Discover the culture of the Berber people and the landscape in which they have lived and defended their freedom, time and time again, over the centuries. The experience is often described as ‘stepping back in time’ from a modern world to one where the culture is rich with age old traditions and superstitions.

Cross the High Atlas mountains to experience the timeless quality of traditional Moroccan life and the rich cultural heritage of the Berbers. South of the High Atlas, as the landscape grows barren and the sand becomes all-invading, seek out the oases of life – orchards, fields, palm groves and rose gardens that stretch out along strips of fertile land where the Berbers work miracles with a donkey and plough.

Morocco Berber Cultural Tours run summer only from Marrakech to Marrakech, Marrakech to Fes or Fes to Marrakech. This is because the High Atlas mountains are usually cut off by snow in the winter months and spring comes late to these mountains.

Quick Links for Morocco Berber Cultural Tours – Summer Only

• Who are the Berbers?
• Berber Cultural Tour from Marrakech to Fes
• Berber Cultural Tour from Fez to Marrakech
• Berber Cultural Tour from Marrakech to Marrakech
• Amazgh Cultural Museum, Marrakech
• Bonded Morocco Tours – Prices, Confirmation and Payment Options
• Testimonials

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Who are the Berbers?

The Berbers, once known as the Imazighen (‘free people’) are the indigenous people of North Africa and beyond. Interestingly the roots of the Toureg (‘pirates’) were also Imazighen and it was the Toureg who kept alive the symbolic alphabet known as Tifinagh (ⵉⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⴻⵏ). The Imazighen (singular = Amazigh) once ruled over kingdoms in the region but were conquered by the Romans and subsequently the Arabs in the seventh century.

Although mostly Muslim, Moroccan Berbers retain their ancient customs and festivals especially in rural areas, and many speak a dialect known as Tamazight that is now officially recognised as a language. As a result Tifinagh is once again taught in some schools.

Outside of the cities, in and around their small villages, the Berbers have an agricultural lifestyle - keeping sheep and goats and growing crops e.g. mint, cereals, vegetables etc.

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Berber Cultural Tours Marrakech to Fes – Summer Only

Marrakech to Bin el Ouidane

Transfer to Ouzoud, visit one of the highest waterfalls in Morocco, continue to Bin el Ouidane. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse.

Bin el Ouidane to Imilchil

Transfer across the mountains to the Berber village of Imilchil where an end of summer engagement for marriage festival is held (moussem). Moussems, part of the Berber culture, are held at the end of each harvest i.e. rose, dates, wheat, almond etc. as a way to meet up and thank God for the harvest. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse or wild camp beside the lake.

Imilchil in the High Atlas

Day to relax, explore with you driver and learn about the culture of this very traditional area where the High Atlas Berbers live. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse or wild camp beside one of the two lakes – Isli and Tislit. The lakes are said to have been formed from the tears of two lovers who died from broken hears as they were unable to marry due to tribal rivalry.

Marriage Festival (Moussem) in Imilchil

In September, join in the festivities of the Moussem to remember the story of the heart-broken lovers and find a new Berber husband or wife.

Imilchil to Tamtattouchte

Transfer to the village of Tamtattouchte, detouring along the route to visit and drink tea with a Berber nomad family in their tent or cave. Overnight in Berber family hotel where traditional Berber music is played after dinner.

Tamtattouchte to Erg Chebbi Dunes

Transfer along the Todra Gorge to the dunes of the Erg Chebbi sand sea. Camel trek with a desert nomad guide to overnight in a deep desert camp.

Sunrise and return camel trek. Desert Exploration and Culture

Sunrise and return camel trek. Day to relax and explore with your driver i.e. listen to Gnawa musicians, visit a nomad family on the far side of the dunes to drink mint tea, bake bread in a mud oven, visit the souk (market) in Rissani and wander through the narrow alleyways with the local community as they show for meat on the hoof, vegetables and all manner of household goods, eat Berber pizza cooked in the sand, steam in a local hammam. Overnight in hotel at the dune line.

Erg Chebbi to Fes via Azrou and the Cedar Forests

Transfer to Fes via Ziz valley gorge, cedar forests where Macaque monkeys live and Azou. It is an interesting route with a stop for lunch usually around Midelt.

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Berber Cultural Tours Fes to Marrakech - Summer Only

Fes to Erg Chebbi via Azrou and the Cedar Forests

Transfer to the dunes of the Erg Chebbi sand sea via Azou, cedar forests where Macaque monkeys live and Ziz valley gorge. It is an interesting route with a stop for lunch usually around Midelt. Overnight in hotel at the dune line.

Desert Exploration and Culture

Day to relax and explore with your driver i.e. listen to Gnawa musicians, visit a nomad family on the far side of the dunes to drink mint tea, bake bread in a mud oven, visit the souk (market) in Rissani and wander through the narrow alleyways with the local community as they show for meat on the hoof, vegetables and all manner of household goods, eat Berber pizza cooked in the sand, steam in a local hammam. Camel trek with a nomad desert guide to overnight in deep desert camp.

Sunrise and Erg Chebbi Dunes to Tamtattouchte

Sunrise and return camel trek. Transfer along the Todra Gorge to the village of Tamtattouchte. Overnight Berber family hotel where traditional Berber music is played after dinner.

Tamtattouchte to Imilchil

Transfer across the mountains to the Berber village of Imilchil where an end of summer engagement for marriage festival is held (moussem). Moussems, part of the Berber culture, are held at the end of each harvest i.e. rose, dates, wheat, almond etc. as a way to meet up and thank God for the harvest. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse or wild camp beside the lake. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse or wild camp beside the lake.

Imilchil in the High Atlas

Day to relax, explore with you driver and learn about the culture of this very traditional area where the High Atlas Berbers live. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse or wild camp beside the lake.

Imilchil to Bin el Ouidane

Transfer across the mountains to Bin el Ouidane Overnight in a small Berber Guesthouse or wild camp beside the lake.

Bin el Ouidane to Marrakech

Transfer to Marrakech via Ouzoud and visit one of the highest waterfalls in Morocco.

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Berber Cultural Tours Marrakech to Marrakech - Summer Only

Marrakech to Bin el Ouidane

Transfer to Ouzoud, visit one of the highest waterfalls in Morocco, continue to Bin el Ouidane. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse.

Bin el Ouidane to Imilchil

Transfer across the mountains to the Berber village of Imilchil where an end of summer engagement for marriage festival is held (moussem). Moussems, part of the Berber culture, are held at the end of each harvest i.e. rose, dates, wheat, almond etc. as a way to meet up and thank God for the harvest. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse or wild camp beside the lake. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse or wild camp beside the lake.

Imilchil in the High Atlas

Day to relax, explore with you driver and learn about the culture of this very traditional area where the High Atlas Berbers live. Overnight in Berber Guesthouse or wild camp beside the lake.

Imilchil to Tamtattouchte

Transfer to the village of Tamtattouchte, detouring along the route to visit and drink tea with a Berber nomad family in their tent or cave. Overnight in Berber family hotel where traditional Berber music is played after dinner.

Tamtattouchte to Erg Chebbi Dunes

Transfer along the Todra Gorge to the dunes of the Erg Chebbi sand sea. Camel trek with a desert nomad guide to overnight in deep desert camp.

Sunrise and return camel trek. Desert Exploration and Culture

Sunrise and return camel trek.

Day to relax and explore with your driver i.e. listen to Gnawa musicians, visit a nomad family on the far side of the dunes to drink mint tea, bake bread in a mud oven, visit the souk (market) in Rissani and wander through the narrow alleyways with the local community as they show for meat on the hoof, vegetables and all manner of household goods, eat Berber pizza cooked in the sand, steam in a local hammam. Overnight in hotel at the dune line.

Erg Chebbi to Ait Benhaddou

Transfer to Ait Benhaddou via Kelaa Mgouna (rose valley where the roses bloom in Spring time only), Skoura and Ouarzazate. Visit the World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco’s most spectacular ksars (walled villages). Overnight renovated Kasbah

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech

Continue along the Ounila valley with Berber villages and verdant valley floor oases to the traditional Berber village of Telouet. Visit the Kasbah of el Glaoui, Berber War Lord, and lunch. Cross the highest Atlas road pass of Tizi-n-Ticka, with hair-pin mountain bends, to Marrakech.

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Amazgh Cultural Museum, Marrakech

If you are interested in the Berber culture I recommend a visit to the Amazigh Museum that recently re-opened in the Majorelle Gardens. It is well worth a visit and, as there is a cafe and toilets in the gardens, why not make the most of your outing and catch a horse-drawn caleche one way.

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Bonded Morocco Tours – Prices, Confirmation and Payment

Please refer to: 'Private Morocco Tours - Pricing'

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Testimonials

To read our clients’ feedback please refer to: 'Tours of Morocco - Testimonials'