The philosophy behind NomaTrails: Running as exploration, not just exercise.
What makes Atlas to Sahara
adventure mind blowing?
January 1, 2018 by Pablo Rodriguez
Runner playing drums in Morocco
What my friend Abdu Oukioud showed me in the Atlas Mountains back in 2017 was an open door to his world.
These are some reasons why this trip is so close to my dreams. It’s truly an **Atlas to Sahara adventure** like no other.
It is a damn time travel machine. – Running Vacations
I think this is the best way to describe it. I’ve never in my life run through places so far away from this century. It’s not just that there are few people, it’s that in some of those villages, there are very few things that could make you realize you aren’t living in the 9th century BC. We’re talking about places five and a half hours in the opposite direction from where the tourist buses go from Marrakech. It’s like stepping into a different era entirely, where life moves at a completely different rhythm. But wait, that is only the beginning of the story.
_1. The running adventure in Morocco
Pablo and Abdu takes runners on trails few tourists ever see.
So, let’s say you are in Marrakesh seeing a bunch of tourists go south in their buses. What do you do? Go east! We dive headfirst into the real Morocco. Anyone who knows us will tell you that we don’t really like asphalt roads. Happily, the people in the places we visit often don’t even know what an asphalt road is. We run on ancient paths, goat trails, and dried riverbeds.
Over six days, our running will be full of diversity. While traversing the Atlas Mountains, we might find snow over the Tizi Ait’Timi pass (3000m). I remember one morning, the air was crisp and clear. We saw the faint outline of snow-capped peaks in the distance. Sometimes we’ll be following mule paths, just wide enough for one person. River running by the M’Goung canyon is one of my favorite parts – feeling the cool water on your legs as you splash through. And then, get ready to face dunes and sandstorms when we get to the Sahara. Imagine waking up at 3 AM in the desert, the air still cool. Running behind Abdu for two hours in the soft, silent sand, the stars blazing above us like I’d never seen them before. Every single star felt visible. Then, as the light began to change, we’d stop and watch the most beautiful sunrise paint the sky. That’s the magic of an **Atlas to Sahara adventure**.
2. The landscape
Run the World Adventures Guide Pablo Rodriguez with a group about to start their 7 day adventure in the Atlas
When you go back home, everything is going to look… smaller. Morocco is a geological festival. The mountain range we are crossing from north to south became commonly identified as the site Titan Atlas got condemned by Zeus to hold up the sky for eternity. The Atlas Mountains hold inside spectacular places. We were running in the middle of nowhere, just following Abdu. Then, after a while, we’d come across these absolutely beautiful valleys, these oases of green in the stark red rock. You just have to understand how truly far away this is from everywhere. It’s an experience that truly broadens your perspective.
Running Scout Morocco – Atlas to Sahara – Day 1. See what it’s like!
The moment you take part in one of our adventures, you become one of us. There are no privileges; we are all in the same boat, and everyone needs to paddle. My very good friend Abdu Oukioud is probably the best guide in the whole country. This isn’t only my opinion but also Intrepid Travel’s. He used to be a professional runner for Morocco, but more importantly, he’s the most energetic person you’ll ever meet. Mohamed is our chef, Ali is in charge of getting our stuff to the place we are sleeping, and Mustafa is our other running leader, a second-generation guide in his family. He’s an expert in everything from rock climbing to rafting. They are all fantastic drum players, too.
3. The music
Music is a key part of the **Atlas to Sahara adventure**.
Berbers say you don’t become a man until you learn how to play the drum. Music is part of the culture, but not the kind you play on the radio. It’s the kind you make on your own, together. We were thinking of asking you to send a video of yourself dancing, but ultrarunner Adam Jarkow proved that you don’t need any experience. You just need to feel the rhythm and let go. After a long day of running, sitting around a fire, listening to the drums, it just washes over you. It’s pure magic.
4. The food
This is the way to the next town in the Atlas
The bread, oh my god, the bread! I remember that when I was young and stupid, I used to believe that the best thing about Morocco was the bread. Freshly baked, still warm, it’s incredible. Also, the Moroccan tea is legendary, and we are going to have it so many times a day. It’s a ritual. As in many other Mediterranean countries, eating is a social thing that in Morocco comes with music, too. Sharing a tagine with new friends, sipping sweet mint tea, the sound of drums in the background – it’s a feast for all the senses.
5. The people
The Berbers, they are actually the real reason for this trip. Meeting them, running with them, learning a bit of their language, drinking tea together, eating their food, accepting their hospitality, admiring their incredible sustainable way of life. I remember one day, after several days of running with our backpacks, we came across this beautiful canyon. And there, working in an irrigation channel, was a family. A little girl, maybe 12 years old, with a face like “Corn Flakes or something,” as Abdu put it. She immediately ran to find wood, made a fire for us, and then her family invited us for tea. It was so spontaneous, so genuine. Our “kids” back home, they’re little monsters by comparison! This girl, she just *acted*. That’s the kind of connection you make. When you go back home, if you randomly meet someone from Morocco, you are going to have the impulse to hug that person. Do it. This connection is what makes the **Atlas to Sahara adventure** so powerful. It changes you.
6. Abdu Oukioud
Runners in the Atlas having a great time
We met Abdu by chance, and he’s the reason we run in Morocco. Without him, the trip wouldn’t be real. He’s not just a guide; he’s a friend, a connection to the soul of the place. In 2018, Abdu was third in the Wanderlust Magazine World Guide Awards. He’s the most professional guide I’ve ever met, but he’s also a mobile disco, the most energetic person I know, and someone I admire profoundly. His passion for his land and his people is infectious. He makes every step of the **Atlas to Sahara adventure** come alive.
But
Running friends making lasting memories at the Atlas Mountains, part of the **Atlas to Sahara adventure**.
You need to be a certain type of person, too. I believe you can only truly enjoy this if you have eyes to see, an open heart, and a willingness to simply *be*. I also believe people need to understand that it’s an honor to be welcomed into many of the places we will visit. So, we need to do our best to deserve our hosts’ hospitality. It’s about respect, connection, and letting go of expectations. It’s about trust. Just trust us, and go for it. You won’t regret this **Atlas to Sahara adventure**.
Here at NomaTrails, we don’t just run; we explore. We use our legs, our bodies, our lungs, our hearts as a way to traverse territory, just like our ancestors did. It’s about getting deep into a place, building real relationships. That’s what makes an **Atlas to Sahara adventure** truly mind-blowing. It’s not about being slim or improving your fitness level, it’s about the journey, the stories you collect, the memories you’ll tell your grandkids.
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