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Morocco walking holiday highlights

Morocco walking holidays tend to focus on the Atlas Mountains, a spine of peaks running diagonally across the country, separating Sahara from sea. There is a huge choice of trails here, and walking them helps you get to know this beautiful part of the world – literally – one step at a time. Whether you want day walks from a kasbah or wild camping on your way to a snowy summit, our Morocco walking holiday highlights will help you choose whither to wander.

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Morocco walking holiday highlights

Most walking holidays focus on the High Atlas, conveniently close to Marrakech. Trips also run from Agadir into the Anti-Atlas, which is more remote, with empty trails and fewer steep ascents. Guided walking is recommended, typically in small groups, or on an individual tailor made trip. Centre based breaks offer easy hikes out to Berber villages as well as more challenging all day loops around giant gorges and luscious valleys. Alternatively, opt for a point-to-point trek, wild camping or staying in simple lodges, with mules to carry bags and support staff to cook. A typical week’s itinerary might involve five days walking in the High Atlas with time to enjoy Marrakech. Longer trips of 15 days range further afield, with the chance to summit several peaks over 4,000m on a single trek.

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Our Morocco walking Holidays

1. Azzaden Valley
2. Imlil
3. Jebel Aklim
4. Jebel Ouanoukrim
5. Jebel Toubkal
6. Lake Ifni
7. MGoun Massif
8. Ouarzazate
9. Saghro Mountains
10. Taroudant
11. Tijhza
12. Tizi n Tichka Pass

Azzaden Valley

1. Azzaden Valley

More remote and less developed than the neighbouring Imlil Valley, the Azzaden Valley boasts a spectacular trekking lodge in Aït Aïssa village with its own hammam. From here, take easy walks to beautiful Berber villages, or try a more taxing seven-hour circuit – one takes in the Tizi n’Tzikert col at 2,930m, another particularly beautiful route passes the cols Tizi n’Teouti at 2,450m and Tizi n’Tougdalt at 2,700m.

Azzaden Valley

Imlil

2. Imlil

Many walking holidays in the High Atlas begin in the gateway village of Imlil, dotted with pink houses and walnut trees and busy with trekkers and muleteers. From here, climb Jebel Toubkal, trek through the Toubkal massif or take easy walks out to surrounding Berber villages, through wheat fields and apple orchards. The wonderful Kasbah du Toubkal is a 15-minute walk uphill from Imlil.

Jebel Aklim

3. Jebel Aklim

This is one of the highest peaks (2,531m) in the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Climb it for spectacular views across to the High Atlas, then trek the Aklim Range circuit through villages surrounded by almond trees and palms, such as Irtem and M’dint, aka City of Cats. Here, brightly dressed Berber people, who still lead very traditional lifestyles, are wonderfully welcoming.

Jebel Aklim

Jebel Ouanoukrim

4. Jebel Ouanoukrim

Morocco’s second highest peak, many people add to a Toubkal trekking holiday. With two summits, Timzguida and Ras Ouanoukrim, most aim for the former because of its huge dome peak with plenty of space to take in the views. To the south, see the land dropping dramatically down to desert plains, with the Anti-Atlas rising out of them – a beautiful sand to snow effect in winter.

Jebel Toubkal

5. Jebel Toubkal

Jebel Toubkal is the highest peak in North Africa, with views to the Atlantic coast and Sahara Desert from the summit. Reaching the top, at 4,167m, it is a strenuous trek in all seasons and shouldn’t be attempted without a guide. Beginning in Imlil, the climb usually takes two to four days, with different routes available, staying in mountain refuges or wild camping.

Jebel Toubkal

Lake Ifni

6. Lake Ifni

An out of the way, emerald green idyll, Lake Ifni is the only lake in the Toubkal massif, and lies at an altitude of 2,300m, encircled by towering mountains. There are great views down onto it from the steep southerly face of Toubkal and if you’re here in high summer a swim may appeal, but might be bracing – at this height, the water is icy cold!

MGoun Massif

7. MGoun Massif

More remote and less well known than the Toubkal region, the M’Goun Massif also looks different. Here, you’ll find deep sandstone and limestone gorges between high escarpments. There’s plenty of vegetation, too, with prosperous valleys and unspoiled Berber villages. At 4,071m, Jebel M’Goun rises above valleys carpeted with wild flowers and cut through by snow-melt rivers in spring.

MGoun Massif

Ouarzazate

8. Ouarzazate

If you know the movies Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Babel you will have a clear picture of Ouarzazate already, as they were all shot here. This town south of the High Atlas sits within a wild, desert landscapes and its buildings seem to rise from the sand itself. It’s now a bustling activity hub for adventurers heading into the mountains, desert and valleys.

Saghro Mountains

9. Saghro Mountains

This range is a continuation of the Anti-Atlas, separated from the High Atlas by the Dades Valley. It’s milder here, so offers an alternative walking destination in winter, when the High Atlas can be very snowy. The highest peak, Amalou n’Mansour, is lower than the High Atlas peaks, at 2,712m, so walking here is less challenging and altitude sickness isn’t an issue.

Saghro Mountains

Taroudant

10. Taroudant

Three cities, shaped like a triangle, make good start points for walking in the Anti-Atlas: Taroudant, Tafraoute and Tiznit. Of these, Taroudant is an attractive and accessible fortified town in the Sous Valley, nicknamed ‘Marrakech in miniature’. It has a lively Arab souk, Berber market and its hammams are a great place to freshen up after days on the trail.

Tijhza

11. Tijhza

The remote village of Tijhza is a pleasant base for day hikes into the High Atlas, climbing through the terraced fields into high summer pastures for fantastic views over Ouarikt Gorge. Seasoned walkers will enjoy the trek up to Lake Tamda. This azure lake is a kilometre long, full of trout and lies between the impressive peaks of Jebel Anghomar and Jebel Tamda.

Tijhza

Tizi n Tichka Pass

12. Tizi n Tichka Pass

This is the highest road pass in Morocco; a switchback but scenic route that signals the start of the High Atlas walking territory – a landscape vastly different to the plains below but only an hour and a half from Marrakech. At 2,260m, there are great views over the mountains that await, before the descent into the Azzaden Valley, famous for its juniper forests.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Morocco walking or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

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Written by Joanna Simmons

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Andres Fongen] [Map introduction: Anders Fongen ] [Azzaden Valley: fredsharples] [Imlil: Julia Maudlin] [Jebel Aklim: Mario Micklisch] [Jebel Ouanoukrim: Fabrice Cadou] [Jebel Toubkal: Andeggs] [Lake Ifni: justfluff] [M’Goun Massif: Mario Micklisch] [Ouarzazate: Heribert Becheneribert] [Saghro Mountains: Jacques Bodin] [Taroudant: Vicky Sorsby] [Tijhza: wonker] [Tizi n'Tichka Pass: AbdelCharaf ]

Morocco walking holiday highlights