Mount Toubkal Summit & Sahara Tour

Welcome to Morocco! Arrive at Marrakesh Menara International Airport and transfer to your hotel. If you get to Marrakesh early then you can explore this marvellous city on your own.

Begin the day by driving to the popular trailhead town of Imlil (1,780 m/5,840’) to begin your trek. Trek through the Imlil Valley and over the Tizi n’Mzik Pass (2,450 m/8,038’) to reach the Azzadene Valley. Pass the Ighouliden waterfalls and stay in Azib n’Tamsoult refuge for the night.

Trek steeply up and out of the Azzadene Valley today to reach the Aguelzim Pass (3,560 m/11,680’). Stop here to rest and eat lunch while enjoying incredible views of the Atlas Mountains. Continue trekking to reach the Toubkal Refuge where you’ll spend the night in the Niltner Hut. This refuge is a very popular place to stay and you’ll probably share a bunk-style bedroom with other trekkers heading to the Mount Toubkal summit in the morning.

Get an early start today for the trek to the summit of Mount Toubkal (4,167 m/13,671’). If the weather is clear you’ll discover spectacular views from the summit looking out across the Atlas mountain range and the iconic Sahara Desert. Then begin the long trek down, past the Toubkal Refuge, and all the way back to the trailhead in Imlil. This long day of trekking will take approximately 8-9 hours to complete. You’ll gain about 900 m of elevation, then descend nearly 2,500 m as you return to Imlil.

Begin your desert tour today. Your guide and vehicle will meet you at 9:00 AM at your hotel in Imlil to drive through the beautiful Atlas Mountains. Drive over the majestic Tizi n’Tichka pass, then drive through a series of native Berber villages to reach the desert. As you drive through the Sahara Desert, take note of the riverside oases. You’ll also see many Kasbahs (ancient fortified buildings that are protected homes for families and livestock) dotting the barren hillsides. You’ll stop along the way, choosing between taking a hike or visiting the Ouarzazate Film Studios. When you arrive at the Dades Gorge, there will be time to take a hike if desired, or simply relax at your hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, leave the Dades Valley and drive to Todra Gorge. This massive fault divides the High Atlas Mountains and rises up 300 m in a beautiful canyon. Here you’ll find a number of Berber villages and palmeries where large date palms are grown. Here you can hike and explore the lovely, green, palm-filled oasis. After lunch, continue driving deeper into the desert to Merzouga, where you can purchase supplies for your time in the desert. Continue driving to a Kasbah where you will pick up camels. Take a 1.5-hour camel trek through the desert at sunset, then spend the night in a Berber desert camp. Dinner tonight is a delicious traditional Moroccan meal in the Berber camp.

Wake up early enough to enjoy the remarkable desert sunrise, then ride your camel back to the Kasbah. Here you can eat breakfast and freshen up. Leaving the desert behind, drive to the ancient fortified city of Ait Benhaddou. There are numerous Kasbahs here, and the incredible scenery has made it a popular choice for filming Hollywood movies, including Gladiator, The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia, and Alexander. Explore this amazing area together with your guide, then spend the night in a nearby hotel.

Leave Ait Benhaddou and travel through the Ounilla Valley to reach Telouet Kasbah. You will have an opportunity to explore the ruins of this Kasbah, which was at one time an important location on the region’s trade routes. After lunch, drive again over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass to return to Marrakesh. If you have the energy, explore the open-air night markets in Jemma el-Fnaa

Sadly, your adventure in Marrakesh just came to an end. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight.