Trails of the Middle and High Atlas, plus Fes and Marrakesh
Hiker’s Journey to Morocco
Overview
Hike by day, then enjoy a glass of wine, a fine dinner, and a cozy bed each night! This unique journey features fantastic hiking days in the most beautiful parts of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains and overnights in alpine-style lodges and hotels—no camping! We've selected special routes in both mountain ranges for fascinating cultural encounters and an opportunity to hike in nature reserves where rare forests of cedar, oak, and juniper are protected. Our trails lead through orchards and farms, among goat herders and their flocks, and past mud-brick homes in Berber villages. We'll round out our adventure with urban walks in Fes and Marrakesh, with time to explore their unforgettable markets and monuments.
Arrive: Fes, Morocco
Depart: Marrakesh, Morocco
Highlights
- Hike village to village in the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains, experience Berber life
- Meet a local environmentalist, be welcomed for lunch with a rural family
- Savor Morocco's cuisine, including delicious tagines, in the mountains and in ancient cities
- Explore the labyrinthine medinas of medieval Fes and Marrakesh
Itinerary
Fes is hauntingly beautiful, with its Arabic-Moorish architecture and honeycomb of twisting alleys. We enter the dazzling 9th century medina through one of its four medieval gates and discover a mile-long network of souks, open-air cafes, and gardens.
Ascending into the Middle Atlas, we'll meet with a local environmentalist and hike into the fragrant Azrou National Forest at 5,000 feet, where we'll see Barbary macaques. The next day we hike though forests of cork and Holm oak and are welcomed for lunch with a semi-nomadic family.
In spectacular Toubkal National Park, our trail leads up to Tizi Mzik (7,965') for great views. The next day in the lush orchards of the Ouirgane Valley, we stop in for tea with a local family and learn about the conservation work of the High Atlas Foundation. Our hotel here is set among rose gardens and has a spa and swimming pool.
In legendary Marrakesh, we visit the 11th century medina and the central Djemaa el Fna Square, replete with snake charmers, fire eaters, and fortune tellers, and explore the fabled souks, where we find everything from pottery to fabrics. Depart on Day 11.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
What the Trip Is Like The trip is Level 3+, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. It combines city explorations on foot with five days of moderate hiking, 3.5 to 6.5 hours each day, in mountain environments.
Review Trip Level Details
Our hikes take place in altitudes of 5,000 to 7,000 feet. The trails are mostly mule track and well-worn paths from village use, but there are some short, steep sections. When we have a trailside lunch, it will usually be picnic style, with fresh salads, cheese, bread, and other items prepared by our cook, and served in a dining tent with a simple table and chairs.
Each participant should be in good health, since most days on the trip include hiking on paths that are a mix of dirt and rocky terrain; the trails are occasionally steep but not exposed. Being in good physical condition is important for your enjoyment of the trip. The best way to get accustomed to walking and being on your feet throughout the day is by incorporating exercise into your schedule leading up to your departure. We recommend walking, hiking, and engaging in physical activities; stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for walking uphill.
Morocco has climatic variations but the weather is largely moderate, with a cooling influence from the Mediterranean and Atlantic. The average temperature is 62°-73°F on the west coast and 50°-80°F in the interior. In the mountains, peaks are snow-capped most of the year but it can be hot during the daytime. In the south, the weather is hot and dry throughout the year, and temperatures can drop dramatically at night.
Client Testimonials
"This was an absolute wonderful adventure. Mark is a wonderful guide and amazing person. His love of his adopted country is so refreshing and infectious that I loved everyone from Morocco that I encountered on the trip. They are wonderful caring and happy helpful people. The itinerary was perfect and as usual with a WT trip way too much good food!"
Ellie Z.
Hampton, NH
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.