DAY 1:  AGADIR - TAROUDANT - 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 stretch from Agadir to Tunis, in Tunisia - towards the pre Islamic era Berber town of Taroudant, known also as ‘Marrakech in Miniature. Here we change to local transport 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 road for more around 1 ½ hours up into the upper foothills of the Tichka Plateau range, until we reach the Berber market village market of Tadouste.

Here we alight from our vehicle for a hike of around 4 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 stony 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, we strike out for the summit of Jbel Tinergwet. Due the relative inaccessibility of this region, very 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 basic Berber family’s house.

DAY 5:   TANFACHT - WITKRAZEN - AFENSOU - TAROUDANT - 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 Tafdachte, where we change to a Grand Taxi on to Taroudant, or continue in our 4WD, and back to Agadir and the end of a stimulating few days’ adventure hiking.

- 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:

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