On this walking trip we trek through the arid landscapes of the Jebel Sahro region and explore the valleys, dotted with date palm oases. We visit the sheer walls of the Bab n’Ali rock pinnacles, camp by an oasis and explore mountain villages, meeting nomads along the way.
Itinerary
[+] Detailed Itinerary
1
Join tour Marrakech
Arrive Marrakech and check-in at hotel. Depending on the schedule of your flights, you may be able to explore the vibrant city of Marrakech independently before meeting your group and Tour Leader.
Overnight Standard Hotel
2
Drive to El Kelaa; walk to Ait Youl
Today we drive over the High Atlas pass of Tizi n’ Tichka (2260m) via Ouarzate to El Kelaa. We start our trek and set off on foot to the village of Ait Youl situated on the edge of a barren plain. Our luggage will be loaded into a local taxi for transportation to the village house. (Approx 1 hr walk)
Overnight Basic Village House
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
3
Trekking in the Jebel Sahro region
Our trekking route is flexible in order that we can adapt to local conditions. Details of the kind of circuit you might take are given below.
Our first day's objective is to cross the rocky region between the Dades River and the mountains. During today’s walk we shall see little sign of habitation other than a few scattered houses. We continue to Afoughal. (Total walking approx 5 hrs)
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4
Trekking in the Jebel Sahro region
Today we journey south across the Amalou n’Ouchchene valley to Tagmoute. We can spend tonight in a village house. (5hrs). There is a chance of an optional walk this afternoon. (Total walking approx 1.5 hrs)
Overnight Basic Village House
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5
Trekking in the Jebel Sahro region
Our next days’ walking becomes more varied when we reach the mountains. We should see good views of the Tine Ouaiyour. As we walk towards the Central Jebel Sahro, new features reveal themselves to us. Features like unusual flat-topped mesas and dramatic plateaux. An old kasbah, date palms and some irrigated meadows are some of the human influences here. We reach our nightstop at Tamou. (Total walking approx 4-5 hrs)
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6
Trekking in the Jebel Sahro region
Continuing to the village of Ighazioun n' Imlas we pass through the hamlet of Akerkour and into a more arid area. The scenery becomes more typical of the Jebel Sahro with flat-topped mesas and buttes separated by broad scrub plains. We will see a huge, impressive pinnicle in the distance. It is called Bab n’ Ali, or the gates or Ali, with the mountains of Tadaout n' Tablah close by. We make our camp and base ourselves on the edge of the village for 2 nights.(Total walking approx 5-6 hrs)
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
7
Trekking in the Jebel Sahro region
This morning there is an opportunity to take an optional day walk up to Bab n’ Ali (Total walking approx 7-8 hrs). The rest of the day is free for relaxation.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8
Trekking in the Jebel Sahro region
Walking initially along a sandy wadi we enter a gorge. We will see rock pinnacles, organpipe rock formations and strangely contorted outcrops that have been carved by natural forces. The Tete de Chameau (Camels Head) is just one of many weird shapes which appear. Later the extraordinary spires of Tassigdelt Tamajgalt appear. Reaching the impressive Taggourt plateau we are treated to splendid panoramas. We make camp at the village of Riche. (Total walking approx 7-8 hrs)
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9
Trekking in the Jebel Sahro region
A fascinating day's walk offering superb views of the whole range on ascent to Abid Plateau (1800m) and a scenic descent down a gorge. Our camp tonight is at Ighissi, inside a ruined kasbah. (Total walking approx 5-6 hrs)
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10
Trekking in the Jebel Sahro region
Heading north we head for Tizi- N’Tmighcht (2180m) the highest point of the trip. From this point south, we can see the dust from the Sahara and to the north we can see the High Atlas Mountains. After lunch at Irihoui we descend a steep sided valley passing scattered berber settlements. We make our camp near a small oasis. (Total walking approx 7-8 hrs)
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
11
Trekking in the Jebel Sahro region
This morning we descend the Bouizergane Valley until its intersection with the Dades Valley. Here we begin to encounter larger settlements and the spectacle of the High Atlas Mountains opens out as we return to Ait Youl. From here we transfer back to Ouzarzarte. (Total walking approx 4 hrs)
Overnight Standard Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
12
Drive to Marrakech
We make an early start this morning for out return to Marrakech. On our arrival there should be time to explore something of this atmospheric city and a visit to the celebrated Djemma-el-Fna Square is a spectacle not to be missed where all sorts of entertainers perform! Here are story-tellers, letter-writers, musicians, jugglers and water-sellers straight out of the ‘Arabian Nights’.
Overnight Standard Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast
13
Tour ends Marrakech
The tour ends today in Marrakech after breakfast. Depending on the schedule of your flights, you may wish to spend some additional time wandering through the streets and souks independently.
Included meals: Breakfast