Compare Trek the High Atlas Mountains by Mantis Extreme vs Marrakech & the Sahara by Exodus Travels
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0 | Poor
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 6 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 984 | $ 1,125 |
| Price Per Day | $ 164 | $ 141 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | All breakfasts and three dinners included. Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent, though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Where meals are not included budget for the following approximate prices. Lunches: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10) Dinners: In cities: 80-200 dirhams (US$8-US$19) In small towns and villages: 60-100 dirhams (US$6-US$10) Drinks in restaurants Soft drinks: 10-20 dirhams (US$1-US$1.90) Beer: 30-50 dirham (US$2.85-US$5) Wine: 150 dirham (US$14) and more Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian couscous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more rural sections of the trip. Please note that if you have any special dietary requirements you should inform the Exodus Office prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (e.g. coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some food with you from home. |
| Description |
The High Atlas Mountains, which dominate the skyline to the south of Marrakech, have always played an important role for the city, not least with regard to commerce. Whilst Marrakech is in itself a fascinating city, a whole new experience awaits those who venture south into the mountains. With several peaks above 4000 metres, the Western High Atlas is part of a larger chain of mountains that spreads from the Atlantic Coast in the west to Tunisia in the east. The mountains are home to the indigenous Berber people who have inhabited Morocco for at least 5000 years. The Berbers live in small clusters of earthen adobe houses which cling precipitously to mountainsides and are often only accessible by mule or foot. |
Experience the grandeur of the Sahara as we journey from Marrakech across the High Atlas Mountains to the palm groves of the Draa Valley and the gateway to the desert at Zagora. En route, we’ll explore the Unesco-listed ksar (fortified village) of Ait Benhaddou, before a camel trek and night under a thousand stars on the edge of the largest desert in the world, the Sahara. On our way back to the city, we’ll stop in the remote village of Tighza and enjoy a peaceful walk and authentic hammam. Finally, there is free time to enjoy the sights and smells of Marrakech, one of the great cities of the Arabic world.Embark on an exciting adventure in the Sahara and High Atlas Mountains |
Day 1:
Private transfer from Marrakech Menara Airport or your accommodation in Marrakech to Imlil (approximately 90 minutes) where you will meet your personal mountain guide and have the opportunity to discuss your preferences for walks and treks. Depending on your arrival time, there will be the option of an introductory walk in the area. Dinner and luxury accommodation at Dar Imlil will be provided.
Day 2:
A day to relax and enjoy free time in the Imlil area, or a chance to explore the Imlil valley with your personal mountain guide. This can be separate morning and afternoon walks or one full day walk. Alternatively, you may wish to venture further afield to an outlying valley. A picnic lunch will be provided if required or lunch will be served at Dar Imlil. Dinner and luxury accommodation at Dar Imlil.
Day 3:
A supported trek of 3-4 hours’ duration* with guide, mule and muleteer to our remote trekking lodge in the Azzaden Valley, a beautiful setting barely touched by the modern way of life. A picnic lunch en route with dinner and luxury accommodation at Azzaden Trekking Lodge is provided. You may wish to enjoy a relaxing hammam (steam bath) on arrival.
Day 4:
After breakfast, a day to explore the stunning Azzaden Valley with your personal mountain guide. There are several treks of varying lengths to choose from. You may choose a moderate walk amongst the villages of the Azzaden Valley or a taxing 7-hour circular route passing the Lepiney refuge hut and the Tizi n’Tzikert col at 2930 metres, or indeed anything in between. Other options of a similar length include the slightly easier and very beautiful 7-hour circular walk passing the cols Tizi n’Teouti at 2450 metres and Tizi n’Tougdalt at 2700 metres. A picnic lunch en route will be provided on full day walks, otherwise lunch will be served at the lodge. Dinner and luxury accommodation at Azzaden Trekking Lodge.
Day 5:
After breakfast, depart Azzaden Trekking Lodge and trek back to Imlil via a route of your choice with your personal mountain guide. A picnic lunch en route will be provided. Dinner and luxury accommodation at Dar Imlil.
Day 6:
After breakfast, depart Imlil and return by private transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport or to your accommodation in Marrakech.
Day 1 Start Marrakech
The tour starts at our Marrakech hotel this afternoon. Accommodation: Akabar Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Across the High Atlas to Ait Benhaddou
With time to explore Marrakech at the end of our journey, we leave the Red City behind and head into the Atlas Mountains. Our destination for the day is the well-preserved ksar of Ait Benhaddou. This Unesco World Heritage site is one of the most spectacular landmarks in the Atlas and the filming location for several Hollywood movies, including Gladiator (2000). The route takes us over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, the highest in Morocco, arriving mid-afternoon. We take a tour through the ksar and then return to our hotel for dinner. Accommodation: Rose du Sable (or similar) Drive time: Four hours
Day 3 Draa Valley, camel ride and Amazigh camp
We travel through Ouarzazate, nicknamed the door to the desert because it used to be a crossing point for African traders on their way to Europe. It is now the site of the Atlas Film Studios, the setting for many Hollywood films and Game of Thrones. It's also home to the impressive Kasbah Taourirt, a grand fort largely constructed from rammed earth and mud-brick. We then head south with a 4hr 30min drive along the Draa Valley, which contains more than 4m palm trees and is bordered by many ksours (fortified villages). Here we embark on a one and a half hour camel trek and venture further into the Sahara, where we spend the night at a simple Bedouin camp for spectacular stargazing. Surrounded by silence and millions of stars, we can appreciate the immensity of the desert. Accommodation: Camp Chez Le Pacha (full-service camping) Drive time: 5hr 30min Please note: As we venture into the desert, you are requested to only bring an overnight bag and leave all your remaining luggage with the vehicle. Please pack your overnight bag ready for today.
Day 4 Camel ride; on to Zagora and free time
We wake in the desert silence, then take a return camel ride and a short drive to Zagora. There's time to rest, have a shower and enjoy the pool. Later in the afternoon, we can take an optional walk into the valley and around this famous desert outpost. Accommodation: Hotel Chez le Pacha (or similar) Drive time: Two hours
Day 5 Into the High Atlas Mountains; walk to remote village of Tighza and visit the local hammam
We travel west through the Draa Valley to join the Ounila Valley in the High Atlas Mountains. We start our walk from Animeter on a track with short steep inclines passing through small villages. After about 1hr 30min, we arrive at our gite in Tighza where we spend the night. Tighza is a rural village set in the Atlas mountains. From the terrace of our Gite you can look down into the valley and enjoy the sunset over the surrounding mountains. It is a peaceful retreat and provides the opportunity to meet local villagers and share their way of life. In the evening, we visit the village hammam, built with money raised by Exodus clients. This is a truly authentic experience. It is very much a traditional hammam and you are likely to get the opportunity to mix with the villagers, which further adds to the experience. Please don't expect a spa treatment. A standard treatment is included, but you will need to purchase a scrubber and soap for 20 Moroccan dirham (US$2) and pay a customary tip of 20 dirham. Refreshed, we return to the gite for our dinner in the mountains. Accommodation: Tighza gite (or similar) Drive time: 4hr 30min
Day 6 Morning walk; afternoon transfer to Marrakech through magnificent mountain scenery
This morning there is time to relax on the terrace, which has wonderful views across the fertile Tijhza Valley. Alternatively, we offer an optional three hour trek through the villages of this remote area, passing fields cultivated by the Amazigh women, with the peaks of the High Atlas as a fitting backdrop. We leave the gite after lunch, making the scenic drive over the High Atlas Mountains back to Marrakech, with some stunning scenery along the way. Once again, we cross Tizi n'Tichka. Back in Marrakech, we check into our hotel. In the evening, we visit Djemma el Fna, the open-air central square around which Marrakech revolves. The name literally means place of death, as the sultans once displayed the heads of their enemies here. Now, with the food stalls, snake charmers, juice-sellers and acrobats, it is a place of night-time entertainment. Accommodation: Akabar Hotel (or similar) Drive time: 5hr 30min
Day 7 Explore Marrakech: Djemaa el Fna, beautiful gardens, palaces and souks
Today, we have a guided walking tour to see the spectacular sites of Marrakech. Our city guide will lead us to the Bahia Palace and the Saadian tombs, which date to the 16th century. We see the outside of the largest mosque in Marrakech the Koutoubia. We continue through the labyrinthine of souks where you can barter for souvenirs. We can then have lunch together in a restaurant overlooking the square. Alternatively, you may prefer to head off on your own today and take a calèche ride (horse-drawn carriage) to the peaceful Majorelle gardens, owned by Yves St Laurent and decorated throughout in indigo blue or simply enjoy another hammam. Accommodation: Akabar Hotel (or similar)
Day 8 End Marrakech
Our journey comes to an end after breakfast. Hop into your free transfer to Marrakech Airport to catch your flight. Alternatively, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in the Red City.
