The Trek of Lost Oases
A flexible trek through the secret gorges of Morocco's Anti-Atlas
Duration
8 days
From
€900/pers.
Ideal seasons
Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Style
Guided tour
Comfort
budget
Travelers
Solo, Couple, With friends
The spirit of travel
This trek is based on three major principles:
Flexibility : Beyond logistical support, a 4x4 allows us to skip passages deemed less interesting or to assist someone experiencing physical difficulties during the tour. The duration of the hike is also adaptable each day and for each participant.
Comfort : Since the vehicle is very spacious, we can surely pack all our necessary luggage: thicker mattresses, shelter tent, picnic table, chairs, a small fridge containing our favorite beverages, useful utensils to prepare a tasty meal. The well-equipped vehicle will also allow us to heat water for washing or to charge our various electronic devices…
Access for non-hikers : The circuits with Hors circuit Maroc are accessible to all types of people. Even those with reduced mobility will be able to complete the entire trek by 4x4, see captivating sites, participate in almost all picnics and all bivouacs.
The stages of your journey
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Amtoudi
Aéroport De Marrakech → Amtoudi
Once we arrive at Agadir airport, we are picked up by the Hors Circuit Maroc team for the transfer to Amtoudi. The journey, via Tiznit and Bouizakharne, takes 3 to 4 hours by road.
We spend the night, on half board with a comfortable room and private bathroom, at the Tigmi Bulbul guesthouse in Amtoudi.
It is also the meeting point for the local team that will support us during the tour.
The Oasis on the Left
The trail starts just behind our guesthouse, Tigmi Bulbul.
On the way, not yet far, we can already visit our first agadir: not the city bearing the same name (!), but a fortified collective granary.
During the 5 hours of hiking, without breaks, a donkey, which also sets the pace, carries our personal belongings useful for this day of adventure.
The average altitude of this trek, which passes through insignificant elevation changes, is between 850 to 1250 meters.
It is better to prepare ourselves for the heat, as only acacia trees, sometimes argan trees, provide shade outside the winter months.
During this day of discovery, we obviously admire stunning landscapes showing two unfrequented gorges, a very mineral mountain range with scattered jebel minerals here and there, a pre-Islamic tumulus, threshing areas, rainwater cisterns where water is drawn for tea.
It is also possible to meet a few camels if we visit the region during the season of their passage. The guide will also show us some medicinal plants that grow in the jebel.
Further on, we reach a gorge, decorated with a few palm trees, and where stands a large practically abandoned village. The latter is home to the only active farm in the area, managed by two elderly people.
Nearby, we will set up the tent to spend the night there.
The Lost Oasis
Early in the morning, we join the old trail, known as the legionnaire's path, which crosses a vast arid and undulating plateau.
From the legionnaire's pass, the path takes us across a long valley that we must leave quickly in order to enjoy a village displaying spectacular gardens.
If they wish, sporty travelers can continue climbing the mule track leading to the panoramic summit of a steep hill.
As we continue our journey, we enter a narrow natural corridor where semi-nomadic peoples still live, most of them still lodged under tents.
Our progress is marked by the discreet passage through a natural corridor. It also shows us rock engravings and leads us to another remote place: a small valley known for its little oasis and clusters of palm trees.
It is at the heart of this oasis, with a natural spring, that we will set up our camp.
Ighrir Palm Grove
We continue our circuit through the mineral corridor, a true desert of stones, to reach the beginning of a sublime gorge. Unfortunately, there is a road under construction in the area, but it remains of great interest with its magnificent panoramas.
Here, the most courageous can attempt to climb this long gorge up to the first palm grove. Along the way, each viewpoint shows us snapshots worthy of a postcard.
The contrast between the landscapes of the morning and the previous day is striking on the route connecting the village of Timoula and Annemer. The guide leads us through a maze of winding trails revealing green fields and palm groves.
Once at Annemer, we are advised to climb to a pass via the new road to admire the palm grove and the old villages as far as the eye can see.
We set up our camp in a charming spot shaded by palm trees and equipped with a well.
The Horseshoe of Aoukerda
To avoid the long switchbacks of the main road, we take a shortcut through a small pass offering superb views of the gorge.
We enter the Igmir palm grove where we will finally leave the main road.
Next, we travel up the dry riverbed through the gorge. The latter suddenly and dramatically narrows, becoming a deep canyon enclosed between walls several hundred meters high.
There are many striking landscapes during this 5-kilometer journey: for example, clumps of palm trees that decorate the canyon floor.
Before arriving at the village of Aoukerda, we first pass through a curious tunnel carved into the rock.
After this small, completely unexpected locality, the canyon continues before making a sumptuous horseshoe bend.
Along a narrow track, also revealing some natural treasures of the area, we leave the bottom of the gorge to set up our bivouac just overlooking the canyon: a view of the horseshoe bend.
Oasis and Gorge of Amtoudi
To continue the circuit, we enter a very captivating secondary gorge.
Aboard our 4x4, we can skip the plateau crossing already done at the beginning of our trek.
We resume our hike to reach the bucolic oasis of Taril. On site, a family of goat herders lives regularly under a tent. Lush vegetation in a small ravine facing a true stone desert characterizes the contrasting landscape of this enchanting corner. Moreover, it is the only place in the region where we can benefit from a well that always has water.
We then cross small beaten paths to reach the second oasis, that of Taskala. It is very different from the previous one, but also has its own peculiarities
The path through a few valleys will finally lead us to the Amtoudi gorge, one of the havens of peace showing the most beautiful landscapes of southern Maroc. We descend to the gueltas: springs with pools and small waterfalls under the palm trees. It is moreover possible to swim in this spot.
A superb hike awaits us as we leave the bottom of the gorge progressing towards the downstream. A second agadir, perched high, is to be visited before returning to Amtoudi, via the fields.
At night, accommodation with half board at the Tigmi Bulbu inn.
Price per person
Indicative price per person, based on double room. Each trip is customized according to your preferences.
This trip can be tailored to your preferences
This itinerary provides an excellent foundation for discovery, but it can be fully customized. Our local advisors build each trip tailored to your budget, dates and preferences.
Not included
- Plane tickets
- Transfers from more distant airports such as Marrakech, Casablanca or Ouarzazate
- The midday meal on day 1
- The lunch and dinner meal on the 7th day
- Beverages
Included
- Transfers from and to Agadir or Taroudant
- Three nights of hotel in Agadir and Amtoudi
- All meals from the 1st day evening to the 7th day morning included
- The support of an agency manager and a 4x4 throughout the entire trek
- The English-speaking local Berber guide
- Donkeys and muleteers, depending on the number of participants
- The visit of the agadirs
- Complete bivouac equipment rental
- The logistics required for quality meals and comfortable bivouacs
Practical Information
Registration is considered firm and final after payment of a deposit of 30% of the total price and acceptance of the specific terms of sale.
The balance must be paid no later than 45 days before the departure date.
See our specific terms of sale for full details.
In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following fees apply:
- Plus de 60 jours avant le départ : 40 % du prix total (acompte retenu)
- Entre 60 et 30 jours avant le départ : 50 % du prix total
- Moins de 30 jours avant le départ : 100 % du prix total
We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. See our specific terms of sale for full details.
The information below concerns travelers who are nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and Canada traveling to Morocco for a tourist stay. Entry rules may change, so we recommend verifying this information with the official authorities before your departure.
Passport
To enter Morocco, your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay and include at least one blank page for immigration stamps.
The document must be in good condition (no damaged, torn or altered pages).
Nationals of certain EEA countries may enter Morocco with a valid national identity card in accordance with applicable bilateral agreements. However, it is advisable to travel with a valid passport to avoid any inconvenience.
Tourist stay without visa
Nationals of the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Canada benefit from a visa exemption for tourist stays.
This exemption allows a stay of up to 90 days from the date of entry into Moroccan territory. Beyond this period, authorization of stay must be requested from the Moroccan authorities.
The authorities may also request:
an outbound ticket (return or onward flight),
proof of sufficient financial resources for the duration of the stay,
proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation from a private individual).
Health and vaccinations
No vaccination is mandatory to enter Morocco from the EEA, Switzerland or Canada. However, it is recommended to ensure that routine vaccinations are up to date (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis A).
It is advisable to consult a doctor or vaccination center before departure, particularly for stays in rural areas or remote regions.
Traveling with children
Minors must hold their own valid passport covering the duration of the stay.
In certain European countries, when a minor travels without one of their parents, an authorization to leave the territory may be required according to the regulations of the country of residence. The Moroccan authorities may also request documentation in case of travel with a single parent or a third party.
Other nationalities
Entry conditions may vary depending on nationality. Travelers concerned should inquire with the embassy or consulate of Morocco in their country of residence.
To participate in our trips, it is strongly recommended to have evacuation assistance and foreign medical expense coverage.
Your local agency encourages you to review the specific policy developed with our partner CHAPKA ASSURANCES and AXA ASSISTANCE.
To subscribe to an insurance plan, learn about coverage and rates, follow the link below.
Choose the plan that best suits you:
Explorer'Multirisque
Explorer'Annulation
Explorer'Assistance
Explorer' Complémentaire Carte Bancaire
Specific to our trips, we strongly recommend subscribing to them.
If you choose to subscribe to one of these plans, the policy detailing all coverage and claim declaration procedures is available on the insurer's website.
Your local agency will be aware of it, but only the participant is responsible for complying with the claim declaration procedures. The participant must therefore keep this policy with them throughout their trip.
Chapka — Cap Explorer
Our insurance partnerTravel with peace of mind with our partner Chapka. Cancellation, repatriation, medical expenses, baggage… All the coverage for a worry-free trip.
Travel with peace of mind — I'll handle the insuranceFrequently asked questions
You can stay in Morocco without a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your entry. These conditions have been stable for a long time, but always confirm with the Moroccan consulate or embassy competent for your nationality before booking your trip.
Go to the My Trips section to find all your projects.
You can send a message to your host directly from the Tea Lounge.
For a quality tailor-made trip, expect between €150 and €260 per day and per person, including accommodation (riads, kasbahs), meals, internal transfers and activities. International flights (€200-450 return) are additional. Morocco offers excellent value for money in its charming riads.
Your documents are accessible in the Documents tab of your trip.
Absolutely. We adapt each circuit to your travel profile. For families, we prioritize relaxed paces, family-friendly accommodations, fun and educational activities, and comfortable private transfers. Our local English-speaking guides know how to capture children's attention with age-appropriate anecdotes.
It's simple. You exchange with our local team to define your wishes, budget and dates. You receive a detailed itinerary proposal within 48 hours. You adjust every detail together until you reach the perfect version. You confirm and travel with peace of mind. Your local agency remains available 7 days a week throughout your trip.
In case of emergency, contact your local agency immediately.
Payment is generally made in two installments.
Our agency is part of the Nomadays network, registered in France. You benefit from APST (Association Professionnelle de Solidarité du Tourisme) guarantee which covers 100% of your funds. Secure payment, repatriation insurance included, and English-speaking assistance 24/7 on the ground throughout your stay.
Let's talk about your adventure — Southern Desert
Saharan trails companion, based in Taroudant
What I love about travel is that moment when you leave the obvious path. That's when the landscape shifts, but more importantly, so does your perspective.
— Luc
