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Toubkal Ascent and Desert Trek
Tour Overview
Experience a thrilling hike to the Toubkal summit and a road trip to the mesmerizing desert of Morocco on this 5-day journey! Connect with the local culture as you spend nights in the mountain huts of the High Atlas, sharing a loaf of bread with Berbers, and in the Merzouga desert camps learning to play the Tamtam drums with the nomads. Immerse yourself in the beauty of this unique combination of the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert.
Tour Highlights
- Climb Mount Toubkal, the tallest peak of North Africa, and immerse yourself in Berber culture as you traverse rugged mountains and Berber villages.
- Visit the Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou, a place recognized for its Game of Thrones and Gladiator filming locations.
- Embark on a captivating journey to the Erg Chebbi red sand dunes via a camel safari, and take in the gorgeous sights as you go from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara desert.
- Spend a night in a traditional camp like a nomad, and let the sweeping landscapes of the desert mesmerize you.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Marrakesh – Imlil – Mount Toubkal
Beginning your adventure in Marrakech, you will shortly make your way to Imlil, the gateway to the Mount Toubkal hike. At this point, your guide, muleteer and cook will welcome you and take care of all suitcases. The day's hike will be a 1200 meter height gain from the Aroumd village. Across the Ait Mizane valley, you will then climb a series of switchbacks, alongside the hoof tracks of the muleteers. At the end of the day, your destination will be the holy shrine of Sidi Chamharouch and Toubkal Hut (3200m) where the crew will spend the night and enjoy dinner.
Day 2 : Mount Toubkal – Imlil Village
Set your sights high and embark on a 10-hour journey to the summit of Mt. Toubkal. At an altitude of 4167 m, you'll be challenged with a challenging hike over rocky terrain that will take you about four hours. When you reach the summit, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Sahara desert to your east and the Nfiss Valley's peaks next to the Atlantic coast to the west. Take a break and enjoy a packed breakfast at the summit before you make your way back down to the Toubkal hut base for lunch. After lunch, you can enjoy a pleasant descent down to Imlil and treat yourself to a nice hammam, dinner, and stay at a hotel for the night.
Day 3 : Imlil – Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou – Dades Valley
After a delicious breakfast, it's time to explore the wonders of the Morocco Sahara Desert Tour! Taking in the unbelievable views of the Tizin Ntichka pass, we head to the Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou--a remarkable earthen village that has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once there, a local guide will give a detailed overview of the 17th-century architecture. After lunch, we'll make a stop at Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate. A guided tour of the movie sets is available throughout the day. Our journey continues as we explore the oasis of Skoura, the stunningly preserved Kasbah Amridil, and the road of 1001 Kasbahs in Boumalne Dades. Along the way, we make a stop at one of the local artisanal distilleries to learn more about the process. After dinner, we settle in for the night at the hotel situated on the edge of the Dades canyons. What an incredible day!
Day 4 : Dades Valley – Rissani – Merzouga Dunes
Today, you'll be embarking on a trip to the town of Tinghir. During the French colonial period of the 1900s, this area served as a military bastion. The town is also renowned for its Jewish community and silver jewelry making. Your guide will be accompanying you on a stroll through the oasis and right up to the breathtaking Todgha Canyons. We left our destination in the afternoon for Rissani; a sacred city most renowned for being the birth place of the dynasty currently governing Morocco, the Alaouites. Once in the town, we stopped by the dates market before making our way to Merzouga. After arriving at our destination, the caravan of camels awaited us to embark on our journey to Erg Chebbi – an exciting adventure ahead! Pause at the crest of one of the sand dunes to observe the sun sink beneath the horizon, casting brilliant hues across the dunes. As twilight approaches, make your way to the remote Moroccan Sahara desert camp. Upon arrival, sink into your tent and prepare for a delectable Moroccan feast illuminated by the glittering night sky. Enjoy the evening around the campfire with the nomad hosts and be delighted with the rhythms of Tamtam drums.
Day 5: Merzouga – Marrakech
Early morning wake up to watch the sunrise (optional), followed by breakfast and a camel ride back to the camp operator’s lodge. Greet your chauffeur for a lengthy journey as you journey home to Marrakech through Ouarzazate and the High Atlas Mountains. Your incredible Atlas hiking and Sahara desert excursion will be concluded at a riad, hotel, or any destination you choose in Marrakech.Included
- Enjoy a private transfer from Marrakech to Imlil in an air-conditioned modern vehicle.
- Upon arrival, you'll be met by a experienced local licensed English and French speaking mountain guide for your Toubkal ascent trek.
- Mules will be provided for luggage and meals transportation as you hike up Toubkal, with an overnight stay at the Toubkal refuge.
- All meals and mineral water will be provided (full board) during your Toubkal hike.
- On the second night, you'll stay in a Toubkal lodge in Imlil before being picked up on the third day.
- Enjoy a ride in an air-conditioned modern 4x4 or van, driven by an English-speaking driver/guide, for the desert part of the tour.
- The third night is spent in a private air-conditioned ensuite room at Auberge Panorama or Hotel Babylon, with dinner and breakfast included.
- Take a magical sunset camel ride in Erg Chebbi, then spend the fourth night in a Sahara desert camp on the edge of Erg Chebbi.
- You'll be accommodated in a private tent with shared bathrooms, including at the lodge run by the camp operator, you can take a shower in the morning.
- Dinner and breakfast are both included.
- There is the option to upgrade to a deluxe camp with an ensuite tent available when booking your desert tour.
Excluded
- Beverages and lunches
- Entrance fees (if applicable)
- Local guides (if applicable)
Things to Remember
- The cost per person for a 2-day hike to Mount Toubkal varies based on the number of people in your party.
- Keep in mind that the trek is particularly challenging in winter due to the snow, and many participants struggle with altitude sickness.
- Driving times exclude any stops for sightseeing, photos, lunch, or a break. The third day driving from Erg Chebbi to Marrakech is quite long, so please be prepared for the journey.
- If there are five or more participants, a van will be used for the tour.
- Additionally, local guides and entrance fees (if applicable) must be paid directly to the suppliers.
- Pick up for the desert tour should be between 7:30 and 8:00 AM, and sandboards are available from the lodge at Erg Chebbi to take with you if you wish to go sandboarding.
prices for private tours
Private tours are organized in luxury vehicles with your own private driver
| NUMBER OF PEOPLE | 2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax | 5 Pax | 6 Pax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE PER PERSON | 520 € | 420 € | 370 € | 320 € | 290 € |
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Get in touch
- Email us
- Tel: +212 - 666 - 168 - 288
- Office +212 - 524 - 201 - 601
- Nº 11 Imm C CIBAM II
, Gueliz, Marrakech
