Trek the Atlas Mountains

My boyfriend and I went on this trip, having used a few other companies for group trips previously - Much Better Adventures is by far our favourite! The hospitality and service levels throughout the trip were through the roof, from our airport transfers to our local guides to the food provisions. We were very impressed with the food even though we were in such remote areas. Plenty of food and water to go around, accommodation was basic but we expected this in the mountains, and the views were amazing throughout. We feel like November was the perfect time to do this trip - the weather was perfect, warm but not too hot or too cold, with perfect views every day. We are eager to book our next MBA trip!

We had an excellent experience on the Trek the Atlas Mountains trip. The scenery was incredible across the 4 days and we even had the opportunity for some stargazing and a trip to a waterfall. Our guides, Hussein and Abdul, were excellent as were all the support staff - particularly the chefs who made us incredible meals throughout the trip. The trip was well organised and all our transfers seamless, including those we booked to other destinations after the main trip had ended. This trip is excellent value and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to anyone after a hiking holiday.

I was blown away by how good this adventure was, our tour guides were wonderful, the scenery was beautiful and the food we were given was consistently delicious. This is absolutely fantastic value for the price. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good hiking holiday

A well-organised trip featuring stunning scenery, delicious meals, and absolutely loads of laughs (and goats). Our amazing team of guides, chefs and muleteers led and fed us brilliantly. I was offered a transfer from my previous accommodation in Marrakech to the tour riad free of charge.

The walks: mostly loose gravel or dust tracks, only a few slightly exposed slopes over the 4 days, and no scrambling. This was my first multi-day hike - it felt easily manageable for anyone in good fitness. There was a wide mix of paces in our group but our guides were good at taking that into account. Photos can't convey how spectacular some of the scenery was!

The accommodation: basic and clean, with showers each night that were usually hot, toilets that usually flushed, sharing 4-6 to a room. Top tips - bring earplugs, and look up at the night sky!

Packing: we were sent both a summer and winter packing list, and it's hard to decide what that means when it's autumn. Our trip in October ended up being half the temperature of the week before and after it, meaning some extremely cold nights - think woolly hats and coats on and seeing your breath indoors - and the sleeping bags provided were summer ones rated 10C min, when we were down to 4C overnight. If in doubt, bring more layers.

Overall, a unique hiking experience, an authentic insight into rural mountain life, and an amazing group of people to share it with.

Treking the atlas with the local guides was a life-changing experience. We had snow-ball fights on the mountain top to melt in the sun a few hours later next to a natural river after one of the many scrumptious lunches. It was a great way to learn about Berber culture, watch goats climb on trees whilst detoxing from modern technology driven life and instead breathing in fresh air for a few days.

The trip overall was well organised. Plenty of delicious food and lovely hot Moroccan tea. The guides and support team were amazing and worked very hard during the four days. The hiking itself was moderate plus (this coming from someone who is close to 60). Scenery amazing, breathtaking in fact. A mixture of weather but nothing unexpected. I would say that for anyone going at this time of the year to be prepared for chilly nights in the gites.

From start to finish this was a truly magnificent adventure. If you want 5* accommodation then this is not for you but the accommodation was always clean and reasonably comfortable. Hotels in Marrakesh before and after trail were really central The guide Hussein was great and the food was 6* A trip I would recommend to anyone with some walking experience

Very happy with the tour! Organization and communication was excellent. The food was incredible and the guides were informative and set a good pace. Would highly recommend

The trip was amazing. It was so well organised from start to finish from pick ups to drop offs. The food was great and plenty of it. The accommodation gives you a real insight into what rural life is like in Morocco. We had Hussain and his team and they were brilliant. Very knowledgeable and helpful with everything The views were amazing on the hikes. Would really recommend this trip. Great value for money

My third MBA trip this year, my wife's second. We've already booked another for June 2025 so to say the least, MBA hiking adventures are our thing!! The scenery is breathtaking up in the Atlas Mountains. The poverty can also be quite breathtaking following last year's earthquake so many of these small village communities still haven't recovered and many local people are still living in tents by the ruins of their former homes.

Our guides Hussein and Lassin were really good guys and the food prepared and served to us by the chefs / 'mueleteers' was absolutely top notch. I'm sorry to only give 4 stars but have to knock one off due to the somewhat precarious hot water situation a couple of nights. Charge us punters an extra £50 a head (it would still be remarkably good value) and give it all to the gite owners in the mountains to invest in their showers / hot water.

There were times I was gasping for air on the steeper sections of the hikes, sweat poured many times, but to be fair to the moderate rating, I am 53, I'm probably 3 stone overweight and have a number of pretty significant ailments, I made it round. Tough at times definitely but overall compared to the other trips I've done, moderate was probably accurate but maybe 'moderate +'?

The other people in the group really made the trip. Such interesting people from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, 🇮🇪 and 🇨🇦. Youngest in early 20s, oldest mid 60s several solo travellers but also father & son, sisters and friends and all got on roaringly for 4 nights and certainly hope to bump into them on other MBA trips really soon. By the way 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 youre still losing 5 - 2 on funny stories to 🇮🇪. 🤪

I had the most amazing time on this trip!

Airport pick up was super straightforward and I felt looked after from then until airport drop off!

The riad was lovely and hospitality from the staff at each location was warm and inviting. The accommodation in the mountains was basic - as expected, but had everything we needed included plug sockets and a hot shower!

Day 1 trek felt more challenging as we were acclimating to the heat and altitude, so be sure to eat well the day before and morning off, and take some snacks (I recommend bread roll with marmalade!) to keep you going until lunch. The guides were great and Mohammed was happy to adjust plans slightly when we wanted to leave earlier than planned to hike in the cool mornings. The treks are all ascent in the am for 3-4 hours so do get some incline practice in!

The views were something else - I’ve never felt so remote 🥰

All the food is local and freshly prepared which was incredible - the pictures don’t do it justice! There was a great mix for everyone and it was lovely to sit together in the mountains and enjoy.

We were a mixed group of couples, friends and solo travellers and the vibes were immaculate ✨

This trip is excellent value for money and an incredible eye opener to both the awesome landscape and rural life in the mountains.

Press the green button.

An overall excellent trip! Our group of 13 were made up of a mixture of couples, solo travellers and friends. The value for money is so good- 5 nights of accommodation, 3 meals a day and water provided whilst on the trek and the expertise of our great guide Mohammed and his team.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all very nice and well prepared (see pics), would cater for a variety of diets and give good fuel for the walking! The accommodation varied but was overall better than the basic expectation we had of the rural villages- all the accommodation had hot water for showers, comfortable beds and again, well catered for!

The trek itself has amazing views, the climbs can take 3-4 hours each day but the pace is steady with breaks as needed. 'Moderate' difficulty is about right- if you're comfortable with a hilly 15km UK walk then this should be manageable (altitude dependent as the highest point is 2.7km). Mohammed gave us really good information on our plans each day, on the surroundings and the locals that we passed during the trek!

Recommendations for useful extras would be: toilet roll, plenty of snacks (to eat during the trek between meals), hydration bladder.

Would thoroughly recommend the trek to solo travellers, couples and small groups!!

This trip had been on my 'must do' list for a while and it didn't disappoint. Everything from MBA was so well organised - from the first airport pickup to being dropped at my next accommodation in Marrakech. There were 13 of us in the group and we all got on well which really elevated the experience and certainly helped while staying in close proximity in the mountain villages! Note here - the facilities are basic and you can expect to be without mobile service or wifi. Great for a 'digital detox' but something to be prepared for in advance. For us, none of that really mattered because the surroundings were so beautiful and peaceful. We ate delicious breakfasts and dinners together in our accommodations and enjoyed wonderful picnic lunches up in the mountains. All locally sourced ingredients served family style and cooked with experience and love. Mohamed - our lead guide - consulted us often on our preferences and was happy to get us going on the trails earlier than normal each day so we could do the toughest walking before the sun got strong. The hiking itself took in varied views, elevations and terrain. Anyone in good physical condition health and fitness wise should have no problem, but bear in mind that the hike starts at altitude. There was no shortage of spectacular views and there are a couple of nice surprises thrown in too. All in all, this tour is a great way to experience a beautiful region that would otherwise be quite difficult to navigate as a solo traveller. And Marrakech is a vibe too, so there's loads to like!

Well there aren’t many words to describe this trip. One of my favourite so far. Challenging, don’t get me wrong! 50km walk, 3000m of elevation, 2 mountain passes and steep rocky mountain terrains to cover in 4 days. Out of breath on the ascents, knee pains on descents and sweat pouring down your face constantly, nevertheless it was still all worth it. The stunning sceneries and the immense beauty of this place is mind blowing. The professionalism of Aztet Trek crew was outstanding. Our tour guides, Mohammed and Hussain, went above and beyond to make sure our group had the best time and were incredibly proud to show us around their backyard and introduce us to the beautiful Berber culture. Much Better adventure is a great community which attracts likeminded outdoor people and we had the pleasure to share this journey with wonderful ones. Tanmirt 💫

Trekking the Atlas Mountains was an unforgettable experience! From start to finish, the entire trip was well-organised and stress-free.

The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. We trekked through remote Berber villages, climbed rugged mountainsides, and enjoyed stunning views of Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa. The local guides were fantastic – friendly, knowledgeable, and always eager to share stories about the area and Berber culture.

Staying in traditional Berber gite homes gave the trip a truly authentic feel, and the homestays were a unique highlight. Our hosts were incredibly welcoming, and the food was delicious – traditional, hearty meals that kept us fuelled for the hikes. Marrakech’s riad accommodation was also stunning, providing a peaceful and relaxing environment at both the start and end of the trek.

With everything from transfers to meals taken care of, all I had to do was enjoy the surroundings. The logistics were seamless, and knowing that our luggage was being transported ahead of us made the trekking even more comfortable.

I can’t recommend this trip enough – if you’re looking for a mix of adventure, culture, and stunning landscapes, this trek is perfect! Huge thanks to the team for making this an unforgettable journey.

The trip exceeded our expectations: the landscapes are stunning, the food and facilities great (given the context), and our guide Hussein was awesome!

This was my first MBA trip and I can't wait for my next one! Our guide Hussein was amazing, he was very happy to answer any questions we had about the area and culture. The food was incredible and freshly cooked by a chef who is with you for the whole trip. The scenery was beautiful and so different to the UK. The riads we stayed in at the start and end of the trip were very comfortable. The gites in the mountains are quite basic but that's to be expected and they all had a hot shower! I tagged on a few extra days to explore Marrakech before the trip started and I would highly recommend doing this to have time to experience the city as well. I felt so looked after on the whole trip and it was a great introduction to my first multi-day hiking experience.

Very well organised tour. We were with company called Aztat treks and it was the best.

It was very hot but plenty of breaks and they have provided plenty of water. But don't forget to bring own snacks, as there aren't much place you can get snacks once hiking trip starts.

Do not expect 5 star hotels. Some places we had only 1 shower and toilet available for 14 people. But it was all good experience and was much fun with others in the group.

Bring own toilet papers. And bring own water bottles! You definitely will need 2* 1liter bottles to hydrate yourself.

It was very dusty as we went on dry season. Buff was good job to cover nose and mouth. And don't bring good clothes. Comfortable and good shoes will be needed.

Whatever they say to bring with you, do that. Our guide was very helpful, he gave us good tips for rest of the trip. Recommend good place to go and visit.

Hopefully you all have good trip. It was very worth spending time and money!

This was a great trek. The guides were super helpful and set a quick but manageable pace. The views were amazing. The weather was warm but not too bad for mid-late May, just be sure to pack a lot of sunscreen! Accommodations were better than expected and the group was fantastic. The terrain could be a bit slippery (lots of dust and loose rocks) so good shoes with solid grip are a must. The uphills can be challenging but I found the hikes to be quite enjoyable. The food was good and plentiful, but I would recommend bringing snacks for the trek. I would highly recommend! This was my first trip with Much Better Adventures and it won't be my last.

I have never left Europe before, and I have never hiked before. This adventure was a perfect start - amazing people in the group, super helpful and kind guides. The hike is not easy, but with an OK fitness level, its definitely doable. The landscape was beautiful, despite the terrible weather we had, I enjoyed every moment of it.

Could not recommend Aztat Treks any higher. The whole team (Mohamed, Hussain, Assia) were superb, they went far above & beyond to make the trip a truly unforgettable adventure and ensure our private group of 13 people had the best time. Everyday we were given the fullest hospitality, the meals were fantastic and the scenery was unreal, and not once did we feel like we were missing anything - could not have gone any better and all the praise goes to the Aztat Treks team! From arriving to the airport they were faultless and supportive, superb service. Special praise to our guides, they made the adventure. Lots of knowledge and shared lots as much as they could with our group. Riad Aymane is in the perfect location to enjoy Marrakech, the guesthouses (gites) we stayed in were more than adequate and allowed us to fully enjoy the local culture and beautiful scenery, but more than anything, our group was given the warmest welcome by everyone we met - it was a beautiful adventure which I would recommend to anyone who wants to explore the Atlas Mountains.

Hello All at Much Better Holidays. Overall, I enjoyed the time in the mountains, all be it very challenging at times and I'm pleased that any questions of my fitness were positively answered! I liked our guide Mustafe who was very supportive and encouraging and always sought to see that we were as comfortable as possible when overnighting. Abdelouahed too, was always on hand to help. I had the upmost admiration of the team that provided our meals. Whether breakfast, lunch or dinner, the meals were nutritious, plentiful and beautifully presented. It was a nice mix of us 'Oldens' with the younger members of the group, who's company I thoroughly enjoyed. When it came to tipping on the final day, I'd have rather given the tips to team leader ( Mustafa) to distribute as required, rather than doing it directly, appreciating that it is a traditional way of doing it.

Thanks very much, a great experience

Clive Mitchell

The nature was stunning, the weather was varied, the food was plentiful! Biggest thanks to the cooks and muleteers who worked so hard each day. And of course, biggest thanks to our guides Mustafa and Abdul for ensuring everyone was safe and happy. The hikes were very reasonable for anyone who has experience with day hikes though my knees were sore by the end! I was so so so lucky to have a fun and lovely group of people to share this experience with- it was difficult to say goodbye.

An incredible trip from start to finish. Organised superbly and brilliantly led by Mustafa, Abdu and the team. The food, scenery, hospitality and company left for nothing to be desired. I would (and have) recommended this trip to all friends who enjoy hiking

Overall a wonderful trip. The two leaders were very diligent and helpful. This is my second trip with MBA and now on both occasions I would say there needs to be more clarity with the : tipping '. On your webpage you suggest how to divvy up the money. But the leaders are unaware of your company and the suggested amounts are not the what they recognise. (Who gets what). This process was slightly embarrassing and consequently drawn out.

Everything was very well organised, and I had a lovely trip with a group of great people.

The trip was physically not as demanding as I expected; I'd say it's doable for anyone who is in fairly good shape. We spent the nights in hostel-like mountain gîtes. There were warm showers every day. Toilets weren't always flushable, but nothing a bucket of water couldn't fix. WiFi was available only in the last accommodation, so make sure you inform your loved ones that you may be unable to text them.

During the hike we took long lunch breaks, and while we rested the crew prepared a fantastic lunch every day. Food and drinks were all provided for.

I went in April, and the weather was warm (about 25 degrees) and sunny in the mountains all week. In Marrakech it was hot, about 37 degrees. I don't know whether this was normal for the time of year or not, but I certainly didn't need my rain clothes or warm clothes (just a sweater for the early mornings).

When my flight got cancelled and I had to rebook to a crazy early one, changing the time of my transfer to the airport to the middle of the night was no problem at all (which was very nice given the stress I was already experiencing).

To recap, I had a great time and everything was arranged super smoothly.

Excellent trip! It was just the right number of days and level of difficulty to feel both relaxed and accomplished at the end of a day. The guides and support team were kind and helpful, the food was delicious, and the views were varied and unexpectedly colorful. Be prepared to share close quarters, pleasant surprises, and laughs.

This trip was truly excellent and I would definitely recommend it! Our guides, Hussain and Mostafa were absolutely lovely. They set a good pace for the hikes, kept an eye out for anyone falling behind, and made sure we took regular breaks to rehydrate (definitely recommend adding electrolytes to your water). They also very kindly taught us some useful Arabic and Berber words (and laughed with us at our terrible pronunciation). Once we were on the road we had a group briefing the evening before the next trek so we knew what to expect from each day, and where we were on the map. While hiking in the sun and heat was strenuous, the hikes themselves did not feel as difficult as I had expected (or maybe the training that I did paid off?, who knows). We also had more free time than I had expected, both during lunch and in the gites at the end of the day, which was nice for getting a bit of rest in, and getting to know the group which was a mix of friends, solo travellers, and couples ranging from their mid-20s to mid-50s.

The food that chef Omar prepared on the hikes was impressive and honestly better than anything I ordered in the restaurants of Marrakech. There was so much food that the only time I ever felt hungry on this trip was in the few minutes between waking up and eating breakfast! As someone who is used to beige food and protein bars on hikes it was a nice surprise how colourful, varied, and nutritious the food on the trail was. I'll definitely be trying to recreate a few of the recipes at home, and I already miss the 5pm mint tea and snacks.

The accommodation in the gites is simple - just a mattress, blanket, and pillow, but it was as expected and it was enough. There were also sleeping bags for those who wanted them. However, I would recommend bringing your own pillowcase and/or a camping pillow. I would also recommend packing ear plugs, unless you enjoy being stirred awake by the dulcet tones of a donkey in the night... All of the gites that we stayed at had both seated toilets and squatting toilets, as well as hot showers. They also all had lovely roof terraces that we hung out on after the hikes, and the final gite even had wifi for those who wanted it. Personally, I found it quite nice staying off grid for a few days.

The Riad that we stayed in on the first and the final night in Marrakech was also charming with a great rooftop terrace, and the staff were very kind and helpful. This review would of course be incomplete without mentioning Mouna, who oversaw communication and coordination of travel both before and during the trip, and was really quick to respond to any queries. The Aztat Treks team were just great in general and were able to deal with any problems as they arose.

This trip was all smiles for me - the scenery was incredible, the food was good, and the company was great. While I enjoyed the entire trip, it really wasn't until we descended into Imlil on the final day of trekking that I realised that this really was the much better adventure. For four days it was basically just our group and the locals up in the mountains with no other tourists around, which stood in stark contrast to the day trippers and tour groups we passed in Imlil. I feel very fortunate to have spent a few days in the Atlas mountains and amongst the Berbers for what felt like an authentic, non-touristy, experience.

So much to love about this trip, a very smooth operation indeed! Pick up and drop off at the airport, lovely accommodation in Marrakech with friendly staff, only a couple of hour drive into the mountains, nice paths, fairly easy hiking, truly beautiful scenery (see pictures), great guides (Husain and Mustafa) who were very knowledgeable and accommodating, local style food cooked for you three times a day, mules to carry your stuff, simple accommodation in the local towns, escape the crowds, a good length of trip, time to explore Marrakech and relax at either end, and all at a very very reasonable price. Would highly recommend, if you enjoy hiking and aren’t too fussy about staying in luxury.

Few things I wish I’d known before I went: some of the items on the packing list weren’t necessary, at least on my trip, for example, water treatment parafernalia was not needed as top ups with bottled water were frequently available. The max elevation is about 2.8k. I was very please to have packed ear plugs so the the call to prayer, snoring and braying donkeys didn’t wake me up!

From the first night at the Riad until the transfer to the airport, this trip was impeccably well-organized and meticulously planned. Hosein was an outstanding guide—so enthusiastic, bursting with regional knowledge, and incredibly fun and supportive. The mountain views were stunning, and the food was exceptional (a big shoutout to our skilled chef, Omar). I wholeheartedly recommend this tour to all novice hikers.