From Imlil to the Ourika valley over a 3,000 m pass, with pickup and drop-off in Marrakesh.
This trek is a traverse rather than a loop. Starting in Imlil, you cross the Tizi n'Tamatert pass into the Imnane valley and climb to Tacheddirt, one of the highest villages in the High Atlas, then cross a high pass into the Ourika valley and finish at the waterfalls of Setti Fadma. It is a real mountain journey in three days, from one valley system to another, with pickup and drop-off in Marrakesh.
The highlight is the second day: a long climb to a pass above 3,000 metres, with views across the High Atlas and over to the Toubkal massif, followed by a descent into the upper Ourika valley, a world away from the busy lower valley that day-trippers visit from Marrakesh.
Along the way you see how life works at altitude. Tacheddirt sits at more than 2,300 metres, where the growing season is short and every terrace counts; in the upper Ourika valley, villages cling to steep slopes above the river, linked by paths rather than roads. It is a trek of contrasts, from high bare passes to green riverbanks.
A licensed guide, a muleteer and mules accompany you, and all meals are prepared for you.
This trek suits fit walkers who want big mountain days without the summit of Toubkal. Walking days range from 3 to 7 hours, with one long climb of about 860 metres to a pass above 3,000 metres and a long descent on the other side. No climbing skills are needed outside winter.
It is a good choice if you have three days, enjoy a challenge and like the idea of crossing the range rather than going up and down the same valley. If you would like to climb Toubkal, choose the 2‑day or 4‑day trek instead.
A sample itinerary for the 3-Day High Atlas Mountains Hiking Tour from Marrakech. Your guide adapts it to the weather, the season and the group.
We collect you in Marrakesh in the morning and drive to Imlil (1,740 m), where you meet your guide and muleteer. The trail climbs through the village of Tamatert and up to the Tizi n'Tamatert pass (2,279 m), with views over the Imnane valley. After lunch on the pass you continue through the upper Imnane valley, passing small villages and terraced fields, to Tacheddirt (about 2,314 m). The village sits beneath high peaks and is a base for shepherds and trekkers alike. You spend the night in a village gîte, with dinner by the stove.
Today is the big day. After an early breakfast you climb steadily above the village on a rocky path to the Tizi n'Tacheddirt pass (about 3,172 m), with views back over the Imnane valley and across to the peaks around Toubkal. The descent into the Ourika valley is long and steep at first, then follows a stream through summer pastures and juniper woods to the village of Timichi in the upper valley. You spend the night in a village gîte beside the river, where the sound of the water and the starry sky are a fitting end to a long day.
The last morning is an easy walk down the Ourika valley, past villages, walnut trees and riverside fields, to Setti Fadma. Here you can visit the waterfalls, a short scramble above the village, before lunch at one of the riverside restaurants. In the afternoon you drive back to Marrakesh, about an hour and a half away.
The best seasons are April to June and September to October, when the weather is stable and the temperatures comfortable. In spring the valleys are green and the streams are full; in autumn the light is golden and the air is clear.
In summer it can be hot in the Ourika valley, but the high pass is pleasant and the riverside villages are cool in the evening. In winter the high pass is often snowy, and the route may be adapted, for example by staying on the Imlil side.
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.
Both nights are spent in village gîtes, in Tacheddirt and Timichi. Rooms are simple and shared, with mattresses and blankets; bathrooms are shared and hot water is usually available. Bring a sleeping bag liner if you prefer your own bedding.
All meals are home-cooked Moroccan food: breakfast with bread, honey, jam and eggs; picnic lunches with salads, sardines, cheese and fruit; and dinners of soup followed by a tagine or couscous. Water is boiled or filtered, and mint tea is served at every stop.
Every departure of the 3-Day High Atlas Mountains Hiking Tour from Marrakech starts in Imlil, a mountain village at 1,740 m at the head of the Mizane valley, about 65 km south of Marrakesh. We collect you from your riad or hotel in Marrakesh in the morning; the drive takes around an hour and a half, crossing the Haouz plain and climbing through Tahanaout and Asni, where a big Berber market is held every Saturday, before the road follows the river up to Imlil.
If you are flying in, Marrakesh Menara airport is about 20 minutes from the medina, so most people arrive the day before the trek and spend a night in the city. If you are already in the mountains, for example staying in Imlil, Aroumd or Ouirgane, we can meet you there instead. Tell us where you are staying when you book, and we will confirm the pickup time the evening before.
The high pass reaches over 3,000 metres, high enough for some people to feel the altitude. Walk slowly, drink plenty and tell your guide if you feel unwell. The descent from the pass is steep and rocky, so trekking poles are a good idea, and boots with ankle support are essential.
Weather can change quickly on high passes, especially on summer afternoons when thunderstorms build over the peaks. Your guide plans an early start on the second day to cross the pass in the best conditions and will change the route if the forecast is poor.
Your guide carries a first-aid kit and a phone and knows the route and its escape options well. Travel insurance covering trekking up to 3,500 metres is recommended.
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.
April 2026
I was in Morocco at the end of January and early February and wanted to go hiking in the Atlas Mountains. There are lots of trekking agencies and I didn’t know where to start, so I contacted several agencies by… Read the full review on Google
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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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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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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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Can't find your question? Ask us on WhatsApp. We usually reply within a few hours.
No, it crosses the range from Imlil to the Ourika valley without climbing Toubkal.
Moderate, with one long day over a pass above 3,000 metres.
Yes, pickup and drop-off in Marrakesh are included.
The high pass can be snowy in winter, so the route may be adapted.
At Setti Fadma in the Ourika valley, about an hour and a half from Marrakesh.
No, mules carry your main bag. You only carry a day pack.
Yes, there is time on the last day to walk up to the waterfalls before lunch.
Tell us when you'd like to go and who's coming. We reply with availability and a clear quote, usually within a day.
from €195 per person
Price estimate
An estimate only. We confirm the exact price with your quote.
See how the 3-Day High Atlas Mountains Hiking Tour from Marrakech 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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