High Atlas Traverse

Telouet to Toubkal

Summary

A unique opportunity to hike from the Tichka Pass up to the Yagour Plateau, down through the amazing Kissaria Gorges and up to Toubkal via Lake Ifni.

START / FINISH - Marrakech.

Activity code: ITCTTEL03m

Difficulty: GRADE TWO to THREE [Between moderate and strenuous. Good boots essential. We recommend that you be confident of your fitness and endurance levels; preferably having had previous experience of trekking at altitude and in variations of climate Full support team.]

Duration: 8 Days Trek ONLY / 11 Days Holiday version

This spectacular trek traverses a line from the Tichka Pass over the Yagour Plateau, down the stunning Kissaria Gorge and up to the Toubkal Refuge via the incomparable Lake Ifni. Much of this route is off the beaten track such as the Zat Valley and Yagour Plateau where many nomadic families still spend the summer months grazing their sheep and goats. Your approach to North Africa's highest peak will be from the south, from the spring at the foot of Toubkal, passing through several large Berber villages and a steady climb to Lake Ifni; here you may take a dip, weather permitting.

This trekking route and itinerary is unique to Rediscover the World and takes in some beautiful scenery and many of the lesser-visited areas of the High Atlas - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Important Information

The months from December through to mid-April could possibly preclude the Toubkal summit climb due to sudden, heavy snowfalls. We shall advise you of adverse climatic conditions and alternate nearby peak options, such as Jbel Aguelzim (3547m) prior to setting out from Marrakech.

MEALS - examples of food & drink during trekking:

  • 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.

It is recommended that you bring (depending upon season): good walking boots; sleeping bag (3 seasons); waterproofs and fleece/duvet jackets, hats, balaclavas or ear muffs; gloves; rambler or ski pole; personal toiletries; small First Aid kit, thermal underwear (Dec-May); day pack; filled water bottles; torch and batteries (LED head torches are excellent), penknife (remember not to pack in hand baggage for flight); towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, hygienic wipes/gel, nibbles and/or dried fruit. Drinking chocolate if preferred to tea and coffee, camping mug (otherwise it is small Moroccan tea glasses for everything), energy sweets and toilet rolls could come in handy!

PRICES (for individual bookings)

Whilst we run this particular trek as a small group twice per year and there is a fixed cost (which includes airport transfers, city tour and accommodation in both Marrakech and Imlil) most of our holidays are bespoke and available to book for your indiiudual party on any reasonable date. In this circumstance the ultimate cost of each trek is based upon:

  • The number of people in your group
  • Where you are starting from and to where you wish to travel at the end of the hike;
  • Whether you are including any additional accommodation (e.g. in Imlil or Marrakech)
  • Extras such as WC tent, etc.

All our "from" prices for a private group are based on a party of 4 persons; if you are a larger group then the price will be discounted but if there were just 2 persons the cost would be slightly higher. The prices are inclusive for land arrangements only (starting and finishing in Marrakech), please contact us to arrange accommodation in Marrakech or Imlil as well as flights from your preferred airport.

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Small group tour (includes Marrakech):

Prices from £892 per person

  • Individual trek-only bookings (from): £ 880 per person

Departures

  • DepartTrip / Resort
  • Sun 5th Jun 2022 High Atlas Traverse 
  • Mon 12th Sep 2022 High Atlas Traverse 
  • Mon 5th Jun 2023 High Atlas Traverse 
  • Tue 12th Sep 2023 High Atlas Traverse 

What's included on your High Atlas Trek ?

  • English-speaking, licensed, experienced local guide
  • Full support team to carry your luggage and general equipment (by mule)
  • All accommodation (modern igloo tents / Berber houses / mountain refuge)
  • All meals during your trek
  • Private transfers from Marrakech to Tichka Pass & Imlil to Marrakech
  • Full insurance and emergency back up.
  • All local taxes

Small Group version also includes:

  • Round trip airport transfers
  • 2 nights on B&B in Marrakech
  • Guided city tour of Marrakech
  • 1 night on Half Board in Imlil

Itinerary

An early morning departure from Marrakech heading south through the Glaoua countryside and then up through exhilarating hairpin bends into the High Atlas mountains. The journey from Ait Ourir Taddert (1650m) to the top at the Tizi n‘Tichka (2260m) is the most spectacular and takes in vistas dominated by peaks of over 2500m.

After meeting up with your support team, your trek begins along the Zat Valley to climb towards the high plateaux of Jbel Yagour, passing through junipers and oaks (several Neolithic rock engravings can be viewed en route) and a stop in the Yagour pastures for lunch. Here many nomadic families spend the summer months grazing their sheep and goats.

After lunch your guide will take you on a three hours acclimatisation hike for you to enjoy the views and grab plenty of fresh mountain air. Returning to your campsite, after building an appetite for dinner, there is time to really get to know your team.

  • Trekking Time: 6 hours
  • Camp on the Yagour Plateau (2600m).
  • Meals: Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast, leave the plateau to follow mule tracks through magnificent Berber villages and the relatively highly-populated Ourika Valley. Your guide will prepare a lovely fresh picnic lunch in the valley and then suitably rested it is time for a gradual ascent through the valley to reach the tranquil camp site (or a gite) at Agadir n'Ait Boulemane.

  • Trekking Time: 6-7 hours
  • Camp at the Agadir n'Ait Boulemane.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

An early start today to leave the Ourika valley, climbing upwards towards the springs which feed the valley, through the famous Kissaria Gorges; this is a region where hikers are rarely seen. A six to seven hours hike today, without the mules, over damp and occasionally slippery scree. The mules will take a 10 hour detour to meet up again at the end of the afternoon, so a day pack is needed. After a careful traverse of the gorges, you will arrive at the summer pastures of Likkemt (2500m) used by the nomadic shepherds of the Tifnoute valleys.

  • Trekking Time: 6-7 hours
  • Camp at the Aazib n'Likkemt.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast a magnificent climb of around 500m to reach the pass which takes you through to the huge summer pastures of Tifni, used by the Berber shepherds of Tifnoute with their flocks of hundreds of sheep and goats. Time for a relaxing picnic lunch by the Aazib and then continue to climb up to the Taghbaloute pass which offers a quite incredible view of Mount Toubkal. From here, descend towards the spring and your campsite at 2700m with a grandstand view of Jbel Toubkal.

  • Trekking Time: 6-7 hours
  • Camp at Taghbaloute (2700m).
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Today your guide will take you from the spring at the foot of Mount Toubkal towards Tisselday, the last village in this valley, and continue into the Tifnoute valley after crossing the river at Amsouzert. Your trekking route will pass through several large villages on the southern slopes of Mount Toubkal until you reach Chez Belaid where your guide will prepare lunch in the shade of huge and ancient oaks. After lunch you will climb 300m to Lake Ifni, and maybe take a dip, weather permitting.

  • Trekking Time: 5-6 hours
  • Camp at Chez Belaid, just below the shore of Lake Ifni.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

The first of two really early starts, today around 6am, to avoid the heat of the day, for a five hour ascent to the Tizi n'Ouanoums over steep and rocky terrain; this section is quite hard going for all, including the mules! A stop for water at Ifri n’Irouzan and then you will reach the pass and admire the views, followed by a descent to the foot of the Tizi Ouagan for today's field picnic on the riverbank. After lunch continue the descent to the Toubkal Refuge for your overnight accommodation.

  • Trekking Time: 6 hours
  • Camp at the Toubkal Refuge (3200m).
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Another very early breakfast, setting off around 5.30am, well wrapped up against the elements, to attain, after a three hour steep, yet not technically difficult climb, the highest summit in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from the summit of Jbel Toubkal is stunning. After a snack at the peak, descend by the same route (or a detour via the cirque du nord down past the smugglers' plane wreckage from the 1960s) to the refuge for lunch, a well-earned rest and a final overnight in the rarefied air of the High Atlas.

  • Trekking Time: 5-6 hours
  • Camp at the Toubkal Refuge (3200m).
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Breakfasted and ready, time to set off towards the north along steeply descending, zig-zagging trails on the higher slopes of the Valley of Assif n'Isouhouanem n'Ouagounss towards the Berber village of Sidi Chamharouch (3106m). Before entering the village your guide will draw your attention to a special tree, sacred to the local Berbers, on which they hang strips of coloured cloth and pile up stones around the trunk. After a brief stop here to relax by the stream, particularly welcome on a hot day, descend from high above the valley of the Assif Ait Mizane, down zig-zagging trails around granite and basalt grey rocks for about 8km to the village of Aroumd (1840m), 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 final picnic prior to continuing on along the floor of the valley, then up a well-defined mule track zig-zagging above the river for some 4km to arrive, in the afternoon back at the Berber village of Imlil. A welcome glass, or two, of mint tea in the home of our senior guide, as well as time to freshen up and change, prior to your return to Marrakech and arrival around 5pm.

  • Trekking Time: 5 hours
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 1 - arrival into Marrakech; transfer to your hotel.

  • stay at Le Kech Boutique Hotel - 1 night on B&B

Days 2 to Day 9 - on trek as per itinerary above.

  • stay at Les Jardins de Toubkal - 1 night on Half Board

Day 10 - transfer back to Marrakech; guided city tour (includes Marjorelle Garden and Dar el Bacha); balance of day for independent sightseeing.

  • stay at Le Kech Boutique Hotel - 1 night on B&B

Day 11 - transfer to Marrakech Airport.

Flexible Tailor-Made Holidays

  • We believe passionately that no two holidays should be the same.
  • With our flexible tailor-made holiday options you can travel at your own pace.
  • Rediscover a city, a resort or an island in a weekend or longer.
  • Take a small group tour or embark upon a more adventurous trip.

Trusted Service

  • ATOL cover for flight inclusive holidays.
  • One of us at Rediscover the World is very likely to have visited the hotels and travelled along the routes on your itinerary.
  • Dynamic, comprehensive travel app with all your documents, maps and much more.
  • Full financial protection for your holiday (TTA).

Why book trekking with us ?

  • Andy & Head Guide, Houcine, have many years of experience of treks in Morocco.
  • Routes are fully tried & trusted.
  • Timings are based on individual bookings, allowing for amendments & short cuts.
  • A wealth of experience - contact us to discuss your individual requirements.
  • NO hidden extras. NO groups. FULLY Insured.