7-Day Sustainable Marrakech & Atlas Mountains Journey
A green travel experience combining cultural depth, community connection, and natural tranquillity.
Join us on a transformative 7-day sustainable journey that beautifully blends the vibrant culture of Marrakech with the peaceful landscapes of the Atlas Mountains. This one-week tour in Morocco is designed for conscious travelers who want to experience Morocco responsibly while supporting local communities, artisans, and traditional ways of life. From wandering the colorful souks and meeting master craftsmen, to cooking with an Amazigh family and hiking through the serene valleys of Ouirgane, this tour offers a meaningful immersion into Morocco’s heritage and nature. Staying in eco-lodges and small family-run accommodations, you will enjoy an authentic and low-impact travel experience that highlights the rich cultural tapestry and natural beauty of Morocco. This week-long adventure is perfect for travelers seeking a balance between the lively energy of Marrakech and the tranquility of the High Atlas Mountains.
Sustainable Marrakech and Atlas Mountain Tour Highlight:
• Explore Marrakech’s historic Medina, souks, and artisan workshops with a certified local guide
• Support local craftsmanship through a traditional pottery workshop and hands-on experience
• Enjoy a 2-hour eco-friendly biking tour through Marrakech’s hidden neighborhoods
• Take part in a meaningful, sustainable community visit outside Marrakech
• Stay at an eco-lodge surrounded by the peaceful scenery of Ouirgane Valley
• Share a home-cooked meal and cooking class with Said’s Amazigh family
• Discover traditional tagine-making with artisans in a family pottery workshop
• Hike for 5 hours through the Atlas Mountains with a picnic lunch in nature
• Experience a balanced itinerary combining culture, nature, community, and sustainability
• Private transport throughout with an English-speaking driver/guide
Itinerary for the one week in Morocco:
Day 1 – Arrival in Marrakech
Upon arrival at Marrakech Menara Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver and transferred to your eco-friendly riad located in the heart of the Medina (20–25 minutes’ drive). This first day is a gentle introduction to the vibrant charm of Marrakech. After checking in, take your time to settle, relax on the rooftop terrace, or enjoy a walk around the lively Jemaa el-Fna square where storytellers, musicians, and food stalls set the atmosphere. Dinner is at leisure tonight, allowing you to choose from one of the city’s many farm-to-table or sustainable restaurants.
Meals included: None
Day 2 – Responsible Guided Tour of the Medina and Its Artisans
Your day begins with a rich cultural exploration through a guided walking tour of the Medina. Your local guide will lead you through the labyrinth of traditional souks, historic neighborhoods, spice markets, and artisan quarters where metalworkers, leather crafters, ceramic artists, and weavers still practice their ancestral techniques. This tour focuses on sustainable and ethical visits, avoiding mass-production shops and instead highlighting authentic, community-based workshops and cooperatives that preserve traditional craftsmanship. In the afternoon, continue discovering Marrakech’s creative side by visiting small ethical collectives and local makers where you can observe handmade creations and learn how artisans keep their heritage alive in a modern world. Return to your riad in the evening to enjoy free time and dinner at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3 – Eco-Friendly Biking Tour & Traditional Pottery Experience
This morning you will experience Marrakech from a different perspective during a two-hour sustainable biking tour. Riding through quiet streets and hidden corners of the Medina, you will see local neighborhoods, gardens, and historic quarters while reducing your carbon footprint. Your guide will share stories about Marrakech’s social life, architecture, and day-to-day rhythms. In the afternoon, you will visit a traditional pottery workshop where local artisans prepare clay, shape pots, and use natural pigments. You will observe the firing process and even have the chance to try shaping clay on the wheel under the guidance of a master potter—an intimate and educational experience that supports local craftsmanship. Evening at leisure in the Medina.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4 – Sustainable Activity Outside Marrakech & Drive to Ouirgane (1h30–1h45)
After breakfast, your morning begins with a meaningful sustainable visit just outside Marrakech—such as a Sign Language educational garden or a community-based eco-project focusing on inclusivity, environmental education, permaculture, or conservation. You will meet the people behind these initiatives and gain insight into how local communities use creativity and nature to support education and social development. Following the visit, you will begin your scenic drive toward the Atlas Mountains, traveling about 1 hour and 30–45 minutes through rolling hills, olive groves, and red-earth landscapes until you reach the peaceful Ouirgane Valley. Upon arrival, you will check into an eco-lodge built with natural materials and following environmentally responsible practices. Enjoy the rest of the evening surrounded by mountain silence and fresh air. Dinner will be served at the lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5 – Cooking with Said’s Amazigh Family & Tagine Pottery Workshop
This day is dedicated to meaningful cultural exchange. In the morning, you will visit Said’s family home where you will join a traditional Amazigh cooking class. You will learn to prepare authentic dishes using locally grown ingredients, bake bread in the clay oven, and prepare fresh mint tea. This intimate and immersive experience allows you to understand the rhythms of rural life and enjoy a delicious homemade lunch shared with the family. In the afternoon, you will visit a small pottery atelier specializing in tagine-making. Here, artisans use local clay and ancestral techniques to shape cooking pots, and you may try your hand at making your own small tagine with their guidance. Return to your ecolodge for a quiet evening.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 – Five-Hour Scenic Hike in the Atlas Mountains with Picnic Lunch
After breakfast, you will set out on a beautiful 5-hour guided hike through the varied landscapes of the Ouirgane region. Your local mountain guide will lead you through terraced fields, lush valleys, juniper forests, and small Amazigh villages where you may meet local shepherds or farmers. This slow, low-impact hiking day allows you to connect deeply with nature while learning about medicinal plants, traditional irrigation systems, and mountain ecology. Around midday, enjoy a picnic lunch prepared with local ingredients and served at a panoramic viewpoint. Return to your ecolodge in the afternoon to relax, rest, or enjoy the calm mountain environment. Dinner is served at the lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast & Picnic Lunch & Dinner
Day 7 – Drive Back to Marrakech Airport (1h30–1h45)
After your final breakfast at the ecolodge, your driver will take you back to Marrakech Airport, a scenic 1 hour and 30–45 minute drive, depending on traffic. This marks the end of your sustainable Marrakech & Atlas Mountains journey, enriched with cultural encounters, artisan experiences, nature immersion, and meaningful community connections.
Meals included: Breakfast
What’s Included
• Airport transfers
• 3 nights in eco-friendly riad in Marrakech
• 3 nights in Ouirgane Ecolodge
• Daily breakfast
• Dinners in Ouirgane (Days 4, 5, 6)
• Lunch with Said’s family + picnic lunch during the hike
• Local certified guide in Marrakech
• Two-hour biking tour
• Pottery workshop in Marrakech
• Sustainable community visit outside Marrakech
• Transport in private, comfortable vehicle
• Five-hour guided hike in the Atlas Mountains
• All entrance fees for mentioned activities
• English-speaking driver/guide throughout
What’s Excluded
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Lunches and dinners not mentioned
• Drinks and personal expenses
• Tips and gratuities
• Optional activities or spa services
Sustainable Marrakech and Atlas Mountain Packing List:
For Marrakech:
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Light, breathable clothing
• Modest outfits for Medina visits
• Reusable water bottle
• Eco-friendly toiletries
• Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• Small day bag
• Camera
For Ouirgane & the Atlas Mountains:
• Hiking shoes
• Warm layers for evenings
• Windbreaker or light jacket
• Small hiking backpack
• Reusable bottle
• Power bank
• Personal medication
• Comfortable clothing for outdoor activities
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE TOUR
Marrakech – 3 Nights
Eco-Friendly Riad in the Medina
A charming and sustainable riad committed to eco-responsible practices. Expect traditional Moroccan architecture, locally sourced breakfasts, rooftop terraces, and a calm atmosphere within the lively old city. The riad supports local artisans and small producers.
Ouirgane – 3 Nights
Ouirgane Ecolodge
Located in the peaceful heart of the Atlas Mountains, this ecolodge is built using natural materials and follows environmentally conscious principles. Enjoy breathtaking views, organic meals, nature trails, and warm Amazigh hospitality. The ecolodge promotes local employment and sustainable living.