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The summit ridge of M'Goun, 4,071 m, in the High Atlas of Morocco

Signature trip

M'Goun, Toubkal and the Desert

Fourteen days across Morocco: the M'Goun traverse, the Erg Chebbi desert and the summit of Toubkal, with the local team.

  • CategoryAdventure
  • LevelChallenging
  • Duration14 days / 13 nights
5.0· 76 Google reviews
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Trip overview

M'Goun, Toubkal and the Desert

Fourteen days across Morocco on foot and by road. First the M'Goun traverse (4,071 m) from the Aït Bougmez valley, with the Tarkeddit plateau and the red-rock gorges of the descent. Then south to the Erg Chebbi dunes, with a night in a desert camp. And to close, the ascent of Toubkal (4,167 m) in the western High Atlas. Two peaks over 4,000 metres and the Sahara, all with the local Berber team.

Flock of sheep on the Tarkeddit plateau, at the foot of the M'Goun massif
  • DestinationMorocco · Central Atlas, Sahara and High Atlas
  • Duration14 days and 13 nights
  • GuideLocal Berber team
  • Group sizeSmall group
  • EcosystemsCentral Atlas, gorges, Sahara dunes, High Atlas

The character of the trip

How much adventure, culture and nature you'll experience.

Adventure5/5
Culture4/5
Nature4/5
Berber guide team of the High Atlas
Local mountain leaders · High Atlas, Morocco

Who will be with you on this trip

Berber guide team of the High Atlas

The trip is led from start to finish by the local Berber team: a mountain leader for the M'Goun and Toubkal traverses, a camp cook and muleteers for the porterage, and a driver-guide for the southern route and the desert.

It is a trip with complex logistics (two massifs, camps, desert) and the local team is what makes it fit together. Summits are decided on the ground.

Flexible dates

Interested in this trip?

Who organises this trip?

This experience runs with our partner team on the ground, who organise and sell the trip's services directly. At Ecotour we design the itinerary, explain how it works, answer your questions and put you in touch with the organising team when you're ready to go ahead.

Local team on the ground

Travel with our local team

You travel through Morocco with the local team, who organise and guide the trip on the ground. Ecotour helps you decide.

Duration
14 days / 13 nights

Start day

Pick your start day: the 14 days of the trip are marked automatically.

We explain how the trip works, answer your questions and put you in touch with the organising team when you want to go ahead.

How you experience it

We design the itinerary and support you throughout your decision. Sending the form is not a booking or a payment.

How does it work?

  1. You get in touch. Fill in the form or send us a WhatsApp message. No commitment: it isn't a booking or a payment.
  2. We talk it through. We give you all the details, answer your questions and see whether the trip is right for you.
  3. We put you in touch. When you're ready to go ahead, we connect you with the organising team, who handle the booking.
  4. All that's left is to enjoy it. Your guide is with you every step of the way. You just live the trip.

Flexible dates: get in touch and we'll tell you about the next departure windows and how the trip is organised.

Tell us what you're looking for and we'll contact you personally. It isn't a booking or a payment, just a request for information.

Flexible dates

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M'Goun, Toubkal and the Desert

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Itinerary at a glance

  1. Day 1: Marrakech and transfer to Aït Bougmez

    Arrival in Marrakech and a long transfer along mountain roads to the Aït Bougmez valley, in the Central Atlas. Afternoon to stroll around the valley.

    Gîte in Aït Bougmez

  2. Day 2: Aït Bougmez and climb to the Tarkeddit plateau

    The M'Goun traverse begins. Climb through the pastures of Azib n'Ikkis to the Tarkeddit plateau (about 2,900 m), at the foot of the massif. Camp night.

    Camp at Tarkeddit

  3. Day 3: Summit of M'Goun (4,071 m)

    Early start for the summit of M'Goun along the long summit ridge, 4,071 metres. Return to the Tarkeddit camp.

    Camp at Tarkeddit

  4. Day 4: Traverse to the M'Goun valley

    Cross a pass in the massif and descend towards the M'Goun valley, with wide views of the Central Atlas. Camp night beside the river.

    Camp in the M'Goun valley

  5. Day 5: M'Goun gorges

    Descent through the gorges of the Assif M'Goun, with stretches where you walk in the water, to Bou Taghrar and El Kelaa M'Gouna. End of the trek on foot.

    Gîte or hotel in the El Kelaa M'Gouna area

  6. Day 6: Valley of the Roses and Dadès gorges

    Transfer south through the Valley of the Roses and the Dadès valley, with its rock formations. Night in the Dadès.

    Dadès valley

  7. Day 7: Todra gorges and Merzouga

    Follow the route through the Todra gorges (walls up to 300 m high) and arrive in Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. The transfer to the camp is by vehicle; the last stretch is optional, on foot or by camel.

    Camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes

  8. Day 8: A day in the desert

    Sunrise over the dunes and a quiet day in the desert: walks on the sand, contact with nomadic life and the village of Khamlia. Night in the desert.

    Camp or accommodation in Merzouga

  9. Day 9: Merzouga, Ouarzazate and Marrakech

    A long day on the road from the desert to Marrakech, via Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou, crossing the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass.

    Marrakech

  10. Day 10: Transfer to Imlil

    Transfer from Marrakech to Imlil (1,740 m), the gateway to Toubkal. Afternoon to organise your mountain gear and walk around the valley.

    Imlil

  11. Day 11: From Imlil to the Toubkal refuge

    Climb to the Toubkal cirque via Sidi Chamharouch to the Toubkal refuge (3,207 m). Afternoon of rest and acclimatisation.

    Toubkal refuge

  12. Day 12: Summit of Toubkal (4,167 m)

    Set off before dawn for the summit, 4,167 metres, the highest point in North Africa. Return to the refuge.

    Toubkal refuge

  13. Day 13: Descent to Imlil

    Descent from the refuge to Imlil, between three and four hours. Free afternoon in the valley.

    Imlil

  14. Day 14: Return to Marrakech and end of the trip

    Transfer from Imlil to Marrakech. End of the trip or connection with your return flight.

Detailed itinerary

The trip, day by day

Marrakech and transfer to Aït Bougmez

DAY 1

Marrakech and transfer to Aït Bougmez

  • Gîte in Aït Bougmez
  • Dinner

Arrival in Marrakech and a long transfer along mountain roads to the Aït Bougmez valley, in the Central Atlas. Afternoon to stroll around the valley.

Aït Bougmez and climb to the Tarkeddit plateau

DAY 2

Aït Bougmez and climb to the Tarkeddit plateau

  • Camp at Tarkeddit
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

The M'Goun traverse begins. Climb through the pastures of Azib n'Ikkis to the Tarkeddit plateau (about 2,900 m), at the foot of the massif. Camp night.

Summit of M'Goun (4,071 m)

DAY 3

Summit of M'Goun (4,071 m)

  • Camp at Tarkeddit
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Early start for the summit of M'Goun along the long summit ridge, 4,071 metres. Return to the Tarkeddit camp.

Traverse to the M'Goun valley

DAY 4

Traverse to the M'Goun valley

  • Camp in the M'Goun valley
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Cross a pass in the massif and descend towards the M'Goun valley, with wide views of the Central Atlas. Camp night beside the river.

M'Goun gorges

DAY 5

M'Goun gorges

  • Gîte or hotel in the El Kelaa M'Gouna area
  • Breakfast and packed lunch

Descent through the gorges of the Assif M'Goun, with stretches where you walk in the water, to Bou Taghrar and El Kelaa M'Gouna. End of the trek on foot.

Valley of the Roses and Dadès gorges

DAY 6

Valley of the Roses and Dadès gorges

  • Dadès valley
  • Breakfast and dinner

Transfer south through the Valley of the Roses and the Dadès valley, with its rock formations. Night in the Dadès.

Todra gorges and Merzouga

DAY 7

Todra gorges and Merzouga

  • Camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes
  • Breakfast and dinner

Follow the route through the Todra gorges (walls up to 300 m high) and arrive in Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. The transfer to the camp is by vehicle; the last stretch is optional, on foot or by camel.

A day in the desert

DAY 8

A day in the desert

  • Camp or accommodation in Merzouga
  • Breakfast and dinner

Sunrise over the dunes and a quiet day in the desert: walks on the sand, contact with nomadic life and the village of Khamlia. Night in the desert.

Merzouga, Ouarzazate and Marrakech

DAY 9

Merzouga, Ouarzazate and Marrakech

  • Marrakech
  • Breakfast

A long day on the road from the desert to Marrakech, via Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou, crossing the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass.

Transfer to Imlil

DAY 10

Transfer to Imlil

  • Imlil
  • Breakfast and dinner

Transfer from Marrakech to Imlil (1,740 m), the gateway to Toubkal. Afternoon to organise your mountain gear and walk around the valley.

From Imlil to the Toubkal refuge

DAY 11

From Imlil to the Toubkal refuge

  • Toubkal refuge
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Climb to the Toubkal cirque via Sidi Chamharouch to the Toubkal refuge (3,207 m). Afternoon of rest and acclimatisation.

Summit of Toubkal (4,167 m)

DAY 12

Summit of Toubkal (4,167 m)

  • Toubkal refuge
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Set off before dawn for the summit, 4,167 metres, the highest point in North Africa. Return to the refuge.

Descent to Imlil

DAY 13

Descent to Imlil

  • Imlil
  • Breakfast

Descent from the refuge to Imlil, between three and four hours. Free afternoon in the valley.

DAY 14

Return to Marrakech and end of the trip

  • Breakfast

Transfer from Imlil to Marrakech. End of the trip or connection with your return flight.

Trip highlights

What makes this route special

Included

  • A local guide for the two mountain traverses (M'Goun and Toubkal) and a driver-guide for the southern section and the desert. A Spanish-speaking guide is available.

    Local Berber guide team
  • All road transfers on the trip: Marrakech - Aït Bougmez, the southern route and the desert, Marrakech - Imlil and the return, by private vehicle.

    Transport on the ground
  • Camps on the M'Goun traverse and at the Toubkal refuge, valley gîtes, hotels and kasbahs in the south and a desert camp, with the meals shown in the itinerary.

    Accommodation and full board on the route
  • Pack mules on the traverses, a camp cook, tents and a camp set up in the dunes.

    Mountain and desert logistics

Not included

  • International flights to and from Marrakech, travel insurance and mountain rescue cover (compulsory), lunches and dinners in the cities not indicated, drinks and personal expenses, entrance fees to monuments, tips and personal mountain gear.

    What is not included

Additional information

  • Travel insurance and rescue cover

    You must travel with insurance that covers medical assistance, high-mountain activity and rescue, as well as cancellation cover. It is not included in the price.

  • A trip in several stages

    The trip links two mountain traverses, the southern route and the desert. There are camping days, river crossings in the M'Goun gorges and long days on the road. You need to arrive with previous experience of multi-day trekking.

  • Luggage

    We recommend a day pack and a flexible duffel bag for the mule transport on the traverses. It is cold at night at the Toubkal refuge and in the camps.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask us

01Do I have to ride a camel?

No. Access to the desert camp is by vehicle. A camel ride across the dunes is optional.

02Is it a very demanding trip?

Yes. It is fourteen days with two high-mountain traverses (M'Goun and Toubkal, both above 4,000 metres), several days of camping, river crossings in the M'Goun gorges and quite a few hours on the road in the southern section. You need good fitness and previous experience of multi-day trekking.

03How does payment work?

This trip is organised and booked by a partner team on the ground. At Ecotour we explain how it works, answer your questions and put you in touch with them when you want to go ahead. No booking or payment is made through Ecotour.

04What dates can I travel on?

It is a trip at your own pace. The reasonable window is the shoulder months (May-June and September-October): M'Goun needs the plateau clear of snow, the desert cannot take the heat of July-August and Toubkal is better outside winter.

05Are the summits guaranteed?

No. Both M'Goun and Toubkal depend on the weather, the condition of the mountain, the pace of the group and the judgement of the local guide.

06What insurance do I need?

Travel insurance that covers medical assistance, high-mountain activity and rescue. It is not included in the price and it is compulsory in order to take part.

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Trip moments

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