9 daysMorocco Medina + Desert
Marrakech, the High Atlas, the Sahara & Fes
- Two nights among the Merzouga dunes
- Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
From$3,300approx. ≈ £2,500approx. ≈ CA$4,500approx. ≈ A$5,000approx. ≈ €2,850per person sharing
Morocco
High Atlas Mountains
Amazigh villages and North Africa's highest peak
Just an hour or two from Marrakech, the High Atlas offers terraced valleys, Amazigh villages, mule-trail treks and Jebel Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak. Stay in a mountain lodge or village guesthouse and walk at your own pace.
The High Atlas runs across Morocco like a spine, separating the fertile plains around Marrakech from the pre-Saharan valleys of the south. On clear days its snowcapped peaks are visible from the city, and within an hour or two you can be in another world: valleys of walnut and apple trees, terraced fields watered by age-old irrigation channels, and earth-built villages clinging to the slopes.
Amazigh mountain life
The High Atlas is a heartland of Morocco's Amazigh culture. Villages here are close-knit communities where families farm barley, walnuts and fruit, weave carpets and welcome visitors with mint tea. A walk between villages with a local guide, with lunch in a family home, is one of the most rewarding experiences in Morocco, and weekly souks draw people from across the valleys to trade produce, livestock and household goods.
Trekking and Toubkal
The Imlil Valley is the main base for walks and treks, from gentle day hikes to multi-day routes through remote valleys. Jebel Toubkal, at 4,167 meters (13,671 feet) the highest peak in North Africa, is typically climbed over two days from Imlil, with a night in a mountain refuge. No technical climbing is needed in the warmer months, but good fitness helps, and winter ascents call for crampons and experience.
Valleys, passes and kasbahs
Other favorites include the Ourika Valley, with its waterfalls above Setti Fatma; the remote Aït Bouguemez, often called the "happy valley"; and the Tizi n'Tichka pass, whose hairpin bends lead toward the kasbah of Telouet and the fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Traveling thoughtfully
Some villages in the region are still rebuilding after the September 2023 earthquake. Visiting with local guides and staying in locally run guesthouses helps support that recovery.
How we plan it
We can arrange a day trip from Marrakech, a few nights in a mountain lodge, or a guided trek with muleteers carrying your bags. The mountains pair beautifully with the city and the Sahara on our Morocco Medina + Desert journey.
Highlights
Village walks from Imlil
Walk between earth-built villages and walnut groves with a local guide, stopping for mint tea with a family.
Climbing Toubkal
Summit North Africa's highest peak on a two-day trek with an experienced mountain guide.
Ourika Valley waterfalls
Follow the river to the cascades above Setti Fatma, a favorite escape from the Marrakech heat.
Tizi n'Tichka and Aït Ben Haddou
Cross the High Atlas on a spectacular mountain road to a UNESCO-listed fortified village.
Weekly village souks
Browse a rural market where villagers trade spices, produce, pottery and livestock.
Mountain lodges
Stay in a comfortable lodge or village guesthouse with terraces overlooking the valley.
Best time to visit
Best months
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- ✓ Apr
- ✓ May
- ✓ Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- ✓ Sep
- ✓ Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Spring (April to June) is the loveliest season, with fruit trees in blossom, green terraces and snow still on the highest peaks. Autumn (September and October) brings settled weather and harvest time. Summer offers a welcome escape from the heat of Marrakech, though afternoons can be warm and storms sometimes build.
Winter brings snow and cold to higher villages. Walking at lower levels is still lovely, but climbing Toubkal from about December to March becomes a winter mountaineering expedition that requires crampons and experience.
Getting there
Imlil, the main trailhead, is about an hour and a half by road from Marrakech, and the Ourika Valley around an hour. Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) is the nearest international airport.
Roads into the mountains are paved but narrow and winding, so we arrange a private driver who knows them well. On treks, mules carry the luggage, and the final approach to some mountain lodges is on foot or by mule, which is all part of the charm. In winter, snow can occasionally close the higher passes, so we keep a close eye on conditions.
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9 days
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Your High Atlas Mountains, designed around you
Tell us how you like to travel and we’ll shape an itinerary — the pace, the places, the stays — around you. No payment to start planning.