On this rich cultural and hiking journey, with our Berber guide's local connections, we’ll be able to see and learn about the Moroccans ‘ way of life, their efforts to conserve, enhance, and develop their resources while also allowing the rural and semi-nomadic people to live harmoniously within them. Our hikes lead us through orchards, farms, and fields, among goat herders and their flocks, and past mud-brick homes in Berber villages. The following days, the lanscape will undergo a dramatic change as we travel high in the heart of the mountains to the western high Atlas to discover the magical world of the Toubkal (the highest mountain in Morocco) and the center of the Berbere culture. We’ll round out our adventure with walks in the ancient cities of Marrakech and Essaouira, their gardens, markets, and monuments.
LET'S DISCOVER MOROCCO ! - FROM THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
It is with a lot of enthusiasm that we include in our 2022 trips a new adventure in Morocco combining a beautiful hiking experience in the High Atlas mountains, the secrete valley of the Ait Bougmez , otherwise known as the " Happy Valley " and the fascinating medieval town of Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast .
ATLAS
MarocVotre guide : THIOLIERE CLAIRE
Activité : Trekking
Nombre de participants : 9 min - 12 max
Dates : Du 06-10-2022 au 16-10-2022
Durée : 11 jours
3360 €
Itinéraire
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival to Marrakech
Day 2 Bougmez
Day 3 Bougmez
Day 4 Bougmez
Day 5 Bin El Ouidane
Day 6 Imlil
Day 7 Azaden
Day 8 Ouirgane
Day 9 Essaouira
Day 10 Marrakech
Day 11 Departure from Marrakech
Day 2 Bougmez
Day 3 Bougmez
Day 4 Bougmez
Day 5 Bin El Ouidane
Day 6 Imlil
Day 7 Azaden
Day 8 Ouirgane
Day 9 Essaouira
Day 10 Marrakech
Day 11 Departure from Marrakech
Day 1 : Marrakech
Welcome at Marrakech Airport and transfer to our hotel. Welcome Meeting.
Dîner and night in a beautiful riad.
Day 2 : Marrakech – Bougmez
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, guided visit of Marrakech or if previously done, possibility to visit something else (Bahia Palace, Majorelle Gardens) . Lunch in a restaurant by the famous Djema El Fna square. Afternoon: Meeting with our moroccon guide and our driver. Transfer in a private minibus to the Central Atlas mountains via the Ait Bouli valley and the natural bridge of Imi Nifri.
Arrival in the fertile valley of the Ait Bougmez.
Installation in a comfortable Kasbah located at 6 105 ft of altitude, in the heart of the valley.
Accommodation : Kasbah du M’Goun
Day 3 : Bougmez
Hike towards the natural pyramid of Sidi Moussa, descent along the tributary river of Assif Rbat. We traverse many villages along the valley and will see several watermills in the village of Ait Imi before we return to our hostel. Diner and night in the Kasbah.
Up and down: 660 ft 4h of hiking.
Accommodation : Kasbah du M’Goun
Day 4 : Djebel Tizal Ridge Bougmez
Early morning breakfast on the terrace of the hostel. Start for a circular hike above the valley from villages to villages until we reach the Ikhf n'Ighir and the barns of Ahabay.
Then following a zig zag trail , we reach the isolated pass of Tizi N'Ait Ouriatt and the ridge of Tizal at 7 625 ft of altitude.
The panorama is impressive over the summits and the deep valleys of the Central Atlas. Pic nic lunch prepared by our guide. Steep descent towards the villages of Iskatafen and Imelghas and return to our hostel at the end of the afternoon.
Diner and night in the Kasbah.
Up and down: 2 805 ft 6h30 of hiking.
Accommodation : Kasbah du M’Goun
Day 5 : Bougmez – Bin El Ouidane
Breakfast at the hostel. Early transfer to Bin El Ouidane, a beautiful area located by a huge dam in the Middle Atlas. Short hike in the morning towards the Tghia gorges and visit of a typical village. Lunch with the locals. We’ll take an all terrain car to get to the breathtaking Imsfrane cathedral where we’ll hike another 2 hours.
Night in a very comfortable hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant.
Drive: 3h / 4 h of hiking.
Accommodation : Les Jardins Yasmina
Day 6 : Bin El Ouidane - Imlil
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Central Atlas Mountains to Imlil ( the little Chamonix of the Atlas ) via Tahanaout and Asni, important city centers in this prosperous valley.
After having lunch in a local restaurant in Imlil, we check in our hotel, located at 5 940 ft of altitude.
The afternoon hike takes us on a beautiful mountain trail through the villages of Aremd and Targa Imoul.
Diner and night in the riad.
Drive: 3h Up and down: 750 ft 3h of hiking.
Accommodation : Riad Jnane
Day 7 - Imlil – Azaden
After an early morning breakfast, we load our luggage on the mules and start hiking for a beautiful day. We start down towards the olds barns of Azib Tamsoult. We have our picnic lunch prepared by our guide as usual. Then going up, we cross the pass of Tizi Mzik at 8184 ft of altitude. The descent takes us to the Lodge in Id Issa at 6 000ft.
Diner and night in the Lodge.
Up and down: 2250 ft 6h30 of hiking.
Accommodation : Azaden lodge
Day 8 : Azaden –Ouirgane
Breakfast at the lodge. We start our hike following the valley through typical villages and terrace cultures. Picnic lunch by a small river. We keep hiking in the heart of the National Park to rejoin Ouirgane. This is where we check in a very comfortable hostel that offers a swimming pool. Diner and night in the hostel.
Up: 330 ft Down: 2310 ft 5h30 of hiking.
Accommodation : Ksar Shama
Day 9 : Ouirgane-Essaouira
Last and early breakfast in the Atlas Mountains as today we rejoin Essaouira and the Atlantic Coast with our minibus. Stop on the way in a local restaurant for lunch. Arrival in Essaouira, guaranteed change of scenery, with its surroundings walls and its white white walled and blue shutters houses. Western and Eastern cultures are all mixed as nowhere else in Morocco. Free time to relax and enjoy the town.
You will definitely feel the charm of the city of musician healers Gnaoua and painters. Optional guided visit of the Medina in the afternoon. Lunch on your own.
Night and dinner in a beautiful riad in the Medina (the old city).
Drive: 3h30
Accommodation : Villa Garance
Day 10 : Marrakech
Breakfast at the riad . Half day hiking along the coast, pic nic lunch.
Afternoon drive to Marrakech. Night and Farewell dinner in an amazing riad in the Old Medina.
4h of hiking
Drive 3h
Accomodation : L’Orangeraie or similar
Day 11 : Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. According to your flight, transfer to the airport.
This itinerary is subject to change according to weather forecast, participants’ physical abilities and/or any reasons that could endanger the group safety or the general organisation.
Informations pratiques
In order to fully enjoy this trip, you need to be active, in good physical condition and have a previous hiking experience, a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. Hiking time varies from one day to another, from 7 hours per day to 2 hours per day. No technical climbing experience is necessary. The hike is rated moderate.
Included : guiding by two certified French bilingual mountain guide UIMLA & 1 Moroccon guide / all hotels based on double room occupancy / all the meals during the trip except day 9 lunch in Essaouira / Transfers from and to the airport on Day 1 and Day 11 / Bottled water (3 liters per day per person ) .
Not included : Cancellation/medical insurances and repatriation costs / drinks / Personal expenses / single room (585€) / tips / flight ticket from US to Morocco and from Morocco to US.
5 nights in traditional hotels with all services (private rooms with ensuite bathrooms and toilets), 4 nights in comfortable riads and 1 night in a simple mountain lodge with shared rooms and facilities.
THE MEALS
They are taken at the hotel (breakfast and dinner) At lunch time, a cold meal.
The French influence is noticeable in Moroccan cuisine. You will find French bread, croissants, and steak widely available in restaurants. More traditional dishes are a rich, spicy bean soup called harira, as well as meat kebabs, tajine and pastilla, a poultry pie made with filo pastry and cinnamon. And of course there is couscous, a staple based on steamed semolina. Local yogurts are delicious, and seasonal fruits are abundant.
THE MEALS
They are taken at the hotel (breakfast and dinner) At lunch time, a cold meal.
The French influence is noticeable in Moroccan cuisine. You will find French bread, croissants, and steak widely available in restaurants. More traditional dishes are a rich, spicy bean soup called harira, as well as meat kebabs, tajine and pastilla, a poultry pie made with filo pastry and cinnamon. And of course there is couscous, a staple based on steamed semolina. Local yogurts are delicious, and seasonal fruits are abundant.
Meeting at the hotel (Riad l’Orangeraie) in Marrakech at 6: 30 p.m for a welcome drink.
Fill a booking form and send us a deposit of 30%. The balance is to be regulated 30 days before the departure.
Visas are not required for US citizens for visits lasting less than 90 days. You must have a valid passport with at least one blank page.
Insurance : medical insurances and repatriation costs.
In application of the measures related to Covid-19, you must have masks (as many as necessary for the duration of your stay) as well as hydroalcoholic gel.
Due to the constant evolution of the sanitary situation, we cannot predict with certainty the standards applicable at the time of your departure and during your stay, we will keep you informed.
Un avant-goût du voyage
Quelques photos comme un avant goût du voyage...
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