KE Adventure

Trekking across the High Atlas

Trekking holiday in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco

The complete Atlas trekking traverse
Trek through the mountainous land of the Berbers
Climb Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa
Sightseeing at the historic Moroccan kasbah at Telouat
A fantastic trekking holiday in the Morocco Atlas Mountains

Viewed from Marrakech, Morocco's snow-capped Atlas mountains provide inspiration for a fantastic trekking holiday in Morocco. Our stunning trekking itinerary begins in the picturesque Bou Guemmez Valley and leads south-westwards through the impressive Atlas range, which includes North Africa's highest peak. En route, we visit the fortified villages of the friendly Berbers and climb on good trails through remote and often uninhabited valleys to reach high and scenic camping places. We have included the option of ascending three of the Atlas' high peaks, Mgoun (4069m / 13350ft), Anghomar (3608m. / 11,837ft) and Jebel Toubkal (4167m / 13671ft). Rich in cultural interest and wildlife, this is recognized to be one of the finest mountain walks in the world. On our return to Marrakech, we have time to explore the old Arab quarter, famous for its souks (markets) and for the quality of its handicrafts. This is the ultimate Atlas Mountain adventure holiday.

Trip Guide

The maximum altitude attained on this trek is not great and we will not be camping much above 3000 metres (10,000 feet). This means that altitude acclimatisation is not usually a problem. However, the trek does involve a considerable amount of up and down and some of the days are quite long. Additionally, in the summer months in the High Atlas it can be hot and this does have an effect on trekking performance. For most of the route, we are following well-established routes between valleys and villages. These paths are used by pack-animals (mules) and are very straightforward for trekkers. On the ascent of some of the peaks and passes on our route, we will encounter zig-zag trails on scree and some easy scrambling. During the September/October departure it is possible to encounter snow at the highest points of the trek. This trip has been given the DEMANDING grade on account of the relatively sustained nature of the trekking and the fact that there are a couple of long trekking days, especially on the optional ascents of Mgoun, Anghomar and Toubkal. You will need to ensure you are physically prepared for the trek. You should be comfortable with walking on good trails but with some steep ascents and descents, for up to 7 and occasionally 9 hours each day, and for several days continuously. The ascents of Mgoun, Anghomar and Toubkal involve climbing scree slopes and rock ridges but present no technical difficulty and should be within the capabilities of fit and active hikers.