06 Medinas and the Mountains

Suggested Itinerary Number : 06

Medinas and the Mountains

Enjoy the contrast between the vibrancy of Marrakech or the quieter town of Taroudant and the beauty and peace of the mountains, both places to relax or be as active as you wish.

Overview: 7 nights. All year round. Flights into Marrakech, or Agadir for Taroudant

• 3/2 nights High Atlas Mountains (choice of Ourigane, Imlil, Ourika Valley or Ouzoud in the Middle Atlas)
• 4/5 nights Marrakech or Taroudant

Transport options: Taxi or car (self-drive or with driver) outside Marrakech.

Extension options: Essaouira.

Activity options: Day or overnight trekking on horse, camel, mountain bike or foot, and day excursions from Marrakech.

Marrakech

Marrakech is the gateway to Morocco for most visitors, and understandably so.  One of the four imperial cities, it is a lively city with a true Moroccan soul and culture, a feast for the senses that caters well for visitors.  From the atmospheric souks of the medina, to the villages of the High Atlas Mountains a short drive away, Marrakech offers a vast range of options for the visitor either on a short trip or as part of a longer adventure.

Taroudant

Just 1 hour east of Agadir, Taroudant is often known as “Little Marrakech” due to the backdrop of the High Atlas Mountains and its red town walls, which are more complete than those of any other Moroccan town. This Berber market town is little frequented by tourists,  providing an authentic experience of everyday life. It is much closer to two mountain ranges and the sea than Marrakech, making it an ideal base from which to explore Berber countryside.

A Choice of Day Trips to the Mountains from Marrakech or Taroudant

Shorter trips from Marrakech:

Ourika Valley and Setti Fatma: an ideal area for gentle hiking with a harder hike at Setti Fatma’s seven waterfalls Organic herb garden. Souk on Monday at Tnine Ourika.

Lalla Takerkoust lake and Amizmiz: lake offering a wide range of watersports. Souk on Tuesday at Amizmiz, reputed to be the best in the region.

Imlil: stunning mountain scenery. Souk on Saturday at Asni en route.

Ouirgane: options to visit a spa, relax by a pool or take a stroll or a trek. Souk on Thursdays.

Longer trips from Marrakech:

Telouet and the Kasbah of el Glaoui: a stunning, crumbling kasbah 2 hours south of Marrakech with a beautiful mountainous backdrop.

Cascades D'Ouzoud: waterfalls, 2.5 hours north east of Marrakech, considered to be one of the most magnificent sights in the whole of Morocco.

Trips from Taroudant:

We offer a wide range of trips as part of the Real Morocco experience.

A Choice of Places to Stay in the High Atlas

Ouirgane

A Berber village situated in a scenic bowl shaped valley in the High Atlas Mountains some 90 minutes south west of Marrakech, Ouirgane buzzes with activity on Thursdays when Berber families flock down from the mountains by donkey for the weekly souk. It has become a very popular base for day walks into the Tassa Ouirgane National Park and longer treks to Jbel Toubkal and Amizmiz areas.

Imlil

A thriving trekking centre in the High Atlas Mountains just 90 minutes south of Marrakech, the village is in a wonderful setting overlooked by Jbel Toubkal which, at 4,167 metres, is the highest peak in North Africa. There is a wide choice of treks for all abilities amongst some of the most stunning mountain scenery Morocco has to offer.

Ourika Valley

Famous for  the 7 waterfalls at Setti Fatma and the ski resort of Oukaimeden at its head, the green terraced fields beside the river contrast strongly with the rocky valley sides. Despite the fact that this valley is the most accessible to the city of Marrakech, the accommodation we offer here is very secluded.

Asni

A small town, just 45 minutes south of Marrakech, which has grown up at a crossroads on the edge of the High Atlas, Asni is a good point from which to access walks on the Kik plateau, well known for a carpet of Alpine spring flowers. It has a souk on Saturdays.

Afensou

Just under an hour's drive north of Taroudant in the largely undiscovered foothills of the western High Atlas mountains, is this trekking and activity base, centred on a charming little Berber guest house in a marvellous setting at an altitude of 800m on a hillside overlooking the village.

Request a Quotation or Tel: UK: 0845 345 7195 (local rate) or 01239 710 814