4×4 day trip to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech

Best Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains day tour

OVERVIEW

Escape to the splendid Atlas Mountains and enjoy an award winning day trip from Marrakech to the wilderness: Drive past Agafay desert and ride camels. Cross Kik plateau with its mud-brick humble Berber houses. Meet shepherds waving at you with smiling faces. Visit Berber houses and sip a cup of mint tea. Hike Toubkal National Park to the waterfalls.
Atlas Mountain Marrakech day tour is a great escape for a day out of the bustling city. Atlas Mountain location make this day tour the best opportunity to meet the Berbers and discover their amazing lifestyle.

Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains tour highlights

Drive across Agafay desert to admire the view of the arid dunes
Experience a camel ride enjoying the views of snow capped Atlas Mountains
Enjoy a tea ceremony at a Berber house in Kik Plateau
Hike to Armd Berber village and the waterfalls
Treat yourself to a delicious Tagine served at a Berber family house

Atlas Mountains day trip from Marrakech itinerary

1 DAY :
Marrakech – Agafay desert – Toubkal National Park
After meeting your 4x4 driver / guide at your hotel or riad, your day trip to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech will start with a drive south of the city through the Haouz plains to Agafay desert.
From here, enjoy some off the beaten track drive to the lake of Lalla Takerkoust where you will stop to enjoy the view and take photos.
An optional 30 minutes camel ride will be your next stop at the slopes of the Atlas Mountains before you continue your drive through the mountainous tiny roads to Kik Plateau admiring the views of Berber villages scattered left and right.
Fadma is a generous Berber lady who was kind enough to host our guests for a tea ceremony at her humble mud brick house. She will bake home made bread for you as well, to dip into extra virgin olive oil.
From here we will carry on through rough terrains to Imlil village, where we will leave our 4x4 and enjoy an hour moderate hike to ‘’Armed’’, a tiny Berber village located at the heart of Toubkal National Park, famous for its splendid views of Toubkal Mountain, the highest peak of North Africa ( 4 167 m high ). There is a also a small cascade not to miss, and surely your local guide will show you the way there.
After a delicious Berber Tagine lunch served by a host family in ‘’Armed’’ Village, descend back to Imlil, and enjoy a smooth ride back to Marrakech through Tahennaout, the main town in the region, where the weekly market takes place every Tuesday.
Your Atlas Mountains day trip will come to an end around 16h00 with a drop off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech.

Know Before you go

- Please kindly note that 4x4s take 4 adults comfortably, but can fit up to 6. The two second row seats in the back lack leg room, and can only fit children comfortably.
- One-hour hike to ‘’Armed’’ Village is optional, and can be skipped if you wish. However, an alternative location will be chosen for you to have lunch ( Please communicate the info to your driver at the start of your tour.
- You can choose to ride the mules to ‘’Armed’’ Village if you wish, for an extra 10 Euros to be paid directly to the supplier.
- During the winter season and early spring, it might be cold in the Atlas Mountains during the day, please be prepared and don’t forget warm jackets.
- Sandals and flip-flops are not recommended for this tour.
- Ladies are advised to dress moderately during this trip. Berbers are conservative people.
- Camel ride requires trousers or long shorts, skirts
- Do not forget a hat, sunscreen, wet napkins and sunglasses. They will be very useful during your day trip to the Atlas Mountains.

Included

A/C modern Toyota land cruiser 4x4
English / French speaking driver / guide
30 minutes camel ride
Mint tea, home made bread and olive oil at a Berber house
1 hour hike in Toubkal National Park with a local experienced guide
3 course lunch at a Berber House in Imlil Village

Price per person

Number of Participants	2	3	4	5	6
Price per person	85€	65€	50€	45€	40€

The distance between Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains is 65 Km. the major town used as a base for hikers to climb the Atlas Mountains is Imlil.

The best time to visit the Atlas Mountains is the fall and spring. If you are a ski fan, you can also visit Oukaimeden ski resort during winter. However, Ourika Valley, at the slopes of the high Atlas Mountains is famous during summer for locals.

Choosing what to wear for the Atlas Mountains depends on the season: Light clothes during early fall and late spring as the temperature in the Atlas Mountains is mild and sunny. However, you should pack warm clothes for winter and early spring.

Morocco’s Atlas Mountains are famous for trekking, snowing, as well as representing a great opportunity for a moderate walk and visit Berber communities.

During summer, the altitude level of the Atlas Mountains offers cooler temperatures. However, exposed valleys temperatures can reach up to 30 °C. Thunderstorms and heavy showers are occasional during summer seasons at the Atlas Mountains. On winter, the high altitudes are exposed to freezing weather and heavy snows. Toubkal summit ( 4167 m above sea level ) is covered in snow from late November to late May. During the day, the temperature can range between 10°C to 20°C. Although spring season is wet in the Atlas Mountains, and possible floods caused by occasional rain and melting snow, there will be many dry and sunny days, with represent a great occasion for visitors and trekking fans alike to enjoy the Atlas Mountains. The fall (September / October) is undoubtedly the best time to visit the Atlas Mountains thanks to its dry weather and mild temperatures.

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