What to Know: Guide to Hiking in Morocco

I recently had the chance to go hiking in Morocco Atlas Mountains, and it was a fantastic experience. In the course 5 days I managed to appreciate the beauty and solitude of the Atlas Mountains; I crossed a multitude of tiny villages; encountered the most friendly locals; enjoyed their culture and gorged on the delicious local food.

For those of you who are interested in experiencing the same, I have put together this post which contains a detailed itinerary, about the sights and what you can expect.

However, please beware that although this itinerary is very detailed and with plenty of useful information, I do not recommend hiking this multi-day trek independently and even less so to do it alone: the trail is often tricky to follow, and you’ll be crossing villages where, should you not have some connection and not speak the local language, you’ll have a hard time getting a place to stay and eat for the night.

You should always hire a local mountain guide when hiking in Morocco’s mountains!

There are stories every year of tourists, even advanced hikers, who come to Morocco and get lost, stranded, or worse. The mountains are very unpredictable and a licensed mountain guide is a must.

A 5-Day Itinerary for Hiking in Morocco

Day 1 – from Amizmiz to Ait Irghit

The first day on this itinerary for hiking in Morocco Atlas Mountain is spent walking from Amizmiz to Ait Irghit. You’ll be leaving the small town to get more and more into the mountains, where you’ll get increasingly immersed in nature and blissfully isolated.

You’ll come across very few people during your walk – some shepherds, a few women with their children, and sheep and at times cows enjoying their pasture.

The walking time between Amizmiz and Amezi, where you will be having lunch, is about 2 and a half hours.

Once in Amezi, you’ll have the first proper encounter with a local family, with the chance to learn a bit about the local customs and way of life – including the ritual of tea and washing hands before eating.

Your lunch spot varies depending on the guide’s choice, who picks a different family every time and usually makes it a point to help the family most in need. My group stopped at the very modest home of a widower and her beautiful children.

After lunch you’ll continue walking towards Ait Irghit, where you’ll spend the night. It’s a pleasant uphill walk and you’ll arrive to your final destination in time for sunset. Once there, you will have the chance of visiting local families for tea and snacks and to get to know their way of life.

Lunch break: the typical arrangement throughout this 5-day hike is such that meals are consumed at local homes and they usually consist of traditional food such as tajine or cous cous. On the first day, lunch will be eaten at a tiny Amazigh village called Amezi (Tidli).

The Sights

The views throughout your first day of hiking in Morocco are beautiful. As you cross the green fields, you’ll have views of the valley as well as the snow capped mountains, and on occasions you’ll encounter men or women working alone in the fields.

The villages you’ll cross are very modest – dirt streets, clay homes with little comforts – but give the overall landscape a nice touch.

Once you get to Ait Irghit, if the day is clear you’ll have the chance to admire sunset.

What to Expect

This day is meant to ease you into the rest of your hiking in Morocco trip, so that you can adjust to the altitude. There won’t be any major challenge. The trail is easy to follow and the terrain mostly good as you will usually be walking on a dirt road. The uphill walking will be more persistent after lunch, but it’s nothing to worry about. You won’t meet many people – on occasion, a few persons working in the field, a couple of kids on a donkey.

TIP: Make sure to carry enough water for the day and some snacks to munch on before lunch, as on this day your lunch break will be rather late.

Day 2 – from Ait Irghit to Infag

The second day of your hiking in Morocco itinerary will be spent walking from Ait Irghit to Infag, with a lunch break in Ait Ahmed.

After breakfast, you’ll have the chance to say goodbye to your host and their children, and then start walking out of the village and towards a thick, beautiful and pristine forest.

Though the distance is slightly shorter and most of the day you’ll be going downhill, the trail is very narrow in places and you’ll have to pay close attention to where you put your feet, making the overall walking time slightly longer than the previous day.

If you didn’t meet many people on your first day of hiking in Morocco, your second day will be even more peaceful. You’ll only see people once you get close to your lunch spot, in the village of Ait Ahmed which you will be approaching from above, thus having beautiful panoramic views.

The walking time between Ait Irghit and Ait Ahmed, where you will be having lunch, is about 3 and a half hours. The village is larger than Amezi, where you have lunch on your first day, and the overall impression is that locals are more accustomed at seeing travelers.

After lunch you’ll continue walking towards Infag, a small village built along the side of the mountain.

The Sights

In terms of views, this is probably the most interesting day of this hiking in Morocco itinerary. You will be walking through the forest, reaching some tiny waterfalls which are perfect for a photo break; and as you will approach the village where you’ll have your lunch break from above, you’ll be offered an incredible sight.

Yet, the best view is that of the snow capped mountains from the meadows where lonely shepherds take their cows to graze. It’s an absolutely mighty and beautiful sight.

After lunch, you’ll continue walking mostly on a dirt road. The landscape will be a bit mode desolate and dry and approach various clay villages that look well hidden in the mountains.

What to Expect

There are no major difficulties during your second day hiking in Morocco, other than the fact that the trail is at times quite narrow and not easy to follow – but this is hardly a concern since you’ll be with an expert local guide at all times. You meet even less people than on the previous day – it is all about getting close to nature.

TIP: Carry a power bank for your phone or make sure your camera is fully charged as there will be plenty of good photo opportunities.

Day 3 – from Infag to Tizgga

On your third day of hiking in Morocco you will be walking from Infag to Tizgga and your lunch break will be in Imi Ourmer.

You’ll start walking soon after breakfast, making your way out of the village and towards the valley. Walking along the dirt road, you’ll come to a river and you’ll have to continue walking along that on a narrow but easy trail.

As you’ll be crossing several villages, you’ll get to meet more people and you’ll be able to observe local life a bit more. In Imi Ourmer, your lunch spot, you’ll have the chance of visiting a cooperative where local women dedicate their time to the art of traditional carpet weaving.

The walking time between Infag and Imi Ourmer is short around 2 and a half hours.

After lunch, you’ll cross a couple of villages until the trail becomes a steep uphill until your final destination, the village of Tizgga, the highest point you’ll reach during your time hiking in Morocco. The village has some pretty views over the mountains, but it is incredibly modest.

The Sights

The views on your third day of hiking in Morocco are stunning. Soon after getting out of Infag, you’ll reach a valley with a river flowing through it, and a viewpoint from where you can enjoy an encompassing view of your surroundings up until the snow capped mountains.

The village of Imi Ourmer, where you’ll be having lunch, is set scenically along the river. Along the river there is a channel system used by local women to do laundry in the traditional way, and that is a nice thing to observe. This is one of the villages you’re likely to enjoy the most, as the host family where you’ll be having lunch has a nice, comfortable home (by local standards) and it is very welcoming.

Tizgga, where you will spending the night, is a village of very modest people who are however absolutely friendly. They will make it a point to show you the most intricate traditional clothes and even offer you to try them on to pose for photos.

What to Expect

Though the first part of the day is fairly easy and the walk is pleasant, the walk up to Tizgga can be challenging as you’ll be at a bit of an elevation, and the road you’ll be walking along quite steep. Other than that, it is an absolutely pleasant walk.

TIP: You’ll be tempted to buy a carpet from the women’s cooperative there and then, but keep in mind that you’ll be going through the same village on day 4 of this hiking itinerary, so you may want to spare yourself (or the mules) the effort of having to carry extra weight for at least one day.

Day 4 – from Tizzga to Imintala

On your fourth day you will walk back down on the same trail you followed the day before, reaching the village of Imi Ourmer by lunch time.

After lunch you will walk towards Imintala, one of the largest villages in the area, where you’ll be hosted in a beautiful, very large traditional home that compared to the others where you’ll be staying will feel significantly more comfortable – this is the only night where you’ll be sleeping on a bed, though with your sleeping bag.

The village itself is more lively compared to the others and one of the most interesting one you’ll be coming across when hiking in Morocco, and chances are you’ll come across group of kids engaged in ball games who’ll be glad to involve you, or other youngsters walking around for errands.

The Sights

For the first half of the day, the sights will be the same of those of the previous afternoon. After lunch, as you’ll be walking towards Imintala, you’ll have views of the mountains and of the small villages scattered along the way. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a sunset view from Imintala or in its immediate surroundings, but it’s still nice to get out a bit and admire the views.

What to expect

This is one of the easiest days of walking – for those who prefer going downhill. There are no major challenges along the way, and you will be happy to know that once in Imintala you will be able to enjoy a proper hammam.

Day 5 – from Imintala to Amizmiz

Your final day of hiking in Morocco will also be the longest one, but you won’t encounter many challenges. The first part of the day will be spent walking towards Sidi Hssayn, where you will have lunch at a local home. After that, you’ll make your way towards Amizmiz, the initial point of this hiking itinerary, where a car will be waiting for you to take you back to Marrakech.

The Sights

Similar to the previous days, you will be looking at dry mountains where you will be able to spot several Amazing villages.

What to Expect

This is a long day – not so much in terms of challenges, but in terms of the distance you’ll be walking, almost all of it on dirt road. Be prepared with snacks and plenty of water to keep your energy flowing.

Useful Tips

The best tip I can give you if you plan to go hiking in Morocco is to get prepared for uncomfortable conditions. The hikes aren’t strenuous per se, and although you won’t be camping throughout this trail, you’ll be sleeping at local homes or in huts that are set up for trail hikers (and sometimes shepherds).

This is definitely not a trip for people who expect modern-day comforts and who can’t let a day go by without getting online.

I recommend giving yourself enough time to follow the itinerary and add a few days in Marrakech at the end, so that you can enjoy a proper shower, rest in one of the famous Marrakech Riads and then move on to your next destination.

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