Mount Toubkal Summit & Sahara Tour
by Slow and Steady Adventures
September 23 - October 1, 2023
Trekking, Cultural Sightseeing
9 days, 8 nights
B&B, Gite, Camping
$705 USD
Can’t decide between an exciting trek and a fascinating desert adventure for your trip to Morocco? With the Toubkal Trek and Erg Chebbi Tour, you don’t have to choose. This tour is like an adventure highlight reel for Morocco.
Begin by trekking in the Atlas Mountains, from the town of Imlil to the summit of Mount Toubkal. After returning by foot to Imlil, drive out into the Sahara Desert to explore more incredible landscapes and scenery, including the Dades Gorge and the Todra Gorge.
You’ll also experience the richness of Moroccan history and culture. Tour the ancient fortified dwellings known as Kasbahs, and the city of Ait Benhaddou, which is so scenic that it is a popular choice for filming Hollywood movies. You’ll never forget your camel ride through the desert at sunset, nor your night spent in a traditional Berber camp. Don’t miss the Moroccan adventure of a lifetime!

Slow and Steady Adventure Company
Itinerary
Welcome to Morocco! Arrive at Marrakesh Menara International Airport and transfer to your hotel. If you get to Marrakesh early then you can explore this marvellous city on your own.
Meals: DinnerBegin the day by driving to the popular trailhead town of Imlil (1,780 m/5,840’) to begin your trek. Trek through the Imlil Valley and over the Tizi n’Mzik Pass (2,450 m/8,038’) to reach the Azzadene Valley. Pass the Ighouliden waterfalls and stay in Azib n’Tamsoult refuge for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trek steeply up and out of the Azzadene Valley today to reach the Aguelzim Pass (3,560 m/11,680’). Stop here to rest and eat lunch while enjoying incredible views of the Atlas Mountains. Continue trekking to reach the Toubkal Refuge where you’ll spend the night in the Niltner Hut. This refuge is a very popular place to stay and you’ll probably share a bunk-style bedroom with other trekkers heading to the Mount Toubkal summit in the morning.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Get an early start today for the trek to the summit of Mount Toubkal (4,167 m/13,671’). If the weather is clear you’ll discover spectacular views from the summit looking out across the Atlas mountain range and the iconic Sahara Desert. Then begin the long trek down, past the Toubkal Refuge, and all the way back to the trailhead in Imlil. This long day of trekking will take approximately 8-9 hours to complete. You’ll gain about 900 m of elevation, then descend nearly 2,500 m as you return to Imlil.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Begin your desert tour today. Your guide and vehicle will meet you at 9:00 AM at your hotel in Imlil to drive through the beautiful Atlas Mountains. Drive over the majestic Tizi n’Tichka pass, then drive through a series of native Berber villages to reach the desert. As you drive through the Sahara Desert, take note of the riverside oases. You’ll also see many Kasbahs (ancient fortified buildings that are protected homes for families and livestock) dotting the barren hillsides. You’ll stop along the way, choosing between taking a hike or visiting the Ouarzazate Film Studios. When you arrive at the Dades Gorge, there will be time to take a hike if desired, or simply relax at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast at your hotel, leave the Dades Valley and drive to Todra Gorge. This massive fault divides the High Atlas Mountains and rises up 300 m in a beautiful canyon. Here you’ll find a number of Berber villages and palmeries where large date palms are grown. Here you can hike and explore the lovely, green, palm-filled oasis. After lunch, continue driving deeper into the desert to Merzouga, where you can purchase supplies for your time in the desert. Continue driving to a Kasbah where you will pick up camels. Take a 1.5-hour camel trek through the desert at sunset, then spend the night in a Berber desert camp. Dinner tonight is a delicious traditional Moroccan meal in the Berber camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Wake up early enough to enjoy the remarkable desert sunrise, then ride your camel back to the Kasbah. Here you can eat breakfast and freshen up. Leaving the desert behind, drive to the ancient fortified city of Ait Benhaddou. There are numerous Kasbahs here, and the incredible scenery has made it a popular choice for filming Hollywood movies, including Gladiator, The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia, and Alexander. Explore this amazing area together with your guide, then spend the night in a nearby hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Leave Ait Benhaddou and travel through the Ounilla Valley to reach Telouet Kasbah. You will have an opportunity to explore the ruins of this Kasbah, which was at one time an important location on the region’s trade routes. After lunch, drive again over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass to return to Marrakesh. If you have the energy, explore the open-air night markets in Jemma el-Fnaa.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerSadly, your adventure in Marrakesh just came to an end. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Explore Bali and LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET

Accommodation
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.

Nights 1 and 8
Riad Viewpoint, Marrakesh
Lovely Moroccan-style rooms await you, as well as a beautiful rooftop terrace with a great view. For an extra treat, request a room near the terrace!

Night 2
Tamsoult Refuge
Dormitory-style accommodations at their best! Enjoy a comfortable, clean night with friendly staff.

Night 3
Toubkal Refuge
A small, clean, and comfortable guesthouse in central Imlil with en suite facilities and cozy fireplaces in each room.

Night 4
Hotel Dar Adrar, Imlil (Guesthouse)
A small, clean, and comfortable guesthouse in central Imlil with en suite facilities and cozy fireplaces in each room.

Night 5
Dar Essayaha, Dades
This beautiful hotel, surrounded by beautiful views from all around, is a true gem. The service here is great and the building itself is full of atmosphere and historic touches.

Night 6
Desert camping, Merzouga
Camp in nomadic tent under the starry sky for the most authentic Saharan experience!

Night 7
Rose Du Sable, Ait Benhaddou (Bed and Breakfast)
Lovely Moroccan-style rooms await you, as well as a beautiful rooftop terrace with a great view. For an extra treat, request a room near the terrace!
Included
- 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 8 dinners are included.
- Water while trekking
- Accommodations for 8 nights are included
- Luggage transfers
- Personal transfers as required by the itinerary
- Airport transfers
- Expert, English-speaking local guide
- Mules for luggage while trekking
- 4×4 or minibus tour in the desert
- Camel ride
Not included
- Insurance
- Personal expenses or gratuities
- Flights
- Visas if required
- Meals not previously mentioned
- Entrance fees where required
- Anything not mentioned as included
Optionals extras
- Single room supplements where available
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Gear rentals


