Two thirds of Morocco is covered by mountains. Ten summits exceed 4000 meters and more than 350 mountains reach a height 3000 meters above the sea level. The M'goun in the Central Atlas is the second highest mountain in Morocco after the Toubkal. The starting point of our hike is Valley of Ait Bougmaz, known as the "Happy Valley". Many apple and walnut trees grow there, as well as potatoes. This hiking tour is accompanied by guides local to the mountain range. The cook will prepare scrumptious Moroccan meals to your palette for the duration of the tour. At the starting point there is always breakfast, lunch on the way and dinner at the destination of the day trip. Of course, the dishes are prepared in a traditional Moroccan way. The hike follows the pathways of mules and goats (no roads, no paved paths), across dense forests, wide green valleys and rampant mountain passes. We swim in the pristine waters of mountain rivers. We visit numerous villages and come into contact with berbers and nomads, who exemplify the natives of North Africa. Having arrived at the peak of the M'goun, we will be rewarded with a breathtaking and inspiring view of the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara, the Anti-Atlas and the Saghro Mountains. We marvel at the traces of dinosaurs, a sign of the 180 million-year-old earth. We spend the following few nights in traditional tents next to the berber villages. You will be pleasantly overwhelmed by the genuine hospitality of these people. The final day of the tour we spend in Marrakech. We discover the mysterious souks and stroll through the labyrinth of narrow streets of the old town.
For a moment we dive into the time from the folk tales of the “One Thousand and One Nights”.
This trip is ideal for those who like to hike in small groups, prefer demanding trails and enjoy the rewarding sights of colossal nature in all its beauty.
• Diverse landscapes: endless mountain chains, dense forests, spectacular gorges, spacious green valleys, numerous mountain passes, clear rivers, picturesque villages in the typical architecture of clay and stone
• Cultural exchange with indigenous berber people and their customs and traditions
• Many overnight stays in Moroccan tents under the open sky
• Ascent of the 4068 meter-high M'goun peak
• Visit to genuine dinosaur fossil locations
• Brief plunge into the secrets of Marrakech, the “Pearl of the South”
• English-speaking tour guide
• Familiar and cordial atmosphere in our team
• Delicious meals traditionally prepared by our cook
• Accompanying team of locals, berbers, with their mules
After your arrival in Marrakech we will be waiting for you outside the airport building. According to the new legislation, only passengers are allowed to enter the airport building, so we kindly ask you to exit the terminal and look for the sign of the agency at the exit. A member of our team will then welcome you and drive you to your hotel in the city centre. No activities are planned for this day, thus you can indulge in free leisure time. Relax or explore on your own the fabulous souks of Marrakech with their lively Moroccan oriental merchants and numerous colourful stalls. Marrakech is a safe city with many banks and currency exchange stores if you would like to change money. Our staff will be happy to advise you at any time.
Distance 265km, approx. 3.5 hours Hike approx. 3 hours After breakfast we leave the hotel and drive towards Azilal, a town on the northern side of the High Atlas. It is situated at an altitude of approx. 1400 meters. There we have an opportunity to buy something for a picnic and enjoy a cup of coffee. Our journey continues in the direction of the High Atlas, through the 30 km-long valley of Ait-Bouguemez. Due to plenty of snow and rainfall in the valley, as many as two harvests are possible per year which contributed to the self- sufficiency of its inhabitants. Hence this valley has been termed as the "happy valley" by the local population. There, in the village of Arous at an altitude of 1900 meters, we meet our accompanying team with their mules. From here begins our five-day trekking adventure. We will pass many small villages at the foot of the High Atlas and get to know the traditional architecture of the houses made of clay and stone. The ascent takes place at 2400m up to the high pastures of Azib Nikkis plateau. Overnight stay is in tents.
Hike approx. 5 hours We hike through the land of nomads (not settled berbers), on the paths of mules up to the pass of Tizi-N-Nougorai at 3500m. We have a magnificent panoramic view on the 4070 meter-high M'goun, the second highest mountain in Morocco. After a short break we begin our descent to the plateau of Tarkedit at 2900m, where we will spend the night in traditional tents.
Hike approx. 9 hours (demanding) Alternatively short cut by mules, approx. 4 hours We get up before sunrise. Today a long and wearisome stage awaits us. We trek continuously uphill, on the paths of mules, over the mountain ridge, up to the summit of the M'goun. There we can enjoy a fantastic boundless view over the mountains, desert landscapes of southern Morocco and the Valley of Roses. The region of Ait Atta, where we are now, for the most part is solely inhabited by nomads. Afterwards the long descent from the summit, we walk to the springs of Oulilimt at the foot of the M'goun at an altitude of 2400 meters, where we will set up our camp. Overnight stay is in tents.
Hike approx. 4 hours We hike along the Oued Oulilimt riverbank and encounter some nomad families. They welcome us and invite us for tea. Afterwards follows the ascent to the pass of Tizi N'Tanout at 2090m for more beautiful sights and then the descent to the village of Igli. The afternoon is at your leisure. You will have the opportunity to swim in the river and refresh yourselves after these challenging ascents. We spend the night in tents next to the houses and caves of the nomads of Ait Atta, directly on the riverbank.
Hike approx. 5 hours After breakfast our caravan moves on. Today we go on the last stage of our tour. The path leads us up to an altitude of about 2090 meters to the pass of n'Ait Imi, one of the highest and steepest mountain routes in the country. There we have a fantastic view of the "happy valley", which we crossed at the beginning of our tour. After a short break we start a long descent, crossing the dense forest of juniper and oak trees, heading to the village of Rbat, where we spend the night in a traditional berber family hostel. Here we also say goodbye to our accompanying team.
We walk from one village to the next through green fields and small plantations. On the way we have umpteen opportunities to participate in tea ceremonies with berber families. We pass by authentic dinosaur fossils and traces. They date back 180 million years and indicate that this area was inhabited by two species of dinosaurs in particular: the herbivorous Atlasaurus Imelakei (5m high, 15m long, approx. 22 tons in weight) and the carnivorous Berber lizard Berberosaurus Liassicus (2.2m high, 6m long, 1 ton in weight). Thus, as if in a time machine, we touch the early childhood of our planet. We spend the night in a hostel run by a berber family.
Distance 230km, approx. 3 hours Today we leave for Marrakesh, the "Pearl of the South", and pass through many villages of the High Atlas. 30km after Azilal, we turn to the picturesque waterfall of Ouzoud, the largest waterfall in Morocco. There we have a chance to go for a walk, photograph the nature and enjoy a light lunch. In the afternoon we will arrive in Marrakech. Overnight stay is in a hotel or riad.
We explore the city on foot and visit the Bahia Palace, Saadian tombs and the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Southern Morocco and one of the city's landmark. Then we stroll through the countless alleys and colourful souks of Marrakech. The afternoon is at your leisure. Relax or explore on your own the fabulous souks with their lively oriental merchants and numerous colourful stalls. Our hotel is located near Djemaa el Fna Square where jugglers, snake charmers, storytellers, soothsayer, artists and musicians gather. There are numerous stalls where culinary specialities of the region are offered. Overnight stay is in hotel.
At the end of our adventure together, we will bring you to the airport and wish you a pleasant journey home.
