Embark on a breathtaking 4-day journey through the majestic Atlas Mountains, where you’ll experience the stunning peaks by foot. Immerse yourself in the refreshing greenery of juniper and pine trees, allowing yourself to unwind and rejuvenate both your body and mind. Traverse through deep gorges, babbling river streams, and bountiful groves of cherry and walnut trees as your expert guide leads you on a magnificent walk through the gorgeous hills.
As you explore the valleys, you’ll encounter small hamlets and villages that are home to the Berbers, a community of herders and farmers. Engage with these friendly locals and gain insight into their rich traditions and customs by visiting their homes. Observe their terraced fields of corn and barley and gain a glimpse into their daily lives.
Planning a longer stay? Check our 5 days Berber Villages & Toubkal Round Trek, 6 Days Toubkal Circuit Trek or 5 day High Atlas Berber Villages Hike
We’ll begin our adventure with an early morning departure from Marrakech, heading south on a scenic route that winds through the Moulay Brahim Gorge and upper valleys. As we ascend to the higher foothills of the Western High Atlas Mountains, we’ll catch a glimpse of the Jbel Toubkal towering before us at 4167m – the highest peak in North Africa. We’ll also see Aglzim at 3650m and Aksoual at 3884m in the distance.
Upon arrival at the trailhead of Imi Oughlad (1450m), we’ll meet our expert Berber muleteer crew and embark on a 2-hour acclimatization hike up switchback mule tracks. Along the way, we’ll pass by cornfields, pine forests, and juniper trees, culminating at Tiz n’Tachete (2000m) where we’ll take a moment to admire the stunning Imlikl and Ait Oussaden valleys. Afterward, we’ll trek for another half-hour to Imi n’Ifri where we’ll enjoy a leisurely field picnic.
The remainder of the day will consist of a gentle 2.5-hour hike in a southwest direction, along a dirt track, down to the Assif n’ Ait Oussaden and the red clay terraced village of Tiziane (1750m), where we’ll spend the night in either a bivouac or gite – both comfortable accommodation options.
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, we’ll begin our trek by following the Assif n’Ait Oussaden valley, meandering through the lush walnut groves, and up to Tizi n’Taghrhourte (1995m). From here, we’ll continue along a rare, almost flat stretch of terrain before arriving at Assaka Spring, where we’ll take a break for a delightful field picnic, surrounded by an awe-inspiring silence. The hike to this point should take around 2.5 hours and is considered relatively easy.
In the afternoon, we’ll make our way down along the forest’s edges, taking in the stunning scenery along the way until we reach the Berber village of D’knt (1870m) or Agouns n Assoul. Here, we’ll indulge in a delicious dinner and spend the night in either a bivouac or gite – both comfortable and cozy accommodations.
Our morning began with a delightful 3-hour hike, taking us through picturesque groves of walnut trees, fields of corn and barley, where we had the pleasure of greeting many sheep and goatherders. As we continued on our journey, we traversed the magnificent tizi n’tagdalte, descended amongst the alluring juniper trees, and finally arrived at a small spring nestled amongst the trees, where we took a refreshing break and indulged in a delightful picnic.
After recharging our energy, we set off on winding tracks of upper slopes for approximately 3 hours, eventually arriving at a small river that marks the beginning of the valley of assif n’ait oussaden. From here, we made our way into the charming village of tizi oussem (1850m), and continued onwards to the summer village of Tamsoult, where we settled into our cozy camp or gite.
As the final leg of our adventure, we trek towards the enchanting Azib Tamsoulte to witness the captivating beauty of a small yet mesmerizing waterfall. After taking in the stunning views, we retrace our steps and journey across the Tizi ‘n Mzik pass, which sits at an impressive height of 2,500m.
As we make our way towards Imlil, located in the main Toubkal valley at an elevation of 1,900m, we pause for a delicious lunch, savoring the flavors of Morocco one last time. Our journey comes to an end with a scenic drive to Marrakech, carrying with us the memories of this remarkable journey forever.
