Private Day Trip: High Atlas Mountains & Berber Villages

We truly had the most amazing time with Rashid! We were picked up from our hotel at 9AM but a wonderful taxi driver Said. Said stopped along the way to the mountains to show us some key spots to take pictures from and even bought us some water. Amazing! We arrived in Ourika Valley and met Rashid before going through the different valleys and mountains and through various villages; even visiting a nursery school! At around 2pm we stopped for lunch cooked by Rashid's sister and it was truly such a delicious meal. At around 5pm we made it back to the Ourika valley to meet Said our driver. It was such a magical experience and we couldn't have higher praise for Rashid!

This was an amazing experience. Rashid picked us up in the valley and took us on a six hour hike through his own and three neighbouring Berber villages in the mountains. Throughout the hike, there were no other tourists, so you will get to see (and briefly experience) the Berber way of life as it is. Rashid was genuinely interesting to listen to and chat with, he told us a lot about his culture and the history of the region. The hike was absolutely beautiful, but what is more, Rashid welcomed us in his home. We ate delicious lunch kindly prepared by his sister, we had tea with an unforgettable view, and we even got to meet his mother. What I think was telling is that everyone we met on our way smiled at Rashid, seemed happy to see him and stopped to chat with him, even if briefly. You will love this experience, especially if like me you live in a big city and things seem a little out of touch. PS We love what Rashid is doing for his home. We asked him if like many of the people in the village he ever wanted to leave, and his answer was that he always wanted to stay. Best of luck Rashid!

If you want a moment apart, away from the crowds and noise of Marrakesh then Rachid is the guide you need. We did a day hike in the mountains with my 17 year old son and we did not meet any tourists. We were able to cross several Berber villages, enjoyed several beautiful landscapes and share a very good and hearty lunch at Rachid. My knee hurt that day and Rachid adapted the course for me. It was an unforgettable day. I recommend Rachid if you want to escape and have a moment out of time and see the Ourika Valley other than by the usual and crowded tourist cicuit. Thank you Rachid for all the information, your kindness and your hospitality.

Whilst visiting Marrakech we were keen to spend a day hiking in the Atlas Mountains. The riad where we were staying recommended Rashid and what a 5/5 star day it turned out to be in the Ourika Valley. Proud to invite us to his home for breakfast where we also met his sister (who also prepared us a delicious packed lunch) we set off on a 6 hr trek in which Rashid shared his knowledge and passion for the people, culture and beauty of the valley. Funny and engaging Rashid was the perfect guide. This trip was the highlight of our entire trip to Marrakech.

Everything from the pre-planning to the hiking day itself was well organised and the communication with Rachid was smooth from the beginning. I asked for a more strenuous route and very much enjoyed the hike Rachid planned - he’s a wonderful human, and I appreciated getting to know more about the local culture and environment we were in. I’m grateful to have spent the day exploring the mountains and couldn’t recommend this experience enough to any traveler (from solo to a group) wishing to experience something authentic outside of the big city buzz of Marrakesh.

A very enriching experience! Rachid is a guide who knows his valley well, the hike was magnificent, and the meals (breakfast and lunch) were hearty and delicious! We highly recommend it!

A perfect day with a perfect guide Rashid. About as authentic a day as you can find. Rashid is a an amazing, warm, knowledgeable local Man who educated through the whole day about the history, culture and traditions of Berber mountain life. I’m 59 and have been to over 100 countries and I would put this day in my top 5 . Glorious scenery in the Atlas Mountains with a man proud and passionate about his home and way of life. Thank you Rashid, thank you to your sister for the delicious lunch and I’ve already told my friends back in the UK that should get over to Marrakech to spend the day with you. Graham and Claire

We had an incredible day exploring the mountains of the Ourika Valley with Rashid. From the very beginning, he made us feel at home by welcoming us into his own house for breakfast and lunch — a truly authentic and heartwarming experience. Throughout the day, we discovered several small villages, met wonderful local people, and experienced the real life of the valley, far from the usual tourist paths. The encounters were unforgettable, and every moment felt genuine and meaningful. Rashid is much more than a guide — he is passionate, kind, and deeply connected to his region. It was a real favorite of our trip. Thanks to him, we spent a beautiful day full of discoveries, smiles, and great memories. ✨ Highly recommended if you’re looking for an authentic and human experience in Morocco.

Rashid is a fantastic guide. Ourika valley can get quite touristy, but with Rashid you will experience a truly remote, personal tour. We have spent a day with Rashid and he took us high up to his village, welcomed us in his home where his sister prepared a lovely local berber lunch for us. All the while, we learned about history, culture, day-to-day life of the Berber people. Rashid offers various day hikes, overnight tours and much more. We had a small baby with us and therefore opted for relatively short, easy hike as per Rashid’s recommendation and it was worth it. I can only recommend Rashid and his services.

This was truly an incredible experience. Rashid is delightful and knowledgeable, and his village was amazing to visit. Part of what made it so special is how remote it is. Rashid met us by the road that follows the Ourika River, down in the valley, and then we walked up a small, dirt road a couple of miles to his village, which is called Amaner, one of the four villages of the Ashigh tribe, part of the larger Amazigh (previously/colloquially called Berber) people. The setting is very beautiful, with the Atlas Mountains all around. It is a very remote & rural place, where most people are engaged in herding & farming. We had a delicious lunch (chicken tagine, made by Rashid’s sister), in their home, with a beautiful view of the mountains. We walked around the village and learned about its history, what people do to make a living, for culture, and for fun, about the building styles and basic infrastructure. Rashid answered every one of our many questions, and was curious to learn new English words and phrases from us as well (his English is already great). He is very thoughtful and accommodating; while our trip involved a lot of walking, there is an all-terrain vehicle that can drive people. Rashid also leads trekking trips up into the mountains. We only came for a day-trip, but I would encourage people to consider staying over in the lodge/guest house for the night, and hiking up further into the High Atlas Mountains. One of the best day-trips we’ve ever taken.