Atlas Mountains and Berber villages: a day in Imlil or Ourika

The Atlas Mountains begin an hour and a half from Marrakesh and feel like another country. The villages are built of earth and the people speak Tamazight. Life there revolves around the terraces on the slopes, where walnuts, apples and vegetables grow. Soukayna drives you to Imlil or the Ourika Valley, where a guide from the village takes you walking. Along the way you drink tea in a family's home.

What the day looks like

We leave around half past eight. The road climbs gradually; after an hour you see the first villages against the slopes and, from November to April, snow on the peaks. In Imlil, at 1,700 meters, the guide is waiting. He or she is from the village and knows the paths and the families. You walk on paths the villagers use every day, past irrigation channels and terraces, with a view of Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa.

Halfway you stop at a family's home for mint tea, fresh bread, olive oil and amlou, a paste of almonds and argan oil. You usually meet the women of the house, and because Soukayna is there, you can talk with them.

Lunch is on a terrace above the valley, usually a tagine that has been simmering for hours. In Ourika you can walk on to the Setti Fatma waterfalls afterward. Around half past four you are back in the city.

Who it's for

For anyone who wants some air and space after the bustle of Marrakesh. If you like hiking you will get your fill, and so will anyone who would rather stroll through a village and see a lot of how people live here. If you want more, you can stay a night in a gîte in Imlil and walk higher the next day; that fits in a tailor-made trip.

Good to know

Wear shoes with good tread; the paths are rocky and sometimes wet near the irrigation channels. In the mountains it is always a few degrees cooler than in the city, and in winter it is really cold: bring a jacket. What else is useful is on our packing list.

When you visit a family, covered clothing is appropriate: long pants or a skirt and covered shoulders. Our page about what to wear explains why that matters more in the villages than in the city. A small tip for the guide and something for the family is customary; Soukayna tells you what is appropriate.

When you book through the contact page, let us know whether you want Imlil, Ourika or the Ouzoud version.