Climb Toubkal, cross the High Atlas to Aït Benhaddou, sleep among the Sahara dunes of Merzouga and return through the Dadès and Todra gorges.
This tour is for travellers who want to see more than one side of Morocco in a single trip. It starts in the High Atlas, where our guides were born, with a night in Imlil and the classic two-day ascent of Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa. Then it turns south, over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, to the earth-built kasbahs, palm groves and gorges of the pre-Sahara, and out to the great dunes of Erg Chebbi.
The two halves feel completely different. In the mountains you walk on mule paths through walnut groves and Berber villages, sleep at the Toubkal refuge and watch the sun rise from 4,167 metres. In the south you travel by road with a private driver, stopping wherever you like: the film-set village of Aït Benhaddou, the rose gardens of the Dadès valley, the narrow walls of the Todra gorge and finally the orange sand of the Sahara, where a camel ride takes you to a desert camp for the night.
This is a sample itinerary. We run it privately for your group, so the order, the hotels and the pace can all change to fit your dates and interests, and the Toubkal trek can be swapped for a gentler valley walk.
The tour suits active travellers who are happy with one demanding mountain day and several long road days. The Toubkal climb needs reasonable fitness: about 5 to 6 hours of walking uphill on day 3 and an 8 to 10 hour summit day. The rest of the tour is easy, with short walks and visits.
If you would rather skip the summit, we can replace the climb with village walks around Imlil and add an extra night in the desert or in Marrakesh. Families with older children often enjoy this version.
A sample itinerary for the 10-Day Morocco Tour: Toubkal, Kasbahs and Sahara. Your guide adapts it to the weather, the season and the group.
Airport pickup and transfer to your riad in the medina. Free time to explore the souks and Jemaa el-Fna square, and a briefing on the days ahead.
Morning drive to Imlil (1.5 hours). Meet your mountain guide and walk through the walnut groves to Aroumd and back to start acclimatising.
Up the Mizane valley past the shrine of Sidi Chamharouch to the refuge at the foot of Toubkal, with mules carrying the bags.
Pre-dawn start for sunrise on the 4,167 m summit, breakfast back at the refuge and the long walk down to Imlil for a hot shower.
Cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) and visit Telouet, then explore the fortified village of Aït Benhaddou at sunset.
Through Ouarzazate and the oasis of Skoura, along the Valley of Roses to the twisting road and red cliffs of the Dadès gorges.
Walk between the 300 m walls of the Todra gorge, then drive to Merzouga and ride camels into the dunes for sunset and a night at camp.
Sunrise from the dunes, then a day to explore: a nomad family, the Gnawa village of Khamlia, or simply rest in the shade.
A long, scenic drive west through the palm groves and ksour of the Draa valley to Ouarzazate, with stops along the way.
Return over the High Atlas to Marrakesh, arriving in the early afternoon. Drop-off at your riad or the airport.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times for this tour: the mountains are free of heavy snow, and the desert is warm by day without the summer heat. Nights in the Sahara are cool, so bring a warm layer.
In summer the desert is very hot in the middle of the day, so we start early and rest in the afternoon. In winter the Toubkal climb becomes a snow ascent with crampons and an ice axe, and the Tizi n'Tichka pass can occasionally close after heavy snow; we plan around the forecast.
Live forecast
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Forecast data from MET Norway / yr.no, CC BY 4.0. Summit figures are model estimates for 4,167 m. Mountain weather changes fast, so your guide makes the final call.
You stay in a traditional riad in Marrakesh, a mountain guesthouse in Imlil, the Toubkal refuge (shared dormitories), kasbah-style hotels in the south and a desert camp in Erg Chebbi with tents, proper beds and shared or private bathrooms depending on the camp you choose.
Food is Moroccan home cooking throughout: tagines, couscous, harira soup, fresh salads, bread and fruit, with mint tea at every stop. In the desert, dinner is served in the camp under the stars, often with music around the fire. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
The 10-Day Morocco Tour: Toubkal, Kasbahs and Sahara starts and ends in Marrakesh. We meet you at Marrakesh Menara airport or at your riad or hotel, and your driver stays with you for every road day of the tour. The first mountain stage begins in Imlil, a 1.5-hour drive south of the city.
If you are flying in, choose flights that land by mid-afternoon on day 1 and leave in the late afternoon or evening of the last day. We can also start the tour from Fes or Casablanca, or end it in Fes after the desert, on request.
The only high-altitude part of the tour is the Toubkal climb, which follows the same safety rules as all our treks: a licensed guide, a slow pace, plenty of water and a turnaround if the weather or your health says so. Spending the night in Imlil before the climb helps your body adjust.
On the road days you travel with an experienced driver who knows the mountain roads well. In the desert, protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses and a scarf, and drink more than you think you need. Travel insurance covering trekking up to 4,200 m is essential.
Tipping is customary in the mountains and makes a real difference to the guides, muleteers and cooks who look after you. As a rough guide, many trekkers give around 10% of the trek price, shared between the team at the end of the trip. It is never compulsory; give what feels right for the service you received.
Bring Moroccan dirhams in small notes for tips, drinks and snacks bought on the way, and souvenirs in the villages. Withdraw cash in Marrakesh before the trek: card payments are rare in the mountains and you should not count on finding a cash machine.
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Read our notes on fitness, seasons and altitude, or the questions trekkers ask most.
October 2026
We climbed Toubkal after completing the 10‑day grand tour of Toubkal. Nothing to fault in the organisation, from the pickup in Marrakesh to the return. Everything was perfect and just as we hoped. A special mention for the excellent cooking
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October 2026
A very good experience. A superb, very well organised outing with our guide Youssef! Very good communication with Mohamed! Toubkal in one day! Mission accomplished! I recommend it
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September 2026
A superb experience for a first 4,000 m peak, full of traditions and landscapes. Our guide Yassine was great and looked after us all the way up! I recommend it!
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August 2026
My father and I have just come back from an extraordinary trekking experience in the Atlas Mountains, including the ascent of Mount Toubkal. I can’t recommend Saeed Rashid and the whole Toubkal Hiking Experts team highly enough… Read the full review on Google
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April 2026
Climbing Toubkal with Hassan as my guide was a wonderful experience. He is incredibly strong and experienced, and always made me feel confident, even on the most demanding sections… Read the full review on Google
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April 2026
My four-day trek in the Atlas Mountains was unforgettable thanks to Yassin! Very friendly, he introduced me to Berber culture, its villages and its people, and showed me breathtaking landscapes, all while looking after my wellbeing and my meals. I couldn’t have done it without him! A big thank you!
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Can't find your question? Ask us on WhatsApp. We usually reply within a few hours.
Yes. The tour is run privately for your group, with your own driver and guide, so you can change the pace and the stops.
No. We can replace the summit with easier walks around Imlil and add a night elsewhere on the route.
Most road days are 4 to 6 hours of driving with stops. The longest are the drive to Merzouga and the return through the Draa valley.
Yes, many travellers continue from Merzouga to Fes. Ask us and we will adapt the itinerary and price.
Light, covering clothes, a warm layer for the night, a hat, sunglasses, a scarf for wind and sand, and a head torch.
Tell us when you'd like to go and who's coming. We reply with availability and a clear quote, usually within a day.
Price on request per person
See how the 10-Day Morocco Tour: Toubkal, Kasbahs and Sahara compares with our other treks, or let the quiz below suggest one.
Sort by:
| 2-Day Mount Toubkal Trek from Marrakech | 2 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €170 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Day Mount Toubkal Trek | 4 | Moderate to challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €250 |
| 6-Day Mount Toubkal Trek | 6 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €350 |
| 7-Day Mount Toubkal Trek from Marrakech | 7 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €450 |
| Mount Toubkal via Azzaden Valley | 3 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €195 |
| 3-Day Berber Villages & 3 Valleys Trek | 3 | Moderate | 2,489 m | No | €195 |
| 3-Day High Atlas Mountains Hiking Tour from Marrakech | 3 | Moderate | 3,172 m | No | €195 |
| 6-Day Hike in the Atlas Mountains | 6 | Moderate to challenging | 3,172 m | No | €350 |
| Imlil Village Day Trip from Marrakesh | 1 | Easy | 1,960 m | No | On request |
| 10-Day Morocco Tour: Toubkal, Kasbahs and Sahara | 10 | Moderate | 4,167 m | Yes | On request |
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