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


THE MOROCCAN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS RANGES

A Hike in the High Atlas Valleys

Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights *- ref. ITCTKT04* - NO SUMMIT CLIMB

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE ONE to TWO - WALKING MOSTLY ON MULE OR GOAT TRACKS, SOMETIMES ROCKY, SOMETIMES FLAT, FOR ABOUT 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.

DAY 1: KASBAH TAMADOT – IMENANE VALLEY – IMSKER – ARG – AMSSAKROU – IKISS –TAMEGGUIST- OUANESKRA.

An 8.30 in the morning departure from this beautiful hotel overlooking the steep, forested river valley of the Mizane towards the southeast and the magnificent Adrar Oukaïmeden (3273m), of winter skiing fame. We cross from the Mizane valley to that of the Imenane. From here we strike out down through this magnificent valley, passing by ancient terraced fields clinging to the slopes, several Berber hamlets and the villages of Imsker (1381m) and Arg (1600m), where Sir Winston Churchill is said to have loved to paint. We continue our stroll towards the awesome Toubkal Massif, the Adrar Oukaïmeden and Jbel Angour(3143m) to our left, Jbel Tasghimout (2604m) to our right and mighty Jbels Bou Iguenouane (3882m), Aksouâl (3842m), and Azrou-n’Tamadôt (3664m) always before us. We pass through the Berber hamlets of Amssakrou (1800m), Ikiss (1850m) with its geodes and Tinghourine (1840m) before stopping, after some 6 hours hike, for a welcome field picnic in the village of Tamegguist (1842m). Rested and refreshed we continue on, now towards the east along the lower valley slopes of the Jbel Angour range to the village of Ouaneskra (2000m), where we stop for our overnight accommodation in a gîte d’étape and our Berber dinner, surrounded by some of the most magnificent mountain scenery.

After breakfast we set out towards the east on another leisurely 7 hour hike, first to the village of Tacheddirt (2291m) the pretty, and the oldest Berber village in the Toubkal Massif, set amongst terraced plots clawed from the surrounding craggy slopes. From here we hike slowly up to the Tizi n’Tacheddirt (3200m), which affords us a stunning, close-up panoramic view of Jbels Aksouâl, Bou Iguenouane and Angour, the beginning of the luscious nature of the beautiful, verdant western end of the Ourika Valley stretching out below us. We shall traverse the col to continue down north-eastwards, with our field picnic taken en-route, for a further 2½ hours until we reach the village of Iaabassene (2030m) and its gentle spring. From here, it’s a further 2 hours gentle hike down to the old village of Timichi , set amidst ancient nut trees, where we’ll have our dinner and overnight accommodation in a Berber family’s home.

eastwards along a valley full of cornfields and orange groves, with many streams flowing down from the upper mountain slopes, passing through the villages of Isghouarne and Agadir n’Aït Boulmane, to arrive at the western tip of the beautiful Ourika Valley proper and the renowned village of Setti Fadma, with its ancient nut trees and waterfalls. We shall stop for our field picnic just outside the village, before hiking down for a further half an hour to rejoinour vehicle around 3pm to take us back to where we have booked to go.

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.

Stout walking boots; sleeping bag (3 seasons); waterproofs and fleece/duvet jackets, hats, balaclavas or ear muffs; gloves; rambler or ski pole; personal toiletries; small First Aid kit, thermal underwear (Dec-May); day pack; filled water bottle(s) and purifying tablets/drops (iodine usually); torch and batteries (LED head torches are excellent), penknife (remember not to pack in hand baggage for flight); towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, hygienic 'wipes', nibbles and/or dried fruit. Drinking chocolate if preferred to tea and coffee, camping mug (otherwise it is small Moroccan tea glasses for everything), energy sweets and toilet rolls could come in handy!

** If staying in a Berber House or gite d'etap you may wish to bring some biros or other suitable gifts for the children of the house.


	Meals are normally:

	Breakfast - tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam, cheese plus porridge in the winter and cereal in summer. Picnic lunch - fresh Moroccan salad, cheese, slicing sausage, tinned tuna fish and sardines*, bread, fruit, mint tea.

	Dinner - Tajine (chicken or mutton* with vegetables), spaghetti, cous cous (main courses rotate depending on duration of trek), bread, coffee, tea, cake, fruit. * 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.