Visit the Atlas Mountains: a complete guide

Have you planned a trip to the Maghreb? So do not miss discovering the Atlas Mountains!

A mountain range in North Africa, the Atlas extends over three countries in the region: Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The massif, which stretches over 2,500 kilometers, serves as a barrier between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert. Its Moroccan part is probably the most interesting. The Anti, Middle, and High Atlas massifs all share this mountain range. The latter attracts the most visitors. Many come to climb Djebel Toubkal, its highest peak, which culminates at 4,167 meters.

Shared between the three Maghreb countries, the Atlas Mountains are among the must-sees to visit in this region. No matter what country you are going to, be sure to get there. Magnificent landscapes, canyons, oases, and rivers await you. So to help you in your adventures, we will discuss in this guide all the ways to discover the Atlas Mountains.

This massif takes its name from a deity from Berber and Greek mythology. According to Greek mythology, Zeus sentenced the giant Atlas to bear the weight of the heavenly vault on his shoulders. Petrified by Perseus thanks to the head of Medusa, the giant is transformed into a mountain range. Herodotus reports in a work on the Berbers that the people of the country consider the mountain as the column which supports the sky. The word Atlas thus seems to come from the Berber word Assalas meaning "beam".

At the heart of the myths and legends of the Mediterranean, the Atlas Mountains are to be discovered both for the diversity of landscapes they shelter and for the sports activities that can be practiced there. Scattered with fertile plateaus, old desert and eroded mountains, canyons, and freshwater basins, they can only amaze visitors. The massif has a number of unique sites to visit. On the Moroccan side, we can thus evoke the national parks of Ifrane, Khénifra, and Tazekka, but also the national park of Toubkal in the High Atlas and the Valley of Paradise.

We're not going to lie to you: there are a plethora of climbs and excursions in this historic massif! This activity is probably the best to discover the Atlas Mountains. In the Moroccan part, there are several hikes, some easy and others more difficult, but all exceptional. Generally, they are rather well-marked and indicated. Here are a few :

The Dadès Gorges and the Valley of the Roses: easy to medium difficulty, this hiking circuit will introduce you to a labyrinth of colored valleys, splendid gorges, and pink canyons carved out by the M'gou wadi.

To discover the Atlas Mountains, you can of course opt for guided day tours. Accompanied by a local guide, you can learn more about the region, its particularities, and its history. Generally, a one-day guided tour focuses on a unique and special site in the Atlas. Among the most popular excursions, we can for example count the Imlil Valley, the Ouzoud Waterfalls, the Paradise Valley, or the village of Tamatert and its views.

For terms and conditions, you will usually be picked up from your hotel or accommodation in Marrakech. The latter is the starting point for many excursions in the Atlas Mountains. By minibus, you will then reach the start of the hike. You are usually accompanied by a French or English-speaking guide. Stops are sometimes planned installs or villages to discover local crafts. Lasting one day, these excursions allow you to visit a natural site on foot.

On the price side, you will have to count from 25€ to 55€ per person depending on the excursion and the place chosen. It should be noted that there are obviously longer circuits, spread over several days, which are aimed at more seasoned hikers. In this case, the prices range from 200€ to more than 600€ per person. Accommodation and meals are then taken care of.

A day's journey from Marrakech is one of the most popular camel rides. The departure is at 9 am. A driver will then take you from your accommodation to Imlil. Your French-speaking or English-speaking guide (your choice) will then show you the surrounding Atlas Mountains. At the end of the day, you'll meet up with your driver and be driven back to Marrakech. These day trips frequently include lunch, as well as refreshments, such as mint tea.

As for multi-day excursions, they also include transfers to and from Marrakech, as well as breakfasts, dinners, and refreshments. Water and lunch are not necessarily included, so be careful at this point before booking! Note that these multi-day excursions are not always done only on camels. Some portions can be done in 4×4 or on foot depending on the chosen excursion.

A one-day camel ride, generally, counts from 35 to 40 € per person.

For excursions lasting several days, prices range from 100 to 200€ per person. These obviously depend on the number of days, activities, and services offered.

Cycling, like walking, is a fantastic way to see the Atlas Mountains. Many mountain bike trails across the entire Moroccan Atlas. In winter, we will favor the south of Morocco. This region will delight you with its arid mountains, its oasis valleys, and its mountain biking desert. The Berber High Atlas opens up to bike trekkers in the summer. You will then be able to cross high passes, follow the bed of wadis, and travel through hidden green valleys. In short, no matter the time of year, you will find what you are looking for in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains!

Luckily for budding mountain bikers, there are plenty of mountain bike tours in this part of the world. Passionate guides and organizations can help you discover the most beautiful circuits and natural sites for one or more days. Of course, you can also organize your own mountain biking adventure in the Atlas Mountains.

The following are some examples of scheduled tours and their itineraries for exploring the Atlas Mountains:

• Mountain bike circuit from three to eight days in southern Morocco: you will discover the desert landscapes of Saghro, the great Saharan spaces of the Draa Valley, as well as the canyons of Mgoun.

• One-day mountain biking excursion in the Toubkal massif, between the Kik plateau and the Asni valley.

• Mountain biking day trip in the Berber villages preserved from Toubkal.

• Two to three-day mountain biking circuit combining these two experiences.

As with any day trip, you will usually be picked up from your hotel or accommodation in Marrakech or a nearby town. A driver will take you to the starting point, where your guide will now pick you up. French-speaking and/or English-speaking, he will make you discover the Atlas Mountains during an adventure generally including lunch.

Tours lasting less or more than a week usually include your transfer to and from your arrival airport or accommodation. Your accommodations and meals during the ATV adventure will also be covered in most cases. Be sure to check this point before booking. A French-speaking and/or English-speaking guide will also accompany you during this unique experience.

Please note: your mountain bike will generally be provided to you for a day trip as well as for a circuit lasting several days. Also, check this point before booking your experience.

We mentioned above some of the day trips or circuits of several days that an organization like Terres Nomades can organize.

For a day of mountain biking, prices generally start from €70 per person.

For a longer circuit, the price obviously depends on the duration. Count in general from 250€ to 400€ per person for a circuit of 2 to 3 days and up to 1000€ for 8 to 9 days of mountain biking.

Most organizations offer 4×4 excursions lasting from one to eight days. Usually not starting in Marrakech, you will be picked up at your accommodation in town. You will then return to the starting point. From there you will start your 4×4 adventure in the Atlas Mountains.

Day trips usually include lunch. They can also be accompanied by other related activities: camel rides, visits to Berber houses or local artisans, hiking, etc.

For multi-day excursions, your meals and accommodations are generally taken care of. We recommend that you carefully check the services included in the excursion. You will also be accompanied by a French-speaking and/or English-speaking guide, whether for a circuit or a day visit.

For a day trip in 4×4, you will generally have to count 70€ per person.

For a multi-day excursion, prices range from €200 to over €1000 per person. These prices obviously depend on the duration of the circuit.

Do not hesitate to consult several sites and organizations before booking. You can usually request a quote before deciding.

Do you want to combine strong sensations and the discovery of fantastic landscapes? If that's the case, quad or buggy trips are for you! Just like for 4×4 outings, many quad or buggy excursions are organized to easily discover the Atlas Mountains. Most outings from Marrakech follow the same route. Then you'll explore the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, with a portion of your journey taking place in the desert.

You will travel through the Berber countryside, passing through orchards, meadows, eucalyptus forests, and the desert. In the background, the Atlas Mountains will catch your eye. At each of your stops, you'll be able to appreciate them. Some guided quad expeditions even offer tea drinking in a typical house, obviously with the snow-capped mountains as companions. In addition to the Berber villages, most excursions take a detour to the beautiful Lake Takerkoust.

Just like the 4×4 or camel excursions, you will be picked up and dropped off at your accommodation in Marrakech. For a half-day expedition, you will generally have the choice between the morning and the afternoon.

4×4 expeditions do not generally start in Marrakech. A driver will take you to the starting point. Day trips usually include lunch, as well as refreshments. A French-speaking and/or English-speaking guide will also accompany you during this sporting adventure!

For multi-day excursions, your meals and accommodations are generally taken care of. We recommend that you carefully check the services included in the excursion.

The cost is clearly determined by the length of the quad adventure.
For half a day, count from 65 to 75€ per person on average.

For a day trip, prices generally vary between 120 and 160€ per person.

The price is generally lower for companions and younger people, who cannot drive. The charges for a multi-day quad adventure are significantly more varied. In this case, do not hesitate to consult several sites and organizations before booking. You can usually request a quote before deciding.