Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights   - ref. ITCTJT01a

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.

DAY 1:   AGADIR - TAROUDDANT - 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 Tarouddant, known also as 'Marrakech in Miniature'. Here we change our vehicle to an open light truck (camionette) - the sole method of transport, other than 4WD, which can take us up into this virgin (for hikers) region for a 3½ hours' slow, swaying drive up through the Souss Valley via Tamaloukt and on up through the remarkable Aït Oued Hajj Valley, with its stark slopes, sudden palmeraies and terraced irrigated fields, to the Berber village of Issouâl, passing through the Berber market village of Afensou.

From Issouâl, we hike towards the north for 1 hour up a zigzagging mule track to the Assif where we shall stop for our picnic, prior to our setting out on a moderately difficult circuitous ascent of approximately 2 hours to a high altitude Âazib, 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 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 to the village of Issouâl to rejoin our light truck, or 4WD, arriving in Taroudant around 2 in the afternoon to change our light truck to a Grand Taxi, or continue on in our 4WD back to Agadir alongside the trailing edges of the Western High Atlas.

- 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.