Suggested Itineraries for Tours in Morocco
Berber Villages Tour
Marrakech Day Trips and Short Atlas Tours
Cross the highest Atlas road pass of the Tizi-n-Tichka, with far-reaching views, to visit the traditional Berber village of Telouet. Enjoy a walking tour of the Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Berber War Lord and Pasha of Marrakech, and lunch with a Berber family. Spend one night or two nights in a Berber Guesthouse to experience traditional Berber village life.
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Telouet is a fascinating High Atlas Berber village with an interesting history and the Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Berber War Lord and Pasha of Marrakech. The village, where the descendants of the slaves of el Glaoui live, lies at the base of the Kasbah. In the region are salt mines, once an important staging post for the camel caravans.
Book a private Marrakech Day Trip to cross the highest Atlas road pass of Tizi-n-Tichka and experience the traditions and culture of the Berber people. Visit Telouet on a Thursday and wander around a typical mountain souk.
For a High Atlas hike from Marrakech allow yourself 2 days, 3 days, 4 days or 5 days and more to relax and explore the mountains with a guide and mules to carry the kit. There is also the option to base yourself in a Berber family guesthouse and savour the taste of home-made Moroccan cuisine with guided day-walks to suit your fitness level.
Quick Links for Day Trips from Marrakech and Local Tours
- Who are the Berbers?
- High Atlas Marrakech Day Trips to Telouet
- 2 days, 3 days or 4 days - Mountains, Kasbahs and Berber Life in Telouet
- What to do in Telouet
- Atlas Walking Holidays and Mule Treks
- 4 days & 5 days Atlas Treks from Marrakech
- Atlas Sahara Trips and Camel Treks from Marrakech
- Berber Cultural Tours of Morocco
- Bonded Morocco Tours – Prices, Confirmation and Payment Options
- Testimonials
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.
High Atlas Marrakech Day Tours to Telouet
8am we will pick you up from your riad and transfer you in a private vehicle with local driver across the highest Atlas road pass of Tizi n’Tichka (2260m), with mountain hair-pin bends and breath-taking views. Arrive in Telouet and enjoy a guided tour of the Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Berber War Lord and Pasha of Marrakech.
Colourful Berber Souks play an important role in Moroccan village life and, each week in Telouet, there is a traditional market where you can wander amongst the local community as they shop for meat on the hoof, dates, spices, fresh vegetables and all manner of household goods. The donkey is a common mode of Berber transport to the weekly market and there is Donkey Park, with attendant, which incurs a donkey parking fee.
For further information about Telouet: ‘Lords of the Atlas, The Rise and Fall of the House of Glaoua 1893-1956’ by Gavin Maxwell.
For alternative day trips from Marrakech see 'Marrakech Day Trips and Tours' for more information.
2, 3 or 4 days - Mountains, Kasbahs and Berber Life
Escape to the Atlas Mountains, from the bustle of Marrakech, on a 2 day or 3 day Tour or Excursion from Marrakech and sleep overnight in a Family Guesthouse to experience daily Berber life. Relax to the pace of daily life, breathe the fresh mountain air, walk with a local guide, explore the abandoned Kasbah el Glaoui and enjoy home-cooked Moroccan cuisine.
What to do in Telouet
- Visit the abandoned Kasbah of el Glaoui
- Base yourself in a Berber Guesthouse and take daily guided walks
- Atlas hikes and trekking with or without mules
- Savour home-cooked Moroccan cuisine
- Visit the Berber Nomad Depot for rugs woven in the region
- Visit the salt mines* once visited by passing camel caravans
- Take a day trip along the Ounila Valley to visit the World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou
*Salt is an inexpensive and readily available commodity but, in older times, wars were fought over salt and huge taxes were levied on it. In some places, salt was in such high demand that it was minted into coins that were as valuable as gold and functioned as the basic currency for ancient civilizations.
Atlas Hiking and Mule Treks (2 days +)
Trek with a Berber Mountain Guide, and mules to carry the kit, through Berber villages and verdant valleys. Breathe the pure mountain air, enjoy the far-reaching views and camp by a mountain lake in the summer. You can also trek from Telouet to Ait Benhaddou across the original trade route and sleepovernight with Berber families.
4 days & 5 days Atlas Treks from Marrakech
High Atlas Trekking from Marrakech around Telouet
Day 1 - Transfer (3hrs) from Marrakech to the High Atlas Berber village of Telouet. Start your Atlas Hike with a mountain guide, cook and mules (to carry the kit). Pass through Berber villages and enjoy the mountain views as you walk along forest tracks and mule trails. Overnight at Tighza in Berber Guesthouse (1900m). 6hrs walking.
Day 2 - Continue trekking from Tighza (1900m) across Atlas mule paths, with wonderful views, to Lake Tamda (2661m); along the route you may meet Berber nomads, who live in the caves, with their herds of sheep and goats. Overnight close to the lake in 2-person tents. 5-6hrs walking.
Day 3 - Continue trekking from Lake Tamda (2661m) to the Cascades of Tizi-n-Tounent (3049m). The route crosses the Plateau d’Amfergal (2247m) and Aglagal (2373m). Overnight close to the waterfalls in 2-person tents. 5-6hrs walking.
Day 4 - Continue trekking from the Cascades of Tizi-n-Tounent (3049m) to the valley of d’Anmiter (1751m). From Anmiter take a taxi to Telouet via the salt mines. Overnight Berber Gite in Telouet. 5-6hrs walking.
Day 5 - Morning tour of Telouet including the Kasbah of el Glaoui. Lunch and return to Marrakech.
Atlas Sahara Trips and Camel Treks from Marrakech
Explore Morocco with a combined High Atlas and Sahara Desert tour. Walk in the mountains and then transfer to the Sahara, via the oasis gorges and valley of one thousand Kasbahs, to camel trek in the Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga sand dunes. After your desert sojourn, return to Marrakech and experience the bustle of daily life in an Imperial City before flying home.
See 'Tea in the Sahara Desert Tours' for more information.
Berber Cultural Tours of Morocco
See 'Morocco Cultural Tours – Discover the Berbers' for more information.
Bonded Morocco Tours – Prices, Confirmation and Payment
See 'Pricing' for more information.
Testimonials
See 'Testimonials' for more information.
