massif offers superb off the beaten path trekking in Morocco. This region features spectacular lush valleys and is rich in ancient Berber villages such as Megdaz, perhaps one of the finest examples of Berber villages in the High Atlas Mountains.
The Jebel Sargho (highest point 2,712 m) is a starkly beautiful region of Sahara broadly lying between the Draa and Dades Valleys. An ideal region for trekking between October and May. It is made up of a jumble of volcanic peaks, deep gorges, abandoned kasbahs, small villages and the occasional black tents of the semi-nomadic Ait Ata tribe. We meet the mule team and load the mules. This is a day of easy walking – a total of 6/7 hours walking – taking us into the foothills of Jebel Saghro. In the course of the day we cross two passes and a plateau before descending into a steep valley where we spend the night camping or back to our typical kasbah.
Other highlights of trekking in Morocco include the Rif Mountains in the north, barely explored by travellers and offering gentler hiking and magnificent cedar forests. Trekking in Morocco isn’t just about the walking either, the area is rich in cultural history, the Berbers are a proud people who have fiercely guarded their independence and culture over the years, and are famous for their hospitality. Food consists primarily of cous cous, tagines and brochettes (kebabs) blending elements of Berber cuisine Arab spices and Spanish ingredients. If you are vegetarian, no problem just let us know.
All of our trekking tours in Morocco include the services of a licensed guide, one or more cooks, depending on the size of your group and mules to carry your packs to the locations where you will sleep. We use local Moroccan guides to offer you a more authentic experience and of course a better priced walking holiday in Morocco.