Short & low level treks in High Atlas, Toubkal region of Morocco - REDISCOVER THE WORLD


A Walk on the Wild Side

ref. - ITCTRAK05m
(6 hours hike)

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE ONE - WALKING MOSTLY ON PATHS AT LOWER LEVELS, SOMETIMES ROCKY, SELDOM FLAT, FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS EACH DAY. GOOD TRAINERS WOULD DO, BUT TAKE BOOTS IF YOU ARE USED TO THEM. FOR ANYONE WHO LEADS A REASONABLY ACTIVE LIFE. HIKING ALWAYS INVOLVES SOME EFFORT.

MARRAKECH - IMLIL - TIZI M'ZIK - TIZI OUSSEM - ASSIF N'OUSASADINE - TIZI N'TACHT - IMI OURHLAD - MARRAKECH.

An early 7am departure from your hotel in Marrakech south over the Tizi n'Techt to the Berber trailhead town of Imlil (1740m), called Morocco's 'Little Marrakech', set way up in the foothills of the Western High Atlas mountains. Our route to Imlil takes us up through the Berber villages of Tahmoute, where we shall stop for a photo-op of dromedaries, horses and donkey-drawn ploughs straight out of the Middle Ages; of n'Ougmadene, with its kasbahs, to continue on up to the ruined kasbahs of Tamadout. We continue through the valley of Ghighia where the valleys of Imlil and Imaradene meet, passing alongside the riverside village of Azrguen n'Moulay Brahim with its dromedaries and horses. We continue through this valley of the Assif Aït Mizane, through the villages of Taggadirt and Aït Ali Aguersiouâl and the Asni Hills, which vary between 2020m and 2460m.

On our arrival at Imlil at around 9am, we shall leave our vehicle for a welcome glass of mint tea near a gîte d'étape on the banks of the Assif Aït M'Zrene. Getting to know your Berber guide is always a fun part of our hikes. We set off, now refreshed towards the west up through nut and apple groves with a panoramic vista of the beautiful valley of Imlil and of the Berber hamlets of Tanghourt, Fimlil and M'Zik with its red ochre minaret in front of us, all seeming to cling precariously to the mountain slopes. All of the villages we shall see on our hike are built of pisé, dug from the earth of the surrounding slopes. Our piste takes us through a couloir of red and bluish rocks until we reach the Tizi M'Zik (2664m) where we shall stop to admire the Jbel Oukaïmeden range, the high plateau of Tazaghart and of the beginning of the renowned Valley of the Assif Aït Ouzadene with its numerous palmeraies.

It has taken us some 3 hours to reach this point and we now start our descent for a further 1½ hours through woods of juniper, the Marrakech Plain, Lake Lalla Takerkousst and the Kiq Plateau laid out before us. Onwards we hike to see the isolated village of Tissi Oussem lying at the feet of the Tizi M'Ziq and a superb panoramic view of the entire valley and mountains of differing colouration. Passing through the blue and yellow-and-blue villages of Tissi Zgaghne and Tiziane, we reach the village of Tissi Oussem (1850m), to picnic amidst nut groves on the banks of the Assif Aït Ouazadene. Once refreshed, we shall continue towards the north-east in the direction of Asni, hiking through the valley until we reach the village of Tahaliouine (1880m), from where we shall see the pretty villages of Tissi Zgaghne and Ikoubline to continue our piste walk up to the Tizi n'Tacht (1998m), finally to descend through juniper trees to the village of Imi Ourhlad at around 5.30 in the evening, where we shall rejoin our vehicle 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 are including any additional accommodation (e.g. in Imlil or Marrakech)

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

Experienced, licensed, bi-lingual mountain guide throughout. Round trip transportation Marrakech - Imlil / Aguensiouâl - Marrakech. Picnic lunch.

Picnic lunch - fresh Moroccan salad, cheese, tinned tuna fish*, bread, fruit. * If vegetarian or vegan, please pre-advise.

Personal medical or accident insurance. Any expenditure of a personal nature. Bottled or gaseous water, nor anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.

Walking boots or stout shoes suitable for walking, rambler pole (optional), Hat, sunscreen, nibbles, hygienic wipes, filled water bottle(s).

NB: all our prices are for land arrangements only (starting and finishing in Marrakech), please contact us to arrange accommodation in Marrakech (hotels or riads) as well as flights from your preferred airport if required.