Volcanic Jbel Saghro

Morocco's Badlands

Summary

A lunar landscape of rocky canyons, stony valleys, stark peaks & ruined kasbahs. A year-round wilderness challenge for all abilities.

START / FINISH - Marrakech.

Activity code: ITCTDS01/02/03m

Difficulty: GRADE TWO - Between easy and moderate, hiking mostly along zig-zagging mules tracks at upper valley levels for about 6 hours each day. The actual summit climb is non-technical but can be hard going. Good boots are essential. Suitable for anyone who leads a reasonably active life as hiking always involves some effort. Full support team.

Duration: 5 to 7 days

Trejking in the Jbel Saghro region will bring you face to face with a lunar landscape of rocky canyons, stony valleys, stark peaks and ruined kasbahs; an area of the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains slowly becoming better known to serious hikers. Each of the trek options we offer can be done in a week from Marrakech - it is possible to traverse the region from north to south or vice versa or do a circuit with the summit included. Hours of spectacular wild open countryside, no trees, no people, just barren, striated mountains, sudden canyons, volcanic plateaux and rock towers. A year-round wilderness challenge for those seeking something off-the-beaten track.

Choice of trek routes across the Jbel Saghro region:

  • 1. Traverse North to South (5 Days)

Hiking from the Dades valley through to N'Kob, includes stunning scenery throughout.

  • 2. Traverse South to North with Jbel Saghro Summit (5 Days)

 Draa Valley through to Boulmalne de Dades, summit on middle day.

  • 3. Jbel Saghro Summit Trek (7 Days)

 A complete circular trek including the summit, starting and finishing in Dades Valley.

Essential Information

PRICES - most of our holidays are bespoke so 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 accommodation (e.g. in Imlil or Marrakech)
  • Extras such as WC tent, etc.

All our "from" prices are for a private group 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 as well as flights from your preferred airport.

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, 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!

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Gallery

Based upon 4 persons travelling.

Prices from £571 per person

What's included on your Jbel Saghro 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 round trip transfers from Marrakech.
  • Full insurance and emergency back up.
  • All local taxes.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Marrakech to Valley of the Roses. Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Valley via Tichka Pass, Ouarzazate and Skoura (picnic lunch en route). In the afternoon a further drive off the main route, along the Valley of the Roses to Ait Youl.

Day 2 - Ait Youl to Ano N'Igdad. A six hour hike across the Ouaouchene Plateau, a semi-desert region of strangely shaped, colourfull cliffs and sand-blasted hills. Overnight in the hamlet of Ano N'Igdad (Ano meaning "a well" in Berber).

Day 3 - Ano n'Ighdad to Assaka n'Ait Ouazzine. A further six hour hike through the Tizi n'Elmersse to the desolate plateau of the same name. Here you will pass unexpected palmeraies before descending alongside copper mines to Tagmout and the escarpment of Adrar Amgroud. Overnight at the Berber hamlet of Assaka n'Ait Ouazzine with nearby fields of barley and corn and stands of fig and almond trees.

Day 4 - Assaka n'Ait Ouazzine to Tifdoussine. Much of the hiking on this day is along dry river beds passing nomadic shepherds of the fiercely independent Ait Attar Berber tribe. Overnight in the isolated hamlet of Tifdoussine.

Day 5 - Tifdoussine to N'Kob to Marrakech. Just a three hour walk today, down the valley, passing palmeraies and henna trees to Hamdour for the short drive to N'kob for lunch. Drive up the stunning Draa Valley road to Ouarzazate and then back over the High Atlas to Marrakech.

Day 1 - Marrakech to N'Kob. Transfer from Marrakech via the Tichka Pass, Ouarzazate and Draa Valley to N'Kob. Overnight at the fabulous Kasbah Baha Baha overlooking the palmeraie of N'Kob.

Day 2 - N'Kob to Tifdoussine. A five to six hour hike up the valley, passing palmeraies and henna trees to Hamdour. From here the route takes you to the upper slopes of "The Mountain of the Moon" (Tine Ouaiyour - 2129m), a monolithic mesa dominating this dramatically wind-blasted area, for an overnight camp.

Day 3 - Tifdoussine to Igli. A six hour hike, first along a dry gulley to the hamlet of Amguis then up on to a ridge to reach a rock strewn plateau facing the rock pinnacles of "Bab n'Ali". Further on is the tiny hamlet of Boilouz and some summer pastures (aazibs) then another indistinct trail to the cultivated fields of the village of Igli set amongst more cliffs.

Day 4 - Igli - Jbel Saghro Summit - Imi n'Ouarg. The trek today starts up through rocky promontories and across a flat stretch of pampas to traverse the Tizi n’Ouarg and reach the Kouaoutch Plateau for a well earned picnic. From here hike through junipers, acacia and rosemary to the summit of Jbel Saghro (2592m), rising starkly from the Plateau. The lunar landscape is dotted with rock towers, such as the "Isk n'Ifsane" (the Tiara of the Pond), "Isk n'Alla" (My Sister’s Head-dress) and "Isk n'Eferdj" (the Horns of Plenty). A short descent to the overnight campsite at Imi n'Ouarg.

Day 5 - Imi n'Ouarg to Tagdilt to Marrakech. A short hike today through the Tizi n’Emrharne and down through stands of juniper trees and a dry river bed towards the north-east passing the black felt tents of the nomadic herders. A faint piste leads to the village of Tagdilt where you re-join your driver for a transfer along the stunning Dades Valley road to Ouarzazate and then back over the High Atlas to Marrakech.

Day 1 - Marrakech to Valley of the Roses. Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Valley via Tichka Pass, Ouarzazate and Skoura (picnic lunch). A further drive off the main route, along the Valley of the Roses to Ait Youl.

Day 2 - Ait Youl to Ano N'Igdad to Ano n'Elmersse. A six hour hike across the Ouaouchene Plateau, a semi-desert region of strangely shaped, colourfull cliffs and sand-blasted hills; then through the Tizi n'Elmersse to the desolate plateau of the same name.

Day 3 - Ano n'Elmersse to Tajalajt. A six hour hike up the stony and wild slopes to traverse the Tizi n’Tagmout, past the copper mines and the Berber hamlet of Assaka n’Aït Ouazzine with its fields of corn and barley and fig and almond trees. After lunch hike up a dry river bed, on through the remote hamlets of Akerkour, Berqiq and Tigniza, through pastureland and the occasional rock hut of the nomadic shepherds up to the village of Tajalajt.

Day 4 - Tajalajt to Igli. A seven hour trek up the Tassghdelte n’Ssi El Haj Plateau to the isolated hamlet of Tifdoussine and continue through Tizi Ighzoun to the remote hamlet of Ighzoun. From hike up the Assif n’Anoums to traverse the Tizi Tagourt and continue across the Plateau to meet up with a strange eroded rock formation in the shape of a camel’s head. and down to the tilled fields of the hamlet of Igli. Overnight camp near the well of the little palmeraie and almond trees belonging to the fiercely-independent, semi nomadic Aït Atta Berber tribe.

Day 5 - Igli - Jbel Saghro Summit - Imi n'Ouarg. The trek today starts up through rocky
promontories and across a flat stretch of pampas to traverse the Tizi n’Ouarg and reach the Kouaoutch Plateau for a well earned picnic. From here hike through junipers, acacia and rosemary to the summit of Jbel Sarhro (2592m), rising starkly from the Plateau. The lunar landscape is dotted with rock towers, such as the "Isk n’Ifsane" (the Tiara of the Pond), "Isk n’Alla" (My Sister’s Head-dress) and "Isk n’Eferdj" (the Horns of Plenty). A short descent to the overnight campsite at Imi n'Ouarg.

Day 6 - Imi n'Ouarg to Tagdilt. A six hour hike today up through the Tizi Bou Ichlif and Tizi n’Emrharne and down through stands of juniper trees and a dry river bed towards the north-east passing the black felt tents of the nomadic herders. A faint piste leads to the village of Tagdilt for your overnight stay in a Berber gite d'etap.

Day 7 - Tagdilt to Marrakech. After breakfast join your transfer along the stunning Dades Valley road to Ouarzazate and then back over the High Atlas to Marrakech.

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.