Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights   - ref. ITCTJT01a

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY:

GRADE TWO to THREE - BETWEEN MODERATE AND STRENUOUS. 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.

DAY 1:   AGADIR - TAROUDANNT - ISSOUÂL - AÏT OUED HAJJ VALLEY - ISSOUÂL VALLEY ÂAZIB.

We set out around 8am from Agadir to drive eastwards alongside the trailing edges of the Western High Atlas range to arrive around 9.15 at the pre Islamic era Berber town of Taroudannt; known also as ‘Marrakech in Miniature’. Here we change our vehicle to local transport, which can take us up into this virgin (for hikers) region - or continue on in our 4WD - for a 1½ hours’ drive up through the Souss Valley via Tamaloukt and to the start of the remarkable Aït Oued Hajj Valley, with its stark slopes, sudden palmeraies and terraced irrigated fields, to the Berber village of  Tadouste.

From here we hike north for around 4 ½ hrs along the valley passing through the Berber market village of Afensou (1334m), the hamlets of Assaka and Aguerd Ousguine, stopping in Hadd Imoulas for our picnic.  From Imoulas, we hike towards the north up a zigzagging mule track along the Assif where we shall continue a moderately difficult circuitous ascent to a high altitude Âazib close to Sidi Brahim Abdallah, where we shall set up camp at some 2500m in the Oued Issouâl Valley and dine under the vast canopy of stars.

DAY 2:   ÂAZIB - JEBEL TINERGWET SUMMIT - ÂAZIB.

After an early breakfast, we set out for a hard ascent of Jebel Tinergwet (3551m) to reach the summit of the highest peak in the western rim of the Plateau of a Thousand Peaks, after about 3 to 4 hours’ hard trek up winding, hairpin sheep tracks. Right in front of us is the twin fanged sister Jbel Awlim (3842m). Here we shall stop to catch our breath and enjoy our well-earned field picnic amidst an absolutely awesome panoramic view of the mountain ranges and valleys which extend from Agadir on the Atlantic coast to Tunis, in Tunisia. Immediately to the west is the Adrar N’Dern (3025m) and to the east Tit Ouilli (3247m), Mtdadene (3366m), Moulay Ali (3349m) and Imaradene (3351m) leading to the famed peak of Jbel Toubkal (4167m).

We then wend our way back for some 3 hours down the stark, sunblasted slopes along mule and goat tracks to the âazib, our campsite and dinner under the stars.

DAY 3:   AAZIB - ISSOUÂL VALLEY - TAROUDDANT - AGADIR.

After breakfast and breaking camp we set out from our âazib for a relatively easy trek back down via zigzagging mule tracks along this delightful valley through the village of Sidi Brahim Abdallah to head north along the Assif for a circle hike to Alkhoums and on to Assaka – picnic - to circle back to Had Imoulas to rejoin our transport on to Taroudannt around 2 in the afternoon, or continue on in our 4WD back to Agadir alongside the trailing edges of the Western High Atlas.