Morocco Hiking Adventure
5 Good Reasons To Do This Trip!
MOVIE-SET WANDERINGS:
Walk through the ancient walls of Ait Benhaddou, and you’ll swear you’ve just stepped into a movie set. That’s because you have – from Gladiator to Game of Thrones, this UNESCO site is a real-life Hollywood star!
DESERT STARGAZING:
Get ready for the most epic light show of your life. Out here in the Moroccan desert, the stars are so bright, you’ll swear they’re close enough to touch. Who needs a telescope when the Milky Way puts on a show like this?
GITE CHILL VIBES:
You haven’t truly experienced Morocco until you’ve bunked down in a mountain gîte. Cosy, traditional and full of warmth, these local Amazigh homes are where the real connections happen – under starry skies, wrapped in blankets and swapping stories over dinner.
HUMP DAY, EVERY DAY:
Ditch your hiking boots and climb aboard the desert’s coolest ride – a camel! Out here among the sand dunes, camels are the original off-roaders and cruising the dunes on one is the only way to travel in style.
MINT TEA MADNESS:
It’s mint tea o’clock – all day, every day. Whether you’re sipping it in a mountain village or after a desert trek, this refreshing brew will have you Googling: “Can you drink too much mint tea?” and wondering if bathing in it is the next logical step!
Uncover more info by clicking the tabs below!
Trip Details
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Price Details
- $1,650 AUD deposit.
- A 2-week cooling-off period applies.
- Lifetime deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo.
- Private supplement available: $945 AUD, max 2 spots.
Not available in the mountain gites.
Please refer to our payment terms in the FAQs.
Trip length
15 days / 14 nights
Meeting point
2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hotel, Marrakesh
Departure point
2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hotel, Marrakesh
Group size
Maximum 12
Participation requirements
- You’re open-minded and open-hearted.
- You try to embrace the little things.
- You understand that even in the best vehicles, the air-con sometimes breaks.
- You don’t mind that even in the best restaurants, the service is sometimes a little slow.
- You acknowledge that all of the above is just part of the adventure, and you choose to be gracious.
Fitness Level
Level 4 – Strenuous
Mount Toubkal offers a challenging ascent, more akin to a trek than a technical climb. While not demanding advanced mountaineering skills, a good level of fitness is essential for the uphill journey lasting several hours across multiple days. Our Level 4 hikes require endurance and above-moderate fitness, with daily walks spanning 4 to 7 hours and 10 to 15 kilometers. The pace is moderate, navigating undulating terrain for an adventurous experience on this majestic peak.
Included
- Meals: 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 13 dinners
- Private vehicle transportation
- 6 nights boutique hotels, 2 nights Riads, 1 night desert camp, 5 nights mountain gîtes and trekking lodges
- A top-rated and English-speaking Tour Leader throughout
- Specialist trekking guide for 5 days
- All listed activities and more!
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Australians and New Zealanders do not require a tourist visa for this trip (at the time of publication)
- Additional hotel nights
- Late check-out at hotels
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks with included lunches and dinners
- Tip kitty (See FAQs for further information)
- Personal expenditure
Accommodation Preview
2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hotel, Marrakesh
Riad Madu, Merzouga
Kasbah Sirocco, Zagora
Overview
Trip Summary By Days
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Welcome to Marocco & Marrakech, welcome dinner | |||||
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Marrakech city tour, market visit, tagine cooking class | |||||
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Short hike from Imlil to Aroumd, overnight in a mountain gîte | 3.5 | 1 | |||
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Acclimatization hike around Armed village, home-cooked meal | |||||
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Hike to Toubkal Basecamp through Aït Mizane Valley | 10 | 5 | |||
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Summit Mount Toubkal at dawn, return to Aroumd | 3.5 | 3 | |||
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Descent to Imlil, celebration dinner | 13.5 | 4.5 | |||
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Visit Ait Benhaddou, local lunch, explore the village | |||||
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Dades Valley hike with tea stop at Amazigh home | |||||
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Explore Todra Gorges, picnic lunch, dinner in a kasbah | |||||
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Camel ride in Merzouga Desert, stargazing in the desert | |||||
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Full day in Khemliya village, camel rides, Amazigh music and dance | |||||
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Explore Zagora, guided tour through palm groves | |||||
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Visit Agdez, return to Marrakech for farewell dinner | |||||
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Goodbye Morocco and fellow Camino Women | |||||
| Totals: | 30.5 | 13.5 | 14 | 10 | 13 |
What our Camino Women say
Trip Map
Get To Know Your Morocco Hiking Itinerary
What You'll See & Do
Day 1: Welcome to Morocco!
Welcome to Morocco! It’s a place you’ve been dreaming about for ages, and now, you’re finally here! As you touch down, one of our team’s friendly faces will scoop you up from the airport and take you straight to the hotel – VIP style.
Ahead of you, you have days of trail-filled wandering across some of Morocco’s most fascinating and off-the-beaten-path destinations. First things first, though, it’s time to meet the group!
Tonight, in the heart of Marrakech, you’ll head to one of our go-to restaurants for a night of yummy Moroccan dishes.. It’s a night of good food, new pals, and, of course, a whole lot of laughing! You might’ve only just met, but with these ladies, it’ll feel like you’ve been best friends forever.
It’s time to tackle Morocco, Camino-Style!
Accommodation: 2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Included: Dinner
Day 2: Marakesh
Ready to hit the ground running? We definitely hope so, because today, you’re diving into Marrakech headfirst, experiencing the city the way the locals do. The local market is the obvious place to kick things off, where the eyebrow-raising scent of the local spices will make your nose tingle. Blending these spices is like a form of magic, and with a local expert by your side, you’ll learn how to combine them into a delicious tagine in no time.
From there, we’ll soak up the beauty of Bahia Palace, then get lost (in a good way) wandering the maze-like medina. Who knows, you may even find yourself a bargain or three!
The evening is yours to spend however you like, but if you need some inspiration, your guide has plenty of local recommendations to share. Rest up, because tomorrow, it’s hiking time.
Accommodation: 2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Imlil-Armed
Do you hear that? It’s the Atlas Mountains calling your name!
Leave the Marrakech madness in the rear-view mirror as you head straight to the starting point for your first hike of the trip this morning. Rolling up to the tiny town of Imil, crouched between the mountains of the gorgeous Toubkal Valley, it’s time to lace up your boots and get moving.
Today’s hike is an opportunity to dip your toes into hiking in Morocco. At just 50 minutes long, we’re sure you’ll be left wanting more, but all good things take time. You need to get used to the altitude first! The village of Aroumd, at around 2000 metres above sea level, is today’s sky-high finishing point, and it’s also where you’ll kick off tomorrow morning’s hike.
Here, far away from the cities, boutique hotels don’t really exist, but we can do better: a mountain gîte!
Trek: 3.5km – 1 hour
Accommodation: Git Armed
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
What’s a Mountain Gite, Anyway?
Ever heard of a mountain gîte? If not, you’re in for a treat! It’s basically where we crash during our Moroccan hikes. These traditional village houses are a far cry from luxury hotels, but they offer the real deal Amazigh experience, and that’s priceless.
Inside a gîte you’ll find snug rooms, chill-out low couches, and lots of eclectic local décor. The coolest part? These aren’t just a one-off stop on the itinerary. You’ll be bunking in these cool pit stops for a few nights during your Morocco trip. Once you’ve swapped stories with your fellow Camino Women on a gîte’s terrace under the stars, you’re bonded for life.
So, grab a blanket and settle in!
Day 4: Armed
Strap on those boots and grab a big breakfast – it’s go-time! Today’s when the true hiking begins, and an acclimatisation hike around the village is exactly what you need. After all, things feel a little different up here at 2,000 metres!
Weaving through the countryside, you’ll get a front-row seat to traditional rural life, waving hello to children as they play, passing hard-working farmers tending to their fields, and seeing donkeys carting tools and produce up and down the mountains. In these days, you’ll also bear witness to the post-earthquake recovery. It’s not your typical postcard view of Morocco, granted, but out here, you’ll agree that these everyday scenes feel like the “real” Morocco.
After a day out in the fresh air, your tummy will be rumbling and there’s only one solution: home-cooked Moroccan food prepared in your gîte. Things taste even better up here!
Trek: Flexible, relaxed pace
Accommodation: Git Armed
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Toubkal Basecamp
Gear up for a big one today, because you’ll be hiking to the base camp of the mighty Mount Toubkal. If you haven’t heard, this mountain’s the shining star of the Atlas Mountains, and the highest peak in Morocco and the whole of North Africa. Quite the achievement!
Towering at 4,167 metres above sea level, you can’t summit it in one day, but you can make an impressive start. Starting in Aroumd, you’ll wind through the eye-popping Aït Mizane valley before zigzagging up the steep mountainside. The ascent is a bit of a grueller, but when you stop to catch your breath, you won’t believe your eyes. You get a bird’s eye view up here, and it feels like the entirety of Morocco is sprawled out in front of you!
After around five hours of trekking, you’ll arrive at your new home for the night. Crawling into bed has never felt so good!
Trek: 10km – 5 hours
Accommodation: Base Camp Guesthouse
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Toubkal Basecamp
The early bird catches the best views of the mountains, so you’re up at the crack of dawn this morning to summit Mount Toubkal and grab the day’s first and finest mountain views. As you watch the sky erupt into shades of pink, orange and red, you’ll agree that this is an experience worth getting out of bed for!
After some well-earned rest time and some high-fives at the summit, you’ll loop back to Toubkal Basecamp, trading stories and your favourite wow-worthy moments from this morning as you walk.
The afternoon is free for you to recover. Fancy an entire afternoon in bed, resting your achy legs and catching up on beauty sleep? Go for it.
Trek: 3.5km – 3 hours
Accommodation: Refuge les Mouflons
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Imlil
After breakfast (is there anything so satisfying as eating breakfast in the shadow of the mountain you’ve just conquered?), it’s back on the trail again. This time, you’ll be making the long-awaited descent back to Imlil. A warm welcome is waiting for you, but don’t forget to take in as much of these glorious mountain views as you can before you set off!
Once you’ve tackled this final stretch – you do have 4 to 5 hours ahead of you – the chance to ‘hammam’ before dinner for some well-needed pampering is all yours (can’t see you refusing!) And why not… you deserve it!
Now that you’ve freshened up, we have a killer Moroccan spread lined up for you. After all, we can’t leave an achievement as big as summiting the tallest mountain in North Africa uncelebrated, can we?
Dive into tagines and couscous, laugh about those tough trek moments and let your hair down. You’ve definitely earned it.
Trek: 13.5km – 4 – 5 hours
Accommodation: Gite Ghazal
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Ait Benhaddou
Movie buffs, today is your day. This morning, you’ll head over to the Kasbah and fortified village of Ait Benhaddou. Maybe the name doesn’t ring a bell, but if you’ve seen Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, or Gladiator, you’ll recognise this place. We bet you weren’t expecting to find a slice of Hollywood in the Moroccan countryside!
After checking out the village’s most iconic locations with the help of a local film fanatic, you’ll dig into a home-cooked lunch at a local’s home. Then, we’re letting you loose for the afternoon to spend it however you’d like. Strike a pose – those photos won’t take themselves!
Accommodation: Ksar Ighnda (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Dades Valley
After a speedy breakfast, you’ll hit the road to the Dades Valley, your base for the next two nights. It’s hard to put into words the beauty of the valley’s landscapes, but, frankly, they’re something you won’t want to miss.
What’s the best way to check out this stunning scenery, you ask? From the trails, of course! But don’t sweat, this hike will feel like a walk in the park compared to Mount Toubkal, so you’ll want to join in even if you’re still achy.
To sweeten the deal, we’ve arranged a pit stop to break up the hike with a cup of tea at a local Amazigh family’s house. It’s basically the Moroccan version of a coffee break, and the refreshing flavour of mint tea will be something you’ll be well used to by now.
Accommodation: Dar Bab Todra (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Todra Gorges
You can’t visit this part of the world without seeing the famous 250-metre trench in the Todra Valley. It’s one of Morocco’s most impressive natural landmarks, and somewhere you won’t be able to resist snapping a thousand photos of.
There’s plenty to explore, so you’ll get to learn about what life in this region is like on a guided hike, exploring the local farms and shady palm groves with your leader. All this exploring is hungry work, but a picnic lunch is calling your name – and you’ll get to enjoy it in one of the many stunning spots of the Todra Gorges.
This evening, we have a treat in store for you – dinner inside the magnificent Kasbah. It’s a setting that’s better than any restaurant!
Accommodation: Dar Bab Todra (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Merzouga
Swapping the cool Atlas Mountains vibes for the Sahara heat, today’s all about desert life in Merzouga. If you’ve ever pictured a trip to Morocco, this is it – camel rides across the desert, massive sand dunes, and colourful Amazigh culture left, right, central!
Peering into the distance, those dunes seem to stretch on forever.
Once night falls, the desert has another surprise for you: the clearest, star-spangled skies you’ve ever seen. They’ll leave you speechless! Telescopes are overrated when the view is this clear.
Accommodation: Riad Madu (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Merzouga
Day 12 has already arrived and you will spend it in the desert village of Khemliya, you lucky thing!
First things first, you simply have to try medfouna, a local speciality in these parts. This dish of steamed and sweetened couscous and meat, drenched in butter and saffron, is out of this world. One bite, and you’ll be all in.
Then, it’s time to saddle up – but not on a horse! Instead, you’ll be hopping on a camel to cruise the dunes. Between the laughs and wobbles with the crew, it’s like riding a bike for the first time all over again.
Khemliya is famous for its music and dance, and this place has Amazigh beats that’ll get even the most reluctant dancer moving. As the night falls, you’ll be grooving with the locals to some Gnaoua rhythms, all while tucking into dishes that smell as good as the tunes sound. It’s certainly a night you won’t forget in a hurry!
Accommodation: Madu Camp (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Zagora
It’d be hard to top last night’s festivities, so let’s try something totally different. Today, you’ll hit the road to travel to Zagora, the “Gateway to the Sahara”. As soon as you arrive, a local guide will whisk you away on a trip through the town’s best bits (and trust us, there are quite a few).
Tucked in the Draa River Valley, Zagora is a pretty surprising place. Who knew that a town on the Sahara’s doorstep could be so green? It’s all thanks to those seemingly endless palm groves, and you’ll want to explore them this afternoon to escape the sun for a while.
Accommodation: Kasbah Sirocco (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14: Agdez
After two weeks, the trip is almost at an end.
Before heading back to Marrakech, we have one last stop planned: Agdez. This easy-going town is your last taste of the peace and tranquillity of the Moroccan countryside, so don’t miss a minute of it.
Back in Marrakech, there’s only one way to round off a trip this epic – and that’s with a Moroccan food extravaganza to rival all others! Reminisce with the crew, share some laughs, and remember every wild moment. You’ve laughed, you’ve cried, and you’ve overcome huge obstacles together, so make tonight one for the books!
Accommodation: 2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Farewell Friends!
Hold back the tears, ladies – you’ve come to the end of the road, and departure day is here! Share one final farewell over breakfast this morning before we drop you off at the airport ready for your flight home.
The only question now is… which trail will you conquer with us next?
Included: Breakfast
FAQs
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the AUD:EUR exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on this trip is based on an exchange rate of 1 AUD:0.60 EUR.
A deposit of $1,650 is required to hold your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. (Applicable to all bookings made 110 days in advance.)
We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 120 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.
Australia and New Zealand have several airlines offering 2-stop flights to Marrakech. Alternatively, take a 1-stop flight to Casablanca and a 3-hour train to Marrakech.
Australians and New Zealanders don’t need a visa to travel to Morocco on a holiday, provided they have a passport of at least six months validity and an onward or return ticket.
Most of our trips have a tip kitty because many cultures have interesting and diverse rules when it comes to tips. We’ve found it to be the easiest way to combat over-tipping, under-tipping or having the tip fall into the wrong hands. Our goal is for guests to relax and know that the complexities of tipping are taken care of, on their behalf.
For your Morocco Hiking Adventure, we as your contribution be:
- 2,200 Moroccan Dirham (206 Euro equivalent) to be given to your guide on Day 1. The kitty will be managed by your guide and will be distributed along the way at restaurants for included meals, hotel staff, drivers, other service providers and the guide.
(Exchange rate used – 1 Euro: 10.6 Moroccan Dirham)
Morocco is a conservative culture, so please ensure your clothing covers your shoulders and knees. 3/4 pants and short sleeve tops are fine.
Level 4– Strenuous
Mount Toubkal offers a challenging ascent, more akin to a trek than a technical climb. While not demanding advanced mountaineering skills, a good level of fitness is essential for the uphill journey lasting several hours across multiple days. Our Level 4 hikes require endurance and above-moderate fitness, with daily walks spanning 5 to 8 hours and 10 to 15 kilometers. The pace is moderate, navigating undulating terrain for an adventurous experience on this majestic peak.
Throughout the hike, accommodations will be provided in mountain gites/huts. Twin rooms are standard, with varying bathroom arrangements—some offering private facilities and others shared.
Our ground team will handle your main luggage, allowing you to focus on your journey with a daypack. In areas inaccessible by car, mules will assist in transferring your belongings.
In the unlikely event of a health or security-related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
