Hiking in Morocco – Tours, Tips & Experiences

Snow-capped mountains, forested valleys in the Atlas Mountains, barren desert landscapes in the Sahara and bizarre rocky landscapes along the coast make Morocco a dream destination for every outdoor enthusiast.

Guided trekking trips to Morocco Adventurous hiking and trekking trips to the Atlas Mountains, the desert and to oases under German-speaking leadership. www.house excursions.en/travel/morocco

We were on the road in Morocco for almost three months and explored different regions. Here we give you tips for unforgettable hikes, travel, accommodation and equipment for Morocco.

The most beautiful hikes in the High Atlas

The High Altas Mountains are located in the south center of Morocco. Here are the challenging 4000m peaks, including the highest peak in Morocco: the Jebel Toubkal.

Jebel Toubkal climb

In the high Atlas Mountains the Jebel Toubkal towers majestically – with 4.167 meters the highest mountain in North Africa. You can reach it easily coming from Marrakesh. In summer, Jbel Toubkal can be climbed in two to three days starting from Imlil. In the winter months an ascent is possible, but it is much more difficult.

The ascent of Jbel Toubkal takes about two days. Optionally, you can also climb Ras Ouanoukrim and Timzguida.

Ait Bouguemez hike

The fertile valley of Ait Bouguemez is located at 1800 meters in the High Atlas. On the spot you will get special insights into the life of the Berbers living in the high Atlas Mountains.

From the Ait Bougoumez valley there are different hiking and trekking tours. From there you can hike the 30 kilometers long path to Zaouiat Ahansal or make a three day tour to Jbel M'Goun.

Jebel M'Goun climb

Climbing Jebel M'Goun, in the middle of the High Atlas, you will see colorful gorges, traditional mountain villages, green valleys and unforgettable views.

You can do a trekking tour of several days as well as a day trip to Jbel M'Goun. The climb is very demanding and only for experienced hikers.

The most beautiful hikes in the Middle Atlas

The Atlas Mountains stretch for more than 2.300 kilometers across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and divided into eight mountain ranges. The middle Altas Mountains are located in the center of Morocco.

Jebel Zalagh climb

The Jebel Zalagh mountain is located in the high Atlas mountains close to the old city of Fes. Morocco's largest and oldest medina invites you not only to lose yourself in its alleys, browse the souks and visit the tannery. During the ascent of Jebel Zalaghs you will see a spectacular landscape adorned with olive groves, poppies, cornfields and cacti. In addition, a panoramic view of the old and new city of Fez awaits you at the summit.

Ifrane National Park

Ifrane National Park is located in the middle Atlas Mountains and is considered the "little Switzerland" of Morocco. Especially in spring and autumn the cedar trees on the hills are in full bloom. The national park is also one of the few protected areas for the endangered Barbary macaque monkeys. Hikers can enjoy volcanic lakes, grottos and crystal clear rivers.

Tazekka National Park

The Tazekka National Park is located 80 kilometers from Fes. Climbing Djebel Tazekka, you will pass through old cedar and cork oak forests and you may even see deer or lynx.

The most beautiful hikes in the Rif Mountains

The Rif mountains are less known by foreign tourists. But the mountains on the Mediterranean coast are very popular with local hikers and families.

Jebel el Kelaa

Starting from Chefchaouen there are various possibilities for day hikes. One of them is the ascent of the highest mountain in the Rif mountains, the Jebel el Kelaa. The demanding ascent is best done with a guide, because the summit is not so easy to find.

The views along the trek and at the finish are beautiful: you can see the blue city of Chefchaouen, the Rif mountains and in optimal conditions all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.

Talassemtane National Park

For trekking tours of several days the Talassemtane National Park is a good choice. The landscape is largely characterized by forest (fir, oak, and Atlas cedars) and bizarre rock formations. There are also many caves and deep gorges carved by rivers in the region.

The most famous sights in Talassemtane National Park are the Bridge of God and the villages El Kalaa and Akchou.

The most beautiful hikes in the Anti Atlas

Jbel Sahro

Jbel Sahro is a good alternative to the high Atlas Mountains, as the temperatures are a bit milder and the trails less demanding. The highest peak is Amalou n'Mansour. It is equipped with 2.The altitude of 712 meters is much lower than the Toubkal, so the risk of altitude sickness is much lower.

The scenery around Jebel Sahro is breathtaking: lying between the High Atlas and the Sahara, you will find exciting gorges, fertile valleys and desert landscape.

Jbel Sirwa

The Jbel Sirwa is located between the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas. The landscape is of volcanic origin and characterized by rocky cliffs and massive gorges. The summit is at 33.04 m and requires a demanding climb.

This part of the Atlas Mountains is much less touristy than the high Atlas and an interesting alternative to the Jbel Toubkal, 50 kilometers away.

Hiking in the desert

Besides the impressive Atlas Mountains, Morocco has another treasure: the Sahara Desert. Who travels Morocco should not miss the vastness of the Sahara desert. On a desert hike you will be safely guided by camels through the Sahara dunes.

A trekking in the dunes of the Sahara offers you glimpses of caravan life, an unforgettable starry sky and dunes created by the wind.

Hiking in Paradise Valley

From the popular resort of Agadir on the west coast of Morocco, it is not far to Paradise Valley – a lush oasis located not far inland. The palm-lined gorge follows the Tamrhakht river to Imouzzer of Ida-Outanane, 60 kilometers away.

Tip: From Imouzzer des Ida-Outanane you can reach the waterfalls of Cascades by a 3 kilometers long hiking trail.

Guide: Hiking in Morocco

Equipment

The choice of equipment depends of course on whether you are going on a trekking tour of several days or on a day hike. In addition, you need different equipment in the desert than in the Atlas Mountains.

Keep in mind that on many booked multi-day tours in the Atlas Mountains, some of the equipment is carried by mules. The equipment you need for the day, you carry ideally ready to hand in your daypack. Things for the night can be put in the luggage transported by the mule.

• First aid kit
• Sufficient food and drink
• Hiking boots
• Functional clothing
• Sun protection
• Multifunctional cloth
• Warm clothes for the night (trekking)
• Bivouac bag (trekking)
• Tent (trekking)

Hiking in Morocco: Where to stay?

If you are in Morocco for hiking or trekking you will have to think about the ideal starting point for your Morocco tours. We have been on several tours in Morocco ourselves and have tested the recommended accommodations.

Marrakesh for hiking in the High Atlas Mountains

Many hikes or trekking tours that lead to the High Atlas Mountains start from the mountain village of Imlil. Imlil can be reached very conveniently in just an hour and a half by shuttle bus from Marrakesh.

Marrakesh is not to be missed during your Morocco trip: The red city is not only a good starting point for hikes in the High Atlas Mountains. It offers you an impressive medina, typical souks, delicious food and green parks.

Accommodation: We spent a whole week in Marrakesh and stayed at the beautiful Riad Si Said of the Angsana Riads Collection. The Riad is located in the heart of Marrakesh, within walking distance of Djemna el Fna and Palais de Bahia. This is one of the more luxurious riads in the city, with a heavenly courtyard, a delicious Moroccan breakfast and tasteful rooms. Everything in the style of 1001 nights.

We just took a shuttle bus back to Marrakesh after our day tour in the High Atlas Mountains. If you plan several tours in the High Atlas you can also take a room in Imlil.

Chefchaouen for hiking in the Rif Mountains

Chefchaouen is known as the blue city and is well located if you plan to hike in the Rif Mountains. For the ascent of Jebel el Kelaa we could start directly from the medina. If you want to hike in the Talassemtane National Park in the north, you can use various providers who organize excursions from Chefchaouen. Alternatively, you can take a shared cab that will take you to Akchour for only 25 dirhams.

Accommodation: We rented a double room in the Dar Blue Pearl for five days. Located in the middle of the medina, cheap, clean and with a magnificent view of the Rif mountains, we were very satisfied and would come again.

If you want to make several day trips in the Talassemtane National Park you can also rent an accommodation in Akchour.

Fes for hiking in the Middle Atlas Mountains

Fes is not only one of the royal cities of the country. The medina of Fes is the oldest medina in Morocco and well worth a visit. Fes is located near the Middle Atlas Mountains, so you can combine exploring the Middle Atlas with a stay in Fes. From Fes you can take a shared cab to Ifrane or Azrou to explore the Middle Atlas Mountains.

Accommodation: we stayed at the Riad Diwan in the middle of the old medina of Fes. The riad, like so many others, is not easy to find and can be reached via an extremely narrow corridor. A simple and authentic riad with Moroccan breakfast and a great view of the medina from the small roof terrace.

If you prefer to stay in one of the small mountain villages to hike the Middle Atlas, you can also find accommodations in Ifrane or Azrou.

In Marrakesh and Fes, don't miss staying in a riad. The traditional Moroccan houses are located in the middle of the medinas. Their walls look unspectacular from the outside, but inside you will find beautiful courtyards with fountains, oriental fabrics, mosaics, murals and a lot of tranquility.

How to get there

Your trip in Morocco will probably start from the international airport of Marrakesh, Agadir or Casablanca.

The rail network of Morocco works very well. The major cities of Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh and Fes are all easily and cheaply accessible by train or alternatively by bus.

However, you will have to travel to and from Agadir by bus. Also the blue city of Chefchaouen can only be reached by bus.

• Information about train connections can be found here: https://www.oncf.ma/en/
• Information about bus connections can be found here: http://www.ctm.ma/

You can get to the starting points of your hike either with the included transportation of your tour provider or independently with a cab or shuttle bus. If you decide to take a self-organized transport then you have to read on now.

Marrakesh to Imlil

We took a shared cab from Marrakesh to Imlil. The shared cab is cheap and leaves as soon as it is full, which takes less than half an hour. The ride takes about 90 minutes. Ideally you start early in the morning to avoid being at the mercy of the intense midday sun.

Private Grand-Taxi: About 300 Dirham (90 minutes ride)
Collective cab: About 50 Dirham, leaves as soon as it is full (90 minutes ride)
Bus: To Asni, from there by minibus or cab to Imlil (not recommended)

Chefchaouen to Akchour

Talassemtane National Park is ideally explored starting from the mountain village of Akchour. If you stay in the medina of Chefchaouen you can reach Akchour in about 45 minutes.

Private cab: About 400 dirham (45 minutes)
Shared cab: about 25 dirham, leaves as soon as it is full (45 minutes ride)

Fez to Ifrane

There are also plenty of shared cabs from Fez that will take you to the mountain village of Ifrane for very little money. If you don't want to stay in Fez you can take a shared cab from Fez airport to Ifrane for about 300 dirham and find accommodation there.

Private cab: About 200 Dirham (1 hour ride)
Shared cab: Approximately 30 dirhams (1 hour ride)
CTM Bus: 25 Dirham (50 minutes ride)

Best time to travel

The best time to go hiking in Morocco depends, of course, on where you are staying.

The High Atlas is most attractive for hiking between March and November. Also the winter months have their charm, but in the mountains from 1.000 meters altitude also snow. In general, the temperatures are lower than in the rest of the country due to the altitude.

If you are interested in desert trekking in the Sahara Desert, the best months to travel are October to May.

Keep in mind that the summer months can get extremely hot. In Marrakesh, it can get over 40 degrees in August. To avoid the extreme heat and combine your outdoor activities with city sightseeing, March, April, May, October and November are ideal.