The Trek of the Titans

Suitably refreshed, strike out today for a seven hour hike up the sinuous mule trail of the Upper Medlawa Valley, passing the Shleuh hamlets of Tawart and Amghlou and their scattered groves of almond and walnut trees, terraced fields, small waterfalls and incredible vistas. Onwards up to the last village in this beautiful High Atlas valley, Awsaghmelt, where you can relax in the shadow of Ras Moulay Ali (2845m) by the pools of water created by a small waterfall.

After some four hours walking between Jbels Askouan (3078m) and Ras Awlim (3048m) you will arrive at an aazib at the feet of Tizi n'Targa (2086m). Here your guide will prepare your picnic; afterwards, there is a further two hours up some 92 hairpin bends to traverse the Tizi and continue down to finally arrive at the incredibly romantic and beautiful Tichka Plateau. Known as the Plateau of a Thousand Peaks it is the location for your campsite and dinner under a breathtaking canopy of a million stars.

• Trekking Time: 7 hours
• Overnight camp on the Tichka Plateau
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Today will be one of the highest mountain walks in the Atlas, many of whose peaks have never been climbed. The virgin plateau, with its meadows of early daffodils and alpine flowers in spring, scattered forests and nut trees is strangely green amidst a high altitude landscape and a dramatic panorama of so many peaks and gorges. After breakfast set out for a seven hour hike and ridge walk - technically a tough walk over shattered rock - up to the summit of one of the highest peaks in the chain - Imaradene (3351m).

From this peak there is a spectacular vista and sense of total isolation - to your west are many peaks of over 3000m; to the north are the glorious valleys of the Assifs Ida Gourioun and Imi n'Tanout and the copper mines at Afensou; to the east many further peaks, only slightly less dramatic than those to the west. Here your guide will prepare your field picnic on the roof of the Atlas world. Afterwards, head back down the steep slopes to your camp site on this beautiful and strangely-silent lost world.

• Trekking Time: 7 hours
• Overnight camp on the Tichka Plateau
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast set out on a six hour trek towards the east, the first two hours will be down winding trails to the Tichka Valley. here you will come across the hidden Valley of the Oued Aghbar; very few 'immoudoun' (outsiders) have seen this remotest of areas. Your route continues through a beautiful holm oak forest, passing gentle springs and several snowmelt waterfalls, catching the eye of an occasional goat herder, stopping for a picnic under the canopy of pine and oak trees. Afterwards continue on down through the quiet and romantic valley, leaving behind the virginal forest until you come to the Assif Yane Moula, with its ancient watermill; your team will set up camp on the banks of the seasonal river and dine in an awesome silence.

• Trekking Time: 6 hours
• Overnight camp in the Aghbar Valley
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

From the Valley of Aghbar the hike route runs along a faint trail through some wild and gorgeous countryside, shady walnut and almond trees on all sides, passing through several Berber hamlets of pise and stone clawed from the mountainsides until you reach the ancient village of Amlouhl (greeted by curious children and the most-hospitable Berber mountain folk). From here strike out down the valley until you reach Souq Sebt, where your guide will prepare a welcome picnic; then continue on winding mule trails to the foot of the Tizi n'Test (2092m). So, after seven hours of moderate hiking, you can relax for dinner and camping for the night.

• Trekking Time: 7 hours
• Overnight camp near Tizi n'Test
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

From the campsite on this upper slope the route continues to the east, following the pleasing Oued N'Fis Valley down to the hamlet of Oukhoune. Once past this quiet, tiny group of pise homes, it is a relatively easy hike along flatter ground down to the hamlet of Mouldighte and on down through narrow, winding paths surrounded by walnut, almond and olive trees until you reach the point where the Oued N'Fis and Assif Oughdimt meet. Here you'll stop for a picnic amidst some romantic vistas of towering peaks, long, dramatic valleys and swirling clouds. The afternoon is spent hiking up and down the contours of the valley slopes until you reach the historic site of Tinmal, alone amidst stark mountains and luxuriant valley vegetation. Here, outside the mosque, your team will set up camp and prepare a well-earned meal.

• Trekking Time: 7 hours
• Overnight camp near Tinmal Mosque
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

This small, remote stronghold settlement is set high up on the opposite bank of the river, amidst brown slopes, green shrubbery and snow-capped mountains. Begin the day with a visit to the fortress of high walls and strong towers, the sole survivor of the once holy 12th Century city built by the founder of the Almohad dynasty, Mehdi Ibn Toumarte, and the only mosque in Morocco - other than the Mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca - into which a non-Muslim may enter (except on Fridays). The entrance is through a small, sturdy door in the corner of the main tower. Now roofless, deep shadows thrown by the surviving bas relief pisé columns and carefully restored arcades and horseshoe arches contrast with the large sunbaked wall.

In the actual village there is a ruined kasbah, a Medersa and an old water tank which produces a regular supply of the French gastronomic delight - edible frogs. Suitably impressed, set off along a flat, easy trail through some beautiful surroundings dotted with walnut and olives trees, cross the Oued N'Fis to reach the Gandafa Kasbah of Talaat n'Yacoub. This sprawling ruin, built of pise and timber on foundations of boulders, is probably the third kasbah to have been built on the same site, the first one built in the mid 17th century by a servant of the Sultan Caid Goudafa. This latter one, rebuilt around 1906, is quite obviously one not used for the defence of the region and served but as a palace and administrative centre for some 1200 clerks, servants and slaves - and for a harem of 300 women. Most of the upper stories and stairways have collapsed, but you can still amble around the columned prayer-hall and inner courtyard overhung with balconies.

From here continue on up to Ijoukak, where you have an overnight accommodation in a basic hotel following a six hour hike. Close by is a hammam, for those who'd like to enjoy this refreshing - and cleansing - experience!

• Trekking Time: 6 hours
• Overnight basic hotel in Ijoukak
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

From the village set out for some six hours towards the north-east up and down zig-zagging paths through the ever-present walnut and olive trees and then through fields of barley, potato and corn to reach the hamlet of Ala n'Oum Zorni. Here, your guide will prepare the ever miraculous field picnic, prior to walking up to the Tizi n'Iguidi. Once this col has been traversed, you may amble down along these sinuous paths through areas of startling beauty to arrive at the village of Amsslane, to set up camp and dine for the night.

• Trekking Time: 6 hours
• Overnight camp at Amsslane
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Breakfast tucked away and camp struck, head out across the pleasant Amsslane Plateau until you reach the Assif Takhint for today's picnic, around midday. Afterwards your guide will lead you for about one hour up to the Tizi Taghdalt, from where you are afforded a tremendous panorama of the Takhint and Arzedene Valleys. Once through the col, follow a zig-zagging trail through some pretty countryside to the village of Taghdalt, to cross the Assif Arzedene and reach the village of Tizi Oussem (1850m). From here, between the Jbels Tasighmout (2004m), Aguelzim (3547m) and Tazaghart (3843m), the route continues south to the Aazib Tamsoult (2145m). After around six hours of relatively hard trekking we recommend you hike just a little further (approx. 45 minutes) up to the Tamsoult Cascade (2204m) for a refreshing "shower". On returning to the Aazib Tamsoult there is a climb of short switchback paths up to the Aazib Tizikert which saves some of the altitude gain on the following day. It is at this tranquil, elevated spot that you will stop for dinner and overnight camping above the Assif n'Ouarzane Valley.

• Trekking Time: 8 hours
• Overnight camp at Aazib Tizikert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

NB. if you are tired or delayed for any reason then we can modify the camping area to Aazib Tamsoult.

After breakfast, set off for some five to six hours towards the south-east on a moderately difficult hike up winding mule trails to the Tizi n'Aguelzim (3104m), stopping for a picnic high up on its slopes. Afterwards, hike a further three hours to the Toubkal Refuge, which marks the spring snowline at 3207m, where your team will prepare dinner and your choice to either camp around the mountain hut or take cover in there for the night.

• Trekking Time: 8 hours
• Overnight camp near Tizi n'Test
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

The months from December through to mid-April may require ascent of the Toubkal summit using crampons and/or ice axes. Morning fog and heavy snowfalls may also prevent full and safe access to the Toubkal summit. We shall advise you of adverse weather conditions and of an alternate peak climb prior to your setting out.

A very early breakfast and departure from the refuge around 5am to witness a spectacular sunrise and attain, after a three hour steep climb, the highest peak in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from here is simply stunning. This remarkable climb and view is why you have come so far. Whenever you are ready, your guide will take the Ikkhibi Sud or South Cirque for a straightforward two to three hour descent back to the Refuge for a picnic.

After this somewhat early lunch, set off towards the north along steeply descending, zig-zagging trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of the Assif n'Isouhouanem n'Ouagounss and the Berber village of Sidi Chamharouch. Set beside a waterfall, with its homes surprisingly built one into the other, it is yet another sight to be enjoyed. There is a pilgrimage 'marabout' shrine here, probably the remnant of a pre-Islamic culture, but forbidden to non-Muslims and, on arriving into the village, you will notice a tree, sacred to the local Berbers, where they hang strips of coloured cloth and pile up stones. From here continue to descend along zig-zagging trails around granite and basalt grey rocks for some 8kms to the remarkable village of Aroumd (1840m), built on a spur of rock commanding one of the more fertile valleys of the High Atlas mountains with terraced, irrigated plots and fields of maize, onions and fruit trees on all sides.

Here your guide will prepare a second picnic on this long day prior to continuing for another 4kms along the floor of the valley, then up a well-defined mule track zigzagging above the river to arrive, finally, by about 5pm, at the Berber village of Imlil (1740m). Time to enjoy a glass - or two - of mint tea at the gite d'etape of our senior guide ahead of dinner and overnight bed.

• Trekking Time: 10 hours
• Overnight in gite of our Head Guide in Imlil
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Today you can take an optional circular hike or you could choose to visit the village hammam or simply relax and enjoy the Berber culture without having to carry on to the next location for once.

Hike option: after breakfast set out towards the east on a moderate six hour hike up to the Tizi n'Tamatert (2280m) and on down winding tracks to the Tacheddirt Valley and then to the Assif Aguersioual Valley, where your guide will prepare a picnic. Afterwards, a slow, easy hike up to the village of Tacheddirt (2400m), before circling back alongside the lower slopes of the Jbel Aksouaâl range to arrive back at Imlil and a 4.30pm transfer back to Marrakech.

• Trekking Time: 0-6 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
• Accommodation: Small hotel or riad in Marrakech.

Free day for sightseeing. We have included a private half day guided city tour in the morning.

Private transfer to Marrakech Airport.