High Atlas and Marrakech in Comfort
High Atlas and Marrakech in Comfort
High Atlas and Marrakech in Comfort
7 Days Starting and ending in Marrakesh, Morocco
Visiting: Marrakesh, Tinzert, Marigha Mosque, Ait Aissa, Imlil, Ouzoud waterfalls
Tour operator:
Tour code:
51
Group Type:
Private
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 20
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Our High Atlas and Marrakech walking holiday in Morocco combines some moderate walking in the iconic Atlas Mountains with the vibe of exotic Marrakech. Experience the beauty of Berber villages and valleys of the Atlas Mountains in the Toubkal region with varied and picturesque scenery, dramatic passes, non-technical peaks and the guarantee of a cheerful welcome from the Berber people. Spend the nights in comfortable riads and 4-star hotels, some of them with pools.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival At Marrakech
Location: Marrakesh
Accommodation Name: Traditional Moroccan riad in Marrakech
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrive in Marrakech. Private transfer from the airport to the hotel.
Day 2 : Tinzert – Marigha
Location: Tinzert, Marigha Mosque
Accommodation Name: Ouirgane Ecolodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Car transfer. You will leave the vehicle at Imi Oughlad (1,450m), where you will meet your Berber muleteer and guide. Your first day will be a more leisurely acclimatisation hike in the Ouirgane Valley, in the heart of Toubkal National Park. The terrain here is gentler, with copper green soil and juniper trees. Head toward Tinzert village. Tinzert has a beautiful view of the Ouirgane Valley, where you will enjoy your first lunch in the Atlas mountains. The afternoon walk will be down a small valley leading towards Marigha village through the olive groves overnight at Ouirgane Ecolodge.
Walking distance: 14km / 5-6h
Day 3 : Marigha – Ait Aissa
Location: Marigha Mosque, Ait Aissa
Accommodation Name: Berber house at Ait Aissa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you’ll wind your way through the olive groves and make a gradual ascent up towards the Azzaden Valley. Fantastic, expansive views open up as you cross into the valley, and your guide and cook will pick a picturesque spot to prepare a welcome lunch. After lunch, you’ll follow the course of the river up the valley walking through several small traditional Berber villages before reaching Ait Aissa (1,860 m), where you can enjoy a hammam and afternoon relax on the Azzaden Trekking Lodge roof terrace.
Walking distance: 13km / 5-6h, 760m elevation gain
Day 4 : Ait Aissa – Imlil
Location: Ait Aissa, Imlil
Accommodation Name: Drar Adrar Guesthouse or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s walk will take you up the Azzaden valley through the village of Tizi Oussem, summer village of Tamsoult, with a side walk to the largest waterfalls in the Toubkal National Park. After visiting the falls, you will join the path that takes you to the Ait Mizan Valley via Tizi Mzzik, which is at 2,500m and gives you the opportunity to view the villages of Imlil and the entire Atlas mountain range. The final leg of the walk will be descending to Imlil.
Walking distance: 15km / 6-7h, 800m elevation gain
Day 5 : Imlil – Aguerssioual – Marrakech
Location: Imlil, Marrakesh
Accommodation Name: Traditional Moroccan riad in Marrakech
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you will take a circular route into the picturesque Imnane valley. You start by heading east out of Imlil (1,740m) and along the Tamatert Valley before taking the mountain pass of Tizi N’Tamatert (2,279m). Once you reach the top of the pass, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Imnane valley. From here, you will head down to the Berber village of Tinerhourhine and follow winding mule trails, passing through the villages of Ikkis and Amssakrou on the way. As you walk, you will pass by terraced Berber hamlets clinging to the mountainsides.
You will have lunch on a picnic spot with a superb view of the peak of Jbel Oukaimeden (3,268m). After lunch, you set off on the last leg of the journey, hiking up the Tizi N’Aguersioual Pass (1,767m) before descending back into the Imlil valley. Here you will meet your vehicle and will be transferred back to Marrakech.
Walking distance: 17km / 7-8h, 800m elevation gain
Day 6 : Ouzoud Waterfalls Day Trip
Location: Ouzoud waterfalls
Accommodation Name: Traditional Moroccan riad in Marrakech
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Ouzoud Waterfalls are located in the Middle Atlas 170km from Marrakech (3h drive). You will be able to discover the highest waterfalls in Morocco, walk around the falls, ride a local boat to cross the river or hike for 2h to get to the source of Ouzoud cascades. Enjoy the tasty local food in one of the restaurants with terraces overlooking the waterfalls. Transfer back to Marrakech.
Walking distance: 2-4h
Day 7 : Departure Or Extra Nights In Marrakech
Location: Marrakesh
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departure after breakfast (airport transfer included) or extend your stay.
Vibrant Marrakech is a fascinating city, home to numerous mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with mazelike alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewellery. A symbol of the city, and visible for miles, is the Moorish minaret of the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque.
What's Included
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Accommodation
3 nights in a comfortable 3-star grade Riad 1 night in a hand-picked guesthouse 1 night in a Berber village house 1 night in a comfortable ecolodge
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Airport Transfers at Destination
1 airport transfer on arrival and 1 airport transfer on departure from/to Marrakech airport
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Meals
5 breakfasts 3 dinners
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Bag transfers of one bag of up to 20kg per person between accommodations
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Services of a personal walking guide, a muleteer and a cook as appropriate in the mountains
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Guided day tour of Ouzoud Waterfalls on Day 6
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Detailed holiday information pack
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24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
What's Not Included
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Insurance
Travel insurance
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Airfare
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Meals not listed in itinerary
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Personal expenses
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Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
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Any items not explicitly listed as included
Check out our Q&As
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
1 airport transfer on arrival and 1 airport transfer on departure from/to Marrakech airport
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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When to go?
This trip is available to start on any date between 6th of January and 20th of December. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season. July is the hottest month in the Atlas Mountains with an average temperature of 29C and the coldest is January at 13C with the most daily sunshine hours at 11 in July. Some walks are above the snow line year-round. Please note that during Ramadan and Eid Al Adha’s festival times, many restaurants and shops will be closed, which may affect your trip experience. Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr change yearly. Ramadan 2023 will begin March 22nd and ends April 20th. Eid al-Adha 2023 will begin June 28th and ends July 2nd.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
This trip requires a moderate physical condition. There are some longer (strenuous) walks on some days. The terrain varies, and the trails are often exposed to the sun. In the mountains, the route follows ancient Berber tracks, which can be high, steep, narrow, uneven and rough underfoot (read more about difficulty grades). Due to the lack of signposted trails, you will be supported by a local qualified mountain guide. This is a very remote area. You should be a regular walker and have a good level of walking fitness to get the most from this walk.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Natural Adventure was founded by people who love hiking and cycling in wild and wonderful places. Places that we want to keep that way. Responsible tourism has, therefore, been at the heart of what we do since the get go.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
In April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, we launched the Support Local Communities Initiative. We have enabled an option when booking a tour for customers to make a donation to support our local partners. 100% of the donations go directly to our local suppliers.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Whether you’re travelling on your own, as a couple, a group of friends, or a family, our self-guided holidays allow you the freedom to choose your own holiday companions.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our self guided walking and cycling holidays typically include: Accommodation, Breakfasts, Luggage transfers, Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps, 24/7 phone assistance by our local representative and/or our central office
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Accommodations in double or twin rooms (solo travellers are usually accommodated in single rooms at an extra cost; we never mix and match)
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If possible, and entirely at the discretion of the Tour Operator, a change of the dates may be possible without charging an amendment fee, provided that it is requested at least 30 days before the departure date. In some cases, we will still have to pass to you any non-refundable charges imposed by our suppliers. In all other cases, change of dates will normally be treated as a cancellation.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
All places have been carefully checked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have selected accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
The Natural Adventure was founded in the UK in 2009, by Peter Duncan, former UK Chief Scout and BBC Blue Peter presenter, and Alex Pazderski, an avid hiker and acclaimed expedition kayaker. Both natural adventurers and keen explorers of wild places and trails, remote communities and responsible tourism partners, Peter and Alex founded our company inspired by the responsible travel values t
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
The Natural Adventure requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 42 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of the natural adventure charges.
Up to 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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