Itinerary
Here you can see the program for the tour.
Upon arrival in Marrakech, you'll be met at the airport by our partner and taken to your riad in Marrakech. A riad is a traditional Moroccan guesthouse with an interior courtyard or garden. The house is typically meticulously renovated and the stay is characterized by comfortable surroundings and a high level of service. The riads have created many local jobs and it doesn't get much more Moroccan than that.
You'll be picked up from your riad and driven to Imlil, located at an altitude of 1740 meters. From here you will walk over the Tizi' n Tamatert mountain pass (2,279m) to Tacheddirt. The hike takes around 4 hours. Tacheddirt is the highest town in the Atlas Mountains. Most of the houses in the town are built of mud and straw and blend in discreetly with the surrounding mountain landscape. You will spend the night in a local guesthouse. (M,F,A)
From Tacheddirt you will continue your walk through the mountain landscape to Imsker. The path runs through the beautiful valley of Imanene and its many Berber villages. Berbers are traditionally farmers and make up about half of the Moroccan population. After about 5 hours of hiking you will be reaching the guesthouse in Imsker, where you will stay for the night. (B, L, D)
From Imsker you will walk up over the mountain pass Tizi n 'Lbour. From here you will cross the valley of Imlil, before passing another beautiful mountain pass - Tizi n 'Tacht. The path leads you through the valley of Azzadene, and after around 6 hours of hiking, you will be reaching the village of Tizi Oussem, where you will spend the night in a local guesthouse. Here you will have the opportunity to try a steam bath in a traditional hammam. (B, L, D)
On your last trekking day the walk will bring you around to Imlil, the starting point for your trek. You will be passing the waterfalls of Ighouliden and going over the mountain pass of Tizi M'zzik. After about 5 hours walk, you will be back in Imlil, where you spend the night in a local guesthouse in this lively oasis of a village, which is the starting point of many treks into the Atlas Mountains. (B, L, D)
After breakfast you will be leaving Imlil in car. Driving through mountain passes and Berber villages, until you reach the desert. You will pass Kasbahs situated on the rivershores and build into hillsides. A Kasbah is a fortified village; originally build for local leaders to live safely in. The drive will continue through the Valley of Roses to your accommodation site in the Gorge of Dades, situated in the dry but colorful and gorgeous Valley of Dades. (B, L, D)
After breakfast you are transferred to the Todra Gorge, and after a brief stop there, the tour continues to the beautiful sand dune landscape at Erg Chebbis. You will arrive mid-afternoon, and from here the adventures takes you on a camel ride into the desert. You will spend this night in Bedouin tents. The sunset from here is marvelous, and after watching it you will be ready to enjoy a wonderful dinner in the great desert. (B, L, D)
After sunrise and breakfast in the Saharan atmosphere you will get back on the camels and ride back. Then the tour takes you to Ait Ben Haddou, which is one of the most well preserved kasbahs in Morocco. Ait Ben Haddou listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Inside the ramparts, the buildings stand close to each other. Some are very modest, others small castles with towers and beautiful decorations. You will stay in Ait Ben Haddou for the night. (B, L, D)
From Ait Ben Haddou you will continue through a wonderful volcanic landscape to Taroudant, a charming city that is hidden behind high walls. The city is also called the 'Marrakech's Grandma', and the markets and the old caravan route create a great atmosphere. Spend the rest of the day exploring the narrow streets, buy memorable souvenirs from local crafts people or visit a tea house. Overnight at hotel. (B)
Through lushly green argan forest you will drive to Essaouira, a friendly town on the Atlantic coast. Here it is possible to kick back and relax, and should you have too much energy for the sun terrace, you can go and explore the narrow streets of the city, or stroll along the beach. In the morning you can watch the fishing boats unload their catch of sardines at the harbor. In the evening, enjoy a dinner of lovely freshly court fish, on of the charming harbor restaurants. You will spend three nights in Essaouri, with the days at your own disposal. (B)
On day 13 you will be driven to Marrakech, where you will spend the last two nights. The glorious centerpiece of the city is Djemaa el Fna - an enchanting, exotic, oriental experience of snake charmers, acrobats and performing storytellers. In the evening you will have the opportunity to purchase a meal from one of the many small food stalls serving delicious kebabs, seafood, soups and salads. The medinas and markets in the city are bursting with a colorful mix of woven carpets, fruit and yarns of wool. Behind small gates you will find the beautifully forged monuments of late Sultans, old picturesque palaces and Koranic schools. Take your time to sit down at one of the many street cafes and observe the busy crowd passing by. You will stay two nights in Marrakech. (B)
You will be picked up at your riad and taken to the airport for departure.
B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner
Pictures from the trip
Prices and dates
The price includes
- All transportation according to the program
- 3 nights stay in Marrakech in a double room at a tourist-class hotel/riad
- 1 night stay in Dades in a double room at a tourist-class hotel/riad
- 1 night stay at a riad in Ait Ben Haddou
- 1 night stay at tourist class hotel riad in Taroudant
- 3 nights stay at a tourist class hotel/riad in Essaouira
- A 4 day/3 nights trek as described in the program with accommodation in guesthouses
- 2 day/1 night camel tour with accommodation in tents
- Half-day guided sightseeing tour of Taroudant
- Half-day guided sightseeing tour of Marrakech
- Meals according to program
- Local English speaking guide, cook and muleteers
- Mules for transporting luggage
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
- Flights to/from Marrakech
- Soft drinks for meals
- Tips to driver, guide, cook and muleteers (about €110,- per participant)
- Handling fee (EUR 20)
Practical information
The price is based upon two people sharing. For safety reasons, this tour cannot be booked for solo travellers. There must be min. be two participants.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:
- Choose your desired start date
- Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
- Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).
Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.
The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
The flights to/from Marrakech are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flight.
It works like this:
- You book your chosen holiday with us
- We confirm your holiday (usually within 3-4 business days)
- You arrange your transportation
Airport transfers
When you arrive at the airport you will be picked up and driven to the hotel in Marrakech. You will also be driven back after the trip ends.
Get a quote
If you prefer that we handle your flight, then we would be happy to arrange this for you. You simply book a quote below the map on this page and we will return with a quote as soon as possible (usually within 48 working hours). Please note that we add a handling fee of 45 euro to each flight and this means that the flight will be cheaper if you book it yourself.
The price of children under 8 years, who share rooms with two paying adults, cost x.
In Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou, Dades, Taroudant you will stay at so-called "riads" which is a nice tourist class hotel where breakfast is included. On the trek you will stay in guesthouses and on the camel tour to the desert, you will spend the night in traditional Bedouin tents.
In Marrakech, Essaouira and Taroudant, breakfast is included, but you must purchase the other meals. On the trek and the camel tour all meals are included with the option to purchase soft drinks.
A typical trekking day begins with a wake-up time between 06:00 and 6:30. After breakfast you will pack your luggage on the mules and begin the walking around 8.00. Around noon you will have a nice long lunch break before continuing on the afternoon walk. You will typically arrive to your accommodation in the middle of the afternoon.
This journey has difficulty level 2
Grade 2
Easy hiking on reasonably good trails. The day walks will last 4-6 hours in hilly terrain. Anyone in good physical condition can participate. Your luggage will be transported and you only carry a light daypack. Requires comfortable footwear such as trekking shoes or hiking boots.
Read more about our grading system here.
On this tour, you will receive the following documents:
Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll get access to your 'my tour' page where you'll find practical information about the trip.
One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and voucher
Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.
Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.
Some nationalities do not need to apply for a visa before visiting Morocco. We ask you to check if you need to apply for a visa here.
We recommend checking with your health authorities or contacting your local doctor well in advance of departure to get updated information on relevant and possibly required vaccinations.
After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.
When booking this trip, you will receive our practical information and a suggested packing list for the trip.
From March to October are good months for this trip where the temperatures in spring and autumn are 20-25 degrees C. In the summer it is hot with over 30 degrees in the low-lying areas. The tour can be arranged with daily arrivals to Marrakech year round, even in the winter. In the period from November to February it cools down in low-lying regions with daily temperatures between 10-15 degrees.
Here is some general climate data for Marrakech, as seen on bbc.com:
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