A Walk in The High Atlas Valleys
Imlil Valley Hike
Duration: 2 days / 1 Night - ref. ITCTTM01m - NO SUMMIT CLIMB
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.

DAY 1:   MARRAKECH - IMLIL - AROUMD - SIDI CHAMHAROUCH - IMLIL.

Departure by car from Marrakech around 9am for exhilarating 2 hour drive south up to the Berber town of Imlil (1740m), known as Morocco's 'Little Chamonix', set in the upper level foothills of the Western High Atlas mountains, a main trailhead with streams and paths branching out in all directions. Here we shall leave our vehicle to take a welcome glass of mint tea in our gîte d'étape prior to setting out towards the south to the Berber villages of Aroumd (1843m) Taourirt, Targa, and Imoula, up and down the stark slopes, the Western High Atlas peaks of the Toubkal Massif before us.

We shall stop at Aroumd to visit this rather singular village in the Assif n'Aït Mizane Valley, built seemingly house upon house on a large moraine spur, overlooking ancient irrigated terraced fields of fruit trees and vegetables. We thence carry on to the equally-quaint Sidi Chamharouch, a Berber village set beside a waterfall and small stream, again with its pisé homes seemingly built somewhat chaotically one into another. This village is a place of pilgrimage for devout Moslems and it is where there is a marabout shrine - forbidden to non-Moslems and said to be a relic of a pre-Islamic religious cult. We take a break for a picnic, within full view of Jbel Toubkal, at 4167m the highest peak in the Maghreb, prior to setting off back down the other side of the valley back to Imlil and our dinner and overnight in a Berber Gîte d'étape.

DAY 2:  IMLIL - TIZI n'TAMATERT - OUANSKRA - IMENANE VALLEY - TIZI n'AGUENSIOUÂL - MARRAKECH.

After breakfast we set out today up winding mule tracks to the Tizi n'Tamatert (2269m) to enjoy the amazing panorama of the surrounding Atlas mountain range peaks and valleys on our way to our picnic spot on the Tizi n'Ouanskra (2100m). Refreshed, we set off down to the Assif Imenane Valley, passing by several Berber hamlets and thence up to the Tizi n'Aguensiouâl (1938m). Once through the col we shall now go down more winding mule tracks leading to the village of Aguensiouâl where we 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 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 Berber Houses 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-Imi Ourghlad and Aguensiouâl-Marrakech.

OUR PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:

Personal medical or accident insurance. Any expenditure of a personal nature. Bottled or gaseous water (bottled water is available to buy in most villages), 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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