5-Day Mount Toubkal Trek & Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech

Yes, but only as two sections run back to back. Days 1 and 2 are the guided Toubkal ascent from Imlil; day 2 ends in Marrakech; days 3 to 5 are the road route out to Erg Chebbi and back. Nothing is walked between the mountain and the desert — the transition is a night in Marrakech and a change of vehicle and team.

Erg Chebbi at Merzouga, the tall dune field in the south east. It is the desert our own three-day route already uses. Zagora is closer to Marrakech but its dunes are much smaller.

Day 3 crosses the Atlas to the Dades valley, day 4 continues east to the dunes, and day 5 is the long return of roughly nine to ten hours with stops. It is a lot of road, which is the honest cost of seeing both landscapes in five days.

No. The refuge night, the Dades valley night and the desert camp night are included. The hotel night in Marrakech between the two sections is not — tell us if you want us to arrange it and we quote it separately.

Your guide turns the group around, and the desert section still runs as planned. We never push a summit day in unsafe conditions and there is no reserve day in this format.

You need good general fitness and to be comfortable with a long ascent day at altitude. No technical climbing skill is required, but this itinerary has no acclimatisation day, so it suits active walkers rather than complete beginners.

The trekking section runs privately or in a small group of up to twelve. The desert section runs as a small group by default, with a private vehicle available for a supplement.

No. If you would rather not ride, we transfer you to the camp by vehicle instead.

This experience lasts 5 days / 4 nights. The experience runs from Marrakech.

Hotel pickup in Marrakech.

The price is €605 per person, or €574.75 when you book directly with us instead of through a booking platform. €605 per person, owner-approved rate covering the guided Toubkal section and the Merzouga desert route. The hotel night in Marrakech between the two halves is not included.

Private or small group, max 12. This tour is available as private or small group.

Your guide or driver speaks English, French, Spanish, Berber, Arabic. Tell us your preferred language when you book and we confirm it before departure.

Included: Certified High Atlas mountain guide for the trekking section, Muleteers and mules for main luggage on the trek, Cook and all mountain meals on the trek, 1 night at the Toubkal refuge (3,207 m), Return private transport Marrakech–Imlil, Air-conditioned transport for the desert section with an experienced driver, 1 night in a hotel or guesthouse in the Dades valley, 1 night in a Merzouga desert camp with dinner and breakfast. Not included: The hotel night in Marrakech between the mountain and desert sections, Lunches and drinks on the desert days, Monument entrance fees at Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, Sleeping bag (rental available from our Imlil shop), Personal trekking clothing and boots.

Bring: Broken-in hiking boots with ankle support, Warm insulating layer, windproof shell, hat and gloves for the refuge and summit, 3 litres of water capacity and a headlamp with spare batteries, Warm layers for the desert night and a scarf for wind and sand, Sunscreen, sunglasses, a small overnight bag and cash for lunches and entrance fees.

The grade is challenging on the summit day, easy on the desert days and the highest point reached is 4,167 m.

This trip operates all year (winter gear December–March).