Trekking Berber Villages + One Day in Essaouira
Tour snapshot
6 Days
Atlas Mountains - Morocco
00 € / per person
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Overview
Atlas Mountains & Essaouira: 5 Days of Berber Culture, 1 Day by the Sea
This six-day adventure immerses you in the cultural and natural beauty of the High Atlas, leading you through authentic Berber villages nestled in stunning mountain landscapes. The trek begins with visits to picturesque villages such as Asni, Imi Oughlad, Tizi N'tacht, Tiziane, and D'knt, offering enriching encounters with locals and glimpses into Berber culture. Ascent routes to mountain passes like Tizi N’Taghrghourte and Tizi M’zik reveal breathtaking panoramas, while a stop at the Tamsoult waterfall brings a refreshing break. The journey continues with a visit to the spiritual Marabout of Chamharouch before reaching the charming village of Imlil. On the final day, you leave the mountains for a day trip to Essaouira, a vibrant coastal town, before returning to Marrakech, completing an adventure that beautifully combines the highlands and the coast, steeped in Berber tradition.
What's Included
Group Pricing
| Participants Number | Price |
|---|---|
| 2 peopel | 00 € / per person |
Booking Form
From EU 00€ / Per personItinerary
At around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech city for a pleasant drive heading south, through the gorges of Tahanoute and Mouly Brahim, passing by the Berber village of Asni and arriving at Imi Oughlad (1450m). Meet up with Mount Toubkal team guide and muleteer crew and set off for a 3-hour acclimatization hike along mule tracks, surrounded by cornfields and Juniper trees. Once on Tizi N’Tachete through a beautiful forest of juniper. Here, you will be surrounded by a fabulous view of Imlil and Azzaden valleys. After that, you will hike down for a half an hour for your picnic lunch. After lunch, you will set off following the path to a small traditional Berber village at one called Tiziane, where we will spend the night. We will stay in a Berber guesthouse will be simple and basic but has beds with foam mattresses. The food will be cooked by the Mount Toubkal Expedition cook who is traveling with you.
As we leave the village of Tiziane in a southerly direction, we pass through terraces of large walnut trees. We will stop at Tizi Taghrghourt pass from where we get a great view back down to the North, along with the Azzaden Valley. Then, it is a long steady climb up to today’s highest point to pass (the head of the valley). The ground here is a rider than in the valley bottom and we will see reds, yellows, and greys in the exposed rocks and soils. Dropping down the other side, we wind our way down into the D’kent Valley and around to the large village of Tizgi, A unique village with its watermills and beautiful architecture. Here, we will spend the night in a Berber house that is owned and run by a local family. The guesthouse will be simple and basic but has beds with foam mattresses. The food will be cooked by the Mount Toubkal expedition cook who is traveling with you. Night lodging at the Berber house. 6 hours walk.
Today, we set for our morning’s and start with a sustained uphill trek to the high pass of Tizi N’tougdalt at 2700m. We start off amongst terraced fields in the valley bottom but then climb up out of the oases and onto the arid mountainside again. Once, we pass Tizi N’tougdalt, The long descent through a forest of juniper Cade. Lunch in the shade of huge old walnut trees along the river Azzaden. We are in the most beautiful valley of Toubkal – landscape to enjoy taking meals and recovering strength after the fatigue of a language works. From here, we enter the village of Tizi Oussem (1850m) then up to the summer village of Tamsoult. Night in tents or refuge.
From Aazib Tamsoult, we start our trek by following the Azzaden Valley up to the south as it narrows and approaches the mountains that feed its river. High above to the west is the Tazaghart Plateau, a 3900m mountain with a flat top around 1,5km across. We will see the cliffs rising up to its lip to the right of the valley head. We will continue to where the valley narrows to a cliffed gorge and a large waterfall crashes down into the bottom. After a rest at the waterfall, we will follow the valley back down but this time follow the path up the East side of the valley and work our way around and up to the high pass at Tizi Mzik 2479m. From here, we get a superb view down into the Ait Mizane Valley and the handful of villages that are known collectively as Imlil. We descend to the beautiful valley of Imlil and landscapes lush valley surrounded by orchards. Lunch on the terrace under the tall trees of walnut. Then, we continue to Aremd village where we spend will our night at the Dar Bab Toubkal. 5H30 walk.
We follow the canals that irrigate crops terrace between the beautiful villages clinging to the slopes of the northern slopes of the Massif du Toubkal, followed by a mule track to reach the small village Marabout Sidi Chamharouch (2250m). Beyond, towards the Toubkal, then we return after lunch, end of our hike, we let the mule and find the vehicle. Back to Imlil.
On a beautiful day, you’ll depart from Imlil early in the morning, taking a scenic drive to Essaouira. Upon arrival, enjoy a delicious Moroccan breakfast before exploring the charming medina, with its vibrant souks and stunning ocean views from the Scala du Port. After a delightful seafood lunch, you can relax on the beach or try your hand at kitesurfing. As the day winds down, you’ll head back to Marrakech, filled with wonderful memories of this coastal gem.
Additional Informations
About The Trek
Mount Toubkal – Essential Info
At Mount Toubkal, the World we believe in provide our clients with the best services and key to the enjoyment of any holiday in our opinion, it is the balanced and up-to-date information offered by the tour operator. We are confident that the items detailed below when taken in conjunction with a reputable and reliable guidebook will enhance your Trekking experience as well as ensuring you receive the very best service from Mount Toubkal, the World in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
M-T : STAFF
It is important that our staff in our Mount Toubkal office have experienced the wonder of High Atlas Mountains Trekking and are able to answer many of your important questions.
Mohamed, for example, has trekked in the Toubkal and Berber regions and visited many of the places included on our hiking itineraries has also made it to the top of Jebel Toubkal – many of the photos on our website were taken by him and his traveling companions on his various trips to the region.
M-T : GUIDES
All Mount Toubkal guides are fully licensed and are experienced from an early age in the Atlas Mountains areas, and guiding continues to be the heart and soul of who we are. We require that all of our guides undergo extensive safety training before officially joining us a mountain guide /or winter guide, local knowledge and guiding abilities. We believe that a local, licensed guide will offer more insight into the High Atlas region and Berber people as well as enhancing the local economy.
As well as a tip (see below) if you have had a great experience with your guide, you may wish to offer him something of yours that will assist his duties.
Please be guided by your guide’s expert advice on difficult or exposed paths and please respect the prayers of your guide and muleteers – they will usually do this outside of walking times so as not to interrupt your hiking.
M-T : MULETEERS & MULES & LUGGAGE
Your team of muleteers, along with mules, will vary in number depending upon the size of your group and whether you are camping or staying in guesthouse/refuge but they will all perform the same function which is to provide a full back up service for your hike, cook and prepare meals and set up the evening camp.
The mule team will load up your luggage, food and, if relevant, the camping equipment at the start of each day but will not always walk either at the same time, pace or route as your hiking party. So, it is important that you consider which items you may require to carry yourself in the morning and then again in the afternoon as on some days you may only meet up at lunch-time.
The mules are completely used to carrying the loads and it is not unusual for them to carry in excess of 80 kgs each which is equally balanced in two baskets. The muleteers take great care in both hygiene and presentation of your food and perform wonders with such limited conditions.
We recommend you take your trekking luggage in a large holdall or rucksack which can perhaps be folded up inside your main luggage if you are also traveling around the Atlas Mountains and wish to have the security of your usual suitcase(s). You should also take a suitable daypack which will carry drinking water, camera, hat, raincoat, etc. as you may not be in direct contact with your support team at all times during the day.
WEATHER
In winter, much of the region above 2500m can be snow-covered and hiking in these areas could require the use of crampons and ice axes. High winds and precipitation in whatever form may preclude some routes and this will be discussed before you set out or can be modified at any time with the advice of your guide.
RAMADAN
We will maintain our programme of trekking during the holy month of Ramadan but we would ask you to respect your team by allowing them the courtesy of eating an early breakfast (before sunrise) and to avoid, where possible, drinking, smoking and snacking immediately in front of them during the day – they will, of course, prepare the usual lunch though as part of their duties.
WATER
It is important to drink lots of water during your hike; water can be purchased in Marrakech before you set off or in Imlil. It is also possible to obtain water from small kiosks in many villages and from the trailhead of Tizi tamatert and at the Tizi Oussem. You will need to carry some of this by yourself but your mules will carry some more. Please, discuss with your guide the water requirements on a regular basis.
MEALS
Breakfast – tea, coffee, juice, fruit, milk, bread, butter, jam, cheese, porridge,
Picnic lunch – fresh Moroccan salad, cheese, sliced sausage, tinned tuna fish and sardines, bread, fruit, mint tea (pasta, beans, potatoes, and rice can also be included).
Dinner – Soup, Tajine (chicken or mutton with vegetables), spaghetti, couscous (main courses rotate depending on the duration of trek .You are also more likely to get couscous on a Friday), bread, coffee, tea, cake, fruit.
* Vegetarians, vegans and those with special dietary requirements of any kind need to advise at time of reservation.
TIPS
Naturally, tipping is an entirely personal matter and a little goes a long way in Morocco; however, we are always asked for a little guidance. So, here is what we would consider as fair, amounts refer to your guide, a smaller amount can be given to your muleteer team:
1-3 days hiking –150 DHS per person total
4-7 days hiking – 200 DHS per person total
7 days + hiking – 250 DHS per person total
Of course, you can offer more if you wish; tips are usually held and then passed over during a handshake to avoid any embarrassment or undue attention to the matter.
GRADING OF HIKES
Whilst, we try to ensure that our descriptions are accurate for most people wishing to undertake hiking in the Atlas Mountains, clearly, there are many different factors that contribute to the difficulty of a particular hike.
These include the length of day, terrain, altitude and weather conditions. Since these factors are necessarily variable, any system of grades can only provide a general indication.
We have tried to make our system as clear as possible but it cannot account for personal abilities or experience.
ENVIRONMENT
It is vitally important that you respect the mountain environment; litter, in particular, is damaging the landscape and can injure animals. Please, please, please take all your litter home or drop it off at suitable points.
Mount Toubkal guiding teams are proud guardians of their natural heritage and will ensure that rubbish is collected and either taken out or burned where possible. In fact, our guiding teams have been known to take a few extra minutes to collect and burn the rubbish of groups that were not so environmentally sensitive. Some organic matter can be left as much of it will be eaten by the local goats.
Berber tea house
The Accommodation will be in a Berber guesthouse will be simple and basic but has beds with foam mattresses. The food will be cooked by the Mount Toubkal Expedition cook who is traveling with you.
CAMPING
Camping is an option if preferred (June-Octo).
We provide modern igloo-style tents that sleep two persons each; they are of various sizes so ideally, we would like to be advised in advance if any of your party is particularly tall (6 ft or over). So that, we can provide the most suitable tents for all groups.
Along with the sleeping tents, we also provide one or more large traditional Berber tents for cooking, eating and socializing which make your camp a little bit special.
NB: If accommodation is required in the Atlas Mountains either before or after the trek, we can always book you at our Imlil Refuge or at our Riad Dar Bab Toubkal in Armed village.
Clothing and Equipment
You should dress according to altitude and the environment you will be located in. Most treks are in high altitude climates in remote areas. Therefore, there are often large temperature swings. Temperatures are often colder at high altitudes.
Clothing for Trekking
Trekking boots or lightweight walking shoes. Having comfortable footwear is essential for a good trek. Make sure all footwear is broken in well prior to your trek. Do not break in boots on your trek,
A tracksuit and a pair of track shoes to wear in the Berber tea house and camp at night,
Two pairs of woolen socks for trekking shoes and track shoes,
Warm down jacket and rainproof jacket with hood for protection from rain,
Woolen hat for the cold and sun hat or cap for sunny days
A pair of woolen gloves and a pair sandals to wear in Berber tea houses or camp,
Two cotton T-shirts and two pairs of long shorts/skirts
Woolen shirts and thick sweaters as well as wind and waterproof trousers,
Pair of light or heavyweight trouser and one lightweight long sleeve shirt,
Two pairs of thermal undergarments,
Equipments for Trekking
Trekking or duffle bag to carry trekking gear. Mount Toubkal can provide a duffle bag for you to borrow during your trek. This will be returned after your trek,
Trekking daypack for personal items such as water, snacks, extra layers and camera,
Water purification tablet and bottles,
Sleeping bag,
Travel Pillow,
sunglasses,
Sunblock,
Lip balm with sunblock in it,
handkerchief or wiping papers,
Money belt,
First-aid kit,
Trekking equipments are available at Imlil Center. Mount-Toubkal can recommend shops for you to purchase equipment. If you do not wish to buy equipment, you can easily hire or rent them for the duration of your trek with reasonable prices.
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