Short & low level treks in High Atlas, Toubkal region of Morocco - REDISCOVER THE WORLD


THE MOROCCAN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS RANGES

A Walk on the Wild Side

Duration: 1 Day *- ref. ITCTKT01* - NO SUMMIT CLIMB

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE ONE - WALKING MOSTLY ON MULE OR GOAT TRACKS, SOMETIMES ROCKY, SOMETIMES FLAT, FOR ABOUT 5-6 HOURS. GOOD TRAINERS WOULD DO, BUT TAKE BOOTS IF YOU ARE USED TO THEM. FOR ANYONE WHO LEADS A REASONABLY ACTIVE LIFE. HIKING ALWAYS INVOLVES SOME EFFORT.

KASBAH TAMADOT – TAGADIRT n’AÏT ALI – TIZI N’TINZART – TINZERT – MARIGHA – TAMADOT.

An 8.30 in the morning departure from this beautiful hotel overlooking the steep, forested river valley towards the south and the awe-inspiring Toubkal Massif, keeping to the upper valley slopes of the Jbel Asloun until we reach the Berber village of Tagadirt Aït Ali (this translates to ‘the Ali family’s region of Tagadirt’) at 1400m. You’ll notice homes are built of four basic materials: - wood, stone, rammed earth pisé (adobe) or breeze block. From this tiny village we strike out for one hour westwards up along mule trails to the col of Tizi n’Tinzart (1611m), which offers us a wonderful panorama of the delightful Ouirgane Valley.

Once over the col we make a long, slow descent in the midst the forest of citron wood, pine, cork-oak and juniper to the hamlet of Tinzart, where we stop for our field picnic in the home of a Berber mountain family. Once refreshed, we set off to continue our easy hike to the salt mines at Marigha. Here the Berber peoples have been mining salt by their traditional method used unchanged for centuries. You may see them riding from village to village, selling their salt from the back of their donkeys. You should also, depending on the time of day, get to see those delightful Berber women sitting on their haunches for a chat after gathering wood. From here we join our transport back to the Kasbah.

Essentially, this walk takes you up and down a maximum of 600 metres and is not at all strenuous. It does take you up into charming hidden valleys and to meet the mountain Berber families in their own environment.

Cost for this tour:

- please call or email for a full quote - all our holidays are tailor-made and the cost of each trek is based upon the following:

* the number of people in your group (some hikes available for single travellers, one person FREE for groups of 10 or more);

* where you are starting from and to where you wish to travel at the end the hike;

* whether you are including any additional accommodation (e.g. in Imlil or Marrakech)

* extras such as WC tent or refuge accommodation, etc.

Experienced, licensed, bi-lingual mountain guide throughout. Round trip transportation to trailheads from and to Kasbah Tamadot, field picnic lunch

Personal medical or accident insurance. Any expenditure of a personal nature. Bottled or gaseous water (bottled water is available to buy in most villages), nor anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary, such as laundry, drinks, telephone calls and such like.

Good walking boots, walking socks; day pack, hats; insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses; nibbles, basic first aid kit, camera and filled water bottle, hygienic 'wipes', nibbles and/or dried fruit.

Picnic lunch - fresh Moroccan salad, cheese, tinned tuna fish and sardines*, bread, fruit, mint tea.

* Those vegetarians or vegans amongst us need to pre-advise at time of reservation

NB: all our prices are for land arrangements only (starting and finishing in Asni), please contact us to arrange accommodation in Marrakech hotels or riads as well as flights from your preferred airport if required.