Trail Running Tours in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco

We offer bespoke running tours in the Atlas Mountains. We will take you way off the beaten track into a pristine lanscape trodden only by local shepherds and berber villagers.

Our day-runs operate out of the Amizmiz area. At just 50 minutes drive from Marrakech, this is the ideal place to discover the local culture and exotic beauty of the Atlas Mountains. The foothills reach up to 2000m altitude, and the big mountains at the back tower over 3000m, making for spectacular photos.

We will run with you at your pace, leading you on a combination of 4×4 tracks and singletrack donkey paths. This is a tour not a race, and our aim is to give you an unforgettable run whilst also introducing you to the berber way of life in these undiscovered hills.

We live here and run these trails several times a week, so we can give you insights that no other tours will give you.

Who are we?

I’m your running leader, Marc. You can read more about me here. Originally from the UK, I live locally and run these trails all the time. I have hand-picked the best trail runs for my clients. I speak the local berber language and have many friends in the villages we will run through. My aim is to give you an exceptional running adventure in these beautiful mountains.

Our three most popular Trail Running day tours:

Note these don’t appear on our routeplans over at trailrunmorocco.com, since we like to keep them secret just for our private clients.

Berber Villages Trail Run

The Berber villages cling tightly to steep hillsides, linked by mule trails and ancient footpaths. Let us guide you on the run of a lifetime in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, passing through several of these villages. Just 1h from Marrakesh, come and experience something unique in the world of Trail Running. If you are new to running in the hills we suggest the 16km option below, however we can also guide you on a half-marathon distance if you are ready for the challenge!

Distance: 16km (10 miles)

Height Gain: 700m

Average time: 2h30

Trail type: Berber footpaths, 4×4 tracks

Price:

€80 / 900Dh

Second and subsequent people go half-price.

See a preview of the route below (Note that the relief map doesn’t quite do justice to the height of the mountains but at least it gives you an idea of the run)

Pine forest and Berber Villages Trail Run

This run starts with a gentle uphill for the first 8km, winding up through several berber villages. There’s then the option of drinking mint tea with a local village family.

Next is an unforgettable singletrack balcony trail, winding across the mountainside through shady pine forests. There’s a possibility of glimpsing wild boar and eagles here.

Then after a short steep technical section, we join an ancient donkey path winding high above a natural gorge, a couple more traditional villages, then back to Amizmiz.

Distance: 24km (14 miles)

Height Gain: 650m

Average time: 3h30

Trail type: Singletrack. Option of some 4×4 tracks if you prefer

Price:

€140 / 1500Dh

Second and subsequent people go half-price.

See a preview of the route below (Note that the relief map doesn’t quite do justice to the height of the mountains but at least it gives you an idea of the run)

Two-Ridges Mountain Trail Run

This is without a doubt the best run in the whole area.

You will be driven 25mins up the Anoughal valley to the start point. We will then take you for a run which is like nothing else you have ever experienced. There’s a short steep 600m ascent to the first ridge, at just over 2000m altitude. On a good day there are spendid views of the Toubkal range and the High Atlas. Then we follow a donkey track for several kilometers along the length of this ridge, before reaching a coll.

From here we head down through a couple of berber villages, with the option of stopping for mint tea with a local family should you wish.

We then ascend to the second coll at 2000m, then a couple of hundred meters to the second ridge. There aren’t even shepherd tracks up here, no one comes up here except us.

We follow the ridge as it gently curves down towards a spectacular limestone gorge, then regain the Anoughal valley and a couple more villages before returning to the car. Truly, the mountain run of a lifetime!

Distance: 26km (16 miles)

Height Gain: 650m

Average time: 5h

Trail type: Singletrack. 4×4 tracks through the villages. Open mountainside.

Price:

€150 / 1600Dh

Second and subsequent people go half-price.

See a preview of the route below (Note that the relief map doesn’t quite do justice to the height of the mountains but at least it gives you an idea of the run)

Our booking availability is shown on the right

Basic price guide:

These are our set rates for these popular runs. For a larger group please contact us.

The second and subsequent people always go half-price, so try to find a friend to run with you, and share the fun!

Upon making a booking we will send you an invoice, with the option of paying in whichever currency you prefer (we can accept £, $ and €)

We can arrange a private taxi to pick you up from your hotel for your run, and return you there afterwards. You will need to pay the taximan directly, in dirhams (local currency). We suggest this as our taximen know exactly where to take you. However you may also ask your hotel to arrange a taxi for you, in which case please ask your taximan to call us for instructions where to go. For more information please get in touch!

Trail Runs in the Hills and Mountains near Marrakech

Are you on holiday or business in Marrakech? Do you desire to get out of the city into the hills for one of the most dramatic trail runs of your life? One of the best ways to experience the Atlas mountains is to go running in them! Very few visitors to Morocco have yet discovered this secret.

Are you worried that you won’t know where to go? With our extensive knowledge of the hills and valleys near Marrakech, we can guide you on the trail run of your dreams. You can choose between 5k, 10k 15k or 25k runs. We can take you on flat, easy tracks, or on the more technical Berber trails up into the mountain villages and even to some mountain summits. Depending upon your ability and experience, we can cater a trail run just for you.

A popular trail run is in the Agafay desert, just a short drive from Marrakesh. We have a half-marathon course there with dramatic views of the High Atlas.

Our proven easy trails from the historic market town of Amizmiz will reward you with stunning views. For more of a challenge we can take you on more demanding runs up into the foothills of the Atlas Mountains or through remote Berber villages.

For the ultimate challenge, we can guide you running up Jebel Toubkal, highest mountain in North Africa at 4167m! This is the running challenge of a lifetime, with 2367m of ascent and a length of 27km its not to be undertaken lightly. But it is a worthy challenge for those who consider themselves as experienced trail runners and want a new challenge.

Our two most popular Trail Runs in Morocco:

Agafay Desert Trail Run

The barren Agafay is just 30 minutes from Marrakech. We will guide you on a run deep into the desert out of sight of any signs of civilisation, then to an abandoned mud-brick settlement. This half-marathon distance run is ideal as an introduction to the sport of Trail Running. The sight of the majestic Atlas Mountains are an unforgettable backdrop. This is without doubt our most popular run – come with us, and we will show you why!

Distance: 23km (14 miles)

Height Gain: 450m (Some of this is avoidable)

Average time: 2h40

Trail type: Good 4×4 tracks

Berber Villages Trail Run

The Berber villages cling tightly to steep hillsides, linked by mule trails and ancient footpaths. Let us guide you on the run of a lifetime in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, passing through several of these villages. Just 1h from Marrakesh, come and experience something unique in the world of Trail Running. If you are new to running in the hills we suggest the 16km option below, however we can also guide you on a half-marathon distance if you are ready for the challenge!

Distance: 16km (10 miles)

Height Gain: 700m

Average time: 2h30

Trail type: Berber footpaths, 4×4 tracks

Prices usually include a private taxi to pick you up and take you back to Marrakech for the drive to where our runs begin. Or if you don’t mind the bustle, you may prefer to take the bus, in which case we can offer a discount. Whatever way you decide, please get in touch!

Basic price guide:

This is just to give you an idea.

Prices for specific routes are on the Trail Run Morocco site.

The second and subsequent people always go half-price, so try to find a friend to run with you, and share the fun!

Taxi pickup and return from Marrakech is generally 350dh each way, a taxi takes up to 4 people (we arrange it since our driver knows the start points, but you pay the driver directly)

You may either pay in advance via our invoice when you have made your booking, or pay in local currency (Moroccan Dirhams, Dh) at the beginning of the run.