Trekking in Western High Atlas (Tichka Plateau) from Taroudant - REDISCOVER THE WORLD

TREKKING IN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS

The Summits of Tinergwet, Imardene and Tichka Plateau

Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights *- ref. ITCTTP05a* - TWO SUMMIT CLIMBS

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE TWO to THREE - HIKING MOSTLY ON UPPER LEVEL GOAT TRACKS AND MULE TRAILS, OFT-TIMES ROCKY, SELDOM FLAT, FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS EACH DAY. SUMMIT CLIMBS ARE STRENUOUS. BOOTS ESSENTIAL. YOU NEED TO BE CONFIDENT OF YOUR FITNESS AND ENDURANCE LEVELS, PREFERABLY HAVING HAD EXPERIENCE OF HIKING AT ALTITUDE AND VARIATIONS ON CLIMATE. FULL SUPPORT TEAM.

This 'lost world' - an almost virgin territory for experienced climbers and mountain walkers is something definitely not to be missed.

DAY 1: AGADIR - TAROUDDANT - AFENSOU - HADD IMOULAS - SIDI BRAHIM ABDALLAH. We set out early from Agadir to drive eastwards for some 70 minutes alongside the trailing edge of the Western High Atlas, which stretches from Agadir to Tunis, in Tunisia, to the pre Islamic era Berber town of Taroudant, known also as 'Marrakech in Miniature'. Here we change our vehicle to an open light truck - the sole method of transport, other than 4WD, 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 dirt road for more than 3 hours up into the upper foothills of the Tichka Plateau range, until we reach the Berber market village market of Afensou. From here we continue up the valley up through the remarkable Aït Oued Hajj Valley, with its stark slopes, sudden palmeraies and terraced irrigated fields, past the hamlets of Assaka and Tajjacht to the Berber market village of Hadd Imoulas. We alight from our vehicle to picnic in the surrounding area prior to taking an easy short hike towards the north-west up the Issouâl valley to the village of Sidi Brahim Abdallah, set amongst terraced fields, almond trees and date palms, where we shall set up camp and dine this night under the watchful eyes of the ever-present jagged twinned peaks of the Jbels Tinergwet (3551m) and Awlim (3482m).

DAY 2: SIDI BRAHIM ABDALLAH - KALALT - JBEL TINERGWET SUMMIT - SIDI BRAHIM ABDALLAH. An early breakfast and we set out today for a 4 hour hike up along the valley's upper slopes, past the hamlets of Melliz, Aït Mançour and Tinighas until we reach the last inhabited village in this delightful valley - Kalalt. From here it is a steady but hard hike up via faint winding tracks, with a break at 2745m, before scrambling up to the summit of the highest peak in this area - Jbel Tinergwet, where we shall take our welcome picnic on the top of a lost world of hidden valleys, stark peaks, as yet unclimbed cliffs and high altitude cols, the Plateau of a 1000 Peaks stretching out towards the east. We then set off back down the slopes of the Akouchtim hillsides back down to Sidi Brahim Abdallah to our campsite and dinner.

DAY 3: SIDI BRAHIM ABDALLAH - TIKFELT - TAGADIRT - TIGUENZOUINE. After breakfast and camp stuck we set out for our 5½ hours' moderate hike towards the east up along the winding barely-used mule tracks in the oued of the Cheif n'Tilliline, to traverse the Tizi n'Tikfelt (1785m) and on up to the Berber hamlet of Tikfelt (2022m), where we shall stop for our picnic overlooking the remote Boutrid Valley and the Igui (roof) Lbou range. Then to continue down into the valley and on up the Azega slopes to the Berber hamlet of Tagadirt. From here we hike up to our campsite near the hamlet of Tiguenzouine in the Assif n'Aït Tament Valley and a welcome dinner.

DAY 4: TIGUENZOUINE - ALAGJANE - TAGMOUT. Breakfasted, camp struck we now set off for about 5 hours up a winding piste towards the upper reaches of the surprising n'Aït Tament Valley, which few hikers to Morocco have ever seen, on to Berber hamlet of Alagjane, set between the Igui Lbou and Tazgoukht hills and the beginning of the hidden Agounsane Valley to continue up to our picnic spot in the Berber village of Tazoudot at the beginning of the beautiful valley of the Assif Medlawa. From here, we strike out further up the valley for about 1 hour along winding, pebbly piste until we reach the peaceful village of Tagmout and our dinner and overnight accommodation in a Berber family's home.

DAY 5: TAGMOUT - AWSAGHMELT - TIZI N'TARGA. A long zigzagging mule track takes us up this delightful valley between the Assawl Mqqorn (2361m) and Igourramene (1991m) ranges up to the tiny hamlet of Awsaghmelt, the last inhabited place in the Medlawa valley, where we shall stop for our picnic near a little waterfall and, depending on the season, soak in the clear pools or just stretch out on the rocks, with Ras Moulay Ali (2846m), Jbel Aguelmoun (3254m) and Jbel Asqwan (3078m) at the beginning of the virginal Tichka Plateau surrounding us. Now we set out up along a multitude of zigzagging bends up through the Tizi n'Targa (3005m) and to our campsite in an âazib on the rim of the Tichka Plateau and dinner for the night, after some 6 hours' hiking, amidst an awesome array of peaks and valleys seen by very few outsiders.

DAY 6: ÄAZIB TARGA - JBEL IMARADENE SUMMIT - ÄAZIB TARGA. Today's 5 hour hike is spent on the Tichka Plateau, when we strike out towards the north across meadowland to climb to the summit of Imaradene (3351m) and picnic surrounded by Moulay Ali (3349m), Wajir Oudadene (3351m) and Tamguerd Lmamdene (3258m), the Tichka Plains and the Assif Goarioun and Samba Valleys in all their impressive beauty. When ready, we set off back down to our âazib, our dinner and campsite for the night under the myriad stars.

DAY 7: ÂAZIB TARGA - SOUQ TNINE TIGOUGA - AOUERD OURIG - TAROUDDANT - AGADIR. An early breakfast and a relatively trek of some 4 hours awaits us down to the beginning of the Assif Tigouga Valley and steep, corkscrewing piste and sheep and goat tracks through to the hamlets of Tissal and Tichka, to arrive at the market village of Souq Tnine Tigouga (Monday Market Tigouga) where we shall stop for our picnic. We thence strike on down the winding piste, passing the hamlets of Megdoul, Immerguene and Guerayyt, built into the hillsides of some still - officially - unnamed hills, until we reach the village of Aouerd Ourig, where we rejoin our light truck or 4WD which is to take us back to Tarouddant, a change of vehicle or continuation in the 4WD on to Agadir, arriving around 6 in the evening.

* 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.

Experienced, licensed, bi-lingual mountain guide throughout. 5 nights under bivouac, 1 night in a Berber family home; igloo tents and undermats; mules and muleteers; cook; meals and accommodation as outlined in the itinerary. Private round trip transportation from and to Tarouddant and light truck to and from trailhead, or 4WD as selected.

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.

Stout walking boots (boots that take crampons - November to Mid April); 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 children of the house.

* 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.

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