5 days Atlas mountains and Sahara desert.
Perfect combination of 2 days atlas valleys trek & 3 days desert tour which will take you to the Moroccan Chamonix “Imlil” from where you will take
day walks and explore the berber villages prior to travel over the Atlas Mountain on the following days to get to Dades gorges for 1st stop, carry on to Merzouga where you will have a camel ride and overnight on the nomadic dunes then driva back through the stony desert “ Tazarine” via Ourzazate and into Marrakech
Detailed itinerary:
Day 1: Marrakech – Imlil – Imnane Valley
You will leave Marrakech after breakfast and drive to Imlil. This is where you will meet your guide and mule team for the two day trek. Once all your gear is loaded you will begin walking up winding mule tracks to the Tizi n’ Tamatert pass (2279m) to enjoy the amazing panorama of the surrounding Atlas Mountain ranges. You will have your picnic lunch on the Tizi ‘n Tamatert pass, overlooking Jbel Oukaimeden (3200m) and the beautiful encircled plateau. After lunch you will set off following the path down to Imnane Valley where you will spend the night in a local Berber Gite. Approx. 4 hours walking.
Day 2: Imnane Valley – Imlil
After breakfast you set off down the Assif Imnane Valley passing through several Berber villages and then up to the Tizi ‘n Ageursiwal (2000m). Then on down more winding mule tracks leading to the village of Aguersioual (1600m). Here you will have your lunch before returning to Imlil. Approx. 6 hours walking night at imlil Lodge
Day3 : Imlil – Dades Valley
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Imlil at 9.00am and head out over the Atlas Mountains, driving over the stunning Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass. You’ll pass through lots of Berber villages, and once you’re in the desert, you’ll see riverside oases and barren hillsides dotted with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house families and their livestock). Along the way, you will have the option either to take a break and visit the Ouarzazate Film Studios or stop for a hike. Once you reach Dades Gorge, you have the option of going for a hike, or relaxing at your hotel.Overnight in Dades. (Total driving time 6 hours)
Day4 : Dades Valley – Todra gorge – Merzouga
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the Dades Valley to Todra Gorge – a massive fault dividing the High Atlas mountains, rising up 300 metres in a narrow valley with palmeries and Berber villages. Here, you can go for a hike to explore the palmery, a green oasis full of large date palms. After lunch you’ll head further into the desert to the gateway town of Merzouga to pick up supplies for your desert trip. You will then drive on to a kasbah to pick up your camel. At sunset, you’ll trek for an hour-and-a-half by camel to a Berber camp where you will enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner, and sleep under the stars or in tents at a desert camp. (Total driving time 5hours ).
Day 5 : Merzouga – Marrakech
Wake up early , just prior to sunrise, we have a 1h30 camel ride at sunrise to explore the area further and we head back to Merzouga on our Camels. When we reach Merzouga, have breakfast & have the opportunity to shower and then we begin our journey through the stony desert and over the Atlas mountains, with plenty of stops for photos, exploring and lunch as we return to Marrakech. The usual arrival time in Marrakech is between 17:00hrs and 18:00hrs
What to Bring
For Tizi Trekking you need to prepare as you would for walking in any mountain region; it can be warm and sunny during the day but the weather in the mountains can quickly change from sunshine to snow and cold winds (autumn through late spring). Please do not leave any rubbish behind you; carry out what you carry in.
Tizi trekking are tailored to match the season and your level of fitness. You have the choice of basing yourself in Berber Guesthouses, from where you can take daily walks, or you can Atlas Mule Trek for 2+ days. On mule treks you usually have the choice of staying in Berber Guesthouse/with families or wild camping in 2-person tents. In addition to regular packing, here is a Check List for Tizi trekking:
