14-Day Morocco Trip – Toubkal + the Wild South

After a beautiful Moroccan breakfast, you’ll meet your guide who will brief you on your itinerary, predicted weather conditions for the hike, and an equipment check. 

Then our adventure begins with a pick up from your accommodation and a beautiful scenic drive towards the Ait Mizane Valley of the High Atlas Mountains, where we will have lunch in the quaint village of Imlil.

Afterwards, we will take an afternoon stroll up to the traditional Berber village of Armed which is situated at the edge of Toubkal National Park and where we will stay overnight.

Take the opportunity to relax or explore this quaint valley and rest well that night as the next day is when the hard work starts. 

That morning after breakfast we begin our venture from the village of Armed and make our way along the Mizane Valley and enter into Toubkal National Park towards the shrine of Sidi Chamarouch. 

The village of Armed is built on a moraine spur overlooking the valley floor and is the largest village in the valley and provides an exciting mix of traditional terraced farming and streets that seem to be permanently gridlocked by goats and cattle. 

As we continue east and crossing the floodplain our route takes us along mule tracks and up steep terrain into the high rocky cliffs above the valley. Crossing the river we eventually come to the pastoral shrine of Sidi Chamarouch, which attracts tourists and pilgrims alike (although only Muslims are allowed to cross the stone bridge to visit the shrine itself). 

We will have a tea/coffee stop here overlooking spectacular views over the Atlas Mountain Range before continuing our steady ascent to Refuge Mouflon where lunch awaits and afternoon of fun training.

Rise and shine as we make our attempt on the summit of Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in Northern Africa. 

With our crampons and ice axes ready, we begin our ascent by crossing the stream above the refuge and slowly zigzagging our way up through valley before arriving at a plateau beneath the ridgeline. We take a welcomed break and get ready for a short walk to the summit where laying before you are quite breathtaking views in every direction, from the Marrakesh Plain to the High Atlas in the north and as far south as the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara.

Afterwards, we make a steady descent from the summit of Toubkal to our refuge where a hearty meal awaits you and the chance to reminisce over your summit to the top of Northern Africa. 

We start our day with a good breakfast and a stretch of the legs before commencing our descent down through Toubkal’s magnificent steep valleys and arriving in the village of Imlil where we will have a celebratory lunch for you. 

After lunch, we depart for the fascinating city of Marrakech which is home to numerous mosques, palaces, gardens and of course the vibrant Medina. Take the opportunity to explore this walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with wondrous maze like alleyways that are home to thriving souks (marketplaces) selling traditional textiles, pottery and jewellery. 

That evening, you can experience incredible cuisine or even take a relaxing Hammam, a traditional Morocco massage, that will take away any aches or pains.

Your two day Marrakech experience is a unique guided experience of Marrakech as we unearth its hidden gems, take a glimpse at its beautiful traditions and taste some of its delicious food offerings. 

Today’s insight into Marrakech orientates you around this vibrant city as we discover the beautiful Majorelle Garden, with its French-influenced architecture and connection to the French designer Yves Saint Laurent. Afterwards, we will take a look at Morocco’s unique traditions from its colourful souks (markets), tanneries and its unique ovens that create the heat for a Hammam spa and also bake the daily bread for the local community. 

We will then rest our feet with a bite to eat and afterwards you have the opportunity to relax or explore the bustling streets of Marrakech.  

This morning, part 2 of our guided tour of Marrakech takes a look at its spectacular architecture from the ancient ramparts to the incredible Bahia palace with its Moorish iconic architecture and the Saadian tombs. 

After a bite to eat, take the opportunity to relax or explore the bustling streets and markets of Marrakech or even try a relaxing Hammam to feel revitalised.   

We depart the vibrant city of Marrakech and make our way off the beaten track over the Atlas mountains towards the amazing setting of Ait Benhaddou. 

Along the way, we will have lunch and explore Telouet, a renowned town that was once the route of merchant caravans as they passed from the desert over the Atlas mountains down to Marrakech. We will take a visit to the famous Telouet kasbah.

Afterwards, we continue our journey south to Ait Benhaddou, a renowned destination that is located in the foothills on the southern slopes of the High Atlas and is famed for being a World UNESCO Heritage site, having incredible architecture and a location for filming movies such as Gladiator. Take the time to explore this very unique setting in southern Morocco. 

Today, we leave the beautiful setting of Ait Benhaddou to venture further south to the incredible setting of the Dades Gorge, a dramatic landscape of rugged wadi gorges carved out by the Dadès River which originates in the High Atlas range. 

We will have lunch in a unique village called Bou Tharar before taking a 12km hike through a breathtaking valley that connects to the Dades Gorge. On route we will stop off to have afternoon tea with a Nomadic family of the region before arriving in the impressive valley of the Dades Gorge. 

This morning you have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Dades Gorge or just relax in the amazing surroundings of this unique destination. 

After lunch, we head south passing the valley of roses towards the town of Agdz, an oasis in the heart of the Draa valley with a still-pristine palmeraie (palm grove), ancient mudbrick kasbahs and a strong tradition of carving, pottery, and basket-weaving. The town is also famous as it is located along the old caravan route linking Marrakech to Timbuktu and played an important role in the exchange of goods across the Sahara.

That evening, we will dine and relax in its picturesque surroundings. 

We set off this morning in a southerly direction to the wild sandy landscapes of the Sahara for your magical desert experience.  

On route we will visit Tamgrout, a small village which historically served as a hub of learning and religion through its famous Sufi zawiya. This was a historical center of the Nasiriyya order, one of the most influential and largest Sufi orders in the Islamic world. Afterwards, we continue towards a small oasis town called Mhamid, where we will have lunch before we begin our desert experience. 

Our journey will take us deeper into the heart of the Sahara to a place called Chegaga. When we arrive at our camp you can enjoy a Saharan cup of tea before we set off on a camel ride to see the sunset from the golden sand dunes of Chegaga. We will have dinner that evening and enjoy the rhythms of local traditional music beside our campfire underneath a majestic starry sky.

Wake up to a majestic sunrise (optional if you are not an early morning person) and wet your appetite for a memorable breakfast overlooking the Sahara desert.

Afterwards, we meander our way out of the desert towards the town of Foum Zguid and then by normal road to Taliouine. The town is famous for its production of saffron and is one of the main exporters of this spice worldwide. 

Take the opportunity to soak in the rugged and wild landscapes as we eat lunch before continuing our journey west to Taroudant, a bustling market town with red-mud walls known as ‘Little Marrakesh’ and with picturesque views of the snow capped peaks of the Atlas mountains calling beyond. It is much less tourism orientated but it is a unique destination where the Berber culture thrives as they trade the produce of the rich and fertile Oued Souss plain.

Today, we depart the bustling market town of Taroudant and make our way west to the setting sun and the magic of Morocco’s coastline. Once we hit the coast, we continue our journey north along Morocco’s wild coastline towards Imsouane, a colourful fishing village, where you can take the opportunity to experience surfing in this spectacular town famous for incredible waves, take a stroll along its sandy beaches or savour the town’s unique culinary delights. 

Later that afternoon, we make way to Essaouira, an enchanting, laid-back and colourful port town which means “little picture” in Arabic. It has a vibrant blue-and-white “medina” which is enclosed by fairy-tale, sand-coloured ramparts and imposing stone gates. The perfect place to relax, unwind or take an adventure. 

You have the day to either relax, explore or take an adventure in picturesque setting of Essaouira. 

This morning you have the last opportunity to soak in the wonderful atmosphere of Essaouira’s markets and majestic coastal before we depart the little picture and head east to the magical “Red City” of Marrakech. 

Along the way, we will make a stop for lunch before making our way towards Marrakech where we bid a fond farewell and we really hope you have had an amazing time exploring some of Morocco’s most unique destinations.

*If you require an extra night of accommodation or an airport transfer please request at the time of booking as we are more than happy to accommodate you.