FAQ

• Adventure without the mental load. The Atlas is a magnificent but complex adventure playground. We take care of all the logistics (transfers from Marrakech, the route in the app, local and French-speaking guides...) so you only have one thing to do: enjoy and disconnect.
• Authentic Berber immersion. We don't take you along overcrowded trails. You sleep in unique bivouac spots in the middle of nowhere and experience the trip up close to the local culture. That is the essence of the journey.
• An accessible challenge at a fair price. Our route is perfectly balanced: a motivating but accessible challenge for anyone in good shape. You benefit from a complete organisation and à la carte options (meal option, luggage transport, camping gear, ...) for a memorable adventure without surprises.

• For motivated minds (ages 16-65). This trek is designed for anyone in good physical shape with a desire for an authentic adventure. It is a trip that demands real physical effort, so good health is essential. Please note: anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
• How do you know if it's for you? Check the "Difficulty level" section (further down this page): it analyses the distance and elevation gain, the weather conditions and the terrain you will encounter.
• We help you get ready! Is this your first multi-day trek? If you are active, can walk 15 km on hilly terrain and are willing to train, this challenge is for you! One week after your booking, you will receive a training programme to prepare with peace of mind.

• An immersive adventure of about 83 km. That is the total distance you will cover over 5 days of hiking. It is a superb challenge that offers you a total disconnection in the heart of the grandiose landscapes of the Atlas.
• Elevation gain: the real challenge. More than the distance, it is the elevation gain (the daily ascents and descents) that makes up the challenge. Good physical condition is therefore needed to fully enjoy the adventure.
• We help you get ready! Don't worry, you are not alone. To help you prepare with peace of mind, a training programme will be sent to you by e-mail well before your departure.

• A 100% guided adventure (and that's a plus!) The Atlas is a magnificent but wild adventure playground: there are no signposts at all. For your safety and the quality of the experience, venturing there alone is strongly discouraged.
• The expertise of our local guides and the Travelbase guides. Your trek is therefore led by experienced guides. They manage the route, anticipate the weather and assist you if you run into difficulties. It is the guarantee of a worry-free adventure, even for beginners.
• An app for support. You get access to our app. It serves as a digital "road book" to discover the details of the stages and the points of interest, while you benefit from the support and safety of the guide. You will also find the route there.

• Absolutely, and it is our strength. You are supervised at all times by a "double team": our experienced Travelbase guides (who provide the link and the atmosphere) and our local guides.
• 100% local expertise. Our local guides know the Atlas like the back of their hand. They manage the route, anticipate the weather, open the doors to their culture and keep in touch with the team of muleteers and cooks.
• Your safety net. The team is there to support you. In case of physical difficulty, a problem on the trail or a simple question, they are your first point of contact to assist you and let you hike with complete peace of mind.

The calendar on the website lets you view all current departure dates, available places and prices.

Would you like to be informed personally as soon as new departure dates are put online? Then leave your details via this form, with no obligation.

• Our departures: from late May to early June, and from late August to mid-September. All dates are in the booking calendar.
• Late May and early June: sunny and hot days, especially in the valleys, and cool nights at altitude.
• Late August and September: slightly milder days. A few showers remain possible.
• In any case, the mountain decides. Your bivouacs are above 2000 m (up to 2700 m) and the Col Asderm peaks at 3225 m: bring enough to stay warm, cool and protected from the rain. Our guides adapt the route if the weather requires it.

• Total immersion in nature (the bivouac). Most of your nights are spent in a bivouac, in the heart of the Atlas, "in the middle of nowhere". It is pure disconnection: there are no sanitary facilities, but a tent is set up for going to the toilet. Don't worry: drinking water is provided every evening, and a tent is set up so the cooking team can prepare a hot meal for you.
• The easy option (gear rental). You can bring your own gear or rent ours. The gear will be waiting for you directly in Zawyat Oulmzi, where you spend the first night in the gîte. You either carry it yourself during the hike or have it transported to each camp if you take the luggage transport option.
• Authenticity and comfort (night 1 & 7).
  • Day 1: You sleep in an authentic gîte (dormitories, local comfort). It is simple, but there are showers, toilets and a terrace with a stunning view.
  • Day 7: For your return to Marrakech, you can book your hotel night as an option with us for smoother logistics.

• The "peace of mind" option: the meal pack (+ €155). This is the solution we strongly recommend for total immersion. Our local cook and his team prepare 3 meals a day for you (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Enjoy authentic Moroccan cuisine without a care in the world! A vegetarian option is of course available. The meals from the evening of day 1 until lunch on day 7 are included in the option.
• Plan your personal snacks. Hydration and energy are key! There are no shops or restaurants on the trek. Remember to bring your "energy boosters" (cereal bars, dried fruit, energy bars) to keep your energy up throughout the hiking day.
• Drinking water is provided (and vital!). In the Moroccan heat, it is crucial to drink a lot. Don't worry: every evening and every morning at the bivouac we provide drinking water. Your only task: bring a total capacity of about 4 litres (bottles or a Camelbak) to get through the day.

• The choice of total disconnection. This trek is an adventure in the wild, a return to basics. This means that during the bivouacs you will not find modern sanitary facilities. That is the very essence of the immersion.
• The comfort of day 1. We have thought of a gentle transition. On the first evening, at the gîte in Zawyat Oulmzi, you will have access to showers and toilets to get the adventure off to a good start.
• The solution at the bivouac. For your comfort and out of respect for the environment, our guides set up basic camp toilets every evening. For the "shower", here is our trekkers' tip: wet wipes to freshen up. (Please note: never leave them in nature, they must go back in your rubbish bag.)

• It is an absolute priority for us. We fully understand this concern, which is at the heart of our ethics. We work exclusively with local muleteer teams for whom respect for their animals is fundamental.
• A working partner, not a tool. In the Berber culture of the Atlas, the mule is an indispensable and respected working partner. The animal's health is the muleteer's livelihood, so he is the first to look after it, feed it and protect it.
• Strict rules to protect them. We impose a strict weight limit (max. 12 kg per bag) for each animal. By choosing this option, you are not taking part in exploitation, but contributing fairly and respectfully to supporting a local economy and traditional know-how.

• Your trek, your pace. Adventure is also being able to walk in silence, at your own speed, or to stop for a photo without stress. You are absolutely free to find your own rhythm.
• The best of both worlds. You enjoy moments of solo disconnection during the day, and you find the conviviality and atmosphere of the group again at mealtimes and every evening at the bivouac.
• Discreet but complete safety. You are not "in line". Our guides supervise the hike: one leads the way and the other closes the march. In between, you are free, but you are guaranteed to always be within a safe perimeter.

We offer a fully mapped-out trip, so it is not possible to adjust the duration and schedule. You are of course free to extend your trip on your own initiative, for example by staying a few days on site afterwards or by travelling on to another country.

The minimum age for Atlas Trail is 16; travellers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

No, Atlas Trail is not suitable for young children, as the minimum age to take part is 16.

Looking for a great adventure to share as a family with younger children? We then recommend you take a look at the Travelbase website.

You can book Atlas Trail solo, as a pair or with a group of friends.

The planet offers us so many incredible things to admire, not least through our travels. But if we want to enjoy them for a long time to come, we must protect it at all costs. That is why we make extra efforts to reduce the impact of our trips, and you too can contribute reliably to a Greentripper climate project via the booking form, which offsets the CO2 emissions of your means of transport.

By contributing to their certified "Wildlife Cambodia" project, you help protect beautiful forests and the wildlife they harbour, you support local communities and you reduce the CO2 emissions of your trip. If you decide to take part in the project, Travelbase takes on the additional responsibility of reducing your carbon footprint during the trip itself. On your return, you will also receive an official carbon credit certificate.

To learn more about the efforts and actions put in place by Travelbase, see this page.

• A passport is mandatory. An ID card is not accepted for entering Morocco. Your passport will be asked for on arrival.
• No visa for a tourist stay of less than 90 days for nationals of France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
• The crucial point: validity. This is a detail that can ruin everything. Depending on the country, the rule ranges from "valid for the whole stay" to "valid for at least 6 months after arrival". To be safe, plan for a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date. Otherwise you risk being refused boarding or entry into the country.
• It is your responsibility. Rules can change: check the entry requirements on the official website of your country before you leave. If you have another nationality, contact the Moroccan consulate.

• The "must-have": the pair of shoes. This is what makes this trek special!
  1. For the trails: good (high) hiking boots, comfortable and already broken in.
  2. For the gorges: water shoes (such as hiking sandals, amphibious shoes or old trainers) that you are comfortable walking several kilometres in. The stage through the M'goun gorges is unforgettable, and takes place in the river!
• The contrast: weather & hydration. Even in Morocco, the mountains have their own rules. Pack warm clothes (fleece, hat), as nights at altitude are cool. A good technical rain jacket is also necessary (showers, though rare, can be intense). For water, plan a total capacity of 4 litres (a Camelbak is ideal) to last the whole day.
• Your luggage: without luggage transport, bring a 65-80 L backpack. With luggage transport, bring a 90-100 L duffle bag (max. 12 kg) and a 30 L daypack.
• The bivouac: your gear or ours? You choose:
  • Bringing your own gear? Pack quality equipment (3-season tent, good insulating mat and warm sleeping bag).
  • Renting with us? That is the "zero hassle" option. A complete pack (tent, mat, sleeping bag liner, sleeping bag) suited to the conditions in the Atlas will be waiting for you on site.

High hiking boots are mandatory for the trails. Low hiking shoes, trail running shoes, trainers or other low shoes are not allowed. The terrain is often rocky, uneven and challenging. High hiking boots provide the necessary ankle support and help reduce the risk of injury.

Don't forget your water shoes: the stage through the M'goun gorges takes place in the river. Bring water shoes (hiking sandals, amphibious shoes or old trainers) that you are comfortable walking several kilometres in.

The camping gear you can rent from us weighs about 4.7 kg in total for 1 person and 7.2 kg for 2 people (easy to split between both backpacks). Depending on the route, the information below may vary slightly:

• Tent for 1 person: spacious 2-person tent of 2.7 kg (packed size: 51 x 17 cm).
• Tent for 2 people: 3-person tent of 3.19 kg (packed size: 51 x 20 cm).
• Lightweight self-inflating sleeping mat of 470 grams (packed size: 13 x 26 cm).
• Comfortable sleeping bag of 1.55 kg (packed size: 40 x 24 cm). The comfort temperature varies depending on the route.
• Trekking poles adjustable up to a maximum of 135 cm. You can check whether the poles suit you by measuring the distance between the ground and your elbow when you hold your arm at a 90-degree angle; if this distance is 135 cm or less, the poles are suitable.

A few weeks before departure, you will receive a detailed packing list, carefully prepared by our experienced team. It covers everything you will need for your adventure: clothing, equipment and handy extras.

Yes, two weeks before departure you can get to know your fellow travellers via the official group chat in the Atlas Trail app. Because of privacy legislation, we do not share personal contact details, but you can of course exchange details with each other during the trek.