A five-day journey from the High Atlas to the Erg Chebbi dunes, combining a guided ascent of Jbel Toubkal with a camel-led desert overnight. Expect steep alpine trails, ancient Berber villages, and silent Sahara sunrises.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
Morning light slices the High Atlas as the road from Marrakech climbs toward Imlil, and the air tightens around you—cool, mineral, full of intention. Guides meet you with local hosts and mules; stone tracks lead into oak-studded valleys and the slope steepens toward the Toubkal Refuge. The mountain seems to press a challenge: a climb that rewards you with sweeping views back toward the Marrakech plain and, on clear days, a distant haze that hints at the Sahara.
Difficulty
challenging
Duration
5 days
Fitness Level
Suitable for hikers in good cardiovascular shape comfortable with sustained uphill days and long transfers; prior multi-day trekking experience is beneficial.
Wildlife
History
The High Atlas is home to Berber communities whose stone villages and kasbahs reflect centuries of mountain agriculture and caravan routes to the Sahara.
Conservation
The region’s fragile alpine flora and desert crusts recover slowly—stick to established trails, avoid off-road driving on dunes, and pack out all waste.
Reserve your spot on the Combined Atlas Toubkal Trek and Merzouga Sahara Tour today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Start summit day early
Begin pre-dawn from the refuge to avoid afternoon wind and give yourself time for acclimatization and breaks.
Layer for temperature swings
Bring a warm midlayer and a windproof shell—the mountain and desert nights both get cold quickly.
Footwear grip matters
Choose boots with good ankle support and sticky soles for scree and rocky sections on the Toubkal ascent.
Hydrate and pace on long drives
Carry water for road transfers and plan bathroom stops—long drives between gorges and desert can be dehydrating.
Mountaineering or sturdy hiking boots
Provide ankle support and traction on rocky and scree surfaces during the Toubkal ascent.
Insulating midlayer and windproof shell
Keeps you warm on high-elevation mornings and desert nights when temperatures drop.
winter
Trekking poles
Reduce knee strain on steep descents and help on loose scree near the summit.
Headlamp with extra batteries
Useful for pre-dawn starts on summit day and night-time campsite tasks in the desert.