Marrakech to Atlas Mountains & Agafay: Berber Lunch, Camel Ride

Summary

Atlas peaks, Berber villages, desert light & a slow meal near Marrakech

You’ll leave Marrakech for mountain air and Berber villages—sharing sweet mint tea, hiking gentle trails to waterfalls, eating slow-cooked tagine in a family home. There’s time for photos at Kik Plateau and Lalla Takerkoust Lake before riding camels across Agafay’s rocky desert as sunset colors shift around you.

What’s the experience like?

There’s this quiet clink of tea glasses that stuck with me—our first stop after leaving Marrakech, somewhere outside a women’s argan oil cooperative. The smell of fresh bread and that nutty argan oil drifted out as we sat cross-legged on low cushions. Our guide Youssef handed me mint tea (he called it “Berber whisky” with a grin), and I tried dipping bread in honey like he showed us. It was warmer than I expected for the mountains—sun on my neck, but cool air in the shade. I didn’t expect to laugh so much before 10am.

The drive wound up into the Atlas Mountains, past fields where kids waved at our van and old men leaned on their canes watching sheep. We stopped at Imlil and started walking—nothing too hard, just enough to feel the crunch of gravel under boots and hear water rushing somewhere below. There was this waterfall tucked behind walnut trees; I could hear it before I saw it. Youssef pointed out Mount Toubkal in the distance (highest in North Africa apparently), but honestly I was more focused on not slipping on wet stones. Lunch came after—a slow meal in a Berber house, tagine bubbling away while someone’s grandmother pressed flatbread right by the window. The spices lingered on my hands all afternoon.

After lunch we rolled down through Ait Souka village—kids playing football with a half-flat ball—and then out onto Kik Plateau. The view there just sort of opens up: snow patches on peaks, wildflowers if you’re lucky (we were). We paused by Lalla Takerkoust Lake for tea again. The lake looked unreal blue against the brown hills; apparently it powers all of Marrakech, which feels wild when you’re sitting there listening to birds instead of city noise.

The last stretch was Agafay Desert—not sand like you’d imagine but rocky and golden, almost lunar in late afternoon light. They dressed us up for the camel ride (my scarf kept slipping off; the camel seemed amused). It’s only about twenty minutes but long enough to realize how quiet everything is out there. Some folks did quad bikes instead—I just wanted to watch shadows get longer across the stones. On the drive back to Marrakech, dust still on my shoes and hair smelling faintly of mint tea, I kept thinking about that first glass clinking at breakfast. Funny what sticks with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert tour

• Pickup from Marrakech at 9:00 AM
• Visit Berber weekly souk in small village
• Tour Women’s Argan Oil Cooperative with breakfast
• Admire snow-capped Atlas Mountains peaks
• Arrive at Imlil village in Toubkal National Park
• Hike 1.5 hours to waterfall near highest village
• Return to Ait Souka for local lunch
• Meet Berber family and enjoy traditional meal
• Visit Kik Plateau for panoramic mountain views
• Tea break at Lalla Takerkoust Lake
• Drive to Agafay Desert and pass stone desert
• Enjoy 20-minute camel ride in traditional outfits
• Optional quad biking available (extra cost)
• Admire panoramic desert views
• Return to Marrakech

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Marrakech to Atlas Mountains?

The full-day trip starts around 9:00 AM and returns in the evening.

Is lunch included during this Atlas Mountains tour?

Yes, a traditional Moroccan lunch is served in a Berber family home.

Are there any hikes or walks during the tour?

Yes, there’s an optional 1h30 hike to a waterfall near Imlil village.

Is pickup from my hotel in Marrakech included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in your booking.

Can I ride camels during this day trip?

Yes, there is a camel ride experience in Agafay Desert included.

Do we visit local markets or souks?

If your tour falls on Saturday or Tuesday, you may visit a traditional Berber weekly souk.

What is special about Kik Plateau?

Kik Plateau offers panoramic views at 1,800 meters altitude and is especially colorful in spring with alpine flowers.

Is quad biking available on this tour?

An optional quad biking experience is available in Agafay Desert for an extra cost.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off from your Marrakech hotel or riad, bottled water along the way, an easy guided hike through Toubkal foothills if you want it, visits with locals including breakfast at an argan oil cooperative and lunch inside a Berber home (with plenty of mint tea), plus both camel riding in Agafay Desert and all guidance from someone who actually knows these mountains by heart before heading back as dusk settles over Marrakech.