High Atlas Easy Hiking

An early morning departure from Marrakech for a pleasant drive to the south winding up through the Tizi n'Techt into the higher foothills of the High Atlas to arrive at the trailhead of Imi Ourghlad (1340m). Here, Jbel Toubkal, at 4167m the highest peak in the Maghreb, Jbel Aguelzim (3948m) and Jbel Aksoual (3847m) loom above you to the south.

At this point you will meet up with your Berber muleteer crew. Once sorted, set off upwards, in a north-westerly direction, for a two hour acclimatisation hike up zig-zagging mule tracks, passing by cornfields and woods of pine and juniper to the Tizi n'Tacht (2000m). Here, your guide will stop for you to look down upon the Imlil and n'Ait Ouissadene Valleys before carrying on for another 30 minutes to Imi n'Ifri and your field picnic amidst the surrounding valleys and stark, high peaks. Afterwards, a slow hike for about three hours south-west down along a track to the Assif n'Ait Ouissadene and the red clay village of Tizziane (1730m) for dinner and accommodation in a gite d'etape.

• Trekking Time: 5 hours
• Overnight at Berber Gite in Tizziane (1600m).
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast set off on a hike up along the Assif n'Ouissadene Valley, passing through almond groves and several Berber villages, up to the Tizi n'Tkhrhkhourte (1995m). From here your route continues to a rare, almost flat, stretch to the Assaka Spring, where your guide will prepare your picnic amidst an awesome silence after some two to three hours relatively easy walking.

This afternoon's hike takes you down along the edges of the forest until the Berber village of D'Knt (1870m) where dinner is prepared and where you will spend the night in a Berber family's home.

• Trekking Time: 4-5 hours
• Overnight at Berber House in D'Knt (1870m).
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

A hearty breakfast and set off on this morning's three hour hike up through groves of almond and walnut trees, fields of corn and barley to greet the many sheep & goat-herders, and women & children bent over with 20kg loads of firewood and dried herbs. From here traverse the Tizi Taghdalt (1998m) and descend amongst juniper and pine trees until you arrive at a small spring set amongst the trees, where your guide will prepare your picnic.

Once refreshed, it's off down winding tracks for some three hours to a small river at the beginning of the Valley of the Assif Ouissadene. From here enter the village of Tissi Oussem (1850m) for your dinner and overnight accommodation in a mountain Refuge.

• Trekking Time: 6 hours
• Overnight at Berber Gite in Tizi Oussem (1850m).
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Once a relatively relaxing breakfast is over, strike out up through pine and juniper trees to traverse the Tizi M'Zik and then descend slowly to the foot of the col just before the hamlet of M'Zik (1806m). Here your guide will prepare your picnic amidst orchards of cherry, apple and nut trees and the surrounding peaks.

This afternoon, set off down to the Berber trailhead village of Imlil, where you are able to take a welcome hot shower in the gite d'etape of our Head Guide and a glass, or three, of mint tea prior to rejoining your transport to take you back to Marrakech via passes and alongside gorges, arriving around 7pm.

• Trekking Time: 4-5 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 1 - arrival into Marrakech; private transfer to your accommodation.

• stay at one of our recommended small riads - 2 nights BB

Day 2 - private guided city tour (am); balance of day for independent sightseeing.

Days 3 to Day 6 - on trek as per itinerary above.

• stay at Douar Samra in Tamatert - 1 night HB.

Day 7 - private transfer to Marrakech Airport.