TREKKING IN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS
Tichka's Twin Sisters
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights   - ref. ITCTJT02a
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE TWO to THREE - HIKING MOSTLY ON UPPER LEVEL GOAT TRACKS AND MULE TRAILS, OFT-TIMES ROCKY, SELDOM FLAT, FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS EACH DAY. SUMMIT CLIMBS ARE STRENUOUS. BOOTS ESSENTIAL. YOU NEED TO BE CONFIDENT OF YOUR FITNESS AND ENDURANCE LEVELS, PREFERABLY HAVING HAD EXPERIENCE OF HIKING AT ALTITUDE AND VARIATIONS ON CLIMATE. FULL SUPPORT TEAM.
This 'lost world' - an almost virgin territory for experienced climbers and mountain walkers is something definitely not to be missed.

DAY 1:  AGADIR - TAROUDDANT - AFENSOU - HADD IMOULAS. We set out early from Agadir to drive eastwards for some 70 minutes alongside the trailing edge of the Western High Atlas, which stretches from Agadir to Tunis, in Tunisia, to the pre Islamic era Berber town of Tarouddant, known also as 'Marrakech in Miniature. Here we change our vehicle to an open light truck - the sole method of transport, other than 4WD, which can take us into this virgin (for hikers) region - or continue on in our 4WD, depending on the vehicle selected, to drive along a tortuous dirt road for more than 3 hours up into the upper foothills of the Tichka Plateau range, until we reach the Berber market village market of Afensou. Here we alight from our vehicle for a "warm-up" hike of a couple of hours in the valley up through the remarkable Aït Oued Hajj Valley, with its stark slopes, sudden palmeraies and terraced irrigated fields, to the Berber village of Hadd Imoulas. We shall picnic in the surrounding area prior to taking an easy 2hour hike around the slopes along zigzagging mule tracks, passing through several Berber hamlets clinging to the slopes, with more terraced irrigated fields of barley and corn, palmeraies and almond groves, the ever-present twinned peaks of Jbels Tinergwet (3551m) and Awlim (3482m) frowning down on us. We circle back to Imoulas to our campsite and dinner for the night.
DAY 2:   HADD IMOULAS - IGOUNANE - ÂAZIB AÏT OUED HAJJ. After an early breakfast and camp struck, we set out further up the valley slopes along corkscrewing mule tracks, passing the hamlets of Al Khoums, Aguerd and Megdel between the Akouchtim and Igui Lbour Heights, until we reach the last village in the upper valley - Igounane. Here we shall stop for our welcome picnic. Now it gets hard. We get to hike up the stark and steep, winding mule and goat tracks for some 3 hours ever closer to the highest peaks in the Plateau of a Thousand Peaks, until we reach the Âazib, where we shall pitch our tents and dine under the vast canopy of stars and stark mountain tops.
DAY 3:   ÄAZIB AÏT OUED HAJJ - JBEL TINERGWET SUMMIT - ÂAZIB ISSOUÄL. Eat a hearty breakfast, for today is going to be quite a challenge. Early this morning, and I mean early, we strike out for the summit of Jbel Tinergwet. Due the relative inaccessibility of this region, few hikers or trekkers have made it to the top of this awesome peak. After half a day's slog up hairpin mule and goat trails we get to sit on the summit to picnic amidst the incredible panorama of the craggy peaks of the continuing chain - Tit Ouilli (3247m), Mtdadene (3366m), and Moulay Ali (3349m) , the Tichka plain, the distant fertile Souss Plain and the Adrar Tiguerni (2139m). Whenever you are ready, we set off back down for another 4 to 5 hours to the Âazib Issouâl for our very welcome dinner and bivouac.
DAY 4:   ÂAZIB ISSOUÄL - IGHIL - IFRANE - TANFACHT. Breakfast, camp struck and we're off on a relatively easy 6 hour hike down those winding, narrow mule tracks alongside a small assif, past occasional palmeraies and isolated terraced, irrigated plots through the hamlets of Ighil, Issoulane and Ifrane, where we shall stop for our picnic, surrounded by almond trees and an impressive quiet. From here, we strike out down a dirt path for another 2 to 3 hours until we reach the Berber village of Tanfacht for our dinner and overnight in a Berber family's house.
DAY 5:   TANFACHT - WITKRAZEN - AFENSOU - TAROUDDANT - AGADIR. Our last convivial breakfast together with our guide and muleteers prior to setting off towards the east along a pleasant valley with picnic en route, back to Afensou, where we rejoin our "camionette", or 4WD, some 2½ hours later which takes us down this splendid, isolated valley to Tarouddant, where we change vehicles, or continue in our 4WD, and back to Agadir and the end of a stimulating few days' adventure hiking.

* This trek may start and finish in Taroudant.  

* Pre and post night hotel accommodation in Agadir, together with Airport reception and private round trip transfers can be arranged for you, should you so require.

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, licensed, bi-lingual mountain guide throughout. 3 night's accommodation in bivouac; 1 night Berber House; 4 picnic lunches, 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners; igloo tents and undermats; cook; pack animals and support team. Private round trip transportation from Agadir to trailhead from and to Taroudant.

Marrakech supplement:  on request.

OUR PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:

Personal medical or accident insurance outside of the vehicle(s). No insurance is carried by the camionettes - travel by this type of vehcile is a great experience but we cannot accept any liability, hence the 4WD alternative. Any expenditure of a personal nature. Bottled or gaseous water, nor anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.

IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU BRING:

Stout walking boots (boots that take crampons - November to Mid April); sleeping bags (3-4 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. Extra 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.

* Please be prepared for minimal ablutions - and absolutely no "tourists."

	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.

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