Key Details
In the Ait Bougumez Valley, the “Valley of the Happy” at 1,800 m in the High Atlas Mountains, you hike through green gardens and traditional Berber villages and experience genuine hospitality up close. In contrast, vibrant Marrakech awaits you with its winding alleys, colors, and spice markets.
Travel Format & Duration
Hiking / Summer Journey
for 8 days / 7 nights
Group Trip
Guaranteed from 2 participants
(max. 15 participants)
Price
€1,190 in a double room
(single room supplement €200)
Experiences
Culture & Cuisine, Nature, Hiking, City Life, Berber Culture
Itinerary
Marrakech – Iminifri Natural Bridge – Ait Bougmez – Ouzoud Waterfalls (Cascades d’Ouzoud) – Marrakech
Discover the Ait Bougumez Valley
The Ait Bougumez Valley, also known to its visitors as the “Valley of the Happy,” is a wide, fertile valley generously irrigated by the springs of the central High Atlas. Stretching across a lush green landscape at the foot of villages perched along the rocky mountain slopes, the valley lies at an altitude of 1,800 meters and therefore offers pleasant summer temperatures.
For a long time, the valley remained remote in the High Atlas and was particularly isolated during the winter months. This isolation has preserved the authenticity and natural beauty of the landscapes of the Ait Bougumez Valley. Wadis, green gardens, abundant pastures, tea with Berber families, and accommodation in comfortable cottages – these are the defining features of this peaceful and sustainable discovery hike in this part of Morocco.
Highlights at a Glance
✓ Hikes: 4 × moderate (max. 4–6 hrs)
✓ Marrakech
✓ Hike through the Ait Bougumez Valley along ancient goat paths
✓ Experience the culture and daily life of Berber and nomadic families
✓ Cook with locals
✓ Mud-brick architecture
✓ Cascades d’Ouzoud – Morocco’s highest waterfalls
✓ Iminifri Natural Bridge
✓ Discover prehistoric dinosaur tracks at Aguerd n’Ouzrou
✓ Insights into local walnut processing
✓ Insights into apple cider vinegar production
Program
8-day hiking journey in one of the most beautiful valleys of the High Atlas. This trip offers an authentic travel experience with the most scenic and relaxed hikes in Ait Bougumez, the Valley of the Happy. Encounters with the Berbers of the Atlas, insights into traditional Moroccan cuisine, a visit to a walnut cooperative and apple cider vinegar production, and much more — all rooted in local value creation — define your journey.
Day 1 – Welcome to Morocco
Individual arrival in Marrakech
You will be welcomed at the airport by your driver and transferred to your hotel in the city.
Depending on your arrival time, there will be an opportunity for your first sightseeing experiences.
Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel or riad, incl. breakfast / approx. 10 km transfer.
Day 2 – Into the Heart of the High Atlas
Drive: Marrakech – Ait Bougmez
After breakfast, travel by minibus along a scenic mountain road with sweeping views of red-earth villages, green valleys, and slopes covered with walnut and juniper trees beneath towering peaks.
In the afternoon, arrive in Imelghas and relax in a comfortable guesthouse surrounded by peaceful mountain landscapes.
Approx. 220 km / 5 hrs drive
Overnight stay in a comfortable gîte incl. breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 3 – Shepherds and Walnut Trees
Hiking
Today you explore the valley’s rural life on your first hike with your team and pack mules to Iskatafene and the sheepfolds of Ansous, where you meet local shepherd families. After crossing a mountain pass, you enjoy lunch beneath a walnut tree before descending back to your gîte.
Hike: approx. 5 hrs / 10 km / elevation gain +400 m / -400 m
Overnight in a comfortable gîte incl. breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
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Day 4 – Granaries and the Pilgrimage Site of Sidi Moussa
Hiking
From the ancient granary of Sidi Moussa, enjoy wide views over patchwork fields and ochre villages framed by rugged mountains. The trail leads through farmland to Ibakliwn and Aït Imi, where daily life centers around fields and water mills, before reaching remarkable dinosaur footprints in limestone.
Hike: approx. 5 hrs / 9 km / elevation gain +250 m / -250 m
Overnight in a comfortable gîte incl. breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 5 – The Way of Life of the Berbers
Hiking
We descend through the valley from village to village, passing gardens and orchards set against rugged mountains. Along the way, we observe daily life in the fields before visiting the historic site of Sidi Chita.
The afternoon is free at leisure.
Hike: approx. 4 hrs / 10 km / elevation gain +200 m / -200 m
Change of gîte / Overnight in a comfortable gîte incl. breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 6 – Gorges and Mud Villages
Hiking
On the final day, we hike into the valley of Arous and its dramatic gorges, with stunning views of Mount M’Goun (4,068 m), Morocco’s second-highest peak. Passing earthen villages and scenic canyons, we reach the high pastures of Ikiss Arous (2,350 m), where nomadic families graze their herds, and enjoy a picnic before returning to Agouti.
Hike: approx. 6 hrs / 16 km / elevation gain +400 m / -400 m
Overnight in a comfortable gîte incl. breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 7 – Morocco’s Highest Waterfalls and Marrakech
Drive: Ait Bougmez – Cascades d’Ouzoud – Marrakech
Today we travel to Marrakech, stopping at the Ouzoud Cascades for lunch and a short walk to the waterfalls, where Barbary macaques can often be seen. We then continue to Marrakech.
In the evening, discover the vibrant atmosphere of Djemaa el Fna with its storytellers, snake charmers, and food stalls.
Approx. 260 km / 6 hrs drive
Overnight in a 3-star hotel (Riad Lallakhiti or similar) incl. breakfast.
Day 8 – Farewell to Morocco
Individual departure
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Morocco. Transfer to the airport and individual departure.
Transfer: approx. 10 km
What's Included
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Airport transfers
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Transfers in a comfortable bus/car (depending on group size)
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Luggage transport when changing gîtes
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Guidance by a licensed German- or English-speaking hiking guide
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5 nights in simple but comfortable guesthouses with full board
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2 nights in a hotel or riad in Marrakech including breakfast
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2 lunches in local restaurants during transfers (Day 2 and Day 7)
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Mules for equipment transport
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Cook for picnic meals during the hikes
What's NOT Included
What's not included
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Arrival and departure
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Drinks and meals not specified in the program
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Tips for tour guides, drivers, porters, and other service staff
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Personal expenses
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Services not explicitly listed
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Travel insurance
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Flights
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Drinks
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Tips for the tour guide / driver / luggage handlers and other service staff
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Personal expenses
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Services not explicitly listed
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Meals not specified in the program
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Travel insurance
More Experiences
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