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

URL: https://soukytours.com/trips/atlas-mountains-and-berber-villages
Type: Day tour. Duration: 1 day, about 8 hours. Group: 1 to 6 people. Start: Your riad or hotel in Marrakesh. Price: On request.

A day in the High Atlas with Soukayna: a walk with a local guide, tea in a family home, a waterfall and lunch with a view over the valley.

## Highlights

- An hour and a half from Marrakesh, in a different climate and at a different pace
- A walk of two to three hours with a guide from the village, adjustable to your fitness
- Tea and bread in the home of a Berber family
- Lunch on a terrace with a view over the valley
- A choice between Imlil (higher, more rugged) and Ourika (greener, easier)

The [Atlas Mountains](/en/destinations/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](/en/destinations/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](/en/trips/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](/en/practical/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](/en/practical/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](/en/contact), let us know whether you want Imlil, Ourika or the Ouzoud version.

## Program step by step

- **8:30 am: departure from Marrakesh** The road climbs slowly. After an hour you see the first earthen villages against the slopes and, in winter, snow on the peaks.
- **10:00 am: walk** From Imlil or a village in the Ourika Valley you walk with a guide past terraces with walnut and apple trees, on paths the villagers use every day.
- **12:00 pm: tea with a family** In a living room you are served mint tea, bread, olive oil and amlou. You usually meet the women of the house.
- **1:00 pm: lunch with a view** You eat tagine on a terrace above the valley. Afterward you can go to a waterfall if you like; in Ourika those are the Setti Fatma waterfalls.
- **4:30 pm: back in Marrakesh** Around half past four you are back at your riad. On the way the late afternoon light falls across the plain.

## Included

- Private transport with Soukayna there and back
- Pickup at your riad or hotel
- A local mountain guide during the walk
- Tea with a family
- Water along the way

## Not included

- Lunch
- A donkey or mule if you don't want to walk (can be arranged on the spot)
- Tips for the guide and the family
- Travel insurance

## Frequently asked questions

**Imlil or Ourika, which do I choose?**

Imlil is at 1,700 meters, is more rugged and has steeper walks; you look out on Toubkal from there. Ourika is greener, closer (about 1 hour) and easier to walk, but busier on weekends with day-trippers from the city. If you can't decide, Soukayna chooses based on the season and your fitness.

**How hard is the walk?**

By default it takes two to three hours, with some climbing on uneven paths. That can be adjusted: an easy hour through the village is possible, and so is a longer hike of five hours. Tell us what you want.

**Can I go to the Ouzoud waterfalls instead of the mountains?**

Yes. Ouzoud is about 2.5 hours in the other direction and is a full day in itself: a walk to the waterfalls, monkeys along the way and lunch by the water. It is a different day from this one, but we plan it just as easily.


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Source: https://soukytours.com/trips/atlas-mountains-and-berber-villages
Souky Tours, contact through the chat on https://soukytours.com/contact