Marrakech, Grand Desert Tour & Hiking in the Atlas Mountains – 7 Days

Discover the grandeur of Morocco with this seven-day itinerary. Spend the night under the stars in a Bedouin-style tent, traipse through narrow passageways in ancient kasbahs, and hike the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. You’ll ride a camel, swim in an oasis, share a meal with a Berber family, and wander exotic colorful souks.

As soon as you arrive in Marrakech, also known as ‘the Red City’, you will be admiring its red sandstone city walls and buildings that make it so well-loved. The settlement has also been praised for being a big economic part of Morocco and its ancient, stunning medina, the Arab quarter. You will start your trip at the Koutoubia Mosque, a wonderful building from the 12^th century, where you can relax underneath the shadows of its gardens, full of palms and freshened by the surrounding fountains. As you walk through the traditional spice markets, Souk el-Attarin, or Souk Smata, you can discover the traditional specialties that they offer, like slippers, rugs, or leather goods.  

It’s worth looking up the Souk des Teinturiers, the optimal place to learn about the ancient traditions of leather and cloth production. Later, you will stumble into Ben Youssef Madrasa and you will be surprised by the enchanting architecture of its 16th-century building, decorated by exquisite touches, like arabesques, Islamic calligraphy, and colorful geometric tile work.

During your visit here, you will be surrounded by the unique Fondouks or Caravanserai, some unusual buildings that will dot the roads and in the Middle Ages, host merchants and wanderers and help them rest during their stay. On the day, you will encounter your guide, who will lead you to the Jemaa el-Fna in the medina and will teach you everything about the history and the culture of such a wonderful place, so valuable that it has earned its title as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As soon as the sun sets, you can encounter in the square a huge range of interesting people who will roam among the vendors, such as musicians, storytellers, and even acrobats, who will make the air full of sounds and colors.

If you do not feel very exhausted, you could have the chance to walk south of Jemaa el-Fna and visit many attractions: some of them could be the Saadian Tombs, almost 500 years old, El Badi Palace, a construction from the 17th century surrounded by the flourishing gardens and an impressive courtyard and finally, the Bahia Palace, that shelters in itself some treasurable woodwork and painted ceilings, intact from the 19th century. At the end of the day, you could reach Jemma el-Fna again, have a nice dinner, and then end, come back to your accommodation.

Day 2: Over the High Atlas Mountains into Morocco’s Desert

Today, you will depart from the city of Marrakech and will venture into the sea of the desert, crossing over the High Atlas chain, to arrive in Ouarzazate. If you are very lucky, you can admire Mount Toubkal, one of the biggest mountains in the area, with 13,671 feet (4,167 m) of height. During the trip, you could also contemplate the unusual mud-brick buildings of the local population and the Berber farmlands near the villages. You could drop by Taddert for a quick break and to enjoy a tour of the Argan Oil Co-operative, where you will be shown the process of oil production. Later, you will cross the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass (7,415 feet or 2,260 m), which is the joining point on the road between Marrakech and Ouarzazate. Enjoy the beauty of the landscape, relaxing in front of the spectacle that will unravel in front of your eyes.

After the passing of Tizi n’Tichka, you will cross the entrance of the Sahara Desert and reach Ouarzazate, the city that has earned its fame as the biggest center of movie production in the country. You can follow a tour to learn about the secrets of its studios and the backstage of the thousands of TV shows (Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator) that have been hosted in the surrounding area, capturing the essence of the environment. You will then be guided to Boumalne Dades, and after visiting the El Mansour reservoir, you will be traveling through the road of one thousand kasbahs. You will be mesmerized by the forts, made of mudbricks that in the past defended the territory from other populations. Stop by places like Kela’a M’gouna, the Valley of the Roses, and finally Boumalne Dades.

Day 3: Land of A Thousand Kasbahs, Fossil Workshops, and Sunset in the Sahara

Begin this new day with the discovery of the magnificent desert, following the road to Tinerhir, a little piece of heaven that you will find in the heart of an oasis, framed by 30 miles or 48 km of voluptuous palm trees, that will get you to Wadi Todgha. Then, you will reach the Todra Gorge — 984 feet (300 m) high — near the Todra River, which will stream through the limestone and will flow under your feet. Wander around the majestic gorge and enjoy your time while taking a break near the calming riverbanks, freshening yourself. As you slowly follow the road, among astounding views, you could stumble into many villages, such as Erfoud, which has become famous for its figs and the production of fossils. There, you can be guided through the process, dropping by one of the craft workshops, as they will teach you how they transform rocks into beautiful and detailed artifacts. While approaching Merzouga, you can enjoy the imposing panoramic views of the magical desert of Erg Chebbi, as the endless sand peaks on the horizon. You will be surrounded by incredible dunes unraveling in front of you for over 14 square miles (35 square kilometers), which could reach almost 656 feet (200 mt) of height. You could ride a camel through the wonders of the desert, while the sun reaches the horizon and makes the dunes shine. At the end of the day, you can experience a traditional night, camping in a Bedouin-style tent, under a blanket of stars and caressed by the warmth of the fire and the Berber music.

Day 4: Hidden Oases and Aït Benhaddou Kasbah

Enjoy the lights of the dawn, rising from the dunes of the Sahara, ready to conquer the mysteries of the desert. In the morning, you could choose between a little trip on a sandboard, trying out the quad ATV tour, or enjoying a little moment near the pool. Later, you can reach Khemliya (or Khamlia) to learn about the history and the amazing culture of this Saharan village, especially the traditional music and dance. The tour will then take you to the west, as you will be reaching Rissani, the perfect place to witness first-hand the local livestock auction or to contemplate its picturesque ‘donkey parking lot’. Later, you can also visit the Maison Touareg, a storehouse where you can admire some traditional objects, made by skilled artisans, like carpet, leather, jewelry, or other artifacts. Your journey will then take you to the west, in Ouarzazate, while dropping by for a moment in Alnif during lunch and admiring its voluptuous acacia trees. The next destination will be Draa Valley, where you could relax a little bit and taste the delicious dates from the local palmery.

After this time, you could travel to Aït Benhaddou and walk through its mysterious and enchanting streets, as the ancient kasbahs, built in the 11^th century and now UNESCO-protected,  and then stumble into the Granary, where you can admire the city in all its beauty. On the road, you could also spot the ancient roads that caravans used to follow for their trades, from Marrakech to the Sahara. While exploring Aït Benhaddou, you could also have the chance to see some of the stunning locations that have been included in the HBO series Game of Thrones or in movies like Lawrence of Arabia, The Jewel of the Nile, and Gladiator. In the night, you will reach the Kasbah, which is now used as an auberge, and take a little break from the adventures by wandering through the quiet streets, away from the morning crowd. You could also take advantage of the terrace, taste some local cuisine, and admire the view.

Day 5: Tizi n’Tichka Pass over the High Atlas mountains to Marrakech

Take another look at the astonishing kasbahs of the center before the daily frenzy of the city of Aït Benhaddou starts, and then you can leave the city. You will take the road back to Marrakech, by crossing the  Tizi n’Tichka Pass, as you will be able for the second time to look at the wonderful landscapes that the area has to offer from the height of the pass. As you continue your journey through the north, among the High Atlas, you will suddenly see the environment around you morph, while the weather will become fresher. Then, you will leave the tranquillity that the mountains were gifting you and arrive in the frenzy and chaotic streets of Marrakech.

If you will have still some time to spare, you can participate in the tour of this wonderful center, as the ‘Red City’ will offer you many exciting attractions: first, you can reach the Almoravid Koubba, the last proof of the astounding architecture of Almoravid, and after you can visit the Marrakech Museum, where you can admire a huge range of Moroccan artifacts and heritage, sheltered in a splendid building from the 19^th century, the Dar Mnebbi Palace. Another option could be stopping by the Museum of Moroccan Arts and Crafts, the home of some traditional and enchanting woodwork. But if you feel a little tired, you can choose to pass by a café, in the area of the Jemaa el-Fna square, and taste some traditional cuisine, while experiencing the frenzy of the place and overview this lively square.

Day 6: Hike through Small villages in the Atlas Foothills

As your day begins, you will go south, away from Marrakech, and after a one-hour trip, you will arrive at Amizmiz, in the foothills of the High Atlas. The village will offer you a great tour of the local ancient markets, in the historical city center, and then take part in a tour, in which your mountain local guide will take you to trek the mule paths and narrow mountainous roads to explore the breathtaking landscapes in the surrounding area. During your journey, you can contemplate the small Berber villages, the farmers, and the shepherds, while they are taking care of their animals. You could also watch some kids traveling to reach their schools.

You will stop by a local family’s house, which will offer you a sumptuous, lovely lunch and an insight into their everyday lives and traditions, such as the traditional homemade bread. Then you will return hiking for the afternoon and then, for the night, you will be back to another Berber house, where you will be welcomed with a nice meal and given a room for the night.

Day 7: Continue Hiking; Return to Marrakech & Departure

In the morning, you can spend your time having breakfast with the hosts, but then you have to leave them and go back on the road for the journey. After that, you can take the opportunity of wandering through the towns nearby, admiring the amazing panoramic views, until your transfer will come to take you back to Marrakech.

In the city, you can wander a little more through the center’s shops and collect some valuable souvenirs to remember your stay here, or you can take the chance of visiting another amazing place, the Majorelle Gardens. Just a few blocks away from the medina, you will find yourself in a little piece of heaven, framed by voluptuous trees that will shelter you from the traffic of the city and freshen the air. After your little break, you can leave Morocco, a country that you will always cherish in your heart.