Short & low level treks in High Atlas (no.3), Toubkal region of Morocco - REDISCOVER THE WORLD


THE MOROCCAN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS RANGES

Oukaimeden Plateau & Western Ourika Valley

Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights *- ref. ITCTTM07am* - NO SUMMIT CLIMB

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE TWO - BETWEEN MODERATE TO STRENUOUS, GOOD 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

Setting out from your hotel in Marrakech around 7.30 in the morning, we drive south towards the Western high Atlas ranges and into the lovely valley of the Assif n'Aït Mizane until we reach our trailhead of Imi Ourhlad (1400m), set between the high slopes of the Adrars n'Lgouine and Ouardsrou. Here we leave our vehicle towards the north-east for a 4½ hour hike up along a winding mule track, passing through pine trees and rock slides to the Tizi n'Imsker (1700m), which we traverse to then descend through fields of vegetables and groves of apple, nut and fig trees to the Berber village of Imsker (1505m) in the Valley of the Assif Imenane.

Here, at Imsker, we'll meet up with our muleteers - always a fun part of our hikes - to load up and hike on up the trail until, at around noon, we shall stop for our picnic. Once refreshed, we hike on now down winding paths to a valley full of orchards until we reach the quaint village of Arg, where we shall set up camp (1700m) and dine for the night. Arg, with landscape almost Himalayan, with its pisé houses seemingly built one on top of the other, was a place where Sir Winston Churchill loved to paint.

After an early breakfast we set out on our 6½ hour hike to the Oukaïmeden Plateau by first taking a narrow, winding trail crossing some savage and yet beautiful scenery leading to the Berber village of Tinoughar (1725m), to continue on our long hike through the village of Tidili and on to the last village in this stony couloir - Asrteq (2200m) - where we meet up again with our muleteers. We shall stop nearby for a welcome picnic in an almost deafening quiet. Our afternoon hike will be made up a zigzagging mule trail to the Tizi n'Oukaïmeden (2670m), with the Jbel Oukaïmeden (3268m) - known locally as "Ouka" - looming over us.

From here we hike on down near to the ski station to perhaps visit some prehistoric rock carvings of camels, donkeys and hammers; of the sun and a plough before carrying on to our camp site (2500m) and dinner under the stars.

After breakfast, we set out today for a 2hour hike up along a winding piste until we reach an Âazib, from where we shall take a narrow, zigzagging path up to the Tizi n'Ouaâttar (3250m), passing by some strange basalt rock formations and on down to the western branch of the Ourika Valley. Here we shall picnic near the hamlet of Timoummar (2200m). This afternoon we spend hiking down a circuitouis path, passing through the villages of Anemiter and Timguisst, surrounded by vegetable plots and groves of plum and nut trees until, after some 4 hours of moderate-level hiking, we reach the terraced Berber village of Timichi and our campsite (or accommodation in a Berber family's home) and dinner for the night.

After yesterday's hard slog, today's is a relatively easy hike down a narrow, winding piste along the splendid Imenane Valley which splits the foothills of the Jbel Aksouâl and the Adrar n'Oukaïmeden ranges and the several Berber villages clinging to the upper slopes. After some 2 hours we continue up to the Tizi n'Tamatert (2272m) which affords us a panoramic vista of the Imlil Valley and thence a further 2 hours easy hike down winding mule tracks, passing through the village of Tamatert (1810m) with its orchards of apple, nut and cherry trees, until we reach Morocco's 'Little Chamonix' - Imlil - where a welcome hot shower and a glass or two of mint tea awaits us as we picnic here in the gîte d'étape of our senior guide, prior to rejoining our vehicle to take us back to Marrakech.

Please ensure, at time of reservation, you advise us of your choice between bivouac site or Berber family home accommodation.

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 to trailheads from and to Marrakech. Tents and undermats, cook; meals and accommodation as detailed; pack animals and muleteers.

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.

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) 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 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.

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.