Tagine, Mint Tea and Berber Hospitality on the Trail
Trekking food in the Atlas is more than fuel. From steaming tagines to the ritual of mint tea, here's what you'll eat — and the hospitality that comes with it.
Ask our trekkers what they remember most and many will say the food. Meals on the mountain are cooked fresh by our team, shared together and served with the warmth the Berber people are known for.
Mint tea: the welcome
Offered on arrival in every village, mint tea is a gesture of friendship. It's poured from a height to aerate it and traditionally drunk in three glasses — each said to grow stronger, like life itself. Accepting is polite; the sugar is generous.
Tagine
Slow-cooked in a conical clay pot, a tagine of vegetables, chicken or lamb is the classic mountain dinner. After a day of climbing, few meals taste better. Vegetarian and other dietary needs are easy to cater for — just tell us when you book.
A typical trekking day
- Breakfast: fresh bread, jam, honey, olive oil, eggs and tea or coffee
- Lunch: a trailside spread of salads, bread, fruit and tuna or eggs
- Dinner: soup, then tagine or couscous, then fruit
Eating well at altitude
Appetite often drops as you climb, but your body still needs fuel. Eat what you can, keep snacks like nuts and dates in your pocket, and drink plenty. Our cooks pay attention to this and will happily adjust meals.
Hospitality as a way of life
In Berber culture a guest is a gift. Expect to be invited into homes, offered the best seat and fed more than you can finish. Return it with a smile, a few words of Tamazight or Arabic and respect for local customs. Experience it first-hand on our 5-day Berber villages trek, and learn how we support the communities behind it.