TREKKING IN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS
The Virgin Mountains of the Tichka Plateau
Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights   - ref. ITCTTP04a - THREE 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 - TALEKJOUNT - KMĀ - SOUQ TNINE TIGOUGA. Departure from Agadir around 8 in the morning towards the east alongside the trailing edges of the westernmost High Atlas range to arrive around at the pre-Islamic walled town of Taroudant, also known as "Marrakech in Miniature." Built in 1030 and once the capital of the Sāadien dynasty - and where the film 'Ali Baba and the Forty thieves' was shot - it is here we change our vehicle to an open light truck - 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 2½ hour drive, way up into the foothills of these savagely magnificent Western High Atlas mountains.
Passing alongside oueds and small reservoirs through the old Berber village of Talekjount and on up through the Tizi Oumakhassene (1020m) in the Tighrine Range until we reach the village of Kmā in the valley of the Assif Oumsatog, where we shall stop for our picnic lunch. Thence we continue upwards on a gruelling, winding ascent, mostly in first gear, for some 1½ hours until we reach the Berber village of Souq Tnine Tigouga (1780m) - whose name translates to "The Monday Market of Tigouga" - 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 stroll around the area whilst our dinner is being prepared in our overnight accommodation in a Berber family home.
DAY 2:   SOUQ TNINE TIGOUGA - JBEL AKALMOUMANE SUMMIT - TICHKA PLATEAU - ĀAZIB. After breakfast, we set out from our trailhead for a 3 to 4 hours' strenuous hike up a corkscrewing piste and over several crests to stop for a picnic on a ridge at some 2800m, surrounded by Jbels Ras Awlim (3043m), Akalmoumane (2901m) Askawn (3078m) and "little" Ras Moulay Ali (2845m) looking down on the valley of the Assif Tigouga. From here we continue along the ridges for another 2 hours' hard slog, passing by small high altitude shepherd summer settlements until we attain the summit of Jbel Akalmoumane and the incredible panorama of the Plateau of a 1000 Peaks. Down we now hike for some 3 hours along faint, zigzagging trails to our overnight bivouac site at a Berber āazib (2710m) and a more than welcome glass or two of mint tea - and dinner.
DAY 3:   ĀAZIB - WAJIR OUDADENE - JBEL IMARADENE SUMMIT - ĀAZIB TIZI N'TARGA. Breakfast over and camp struck, today we strike out for a day of spectacular ridge trekking - which very few serious mountain hikers have done before - to the Wajir Oudadene (3139m) and a hard hike up to the summit of the stark and imposing Imaradene (3351m) on the Ridge of a Thousand Peaks, with Moulay Ali (3349m) Tamguerd Lmamdene (3256m) and Aqelmoune (3251m), amongst many others, laid out before us. We stop to picnic high up on the ridge, thence to traverse some still-unnamed cols of this wild region to make our way slowly down winding, narrow paths and goat tracks to an Āazib at Tizi n'Targa (3005m) for dinner and overnight camp.
DAY 4:   TIZI N'TARGA - AWSAGHMELT - TAGMOUT. Breakfasted, camp struck we now set off for about 3 hours down steep, corkscrewing mule trails to the upper reaches of the surprising Medlawa Valley, which few hikers to Morocco have ever seen, and the Berber village of Awsaghmelt , where we shall picnic by a spring and little waterfall doubtless soak in the cool, fresh waters (at least in summer and early autumn!). From here, we strike out further down the valley for about 2 hours along winding, pebbly mule trails - it's harder going down than going up - until we reach the peaceful village of Tagmout and our dinner and overnight accommodation in a Berber family's home.
DAY 5:  TAGMOUT - ZAWYYAT TAFILALT - HADD IMOULAS. After a typical Moroccan breakfast, we strike out for some 3 hours down the winding slopes of the Assif n'Aļt Tament Valley to the Berber market hamlet of Zawyyat Tafilalt, once upon a time a resting place for the caravans from Mauritania to the Mediterranean coas. We will take our picnic here before we continue our further 3 hour trek via the Tizi n'alCadi between the Adrar Timeselt (1357m) and the Cheif n'Tilliline (2041m) until we reach the Berber village of Hadd Imoulas, where we shall have dinner and set up camp for the night on the outskirts of the village.
DAY 6:   HADD IMOULAS - UPPER ISSOUĀL VALLEY - ĀAZIB ISSOUĀL. After breakfast and camp struck we're off for a moderate-level 6 hour or so hike up through the pleasant Issouāl Valley, full of little cascades and sideshoot gorges, the Berber hamlets of Melliz, Aļt Manēour and Durti Oumgher, terraced irrigated plots, palmeraies and groves of olive and almond trees dotting our route up to the last hamlet in this Akouchtim sub-range, Kalalt (1384m) where we shall stop, after some 2½ hours, for our welcome picnic near the assif. From here we continue northwards for some 3 hours up corkscrewing sheep and goat trails to the Āazib Issouāl (2288m) for our dinner and overnight camp, in full view of the towering twin-fanged peaks of Jbels Tinergwet (3551m) and Awlim (3482m). Our next day's trek is going to take some motivation for the less than hardy.
DAY 7:   ĀAZIB ISSOUĀL - SUMMIT JBEL TINERGWET - ĀAZIB ISSOUĀL. An early breakfast and a strenuous trek of some 4 to 5 hours awaits us through woods and up steep, corkscrewing piste and sheep and goat tracks through a dramatic gorge until we reach a still- unnamed ridge leading to the stark summit of Jbel Tinergwet, the highest peak in this western area. Here we stop to catch our breath and enjoy a picnic amidst the splendour of numerous jagged peaks and verdant valleys set amidst the rolling hills of the lower Tichka. When ready, we shall return down via the same, and only, route to our campsite, a very welcome dinner and a good night's sleep.
DAY 8:   ĀAZIB ISSOUĀL - HADD IMOULAS - TAROUDDANT - AGADIR. Breakfasted and camp struck we turn towards the south and the Issouāl Valley and our 6 hour hike to Hadd Imoulas, where we stop for a picnic before rejoining our light truck which is to take us back to Taroudant, a change of vehicle and on to Agadir, arriving around 7 in the evening.

* This trek may be curtailed on Day 5 if so desired, missing out Jbel Tinergwet. It may also begin and end in Taroudant.

* 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. 5 nights under bivouac, 2 nights in Berber family homes; igloo tents and undermats; mules and muleteers; cook; meals and accommodation as outlined in the itinerary. Private round trip transportation from and to Taroudant and 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.

* 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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