Trekking

In the Toubkal massif, yes — since 2018 foreign trekkers are required to be accompanied by a qualified mountain guide, and this is checked at Imlil. Elsewhere in the Atlas it is not a legal requirement, but the paths are unmarked and the villages are spread out, so most people take one anyway.

Enough to walk uphill for five to six hours on consecutive days carrying a daypack. These are long walks rather than technical climbs, so stamina matters far more than climbing experience. Our tour pages give each trek a difficulty rating, and moderate routes are realistic for a regular hillwalker.

No. On our multi-day treks mules carry the main baggage, camping equipment and food between stops, so you walk with a daypack holding water, layers and a camera. That is what makes a six or seven day traverse manageable for people who have never camped at altitude.

April to October for the High Atlas, when the high passes are clear of snow. Winter trekking there is genuine mountaineering and needs crampons, an ice axe and experience. The Anti-Atlas flips this: late winter and spring are ideal, and summer is too hot and exposed.

A mix of mountain refuges, village guesthouses and gites depending on the route, with some nights under canvas on the longer traverses. Expect shared rooms, simple food cooked fresh, and cold nights at altitude. Each itinerary lists the accommodation night by night.