Morocco, High Atlas Trek & Culture

Brief description 

The High Atlas Mountains is home to the Berber people. On this trek we move through their villages unchanged for centuries making our way to the highest Peak in North Africa, Mount Toubkal.

Stay on for the optional 5 days at the end of the trek and enjoy a luxury Sahara desert camp and culinary experiences including a cooking class with traditional dishes and time in the cultural capital of Morocco, the city of Fes.

Altitude Maximum: 4170 metres

Average Trekking days: 6 - 7 hours

Daily elevation: 200 - 1400 metres

Day 1: Arrival Day

Arrive Casablanca and private transfer to your hotel. With time permitting we visit the Hassan II Mosque and dine tonight at the famous Rick’s Cafe.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Marrakech

Travel to Marrakech by private transfer and after a late lunch we have free time to explore the city. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant near the Jemaa el Fnaa.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 3: Marrakech

This morning we have a guide tour of the Medina and after travel to La Ville Nouvelle for lunch at the Amal Foundation - a local womens co operative that teaches cooking to skills to disadvantaged women.

Some free time this afternoon and later a food tour with Marrakech local. 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Imlil 

Trek: Imlil to Fousarou 5 hours

This morning we depart after breakfast to drive to the village of Imlil in the Atlas mountains to commence our trek.

We trek to Fousarou via the Tizi Tamaterte (2279 m). Overnight camping.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Azib Likemete

Trek: Fousarou to Azib Likemete 7 hours

We trek today from Fousaru via Tizi Likmete (3900m) and finish at Tizi Likemete (2500m). Lunch will be prepared for us along the way.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Amsouzarte

Trek: Azib Likemete via Tizi n’nuorai (3109 m) to Amouzarte Village (1750 m) 5.5 hours

Today we are crossing a pass at Tizi n’ourai before descending to the small Amsouzarte village for our overnight

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Lake Ifni

Trek: Amsouzarte to Lake Ifni (2300 m) 5 hours

We continue today on our trek to visiting a number of berber villages. Life here high in the mountains has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Tonight we camp close to the lake.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8: Toubkal Base Camp

Trek: Lake Ifni to Toubkal Base Camp (3200 m) 6 hours

Today we make our way toward Toubkal base camp so we are in position for our summit to the highest peak in North Africa.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9: Toubkal Summit

Trek: Toubkal Summit (4167 m)

It is a long and steady climb to the summit of Mt Toubkal. We will leave early and take our time to reach he top. We descend only to the base camp for the evening

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Imlil to Marrakech

Trek: Base camp to Imlil (4 hours)

Finishing our circuit trek in the High Atlas mountains we return to Imlil. We now say goodbye to our trek crew and continue on to Marrakech by road. Tonight we have a celebration dinner for our well deserved achievements!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11: Departure Day

For those leaving us at the end of 11 days, a private transfer will be provided to the airport.

EXTENTION

Day 11: Dades Gorge

Those continuing on the extension we drive to Dades Gorge for the night. This is one of a number of stunning gorges that run between the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas ranges

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12: Merzouga

We first visit Rissani, famous for it’s local spice market before continuing to Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara Desert. We meet camels as our transport for a one hour transfer to our desert camp for the night.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 13: Midelt

We have a leisurely start to the morning before transfering back to our transport in Merzouga. This area is well known for fossils and we visit a fossil museum before continuing to drive north to Fes.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 14: Fes

Our drive continues toward Fes from Midelt. On the way we stop in forests to see barbary apes - a species native to this area. We have a number of other cultural experiences and enjoy a home cooked Moroccan feast tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 15: Fes

This morning we participate in a cooking class learning traditional dishes and the afternoon is free to explore.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 16: Rabat

We drive north of Fes toward Rabat stopping in Idriss region and Roman ruins of Volubilis.

After we visit a winery for tastings and lunch.

Arriving in Rabat we have our final dinner together.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 17: Casablanca

It is a 1.5 hour transfer from Rabat to Casablanca airport for your onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast

Level 4: Walks are 8 hours per day at a faster pace, rough tracks with some scrambling.

GirlsTrek trips are graded according to the length of hours out on the trails, the type of trails underfoot and
 the fitness required to comfortably walk longer distances, on tougher terrain, for several days in a row. 

For our Level 4 trips, we request that you have the following experience/fitness to join:

Experience hiking a multi-day trek in the last 4 years that required you to walk for up to 8hrs per day on undulating terrain.

OR Experience hiking 2 x  GirlsTrek Level 3 trips in the past 4 years. 

AND 4-5 hours a week of regular consistent exercise that involves hiking / running or fast walking.

11 or 17 days Fully hosted experience with GirlsTrek

Private transfers - all sectors

All accommodation: Riads, Hotels, Camping on trek and luxury desert camp.

Camping including bi-personal tent, dining tent with table and chairs, all utensils

Meals as per itinerary

Tips (widely expected in Morocco)

Camel drivers & camels

Seasonal adjustment

All accommodation twin share basis*

All meals as per itinerary

Champagne celebration

Small group size travel 

GirlsTrek Gift

Trip specific packing list with expert advice and great discounts

Information get together to detail the trip and answer any of your questions

Private group chat for messages and photos

At home training programme to prepare you for your trek

*You may choose a single supplement at checkout