One of the highlights of my trip to Marrakech over Christmas was a day spent exploring the Atlas Mountains. This part of country is relatively easy to access from Marrakech on a guided tour – there are lots of tour operators that offer daytrips to the area. I traveled with my friend on this trip, and we both agreed that this was one of our favorite experiences! Our guide, Rachid, was awesome, and we both learned so much. Here’s what our day in the Atlas Mountains was actually like! You can book the exact tour we did on Get Your Guide.
Getting to the Atlas Mountains
Our tour included a pickup from our accommodation, which was easy to find. They messaged us on WhatsApp with a pin to the exact location on GoogleMaps, and our meeting time – which was 8:35am. Once we picked everyone else up for the trip, we set off for the mountains! Our first stop was an argan oil cooperative, where we had mint tea (this was a common theme for the day!) and a light breakfast/snack of bread and dips.
Then we got back on the road and headed to Imlil, a Berber village in the mountains. This village is the starting point for the trek up Mount Toubkal (the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains and the highest in North Africa), so there are lots of outdoor gear shops.
Hiking Around Berber Villages
Our group set off for a short hike (about 30 minutes) from Imlil to a pretty waterfall. Then, we hiked around the valley to different Berber villages. One of them was the village where our guide Rachid was from – we actually stopped at his mom’s house for mint tea and walnuts! This was such a unique experience, one we definitely wouldn’t have had without this guide. It was a beautiful day, even in December, and we spent just over an hour walking along the paths, tracks, and roads to get to our restaurant for lunch.
Lunch at Riad Atlas 4 Seasons
Lunch was included on our tour, and we ate at Riad Atlas 4 Seasons for our three-course meal. The setting of the restaurant, with a beautiful terrace, was absolutely incredible! I couldn’t believe we got to eat lunch with these kind of views, overlooking the mountains and the Berber villages dotted along the valley around us. Then, it was time for a very short walk back to Imlil, where the van could pick us up.
A Camel Ride in the Agafay Desert
Our final stop of the day was in the Agafay Desert, which was about an hour’s drive from our last stop in the Atlas Mountains. I can’t say I enjoyed the camel ride very much – it was nerve-wracking being so high up, and I was a bit worried about falling off! But I’m glad I did it and had the experience at least once. Then it was time for another mint tea before one last photo stop in the desert. This was one of my favorite spots of the whole day – the desert scenery is just stunning!
Back to Marrakech
It only took about 1 hour to get from the desert back to Marrakech. We got dropped off in the same spot, right outside the medina gate, which was very convenient for us. We arrived about 5:00pm, so it was a complete day out of the city – but not overly exhausting!
Book this exact tour on Get Your Guide below!
I absolutely loved this day exploring the Atlas Mountains, hiking between Berber villages, sipping mint tea, and learning about Berber culture. It was a fantastic way to see more of Morocco, and one of my favorite things that I did on my trip to Marrakech. Whether you do this exact tour or another one, I hope this post inspires you to visit the mountains, even if it’s just for a day!
Have you visited the Atlas Mountains, either on a daytrip or a longer adventure? What was your experience like?
You might also like my posts:
What to See and Do in Marrakech, Morocco
How Much Does it Cost to Spend 1 Week in Marrakech?
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