How to Get to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech

If you are planning what to see and do in Marrakech, you should know that the Atlas Mountains are a must-see destination. It is a kilometer-long mountain range that stretches across northwest Africa, starting in Tunisia and passing through Algeria to Morocco.

Marrakech is located right on the edge of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, so there are several entry points from the city. You will find several means of transportation from the center of Marrakech: guided tours, bus, rental car and cab. Here's how to get to this majestic work of nature.

A quite practical way to go to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech in one day is through an organized excursion. This usually incorporates the transfer and an expert guide, who will tell you the history of the place. You will not have to worry about anything but enjoying the experience.

There are several excursions that will allow you to discover the destinations that make up part of this imposing mountain range, which extends south of Marrakech.

Excursion to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech with a view of the Agafay Desert

This adventure to the Atlas Mountain s is very popular. You will travel carefree in a comfortable van, enjoying an amazing scenic route. In addition, you will be accompanied by a driver-guide, who will tell you the history of the place.

You will depart from the center of Marrakech to the Imlil Valley, in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. It is a route of about 63 kilometers, which corresponds to approximately 2 hours of walking. This valley is the starting point for the main trekking routes to the Jbel Toubkal.

Once in Imlil, you will take a camel ride, meet a Berber village and contemplate the breathtaking panorama of the mountain range, with peaks reaching up to 4,167 meters. In addition, with this excursion to the Atlas Mountains and the Agafay desert from Marrakech you will also see the dunes and palm trees of the desert region.

• Price: about 27€ per person.
• Travel time: about two hours from Marrakech to the Imlil Valley in the Atlas Mountains.
• Advantages: with this experience you will not only get to know the Atlas Mountains, you will also enjoy an excursion to the Agafay desert from Marrakech.
• Disadvantages: the experience does not include hiking activities in the mountains.

Excursion to Ouarzazate from Marrakech

Another way to go to the Atlas Mountains is through an excursion to Ouarzazate from Marrakech. You will visit a city belonging to the section of the mountain range known as the High Atlas. You will enter a unique natural scene, led by the beautiful snow-capped mountains.

You will travel by car for about 3 hours and 30 minutes, traveling along the impressive Tizi n'Tichkauna road pass, which connects Marrakech with Ouarzazate and offers a privileged panoramic view of the mountain range. This is a route of approximately 200 kilometers, which you will do safely in the company of an experienced driver-guide.

In this city at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, you will discover some Berber kasbahs such as the fortress of Ait Ben Haddou. Also, thanks to the guide, you will identify the iconic places used in film productions such as Jesus of Nazareth (1977), The Mummy (1999), Prince of Persia (2010), etc...

• Price: the cost of the tour starts at 35€ per person.
• Travel time: the trip from Marrakech to Ouarzazate in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains usually lasts between 3 and 4 hours.
• Advantages: as it is an organized tour you will be accompanied by an expert guide, who will tell you the history of the place and help you to explore the place as well as possible.
• Disadvantages: usually the experience does not include food and drinks, so you will need to bring provisions.

Excursion to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech with trekking Mount Toubkal

The 2-day excursion to Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, turns out to be another way to visit the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech. You will enjoy a comfortable transfer by van to this important mountain range. You will also be accompanied by an experienced guide, who will take you on a trekking adventure through a dreamlike natural scenery.

The trip starts in the center of Marrakech, from where you will drive about 60 kilometers to the village of Imlil. This is located in the heart of the Atlas Mountain s and, apart from its particular charm, stands out for being the starting point to climb Mount Toubkal.

During this journey you will see the Sanctuary of Sidi Chamharouch, considered a sacred destination in these mountains, where people used to go to cure rheumatism and infertility. Also, while ascending the Toubkal peak, located at more than 4,000 meters in the Atlas Mountains, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery.

On this 2-day trekking tour of Mount Toubkal from Marrakech you will contemplate a stunning natural contrast. You will leave the desert region behind and gradually enter the snowy terrain of this imposing peak.

• Price: this excursion can have an approximate cost of 116€ per person.
• Travel time: the van ride from the center of Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains (Imlil village) takes about 2 hours.
• Advantages: along the ascent you will have a couple of shelters where you can replenish your energy.
• Disadvantages: if you are not in good physical condition, the trekking route could be a bit demanding.

If during your 2-day stay in Marrakech or longer you plan to visit the Atlas Mountains at your own pace, then renting a car is a great idea. You can drive up to this important mountain range and stop to explore any of the villages that lead into the mountains.

In Marrakech you will find a large number of car rental companies in the city center, at the international airport and in the surrounding areas: Hertz Marrakech, Avis Marrakech, Europcar Marrakech, among others. You just have to connect with any of them via web or in their offices and, thus, select the car that best suits your needs and budget.

You can take the road through the south of Marrakech, which is where the Atlas Mountains extend. This route can vary from about 30 kilometers to more than 200 kilometers, depending on the destination you wish to go to within these imposing mountains.

For example, you can go to the Kik Plateau village, which is the main entrance to the High Atlas; the Ourika Valley from Marrakech with beautiful waterfalls and lush vegetation. Also, visit the Toubkal National Park or the Eastern High Atlas National Park, which stand out for their hiking trails, among others.

Information of interest

• Price: the average cost is 30 to 50 euros per day (depending on the model of the car).
• Duration of the journey: the journey between Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains can vary between 2 and 4 hours or even more. This will depend on the place you wish to visit within this extensive section of the mountain range that crosses Morocco.
• Advantages: you will have total flexibility to visit the different destinations in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
• Disadvantages: You will have to pay on your own for the fuel needed to carry out the tour, which could raise the cost of this experience a little.

The bus service from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains is the cheapest option of all but certainly the most time-consuming. You will find several routes with stops at some locations within the mountain range that extends to the Atlantic coast of Morocco and others with specific destinations.

In Marrakech you will find bus routes operated by Supratours, located on Mohammed V Avenue and CTM, on Hassan II Avenue. Both cover much of the villages in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains: Ourika, Imlil, Asni, Ouirgane, etc.

For example, if your destination is the Ourika Valley, you can get there in at least a couple of hours via the Supratours route. However, if you are heading to the Eastern High Atlas National Park, which is part of the mountain range, you will have to board a CTM bus to Midelt, which is the nearest town. The trip usually takes about 7 hours, but after that you will have to take a cab for a further 3 hours to the park.

The bus as a means of transport to go to the Atlas Mountains is a good alternative if you have time and want to learn how to get around Marrakech and its surroundings. Undoubtedly, an experience that you can incorporate along with other activities in your itinerary such as a gastronomic tour of Marrakech, a hot air balloon ride in Marrakech, etc.

Useful information

• Price: the value of the bus transfer can vary between 10 € and 15 € per person.
• Travel time: the time of the bus ride from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains depends on where you want to go, so you could be aboard the bus from 2 hours to 7 hours.
• Advantages: you will save money and live a different experience touring the Atlantic coast of Morocco by bus.
• Disadvantages: depending on where you are going within the Atlas Mountains, you will need to complete the bus route with a cab transfer.

If you have little time in your itinerary, but you don't want to miss the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech, then the city cab service is the fastest transfer alternative. You will travel straight to your selected destination in the mountain range. It is also ideal if you don't want to drive on your own, follow the itinerary of a certain tour, or deal with public buses.

In the city you will find grand cabs, which are large cars used for transfers outside the city. Unlike the petit cab, which circulate inside Marrakech, these do not use a taximeter, so you will have the task of haggling a little on the price.

You will only have to connect with a cab company such as Roby Taxi, among many others, to pick you up at the door of your hotel. Also, you can approach the busy Koutoubia Square and Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, around which you will find dozens of cabs with immediate availability.

With this cab service you can not only travel to different destinations within the Atlas Mountain s. It is also a suitable means of transport to carry out the transfer between the airport and Marrakech or move around the city to arrive on time to the attractions and activities of your itinerary, such as a tour of the souks of Marrakech, etc..

Useful information

• Price: the value of the transfer is about 50 € to 100 €, approximately. However, this may vary according to the distance of the destination within the mountains.
• Duration of the trip: from 2 hours. This will depend on the destination to visit in the Atlas Mountains.
• Advantages: you will travel to the Atlas Mountains quickly, saving time in your itinerary. Also, if you are in Marrakech with children, it is ideal for you to provide them with as much comfort as possible.
• Disadvantages: the grand cabs used to move from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains do not have a taximeter, so the prices of the service depend on the driver and your bargaining skills.

If you are a two-wheeled adventure enthusiast, specifically on a motorcycle, then this is another means of transportation you can use to go to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech. You will travel in a different way, have fun and have a unique perspective of the road.

You can rent a motorcycle from any of the companies that provide this service, located in the city center and around the airport. Some of them are Riderly, Rentalmotorbike.com, among others.

You will drive at your own pace towards the south of Marrakech, along the entire Atlantic coast of Morocco, which is the section where part of the Atlas Mountains extend. You will be able to go into the mountain range and stop in the villages and places of your interest (Kik Plateau, Ourika Valley, Imlil, Ouarzazate, etc.).

After this adventure in the High Atlas Mountains by motorcycle, you will return to the city to continue enjoying the best activities in Marrakech. Perhaps, take a walk in the Medina, enjoy a bath and massage in a traditional hammam spa in Marrakech, etc.

Useful information

• Price: the price of renting a motorcycle in Marrakech starts at about 30 € per day. The cost may increase according to the model selected.
• Travel time: the journey from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains by motorcycle can vary from 2 to 6 hours or more. It all depends on how far you go into the mountain range.
• Advantages: you will live an adventure different from that offered by conventional means of transport, while you go deep into the Atlas Mountains.
• Disadvantages: This means of transport is not very convenient during the rainy season, i.e. from December in Marrakech until February.

If you have decided to go to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech through a tour, by bus, cab, car or rental motorcycle, you should take into consideration some basic tips. You will avoid inconveniences and enhance your experience.

• Book tours, rental cars and rental motorcycles in advance. This is if you plan to travel in high season, that is, from March in Marrakech until May. Also, the months of September and October in Marrakech have a large tourist influx.
• If you plan to drive on your own, make sure you have a valid international driving license. This applies to both cars and motorcycles.
• Drive with caution. Be aware that the roads in Marrakech are narrow and some stretches are not in very good condition.
• Consult the website of the tourist office, so that you have a better knowledge of the city when planning your visit to the Atlas Mountains.
• If you rent a motorcycle, remember to follow the safety rules in Marrakech for driving this type of transport. Wear a helmet, gloves and be careful with speed.