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THE MOROCCAN HIGH ATLAS RANGES
High Atlas Traverse
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights - ref. ITCTTEL03m
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE TWO to THREE - Between moderate and strenuous. Good boots essential. We recommend that you be confident of your fitness and endurance levels; preferably having had previous experience of trekking at altitude and in variations of climate Full support team.
NB: The months from December through to mid-April could possibly preclude the Toubkal summit climb due to sudden, heavy snowfalls. We shall advise you of adverse climatic conditions and alternate nearby peak climb - e.g. Jbel Aguelzim (3547m) prior to your setting out from Marrakech.

NB: This trek is based upon including private transfers from Marrakech; please contact us to arrange accommodation - we are experts for small hotels and riads across Morocco.                 

DAY 1:   MARRAKECH - TIZI n'TICHKA - OUARZAST - YAGOUR PLATEAU (2600m)
Early morning (8am) departure from Marrakech south in our vehicle through the Glaoua countryside and up through exhilarating hairpin bends into the Western High Atlas mountains and Ait Ourir Taddert (1650m) to alight at the top of the Tizi n‘Tichka (2260m) to take in the vista dominated by peaks of over 2500m. We set out along the Zat Valley to climb towards the high plateaux of Jbel Yagour, passing through junipers and oaks, several Neolithic rock engravings are not to be missed en route, then we stop in the Yagour pastures for lunch. Here many nomadic families spend the summer months grazing their sheep and goats. Camp on the Yagour Plateau (2600m). 6 hrs trek.

DAY 2: YAGOUR – AIT IGUERANE – TADDERT n’AGHBALOU – SETTI FADMA – AGADIR n’AIT BOULEMANE
We leave the plateau to follow mule tracks through magnificent Berber villages and the relatively highly-populated Ourika Valley. Picnic lunch in the valley and then a gradual ascent through the valley to reach the tranquil camp site (or a gite) at Agadir n‘Ait Boulemane. 6 1/2 hrs trek.

DAY 3: AGADIR n'AIT BOULEMANE – ANELFI – KISSARIA GORGES – AAZIB n’ LIKKEMT (2500m)
An early start today to leave the Ourika valley, we climb upwards towards the springs which feed the valley, through the famous Kissaria Gorges; where hikers are rarely seen. A 6-7 hour hike today without mules over damp and occasionally slippery scree. Our mules will take a 10 hour detour to meet up with us again at the end of the afternoon, so a day pack is needed. After a careful traverse of the gorges, we arrive at the summer sheep pastures of Likkemt (2500m) used by the nomadic shepherds of the Tifnoute valleys. 6 1/2 hrs trek.

DAY 4: AAZIB n’ LIKKEMT (2500m) – TIFNI PASS ( 2900m) - AAZIB n TIFNI – TAGHBALOUTE
After breakfast a magnificent climb of around 500m to reach the pass which takes us to the huge summer pastures of Tifni, used by the Berber shepherds of Tifnoute with their flocks of hundreds of heads of sheep and goats. Picnic lunch by the Aazib and then we continue to climb up to the Taghbaloute pass with, finally, a view of Mount Toubkal. We descend towards the spring and our campsite at 2700m with a grandstand view of Jbel Toubkal. 6 1/2 hrs trek.

DAY 5: TAGHBALOUTE – TISSELDAY - AMSOUZERT – AIT IGUERANE – CHEZ BELAID - LAKE IFNI (2400m)
Today we continue our descent from the spring at the foot of Toubkal, towards Tisselday, the last village in this valley; and continue into the Tifnoute valley after crossing the river at Amsouzert. We pass through several large villages on the southern slopes of Toubkal until we reach Chez Belaid where we will stop for lunch in the shade of huge and ancient oaks. After lunch we will climb 300m to Lake Ifni, and maybe take a dip, weather permitting. 5 1/2 hrs trek.

DAY 6: LAKE IFNI – OUANOUMS PASS (3700m) – TOUBKAL REFUGE (3200m)
An early start today, around 06.00 to avoid the heat of the day, for our 5 hour ascent to the Ouanoums Pass over steep and rocky terrain, hard going for us and the mules! A stop for water at Ifri n’Irouzan and then we reach the pass and admire the views, then a descent to the foot of the Tizi Ouagan for our field picnic on the riverbank, before continuing the descent to the Toubkal Refuge for our overnight accommodation. 6 hrs trek.

DAY 7: TOUBKAL REFUGE - TOUBKAL SUMMIT (4167m) - TOUBKAL REFUGE
A very early breakfast to set off around 05.30, well wrapped up against the elements, to attain, after a 3 hour steep, yet not technically difficult climb, the highest summit in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from the summit is stunning. After a snack at the peak, we descend by the same route (or a detour via the cirque du nord down past the smugglers' plane wreckage from the 1960s) to the refuge for lunch, a well-earned rest and overnight. 5 1/2 hours trek.

DAY 8: TOUBKAL REFUGE – SIDI CHAMHAROUCH – IMLIL- MARRAKECH
After breakfast we will set off northwards along steeply descending trails towards Sidi Chamharouch a Berber village set beside a waterfall and a small stream, with its pisé houses seeming to be built chaotically one into another. This village is a place of pilgrimage for devout Muslims with a Marabout shrine said to be a relic of a pre-islamic cult. We continue descending to Aremd where we shall stop for our picnic prior to continuing along the valley floor to finally arrive at Imlil to enjoy a glass of mint tea at the Gite of our head guide before rejoining our vehicle back to Marrakech.

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 Taroudant or Marrakech)

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

OUR PRICES INCLUDE:

Experienced bi-lingual, licensed mountain guide throughout; accommodation in the Toubkal Refuge or camping with igloo tents and undermats provided at the locations specified above; all meals during your trek (breakfast all days except first, all lunches and dinner all days except last); support team (mules and muleteers) throughout and 24hr emergency back up; private round trip transportation Marrakech-Tichka Pass and Imlil-Marrakech.

Please ensure, at time of reservation, you advise us of your choice between camping and the Refuge.

OUR PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:

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

IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU BRING (dependent upon the season):

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); 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: This trek is based upon including private transfers from Marrakech; please contact us to arrange accommodation - we are experts for small hotels and riads across Morocco.

Tel: + 44 (0) 1989 730 552 (UK)

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