Atlas Mountains & Agafay Desert camel ride day trip

Eight hours crossing mountains, villages and desert on foot and camelback

A full-day guided tour from Marrakech into the High Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert, with a 1.5-hour hike to a waterfall, a traditional meal in a Berber home, and a 20-minute camel ride at sunset. The guide leads in English, French or Arabic. Pickup and drop-off are included, as are bottled water, mint tea and entry to the Argan Oil Cooperative.

Step-by-step itinerary

Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert tour

• Pickup from Marrakech around 9:00 AM
• Visit Berber weekly souk and Argan Oil Cooperative
• Admire snow-capped Atlas Mountains peaks
• Hike 1.5 hours to waterfall near Imlil village
• Return to Ait Souka for local lunch with Berber family
• Visit Kik Plateau for panoramic views
• Tea break at Lalla Takerkoust Lake
• Drive to Agafay Desert and enjoy camel ride
• Optional quad biking or panoramic desert views
• Return to Marrakech

The experience

The day starts with a 9 AM pickup from your hotel in Marrakech and heads straight into the Atlas Mountains. The first stop is a Women's Argan Oil Cooperative, where you'll have a traditional Moroccan breakfast (tea, bread, honey, olive oil and argan oil), and learn how the oil is produced by hand. From there, the route climbs through small villages and past terraced fields toward Imlil, the gateway to Toubkal National Park. You'll pause at viewpoints to see the snow-capped peaks of North Africa's highest mountains, including Mount Toubkal itself.

At Imlil, a 1.5-hour hike takes you along gentle mountain paths past Berber hamlets, cherry and walnut orchards, and up to a waterfall near the highest village in the valley at around 2,000 meters. Your guide shares stories about Berber culture and heritage as you walk. After the hike, you return to Ait Souka for a local lunch, then visit a Berber family's home for a traditional Moroccan meal and mint tea: a chance to sit as a guest and see how daily life unfolds in the mountains. The Kik Plateau comes next, at 1,800 meters, with 360-degree views across the valleys. In spring, alpine flowers cover the slopes.

The afternoon brings a tea break at Lalla Takerkoust Lake, where the dam supplies Marrakech's water and the views stretch across the water to distant peaks. Then the route descends to the Agafay Desert, about an hour from Marrakech. This rocky desert landscape is nothing like the Sahara (which lies three days away), but it has its own stark beauty. You'll ride a camel for roughly 20 minutes in traditional Moroccan dress, and if time allows, pause to take in the panoramic views before the drive back to Marrakech. The whole day runs 8 to 9 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Modern air-conditioned vehicle with pickup and drop-off from your Marrakech hotel.
• a live guide in your choice of English, French or Arabic.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• entry to the Women's Argan Oil Cooperative with traditional breakfast.
• the 1.5-hour guided hike in Toubkal National Park.
• a traditional Moroccan lunch after the hike.
• a Berber family visit with a home-cooked meal and mint tea.
• tea and views at Lalla Takerkoust Lake.
• and a 20-minute camel ride in the Agafay Desert.

Before you book

Lasts 8h–9h, runs every day at 08:30, from US$ 16.99 per person, with a live guide in English, French and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (1 to 17 years)

GroupUp to 1000

Live guideEnglish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Atlas Mountains View

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, French or Arabic, so you can follow the commentary and stories about Berber culture in the language you're most comfortable with: no translation lag, no guessing what the guide is pointing out.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

1,918 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,844

4 ★54

3 ★10

2 ★6

1 ★4

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 17 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the hike in the Atlas Mountains?

The hike near Imlil in Toubkal National Park lasts about 1.5 hours and follows gentle mountain paths to a waterfall, passing Berber hamlets and terraced fields at altitudes around 2,000 meters.

What's included in the meals on this tour?

A traditional Moroccan breakfast with tea, bread, honey and argan oil is served at the Women's Argan Oil Cooperative; a local lunch follows the hike; and a traditional Moroccan meal with mint tea is shared as a guest in a Berber family's home.

How long is the camel ride in the Agafay Desert?

The camel ride lasts approximately 20 minutes and takes place in traditional Moroccan dress as the sun sets over the rocky desert landscape.

What is the Kik Plateau and when do you visit it?

The Kik Plateau sits at 1,800 meters altitude and offers 360-degree views across the valleys and mountains. You visit it in the afternoon after the Berber family meal, and in spring it's covered with alpine flowers.