THE MOROCCAN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS RANGES
Tassa Ouirgane, Bignouissene & Jebel Toubkal
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights - ref. ITCTTM14m
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE TWO - 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 - Jbel Aguelzim (3547m) prior to your setting out from Marrakech.

DAY 1: MARRAKECH - OUIRGANE - AZERZEANE - TIZZIANE.

Departure from Marrakech at 8 in the morning for a pleasing 2 hour drive south over the Moulay Brahim Gorges and Upper valleys way up into the foothills of the Western High Atlas ranges, passing through Asni, where, to our left, we get our first real sight of mighty Jbel Toubkal (4167m) and her sisters Aguelzim (3547m) and Aksouâl (3847m). We continue on to the Berber village of Ouirgane, often called the oasis in the High Atlas, with its lemon, lime and grapefruit orchards, date palms and thousands of rose bushes to meet up with our muleteers at the Hotel La Bergerie and the start of our 6 hour hike. We strike out to the village of Touroud to take the piste which leads up to the Tassa Ouirgane National Park.

At the village of Tassa Ouir (meaning the centre of flowers) we hike up between juniper and redwoods to stop for our picnic in the midst of walnut trees near the forest in the Valley of the Assif Azerzeane. Once refreshed, we set off up the slopes, passing through Berber hamlets, their pisé homes shaded by walnut and apple trees and past well-tended plots of barley and corn, through the village of Ikoubline until we reach the pretty village of Tizziane (1600m) for our dinner and overnight accommodation in a Berber Gîte d’étape.

DAY 2: TIZZIANE - ASSAKA - ÂAZIB ASSOUÄL.

After our typical Moroccan breakfast we strike out on our 6 hour hike up through groves of walnut and almond trees, through stands of holm oak and red pine to traverse the Tizi n’Touati (2100m) and into the Assaka Plateau where we stop for our picnic. We now set out up and down the higher slopes, passing by the Âazib n’Assaka and down to the Valley of the Assif D’Knt and the Berber village of D’Knt (1800m), to continue up through fields of potato and barley to our dinner and campsite in the Âazib n’Assouâl.

DAY 3: ÂAZIB ASSOUÂL - TIZI N’TAGHOUDALALTE – TIZI OUSSEM.

Breakfast over and camp struck, we set out for today’s 5 hour hike further towards the south, up goat trails and stark winding slopes to traverse the Tizi n’Taghoudalalte (2700m), where we’ll stop to take in some impressive vistas of mountains and valleys. Next, we descend amidst the juniper trees to our picnic site by a small stream, surrounded by an almost alpine atmosphere of mountains, wild flowers, poppies, a multitude of herbs and terraced fields. From here we set off down to the head of the Valley of the n’Aït Ouissa’dane, crossing the river to hike alongside irrigation ditches and small mills towards the last village in this valley - Tizi Oussem (1850m), the Jbels Tasghimout (2004m) to our left, Aguelzim (3547m) and Tazaghârt (3843m) to the south, where we set up our campsite and dinner for the night.

DAY 4: TIZI OUSSEM – ÄAZIB N’TAMSOULT – TAZAGHÂRT REFUGE.

After breakfast we strike out on today’s 4½ hour trek to climb up towards the end of the Aït Ouissa’dane Valley and the juniper trees on the slopes of the Aoirir n’Irg (3173m) until we reach the Âazib n’Tamsoult (2100m) and our close-up view of the snow-capped Jbel Toubkal. From here we climb up to the Tamsoult Cascade (2300m), also known as the Irhoulidene Cascade, and continue up through the rocks to the final couloir in the valley to the Tazaghârt Refuge (3000m) - formerly known as the Lepiney Refuge and essentially a rock-climbing base for the cliff face of Tazaghârt (3843m). We shall take our picnic on the ridge. Tonight’s dinner and accommodation will be in the Refuge and there is ample opportunity this afternoon for a stroll around the starkly-beautiful upper slopes, or simply relax in some awesome surroundings, for tomorrow is going to be a long day.

DAY 5: TAZAGHÂRT REFUGE - TIZI N’TADDATE - JBEL BIGNOUISSEN - TOUBKAL REFUGE.

Breakfast tucked away we strike out on our 7½ hour trek up steep off-the-beaten tracks to traverse the remote and challenging Tizi n’Tadat (3700m) for a panorama that will simply take your breath away. We follow rarely trodden loose-pebbled goat trails to the Jbel Bignouissen (4009m) and up to our picnic on this beautiful summit and sight of tomorrow’s challenge: Jbel Toubkal. When ready, we set off down the slopes to the Toubkal Refuge which, at 3207m, marks the spring snowline. Here we shall have tonight’s dinner, bivouac or overnight accommodation in the Refuge and time to rest up from the hard day’s trek and gird ourselves for tomorrow and the summit attack.

DAY 6: TOUBKAL REFUGE - JBEL TOUBKAL SUMMIT - TIZI N’OUNOUMS - TOUBKAL REFUGE.

A very early breakfast to set out at around 5am to witness a spectacular sunrise and attain, after a 3hour steep climb - not too technical and not too demanding for the reasonably fit - the highest peak in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from the summit is simply stunning. This remarkable climb and view is very much worth the effort. Whenever you are ready, we shall descend via the Ikkhibi Sud – or South Circuit – for a straightforward (with your guide) 2 to 3 hour descent back to the Refuge and our picnic. This afternoon, we shall take a gentle hike south-eastwards up for a couple of hours to the head of the Assif Aït Mizane Valley and Tizi n’Ounoums (3664m) which, from this high point, gives us a tremendous view of the trail we’ve covered and of the distant cobalt green outline of Lake Ifni. When ready, we return to the area of the Toubkal Refuge for our welcome dinner, bivouac or overnight accommodation in the Refuge.

DAY 7: TOUBKAL REFUGE – SIDI CHAMHAROUCH – AROUMD – IMLIL - MARRAKECH.

Breakfasted, we shall now set off on our final 4½ hour walk back towards the north along steeply descending, rocky, zigzagging and sometimes precarious trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of the Assif n’Isouhouanem n’Ouagounss, rich in seasonal wildflowers (some only to be found in this specific area, including, in spring, the splendid, multi-petalled Peony Rose) towards the Berber village of Sidi Chamharouch where we’ll stop for our picnic besides a small waterfall.

Before entering the village your guide will draw your attention to a special tree, sacred to the local Berbers, on which they hang strips of coloured cloth and pile up stones around the trunk. After a brief stop here to relax, particularly welcome on a hot day, we descend high above the valley of the Assif Aït Mizane, down zigzagging trails around granite and basalt grey rocks for about 8km to the village of Aroumd (Aremd) (1840m), commanding one of the more fertile valleys of the High Atlas mountains with terraced, irrigated plots and fields of maize, onions and fruit trees on all sides. Continuing on through groves of almond and walnut trees for some 4kms along the floor of the valley, thence up a well-defined mule track zigzagging above the oued to arrive, finally, at the Berber village of Imlil (1740m); we shall halt here to enjoy a glass of mint tea (or two) at the Gîte d’étape of our senior guide prior to rejoining our vehicle by around 4pm to take us 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 wish to include any additional accommodation (e.g. in Imlil 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-Ouirgane and Imlil-Marrakech.

Please ensure, at time of reservation, you advise us of your choice between bivouac or Toubkal Refuge accommodation, as the Refuge can get crowded out with last-minute hikers.

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.

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

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