TREKKING IN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS
The Ridge of 1000 Peaks (Tichka Plateau)
Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights   - ref. ITCTTP06a
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE TWO to THREE - BETWEEN MODERATE AND STRENUOUS. BOOTS ESSENTIAL. YOU NEED TO BE REASONABLY CONFIDENT OF YOUR FITNESS AND ENDURANCE LEVELS, PREFERABLY HAVING HAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF TREKKING AT ALTITUDE AND VARIATIONS OF CLIMATE; FULL SUPPORT TEAM
This 'lost world' - an almost virgin territory for experienced climbers and mountain walkers is something definitely not to be missed. A once in a lifetime goal for serious mountain walkers and those interested in something off the beaten track.

DAY 1:  AGADIR - TAROUDDANT - ASSIF N'AÏT TAMENT - TAGMOUT. Departure from Agadir around 8 in the morning towards the east alongside the trailing edges of the westernmost High Atlas range to arrive around 9.15 at the pre-Islamic walled town of Tarouddant, also known as "Marrakech in Miniature." Built in 1030 and once the capital of the Sâadien dynasty - here we meet with our mountain guide and take a quick tour of the town walls and centre - before continuing up to the town of Oulad Brehil. On our way here we shall have an utterly awe-inspiring vista of the Tichka chain, peak after peak after peak. We change our vehicle to an open light truck (camionette) - the sole method of transport, other than 4WD, which can take us up into this virgin (for hikers) region - or continue in our 4WD, depending on the mode of transportation selected - for at least a further 4½ hour drive (in 4WD or 6 hours in light truck), way up into the upper foothills of this savagely magnificent and still virgin range of the Western High Atlas mountains, passing alongside oueds and small reservoirs, through the old Berber hamlet of Zawyatt Iguerzane, past the Oued Tamazirrt and Assif Timeselt Valley and on up through the hairpin piste finally to arrive at the Berber market village of Zawyatt Tafilalt, or Abdelah Ou Saïd as it is known to its Berber (Shleuh) inhabitants.
We shall take a break here for some photographs before continuing up along the piste alongside the valley of the Assif n'Aït Tament upwards on a gruelling, winding ascent, mostly in first gear, for some 1½ hours between the upper slopes of the Ighil Lbour (2108m) and Tizi Ougouni (1856m), passing by Adrar Tazgoukht (1663) and the High Atlas Berber hamlets of Alagjana and Tazoudot, with their palmeraies and terraced, irrigated fields seeming to cling to the stark mountain slopes, over the oued of the Assif Agounsane until we finally reach the village of Tagmout, nestling way up in the stark upper foothills of the impressive Tichka Plateau. Once an important stop for the ancient caravans from Mauritania to the Mediterranean coast, there's time to stretch our bones by strolling around the area hamlets of Tammart and Aït Ammar - a real experience of Berber life - dominated by the Assaouâl Mqqorn( 2361m) and Tizi Igourramene (1994m), whilst our dinner is being prepared in our overnight accommodation in a Berber family home. These hamlets rarely see a foreigner from one year to another.
DAY 2:   TAGMOUT - ASSIF MEDLAWA - AWSAGHMELT - ÂAZIB N'TARGA. Suitably refreshed, we strike out today for our 7½ hike up the sinuous mule trail of the Upper Medlawa Valley, passing the Shleuh hamlets of Tawart and Amghlou and their scattered groves of almond and walnut trees, terraced irrigated fields of barley, corn and potato and up to the last village in this beautiful High Atlas valley - Awsaghmelt (or Imlaouin in Berber), where we can relax in the shadow of Ras Moulay Ali (2845m) by the pools of water created by a small waterfall, before setting out between Jbels Askouân (3078m) and Ras Awlim (3048m) to arrive, after some 4 hours, at an âazib at the feet of Tizi n'Targa (2086m). here we stop for our deserved picnic before striking out for a further 2 hours up some 92 (!) hairpin bends in the faint mule trail to arrive at an âazib on the incredibly romantic and beautiful Tichka Plateau of a Thousand Peaks, where, after getting our breath back, we shall have dinner and bivouac for the night under a breathtaking canopy of a million stars.
DAY 3:  PLATEAU OF A THOUSAND PEAKS - JBEL IMARADENE SUMMIT - TISAL - SOUQ TNINE TIGOUGA Today we shall enjoy one of the highest mountain walks in the Atlas, many of whose peaks have never been climbed and which, whilst some keep snow caps year round, have no glaciers. The virgin Plateau, with its meadows of early daffodils and alpine flowers in spring, controlled grazing, scattered forests of oak, pine and nut trees of all sorts, strangely green amidst a high altitude landscape and a dramatic panorama of so many peaks and gorges, is an absolute delight. After breakfast and camp struck, we set out for a ridge walk - technically a tough walk over shattered rock - up to the summit of one of the highest peaks in the chain - Imaradene (3351m).
From this peak we shall have a spectacular vista and sense of total isolation, with to our immediate west Jbels Moulay Ali (3349m), Aquelmoun (3251m), Tamguerd Lma'dene (3251m), Mtdadene (3366m), Adrars n'Fivil (3214m) and Tit Oulli (3247m) - amongst those that have been named. To the north the glorious valleys of the Assifs Ida Gourioun, Isquoân, Imintanout and Samba and the copper mines at Afensou and Aguersafane; to the east Jbels Wajir Oudadene (3139m), Akalmoumane (2901m), Awrir n'Tidar (2934m), Azrou Azdim (2934m), Amendach (3192m) and on and on. We shall finally return back down to our âazib for our picnic around midday to set off on our relatively easy 3 hour hike down the equally-beautiful valley of the Assif Tigouga to the first upper valley hamlets of Tisal, then Tichka and Tamsoult, until we reach the village of Souq Tnine (Monday) Tigouga and our dinner and overnight accommodation in a Berber family's home - nestled way up in these upper foothills of the impressive Tichka Plateau. Once an important stop over the western High Atlas barrier for the ancient caravans from Mauritania to the Mediterranean coast, Tigouga still maintains its air of an active local market and trading post.
DAY 4:   SOUQ TNINE TIGOUGA - KMÂ - OULAD BREHIL - TIOUTE - TAROUDDANT - AGADIR. Breakfast tucked away, we say goodbye to our muleteers and rejoin our vehicle at 7 in the morning to take us down on a 1½ hour drive along the winding Assif Tigouga Valley into the Valley of the Assif Oumsatog and the village of Kmâ, then for a further 3 hours piste driving through the Tizi Oumakhassene (1020m) in the Tighrine Range, making several stops en route for photographs, through the old village of Talekjount and on to Oulad Brehil, where we shall stop for our picnic lunch. From here we shall drive for a further hour to the semi-desert Anti Atlas village of Tioute - where the film 'Ali Baba and the Forty thieves' was shot - to take the opportunity of a two hour ride on the back of a dromedary to visit the old Glaoui kasbah and surrounding luxuriant palmeraies, perhaps to watch the womenfolk of the semi-nomadic tribes bake their bread and doubtless offer us a glass or two of mint tea prior to our return to Agadir.

* Pre and post night hotel accommodation in Agadir, together with Airport reception and private round trips transfers can be reserved 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. 1 night under bivouac (camping), 2 nights in a Berber family home; igloo tents and undermats; mules and muleteers; cook; meals and accommodation as outlined in the itinerary, dromedary ride around Tioute. Private round trip transportation from and back to Agadir plus either light truck to and from trailhead, or 4WD as selected.

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; 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 local children.

* 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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