Agafay Desert and Atlas Mountains Day Trip from Marrakech
Agafay
Experience the beauty of the Agafay desert and Atlas Mountains on a day trip from Marrakech. Trek through traditional mud-built villages, enjoy tea with locals, and marvel at the stunning views from Kik Plateau.
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Agafay - This is a splendid trip during which you will discover the most diverse and spectacular landscapes. Your Day Trip takes you past lush vegetation, olive and orange orchards, and the occasional village. Off the tarmac and onto off-road, the scenery is completely different - barren light brown plateaux, a true stone desert. The locals call it Agafay desert: this might as well be the Sahara as the feeling of solitude. For all those who haven’t got sufficient time in Morocco for a Sahara desert tour, all the way south then the Agafay desert is the best thing to do instead, the Agafay desert is not a Sand desert
- Plateau du Kik - Our itinerary takes us up into the Atlas Mountains. Kik Plateau is 1800 meters high and offers spectacular 360 degrees views and, in the spring, a marvellous spread of alpine flowers. Scattered Berber hamlets greet the view and it feels like you travelled back in time.
- Asni - On the other side of the plateau, there is the Asni Valley in the heart of this lush area covered with apple, cherry, and plum orchards sending out their harvest into the city. A nice Berber market is held on every Saturday where producers bring fruit, vegetables, and livestock to sell. If you are interested in seeing a Berber souk, almost every village has one on a specific day of the week.
- Cascade Imlil - We will continue to climb upwards until you leave the main road at an altitude of over 2000 meters with views to Mount Toubkal: the highest peak in Northern Africa culminating at 4167 meters, and often snowcapped. Then we will follow an ancient, partly paved Berber track to reach the Imlil valley an authentic area famous for apple trees, here you will have lunch in a Berber house in a village overlooking the Atlas Mountains.
- Tahnaout - The food will be homemade and organic: tomato salad, chicken tagine, couscous, and fruits. After lunch we will head off back to Marrakech, crossing the Mizan valley small villages with their mud-brick adobe houses, stacked into the hillside or lining the watercourse shaded by the apple grove. The river gives place to the canyons and the local Berber granary towers over the landscape. Past Tahnaoute, the tarmac road follows its course among olive or orange orchards to reach Marrakech by afternoon.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Camel Ride
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Tea and coffee
- Professional mountains Guide
What's Not Included
- Tips (optional)
Additional Information
For those with limited time in Morocco and unable to venture to the southern Sahara for a desert tour, the Agafay desert is an excellent alternative. Unlike the sandy Sahara, Agafay is characterized by a landscape of sandstone and barren plateaus, with villages constructed from traditional mud, and dry riverbeds. In the spring, the area is transformed with lush pastures and greenery. Visitors can enjoy local tea or embark on a camel trek. The journey also includes a trip to the Atlas Mountains, where the Kik Plateau sits at an elevation of 1800 meters, offering a panoramic view and, during spring, a beautiful display of mountain flowers.
Location
Agafay
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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