Enjoy a Walking Holiday in the High Atlas exploring remote Berber villages in Morocco, then discover a wealth of culture in Marrakech.

A splendid hike in one of the most remote areas of the High Atlas, featuring picturesque hanging villages, wide green valleys and imposing 4000m peaks. Here, life has barely changed in 300 years. You will discover the true Berber lifestyle and taste indigenous foods like Tajine, Couscous, and incomparable olive oil. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide and Berber muleteers who will facilitate you in meeting the locals. Evenings are spent in typical Berber villages where you will experience their world-famous friendliness. Submerge yourself in this refreshingly simple culture by spending your nights in traditional Berber houses.

In Marrakech, you will stay in a 3* hotel, located in a residential area – perfect to chill out after wandering around Djemaa El Fna’s medina quarter and its souks (markets). In the mountains you will stay in comfortable, but basic, mountain refuges and with Berber families in their traditional flat-roofed house.

Our local English-speaking certified mountain guide will show you the way while the Muleteers cook some tasty Moroccan food for you and their Mules carry your luggage!

DAY 1 – Coming to Marrakech
After picking you up at Marrakech Menara Airport, you will be transferred to your 3* hotel, 10 minutes away from Djemaa El Fna.

Town: All facilities, ATM, Internet, food markets, souvenirs. Hotel: 3* Hotel, en-suite. Located in a residential area, 10 mins from “Jamal el fna”. Meals: Marrakech is full of fantastic places to eat, so we decided not to include dinner here.

DAY 2 – To Imeskar, in the High Atlas (4h, +336m)
Short transfer (1hr) at 8h30 to Asni, where we will meet our team of Berber Muleteers (mule drivers) and our cook. While you enjoy the traditional mint tea in a Berber cafe, our team will load the mules. We enter the green valley of Imenane, where we will lunch by the side of the river. For the second part of the day, it’s a slow climb to the village of Imeskar, where we will spend the night.

Accommodation: Friendly family-run guest house. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, & (amazing) dinner.

DAY 3 – Imeskar to Gliz (5h, +600m -480m)
We follow a steady mule track across a small valley, under the shade of imposing walnut trees until we lunch close to the river. Then we carry on up to the preserved hamlet of Tidili, and finally to peaceful Gliz, where a refreshing mint tea and a tasty tajine await us!

Accommodation: Friendly family-run guest house. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DAY 4 – Gliz to Ouaneskra (6h30, 13km, +900m -660m)
With several mountain passes on the way, today can be seen as challenging. First, you will climb up to the “col” or mountain pass Tizin Oukaimden (2600m) passing through juniper trees, then down through the ski slopes of the highest ski resort in Africa. On the way you will be able to admire rupestral (rock) paintings. You will then follow the path of the Oukaimden River and stop for lunch. You will climb again up to the “Col Eddi” (2900 m), in front of the perfectly shaped Angour Mountain. From here it’s a long descent into the Imenane valley and the village of Imenane.

Accommodation: Gite Refuge in the village. The Gite is managed by the inhabitants and most of its profits go to the local community. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner.

DAY 5 – Ouaneskra to Imlil & the “Valley of the Walnut trees” (4h, +80m, -550m)
After yesterday’s challenge, you will appreciate this short and quite easy stage. You will first walk along an easy trail at the foot of Mt Akswal (3200m), on a ridge looking over the Imenane valley. It will offer you some nice scenic views of the Ait Misane and Imenane valley. Then you will walk down through a pine forest to the bustling market town of Imlil. You will have lunch and spend the night here at the gite of Imlil. The afternoon is free. The gite has a terrace and an unbeatable view of the Mt Toubkal (4160m), the highest peak in North Africa.

Accommodation: Comfortable Gite/refuge with spacious terrace. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DAY 6 – Imlil to Aissa [5h30, +460m, -580m]
We follow a mule trail along the Ait Misane valley to the picturesque village of Ait Talaoul. We continue to the market town of Taddert and finally to Aguersioual. Then we leave the “Valley of the Walnut trees” and head to the village of Matate, where an ancient mine once supported the local economy. We will have lunch close to a spring. Then we climb to the “Col de Toudate”, and descend to “The valley of the Colours”, so named because of the vibrant gray, ochre and red soil. We will spend the night at AISSA: a traditional Berber-run mountain guesthouse.

Accommodation: Traditional Berber-run guest house in the mountains. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DAY 7 – Aissa to Imioughlad and back to Marrakech (4h, +390m, -476m)
We walk high in the Azaden valley, the most beautiful valley of the Toubkal region. We cross the “Col Tacht” (2000m) then a long descent (1hr30) through juniper and green walnut trees. We lunch here in the Ait Misane valley again. You will then be transferred to Marrakech, via Asni. Free Afternoon, so you can discover the “pink city” and all what Marrakech has to offer.

Town & Hotel: Same as Day 1. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Marrakech is full of fantastic places to eat, so we decided not to include the dinner here.

DAY 8 – End of the trip.
After breakfast we transfer you to the airport, and bid you farewell!

Meals: Breakfast

During the trek, meals are cooked by our Berber muleteers. The food provided is fresh and healthy. For Breakfast: Jam, bread, cookies, fruit. For Lunch: Salad, tomatoes, carrots, seasonal fruit, and fish (sardines, tuna). For Dinner: Tajine, couscous, olives, nuts, etc.

Personal baggage, cooking equipment and food are carried by the mules, leaving you to carry only a rucksack with whatever you need close at hand for the day.

In Morocco, it can snow from November to April at altitudes exceeding 2500m. In general, even though the weather is nice during the day, it can be quite cold at night, especially at high altitudes.

• Light walking boots suitable for use in the mountains
• Sleeping bag
• Polar fleece jacket
• Hat
• 60 litres backpack or equivalent (it will be carried by mules during the walks)
• All other useful gear for trekking
• An exhaustive list of items to bring will be sent to you before departure

See our What to Bring section for some recommended items to pack.

what-to-bring From London
- Ryanair from Luton
- easyJet From Gatwick
- BA to Marrakech (October to March)

In Morocco
- Free pick up from Marrakech airport
- From Agadir we can arrange a taxi to collect you see options below). It is also possible to travel by bus (takes 6hrs)
- From Casablanca take a taxi (20 minutes) to Casablanca’s train station (€30), and then a train to Marrakech (takes 3hrs), leaves every 2hrs, €10. Alternatively we can transfer you (see options below)