High Atlas and valleys

Marrakech · Imlil · Aït Ben Haddou · Gorges du Dadès · Gorges du Todra · Imilchil · Ouzoud

Mountains first: two nights in the Toubkal valley with a day on foot, the kasbahs of the southern slopes, the Dades and Todra gorges, then a crossing of the roof of the Atlas to the Imilchil lakes and the Ouzoud waterfalls.

Duration9 days
Distance1,180 km
DifficultyModerate
VehiclesCar, 4x4

Start from this trip

Notebook from €690

Les lacets de la route des gorges du Dadès

Highlights

A day’s hike with a guide from the valley
The kasbahs of Telouet and Aït Ben Haddou
A day on foot in the Dades gorge
Agoudal and the Imilchil lakes
The Ouzoud waterfalls

Day by day

The stages as Agnès drew them. Everything can change: one more night here, a detour there.

Day 1
Into the Toubkal valley
Marrakech → Imlil75 km · 1 h 45
As soon as you leave Marrakech, the road heads for peaks that are snow-capped for much of the year. After Asni, the valley narrows up to Imlil, at the foot of Toubkal. Leave the car in the village car park: a muleteer carries the bags up to the lodge.
Day 2
Hike to Aroumd and the Tamatert pass
ImlilLittle or no driving
A five-to-six-hour loop with Brahim, who was born in the valley: the village of Aroumd perched on its spur, walnut orchards, then the Tamatert pass at 2,300 metres. Lunch with a village family. Good boots and a windproof jacket are essential.
Day 3
Over the Tichka to Aït Ben Haddou
Imlil → Aït Ben Haddou240 km · 5 h
Head back down towards Tahanaout to join the Tichka road, which crosses the Atlas at 2,260 metres. Detour to the Telouet kasbah, then follow the Ounila valley down to the Aït Ben Haddou ksar. A long day at the wheel, but every bend is worth a stop.
Day 4
Ouarzazate, Skoura and the Valley of Roses
Aït Ben Haddou → Gorges du Dadès150 km · 2 h 45
A visit to the ksar at sunrise, then east: the Taourirt kasbah in Ouarzazate, the Skoura palm grove and the Amridil kasbah, Kelaat M’Gouna and its roses. Late in the day, the Dades valley narrows into a red-walled gorge.
Day 5
A day on foot in the gorge
Gorges du Dadès30 km · 45 min
No long drive today. In the morning, the “Monkey Fingers” hike, a maze of red rock sculpted by erosion, best done with a lad from the village. In the afternoon, drive up to the Tamellalt hairpins for the photo, then enjoy the terrace by the water.
Day 6
On to the Todra gorge
Gorges du Dadès → Gorges du Todra90 km · 2 h
By the main road, via Boumalne then Tinghir and its great palm grove. With a 4x4, the Msemrir track links the two gorges directly over the mountain (avoid it after rain). Late afternoon at the foot of the Todra cliffs, 300 metres high.
Day 7
Across the roof of the Atlas to Imilchil
Gorges du Todra → Imilchil165 km · 3 h 30
The road climbs through the gorge and then crosses almost empty high plateaus where nomad families still live. Agoudal, above 2,300 metres, is one of Morocco’s highest villages. You reach Imilchil in time to see Lake Tislit at sunset.
Day 8
Down to the lakes and the falls
Imilchil → Ouzoud260 km · 5 h 30
After a last look at Lake Isli, the road drops via El Ksiba to the Beni Mellal plain, then climbs again to the great Bin el Ouidane reservoir, a surprising shade of blue. You reach Ouzoud in the late afternoon: the house is a stone’s throw from the top of the falls.
Day 9
The Ouzoud waterfalls, then home
Ouzoud → Marrakech170 km · 3 h
Walk down to the pools early in the morning, when rainbows form in the spray. Then drive to Marrakech and its airport; allow at least three hours before your flight.

In practice

Duration: 9 days
Distance: 1,180 km
Longest drive: 260 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Vehicles: Car, 4x4
Regions: Marrakech and surroundings · High Atlas · Valleys, gorges and oases
Notebook from: €690

Agnès designs the itinerary and your notebook. You book and pay for accommodation and transport yourself, with her trusted addresses.

Price of the design of your itinerary and of your notebook. Accommodation, transport and activities are booked and paid for by you, directly with the providers.