Atlas Mountains & Agafay Desert: Camel ride & Berber villages

Trade the medina for mountains, valleys and desert in a single day

A guided day tour from Marrakech into the Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert, departing at 9:00 AM with hotel pickup and returning around 5:00 PM. You walk through three valleys, visit Berber villages, ride a camel, share tea with a local family, hike to waterfalls with views of Mount Toubka, and end the afternoon watching the sunset over the desert. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language, and the pace is flexible — you choose how long to walk.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert

• Start tour from accommodation or Medina
• Visit Atlas Mountains and valleys
• Walk to Aroumd Village and Berber villages
• Have tea with Berber family
• Walk up to waterfalls, view Mount Toubka
• Ride camels and visit Argan women's cooperative
• Lunch break
• Drive to Desert Agafay for sunset
• Enjoy mint tea and free time
• Return to Marrakech

The Experience

You start from your hotel or meet at Café de France in Jemaa el-Fnaa square at 9:00 AM, then drive into the High Atlas foothills. The route passes through Tachdirt, Ckik and Amizmiz valleys, stopping at Berber villages where you walk on foot and sit down for mint tea with a family to hear about their daily life. The guide adjusts the walking pace to suit you — good shoes matter for the climb up to the waterfalls, where the views open onto Mount Toubka.

Midway through the day you ride a camel, and you'll also visit an Argan women's cooperative to see how the oil is made. Lunch is a simple traditional meal (salad, tagine, fruit and water) that you arrange separately. After eating, the tour shifts south to Desert Agafay, where you have free time to rest or sit quietly before the sunset arrives. You sip mint tea as the light fades over the dunes, then drive back to Marrakech, arriving around 5:00 PM.

The tour runs the same route whether you book as a private group or join a shared departure — the difference is who else is in the vehicle. Transport, your guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, the camel ride, and tea with the family are all included; breakfast is simple and traditional. A local guide who speaks your language stays with the group all day.

What’s included

• Transport from Marrakech.
• hotel pickup and drop-off (or meeting point in Jemaa el-Fnaa).
• local guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• camel ride in the desert.
• mint tea with a Berber family.
• simple traditional breakfast.
• visit to an Argan women's cooperative.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Targa Travel & Trekkinginmorocco

Is this one for you?Choose shared if you want to split costs with other travelers; pick private if your group needs a driver who can adjust stops for your interests—like lingering at specific Berber villages or skipping sections.

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Top questions

What is the walk up to the waterfalls like?

The walk to the waterfalls is part of the day in the Atlas foothills, and the guide lets you set the pace — you can walk as far as you want or turn back earlier. Good walking shoes are essential because the terrain is uneven. The reward is a view of Mount Toubka from above.

Can I choose how long to spend in each valley?

Yes. The guide adjusts the itinerary based on what interests you — you can discuss with them how much time you want to spend walking and exploring the Berber villages, so the day fits your energy and interests.

Is lunch included in the price?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but a simple traditional meal (salad, tagine, fruit and mineral water) is available for 6 euros, which you can arrange with the guide on the day.

What happens at the Argan women's cooperative?

The Argan cooperative is a stop where you see how women make argan oil by hand, from cracking the nuts to pressing and bottling. It's a working space, not a shop, though products are available if you want to buy.

What time does the sunset viewing happen in Agafay?

The tour reaches Desert Agafay in the late afternoon, timed so you can watch the sunset over the dunes. You have free time to relax or meditate, and mint tea is served while you wait for the light to fade.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour suits all fitness levels. The walking is flexible — you set the pace with your guide — and the camel ride requires only that you can mount and sit comfortably. Wear good shoes and bring water.