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11 day Morocco tour: 11 Day Morocco Tour: High Atlas Trek & Sahara Adventure
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11 days · Active adventures

11 Day Morocco Tour: High Atlas Trek & Sahara Adventure

A trip for people who like to move. Trek between Berber villages in the High Atlas, then head south for gorges, dunes and wheels, with a sunrise balloon over Marrakech at the end.

See the day-by-day route
11 days / 10 nightsStarts in MarrakechEnds in MarrakechPrivate tour
Marrakech→Imlil→Azzaden→Imlil→Aït Benhaddou→Skoura→Dades Valley→Todra Gorge→Merzouga→Ouarzazate→Marrakech→Agafay→Marrakech

About this 11 day Morocco tour

This 11 day Morocco tour is made for people who like to move. You trek in the High Atlas, then head south for gorges, dunes and wheels.

First, you walk from Imlil over the Tizi n’Mzik pass to the Azzaden valley with a guide and mules. Then you ride a horse at Aït Benhaddou and cycle in the Skoura oasis. After that, you hike in the Dades and try rock climbing in the Todra Gorge. Next, you ride camels to a desert camp and drive a buggy in the dunes. Finally, a balloon at sunrise and a quad in Agafay end the trip. In short, our 11 day Morocco tour is private and runs on your dates.

Highlights of this 11 day Morocco tour

  • Three-day Azzaden valley trek
  • Night in a mountain guesthouse
  • Horse ride at Aït Benhaddou
  • Cycling in the Skoura oasis
  • Dades canyon hike
  • Rock climbing in Todra
  • Camel ride & desert camp
  • Buggy & sandboarding
  • Hot air balloon & Agafay quad

11 day Morocco tour: day by day

  1. 1day
    Day 1

    Marrakech to Imlil

    Drive to the foot of the High Atlas and take a warm-up walk to the village of Aroumd.

    On the road: about 1.5–2 hStay: Guesthouse in Imlil
  2. 2day
    Day 2

    Over the pass to Azzaden

    Trek with a mountain guide and mules over the Tizi n’Mzik pass into the Azzaden valley.

    Stay: Guesthouse in Azzaden
  3. 3day
    Day 3

    Azzaden waterfalls & back to Imlil

    Walk to the Ighouliden waterfall, then back over the hills through the villages of Tizi Oussem to Imlil.

    Stay: Guesthouse in Imlil
  4. 4day
    Day 4

    Tichka pass & horse ride

    Over the High Atlas to Aït Benhaddou, and a horse ride around the ksar in the late afternoon.

    On the road: about 4 h with stopsStay: Riad near Aït Benhaddou
  5. 5day
    Day 5

    Skoura cycling & Dades hike

    Cycle through the Skoura oasis, then hike among the red rock folds of the Dades canyon.

    On the road: about 3 h with stopsStay: Riad in Dades Valley
  6. 6day
    Day 6

    Todra climbing & camels

    Rock climbing for beginners in the Todra Gorge, then Merzouga and camels at sunset to the camp.

    On the road: about 4–5 h with stopsStay: Desert camp
  7. 7day
    Day 7

    Buggy & sandboarding

    Sunrise on the dunes, a buggy ride, sandboarding and a visit to a nomad family.

    Stay: Riad in Merzouga
  8. 8day
    Day 8

    Back west to Ouarzazate

    The long road back west through Tinghir and the Dades, with a stop for lunch.

    On the road: about 7–8 h with stopsStay: Riad in Ouarzazate
  9. 9day
    Day 9

    Over the Tichka to Marrakech

    Cross the High Atlas to Marrakech, with a free evening in Jemaa el-Fna.

    On the road: about 4–5 h with stopsStay: Riad in Marrakech
  10. 10day
    Day 10

    Balloon & Agafay quad

    A hot air balloon at sunrise, then a quad ride and sunset in the stone desert of Agafay.

    On the road: about 45 min each wayStay: Riad in Marrakech
  11. 11day
    Day 11

    Marrakech & departure

    A guided morning in the medina before your flight.

What’s included in this 11 day Morocco tour

Included

  • 10 nights of accommodation as listed (riads, guesthouses and a desert camp)
  • Breakfast every morning
  • Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
  • Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with driver
  • Pick-up in Marrakech and drop-off in Marrakech (hotel, riad, airport)
  • Camel ride as described in the programme
  • Mountain guide and mule for the luggage
  • Local guide for the guided visits

Not included

  • International flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance fees to monuments and museums
  • Optional activities (for example quad, buggy or balloon) unless listed
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for drivers and guides

Draft based on this programme – our team confirms the exact list with your quote.

Where you stay

  1. Night 1Guesthouse in Imlil
  2. Night 2Guesthouse in Azzaden
  3. Night 3Guesthouse in Imlil
  4. Night 4Riad near Aït Benhaddou
  5. Night 5Riad in Dades Valley
  6. Night 6Desert camp
  7. Night 7Riad in Merzouga
  8. Night 8Riad in Ouarzazate
  9. Night 9Riad in Marrakech
  10. Night 10Riad in Marrakech

Comfort level: Standard + – comfortable riads, guesthouses and a traditional desert camp, chosen by our team. Luxury camps and riads are possible on request.

Best time for this trip

March to May and September to November are best for trekking and the desert. In winter the Atlas passes can have snow, and in summer the Sahara is very hot.

  • JanPossible
  • FebPossible
  • MarBest
  • AprBest
  • MayGood
  • JunPossible
  • JulAvoid
  • AugAvoid
  • SepGood
  • OctBest
  • NovBest
  • DecPossible

What to bring for this trip

  • Broken-in walking boots
  • Small daypack for the trek
  • Warm fleece for the mountain nights
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Comfortable clothes for climbing and cycling
  • Long trousers for the horse ride
  • Scarf or cheche for sand and dust
  • Headtorch
  • High-factor sun cream and sunglasses
  • Refillable water bottle

Booking & payment

How to book
Send your request; we confirm the programme and the price in writing on WhatsApp or by email.
Payment
A deposit secures your booking and the balance is paid on arrival.
Cancellation
Our cancellation conditions are sent with your quote, before you pay anything.
Weather & changes
If the weather stops an activity, we adapt the day or replace the activity.

11 Day Morocco Tour: your questions

How fit do I need to be for this 11 day Morocco tour?

You should be happy walking 5 to 6 hours a day in the mountains on the trekking days. The rest of the 11 day Morocco tour is active but easier, and every activity is for beginners.

Does the trek climb Toubkal?

No, it crosses the Tizi n’Mzik pass into the Azzaden valley below Toubkal. If you want the summit, we can swap the trek for a Toubkal climb – see our 10 day Toubkal and Sahara trip.

Who carries the bags on the trek?

Mules carry your bags between the guesthouses, so you walk with a small daypack. A mountain guide leads the trek.

Is there a minimum age for the quad and the balloon?

Yes, both have a minimum age set by the operator. Tell us the ages in your group and we confirm what is possible.

Is this 11 day Morocco tour private?

Yes. It runs only for you and your companions, on the dates you choose, and any activity can be changed.

Local team in MoroccoYour trip is planned and run by our own team on the ground.
Private, on your datesOnly you and your travel companions, starting when you want.
Every day can changeAdd a night, an activity or a slower pace – the plan adapts to you.
Answers on WhatsAppAsk us anything before you book: +212 600 643 098.

What our travellers say

TA5.0 ●●●●●
Moroccan Active Adventures on Tripadvisor
●●●●●

A holistic experience

Booking a trip with Moroccan active adventures gave us the most memorable new years celebration of our lived. Our guide Mouhssin was especially talented at turning down deserted mountain/desert roads and finding beautiful riads…
A
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Activities on this trip

Read more about each experience – what to expect, who it is for and what to bring.

Quad & buggy ridesQuad & buggy ridesDay 7 – Buggy & sandboardingDetails →Camel & horseback treksCamel & horseback treksDay 4 – Tichka pass & horse rideDetails →Desert camping & stargazingDesert camping & stargazingDay 7 – Buggy & sandboardingDetails →Hot air balloon rideHot air balloon rideDay 10 – Balloon & Agafay quadDetails →Cycling & mountain bikingCycling & mountain bikingDay 5 – Skoura cycling & Dades hikeDetails →Hiking & trekking adventuresHiking & trekking adventuresDay 1 – Marrakech to ImlilDetails →

Optional activities

Add one or more of these to your 11-day trip. They are not included in the price – ask us and we add them to your programme.

4x4 & off-road safarisOptional · extra4x4 & off-road safaris4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad familiesSee the activity →Authentic culinary experiencesOptional · extraAuthentic culinary experiencesCooking class or food walk in the medinaSee the activity →Wellness and relaxationOptional · extraWellness and relaxationTraditional hammam and spa timeSee the activity →Atlas zipline adventureOptional · extraAtlas zipline adventureZipline in the Atlas foothillsSee the activity →Bab Bou Jeloud gate and the old medina of FesOptional · extraHelicopter tourScenic flight over Marrakech and the AtlasSee the activity →
Quick request

Request this 11-day trip

Fill in the form and press send: your request comes straight to our team’s inbox (or WhatsApp, if you prefer) and we reply with the full programme and a clear price.

  • No payment to send a request
  • Private tour on your dates
  • Or write to us: +212 600 643 098

More ideas for 11 days in morocco

11 days in Morocco: Family Trip to the Sahara & the SeaMorocco 11 Day Itinerary with Kids: Kasbahs, Dunes & BeachPrivate tour · Round trip from Marrakech · Family, split drivesFor families who want the real Sahara: the drive to Merzouga is split over three days with kasbahs to explore, two days in the dunes with camels and sandboarding, a pool night in Skoura, and the beach in Essaouira to end. 11 days in Morocco: Fes to Marrakech, Slow & Deep in the SaharaMorocco Tour 11 Days: Fes to Marrakech with Two Nights in the DunesPrivate tour · Fes to Marrakech · Desert, slower paceA slower crossing for desert lovers: Fes, the cedar forest, two nights in camps in Erg Chebbi with a day walking with the caravan, a whole day in the Todra Gorge, and the kasbahs on the way to Marrakech. 11 days in Morocco: Surf Coast & Anti-Atlas from AgadirMorocco 11 Days: Surf Coast & Anti-Atlas from AgadirPrivate tour · Round trip from Agadir · Surf, coast & hikingA sunny loop from Agadir far from the busy routes: surf in Taghazout, swim in Paradise Valley, cycle the walls of Taroudant, hike among the granite boulders of Tafraoute and walk the red cliffs of Legzira near Mirleft.

See all 8 ideas for 11 days

A similar trip, shorter or longer

All Morocco itineraries, 4 to 30 days · Luxury tours · Small group tours · Women only tours · Activities · Travel tips · About our team

Quad & buggy rides
Land adventure

Quad & buggy rides

On this trip: Day 7 – Buggy & sandboarding

Quad biking Marrakech style means leaving the city noise behind in minutes: dusty palm grove tracks, Berber villages and the rocky hills of the Agafay desert, with the Atlas Mountains on the horizon. Our guides ride in front, set the pace to the slowest rider and stop for photos and mint tea. You do not need any experience – we show you the controls and do a short practice loop before we leave.

Where
Marrakech palm grove (Palmeraie), Agafay desert, Merzouga dunes
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Beginner friendly, no experience needed
Minimum age
Drivers usually 16+; younger children ride as buggy passengers
  • Desert right next to the city
  • Quad or buggy, your choice
  • Real landscapes, not a track
See the full activity page
 Camel & horseback treks
Land adventure

Camel & horseback treks

On this trip: Day 4 – Tichka pass & horse ride

Camel trekking Morocco’s Sahara is the slow, quiet way into the desert: a line of camels led by a guide on foot, swaying over the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga as the light turns soft. Most of our guests ride at sunset to a camp in the dunes and come back at sunrise. It is calm, not sporty – anyone who can sit on a saddle for an hour can do it.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi), Agafay desert, Marrakech palm grove
Duration
1 hour to 6 days
Level
Easy, no experience needed for camels
Minimum age
Children ride with an adult; ask us for small kids
  • The classic Sahara moment
  • Local camel men
  • Slow travel
See the full activity page
 Desert camping & stargazing
Land adventure

Desert camping & stargazing

On this trip: Day 7 – Buggy & sandboarding

Sahara desert camping in Morocco is about one evening you will not forget: arriving at a camp hidden between the dunes of Erg Chebbi, climbing a ridge for sunset, eating tagine by the fire while drums play, then lying on a rug under more stars than you thought possible. Our camps near Merzouga range from simple nomad-style tents to comfortable tents with real beds and private bathrooms.

Where
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes), Agafay desert near Marrakech
Duration
1 to 3 nights
Level
Easy, for all ages
Camp types
Nomad-style, standard and luxury tents
  • Real dunes
  • A sky full of stars
  • Choose your comfort
See the full activity page
 Hot air balloon ride
Air adventure

Hot air balloon ride

On this trip: Day 10 – Balloon & Agafay quad

A hot air balloon Marrakech flight is the quietest way to see Morocco wake up. You leave the city in the dark, watch the burners light up the envelope, and lift off just as the sun climbs over the Atlas Mountains. Below you, red-earth villages, olive groves and dry riverbeds turn gold, and on clear winter mornings the snow on the High Atlas shines on the horizon.

Where
Countryside outside Marrakech (launch site set by the pilot each morning)
Duration
About 1 hour in the air, 4-5 hours door to door
Start time
Very early pick-up, before sunrise
Level
No experience needed
  • Sunrise over the Atlas
  • Silent, slow flying
  • Rural Morocco from above
See the full activity page
 Cycling & mountain biking
Land adventure

Cycling & mountain biking

On this trip: Day 5 – Skoura cycling & Dades hike

Mountain biking Morocco’s High Atlas means riding mule paths between Berber villages, rolling down terraced valleys and stopping for tea where the trail meets a walnut grove. Our guides know the tracks around Marrakech, the Ourika and Imlil valleys and the Agafay hills, and pick routes that fit your level – from easy dirt roads to longer climbs and technical descents.

Where
Agafay desert, Ourika and Imlil valleys (High Atlas), Dades and Todra gorges
Duration
Half day to multi-day tours
Level
Easy to challenging – routes chosen for you
Bikes
Mountain bikes and e-bikes, helmet included
  • Mountains near the city
  • Village trails, not empty parks
  • Huge variety
See the full activity page
 Hiking & trekking adventures
Land adventure

Hiking & trekking adventures

On this trip: Day 1 – Marrakech to Imlil

Hiking Morocco’s High Atlas is a walk through a lived-in landscape: terraced fields, walnut trees, flat-roofed Berber villages built from the same red earth as the mountains, and mule paths that people still use every day. Our local mountain guides grew up around these valleys. They choose the route, set a steady pace and arrange lunch or a night in a village house.

Where
High Atlas (Imlil, Ourika, Toubkal), Dades & Todra gorges, Merzouga dunes
Duration
Day hikes to 5-day treks
Level
Easy valley walks to challenging summit treks
Minimum age
Valley walks for families; Toubkal for fit teens and adults
  • Real mountains near Marrakech
  • Toubkal, the big one
  • Village life on the trail
See the full activity page
 4x4 & off-road safaris
Land adventure

4x4 & off-road safaris

Optional extra: 4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad families

A 4x4 tour Morocco style takes you where normal cars cannot go: around the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, across the black stone plains near Merzouga, up rough mountain tracks in the Atlas and down into dry riverbeds where nomads still water their flocks. You sit back with an experienced local driver who knows the pistes, the weather and the best places to stop.

Where
Merzouga & Erg Chebbi, High Atlas tracks, Dades & Todra gorges, Agafay
Duration
Half day to multi-day private tours
Level
Easy – you are a passenger, no driving needed
Group
Private vehicle for your family or group
  • Reach the hidden places
  • Drivers who know the pistes
  • Private and flexible
See the full activity page
 Authentic culinary experiences
Moroccan experience

Authentic culinary experiences

Optional extra: Cooking class or food walk in the medina

A Morocco food tour is the quickest way into the country’s heart. With one of our local guides you taste fresh msemen pancakes at breakfast, follow the smell of cumin through the spice souk, try harira and grilled meat at the stalls of Jemaa el-Fna, and learn why a tagine needs time. We take you where locals actually eat, not where the menus are in five languages.

Where
Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira, Atlas villages, Merzouga
Duration
3-hour food walk to full-day class
Level
Easy – come hungry
Diets
Vegetarian options on request
  • Street food you would not find alone
  • Markets as a lesson
  • Cooking with real cooks
See the full activity page
 Wellness and relaxation
Moroccan experience

Wellness and relaxation

Optional extra: Traditional hammam and spa time

A Morocco wellness retreat with us is built around your rhythm, not a fixed timetable. Start with a traditional hammam in Marrakech, rest in a riad courtyard with only the fountain for company, stretch on a yoga mat facing the Atlantic, and end with a night in the Merzouga desert where the silence is almost total. We plan the logistics so you can simply let go.

Where
Marrakech, Agafay, Atlas valleys, Essaouira, Taghazout, Merzouga
Duration
Half-day hammam to 7+ day retreat
Level
Easy – all fitness levels
Group
Solo, couples, friends or private groups
  • The hammam ritual
  • Riads made for rest
  • Yoga with a view
See the full activity page
 Atlas zipline adventure
Air adventure

Atlas zipline adventure

Optional extra: Zipline in the Atlas foothills

A zipline Marrakech day takes you out of the hot, busy city and into the cool air of the Atlas foothills, where adventure parks stretch long cables across valleys and over trees. You clip in, step off the platform and fly above the red earth, olive terraces and small Berber villages, with the High Atlas peaks behind you. It is one of the easiest ways to feel the mountains without a long trek.

Where
Adventure parks in the Atlas foothills, about an hour from Marrakech
Duration
Half day or full day with transfers
Level
Beginner friendly – no climbing skills needed
Minimum age
Set by each park, often with a minimum height for children
  • Escape the city heat
  • Atlas views from the air
  • More than one ride
See the full activity page
 Bab Bou Jeloud gate and the old medina of Fes
Air adventure

Helicopter tour

Optional extra: Scenic flight over Marrakech and the Atlas

A helicopter tour Marrakech flight shows you in minutes what takes days to see on the ground: the red walls and palm groves of the city, the stony plateau of the Agafay desert and the deep valleys of the High Atlas. Unlike a balloon, a helicopter follows a planned route, so you can ask for the scenery that matters most to you, from snowy peaks to quiet Berber villages.

Where
From the Marrakech area, routes agreed with the operator
Duration
Short scenic flights to longer tours and transfers
Level
No experience needed
Passengers
Small groups – seats depend on the helicopter
  • Three landscapes in one flight
  • A route that fits you
  • Big views, little time
See the full activity page
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