Morocco Day Hikes Part Two: The High Atlas Mountains
With Brahim my guide in the High Atlas Mountains.
The High Atlas Mountains in Morocco have been in my dreams to day hike for years! In this article I share two different great trekking options to experience in Morocco’s most famous mountain range: The High Atlas.
High Atlas Mountains Morocco Day Hike One:
I stayed the night in Skoura and from there with my amazing driver Anas from Morocco Shiny Days we headed towards Marrakech. But before we did we met a local trekking guide named Ramon and we started at the now abandoned Telouet Salt Mines in the Onila Valley.
After seeing large chunks of Himalyan esque sea salt scattered around our car Ramon and I began a steep ascent out of the valley and towards the top of the canyon.
From here we followed a trail and riverbeds through the high Atlas range, past nomadic goat herders and shepherds, through apple tree farms, and eventually to Telouet Kasbah. This kasbah was part of caravans that came as far as the Silk Road in modern day China (yes they crossed the Sahara Desert!)
After a tour of the Kasbah I was on my way. Ramon was an excellent guide and the trek was about 10K with 1,000 feet or so in elevation gain over about 2.5 hours. Anas from Morocco Shiny Days can arrange Ramon as a guide for you if you use their drivers as a service!
This hike was STUNNING if I had to encapsulate the experience into one word.
High Atlas Mountains Morocco Day Hike Two:
I stayed the night at the riad in Skoura before about a 75 minute drive into the High Atlas range. This took us up windy dirt roads and eventually into a berber village that escapes my name simply because I don’t speak very good berber.
What I missed in language barriers we made up for in hospitality. After honey, butter, olives, and bread all made in their home I set up with Brahim on a trek I will not soon forget. Brahim is over 70 years old and speaks French, Derija, and Berber to a tee. We settled on Spanish and Derija Arabic as our best form to communicate.
He has been guiding groups to the top peaks of Morocco for decades and once saved a group of Germans during a snowstorm near the high point of the country. (Mount Toubkal.)
Anas and Oualid from Morocco Shiny Days had been referred to Brahim by a friend who does European Trekking Trips in the area and said he was outstanding. After a filing breakfast we threw leftover walnuts in my pack and Brahim and I hit the path just ten feet from his stone house.
What resulted over the next five hours was one of the most brilliant, fun, and hard day hikes i have ever attempted. We weaved up and out of canyons, down into the next berber village, and back out to the top of the mountains soon enough.
He was a warm and giving soul as were all the people in the villages we trekked by and through. The children followed along with us, Brahim picked fruit off of trees for me, and I bought him eggs from a farmer as we neared his village to wrap up our loop hike.
He is a mountain man that is 71 going on 29. We did a 23k with 3,000 feet ascent/descent in about 4 hours with a few pit stops to pick up his groceries for the week from neighboring villages. (We picked grapes, tomatoes, apples, and of course the egg purchase to name a few.) He drew the map with a stick in the dirt that was basically the shape of an oval before we started and then said “Allons-Y” aka “Let’s Go” in French :).
My pack was getting heavy when we returned with all the food! Upon getting back to his home it was then that we were treated with more world famous Berber hospitality. Brahim and his son prepared a Tagine for Anas and I and we ate until our bellies hurt!
The Tagine is pictured below!
Post Trek Tagine at Brahim’s house in the High Atlas Mountains.
I couldn’t have found these authentic and local experiences on my own. The High Atlas Mountains don’t have a whole lot of “trailheads” and mileage signs posted.
What they do have is kind local people that know the way because these mountains are their homes and their livelihoods. A little Arabic, Berber, or French will also help. English and Spanish are scarce in this region of Morocco.
I’ll never forget my days trekking with Brahim and Ramon. Morocco Shiny Days was able to surpass my requests for “hiking guides” with these two.
If you need their info talk to my crew or comment below to reach out to these guides of the High Atlas Mountains to experience day hikes WAY off the tourist path for moments that will live with you forever!
The blisters might do the same :).
Thanks for reading!
Comment below with any questions or your experience hiking in the High Atlas of Morocco.
Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R
