High Atlas Self Guided Trek (Morocco)

Experience High Atlas mountains and Berber people culture! 

The Moroccan Atlas is a range of exceptional beauty and cultural interest and will reveal to you the unison in which local Berber people and nature live here. Experience the extraordinary hospitality of the local Berber people, the rich texture of North African life and the exotic allure of Marrakech, and you will find out why a growing number of trekkers are choosing this great range, which the ancient Greeks thought to be the home of Atlas! On this self guided trek you will have the chance to walk among a scenery and ambience that is quite different from the ones you have used to including the wild beaty of the High Atlas, the green terraced valleys and authentic Berber villages. As the treks are not long and difficult you will have a plenty of time to explore the villages, enjoy a glass of mint tea or just sit and enjoy the peaceful scenery. The walking takes you through Berber villages, like Imelil and Tamatert, with apple, peach & walnut trees bright with blossom in the spring and full of rural images of harvesting, threshing and irrigating unchanged for centuries at other times of the year.

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Itinerary:

Day 1. Marrakech
Arrival in Marrakech – Menara Airport. Transfer to the city centre for accommodation in a riad.

Day 2. Ait Souka - Tachdirt
Today we start with a transfer from Marrakech to Ait Mizan valley. Here you meet the muleteer – your companion and cook for the trek. You start walking on a path passing by many villages to get to Tamatert pass 2279 m. From here you follow a path through the valley of Imnan to get to Tachddirt - the highest village in Morocco, where you stay overnight in Berber house (gite).
Hiking time: 5 h

Day 3. Tizi N’tachdirt (3350m) - Timichi
Today we will trek up to get to Tizi Tachdirt that gets us to Ourika valley passing by the old village of Iabbasen where we can stop for some tea in the local houses and then continue all the way to Timichi for overnight.
Hiking time: 6 h

Day 4. Tizi N’Ouaattar (3250m) - Oukaimeden
Today you continue walking up the Ourika valley passing through walnut trees, small villages until you reach the top of Tizi N’Ouaattar pass at 3250m. From there you go all the way down to Oukaimeden. This is Morocco’s premier Ski resort in winter, but off season, when you visit it, you are going to find sheep and goats grazing on the ski runs. The resort is a mixture of the traditional and the modern. We stay overnight in refuge.
Hiking time: 6 h

Day 5. Oukaimеden- Imanene valley - Imsker
From Oukaimeden you start hiking uphill to Tizi-Noukamden pass (2560m). You follow the valley of Ousrtek with great views and villages and admire the view to Imаnеne valley, perched with numerous Berber villages and farmland terraces. You continue to Imsker village, where you stay in guest house.
Hiking time: 6 h 

Day 6. Tizi Ntacht (2100m) - Azzaden valley - Tizi oussem
We start early from Imsker and trek up to Tizi Ntacht at 2100m. This pass will lead us to another valley called Azzaden valley(colourful valley). We pass through many mountain villages to get to Tizi oussem village where we stay in a guesthouse. Here you can relax in Hammam (traditional steam bath).
Hiking time: 6-7 h

Day 7. Tizi Mizzik (2668m) - Imlil valley - Imlil village - Marrakech
Today we will climb Tizi Mzzik pass at 2668m and enter the beautiful Imlil valley. After lunch on the other side of the pass you continue going down on a mule path through vast forest of juniper trees. You will reach a dirt road that will lead you to Imlil village from where we transfer you to Marrakech. Overnight.
Hiking time: 5 hours

Day 8. Departure
Transfer to the airport for departure

Good to know: ►How the tour runs: You will meet your trekking “crew” in Setti Fatma. The mule carries your lugage to the next accommodation while the Berber will make sure that you do not go too far away from the correct route. He usually walks ahead of you and will wait you at major junctions. At the end of the trek day the Berber will wait for you and lead you to your accommodation. ►Tour connection: The nearest airport is Marrakech Menara. If landing in Casablanca it is better to use the train to Marakesh. For more information and timetables - http://www.oncf.ma/Index_en.aspx; ►Personal expenses: you will need about 100 – 150 euro for expenses like water and soft drinks, meals in Marakesh, tips and souvenirs ►Terrains and paths: In the mountains we follow off beaten rocky mule tracks, that sometimes are invisible and is advisable you follow your guide and respect their decisions. We use unmarked countryside and narrow trail lines that connect villages, pastures and valleys. ►Luggage transport: During the trekking your main luggage will be transported on mules. Maximum luggage weight per person – 20kg. All you have to carry during the day is a daypack, with daytime essentials such as waterbottle, camera, waterproof gear etc.

Nessesary equipment: rucksack (a bigger one, ranging 70-80 l, will be carried on a mule) and a daypack – (25-35 l); lightweight 1-3 season sleeping bag for the refuges and gites, waterproof clothes, hiking boots, sunglasses, sun protection cream, sun hat.

How to get there: Royal Air Maroc, Iberia airlines

We reccomend trip in the period: April - October

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Price Includes:
accommodation in double room in riads with private facilities (days 1; 7); berber houses and guesthouses – dormitories; with shared facilities (rest of the days )
5 days on full board (days 2-6); 1 day on HB (breakfast and lunch; day 7) and 1 day on BB (day 8)
all transportation including airport transfers
muleteer with mules for luggage transportation
private cook

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Not Included:
flight tickets
travel insurance
sleeping bag
water and other drinks (can be bought on spot at the villages)
melas not mention in the program
tips
any personal expenses

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Additional Services:
single room supplement (possible in Marakech only): 50 Euro

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Gallery

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