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Day 1: Marrakech
Welcome to Marrakech, the town where the Arab culture of the cities meets the Berber culture of the mountain villages; where the weary sub-Saharan traders (carrying gold, salt and slaves) would ply their wares to the merchants who took them to Europe. This evening you will meet fellow travellers and tour leader (mountain guide), who will brief you on the next few days of your journey.
Day 2: Marrakech / Azilal / Ait Bougmez / IKKIS AROUS
After breakfast we depart for Ait Bougmez Valley in the Central High Atlas mountains. After lunch we continue through the town of Azilal and along a winding mountain road to the valley of Ait Bougmez, the starting point for our trek. Ait Bougmez is one of the most beautiful valleys in the High Atlas. 14km in length and about a kilometre across, it’s a wide flat expanse of fruit orchards, fields of barley, and green pastures criss-crossed by streams flowing down from the surrounding M’Goun massif. We leave the rich valley of Ait Bouguemaz for the small valley Arous. Going through the village of Ait Said, then taking a path leading to the right bank of the river Arous. The path rises then towards the sheepfold Azib' n Ikkis at 2300 m.
Difference in height, ascent 500 m.
Dinner and night in the bivouac - 3 hour walk.
Day 3: IKKIS AROUS / TARKEDDIT
We slowly climb towards the pass Tarkedit (3400 m), easy muleteer's paths. Some stops before the path where sight on the Mgoun summit (4068 m) is magical - Short descent towards the plateau of Tarkedit frequented by Nomads.
(Difference in height 1150m and 500m of descent).
Dinner and night in bivouac – 5.00h walk
Day 4: PLATEAU of TARKEDIT ( 2.900 m ) / Peak M'Goun ( 4.068 m ) (optionnal) / STREAM OULILIMT ( 2.600 m )
We leave early for a long day. We shall follow a path which will take us to the top. Crossing a varied ground, with masses of fallen rocks, pebbles, to become again a normal path of mountain, with one stop at the end of the way. Small break before attacking the crest, then a path which becomes easy, once we have reached the summit, we take our noon picnic and we start the most spectacular part. Descent on mass of fallen rocks, but mind your knees as legs are weakened by the 5 hours climb.
Long descent to the springs of the Valley of Ifri . We find the herds of transhumant's as well as nomads' life. Camping near the source Oulilimt, 1.100 m of climb and 1.400 m of descent.
Dinner and night in bivouac - 09 hours walk (with ascent) 5 hours without ascent
Day 5: STREAM OULILIMT (2600m) / TIGHREMT AIT AHMED (2300m)
Easy day and magnificent landscapes. The muleteer's path crosses the massif of Mgoun with beautiful colours (green red grey) – fairy walk - There are fewer villages along our circuit but we meet many nomads sheltered under cliffs or caves with their goat sheep and dromedary herds.
Lunch at the entrance of Gorges Oulilimt, at the camp (2300 m), of Tighremt N' Ait Ahmed.
Difference in height 350m.
Dinner and night in bivouac – 05h walking
Day 6: TIGHREMT AIT AHMED / TIMIT
We begin the day with a small climb, steep little climb, quite slowly towards the pass of Ait Imi. Magnificent panoramic sight from the pass on all the neighbouring mountains; to the right Wawgoulzat (3760m), Tagafayt ( 3700 m ), Igoudamene (3600m) and on the opposite Azourki (3700m), Tizal at the height of Marabout Sidi Moussa ( 3100 m ) and behind, the Mgoun. Descent towards the famous spring Ait Imi to a shaded place for lunch.We join our muleteers by the village of Ait Imi. Night at local's home. Warm shower. (650 m of climb and 1000 m of descent).
Day 7: TIMIT / AZILAL / MARRAKESH
Breakfast and departure to Marrakech via the very beautiful Azilal mountainous routes, we leave the "Happy Valley" by pass Aghoubar.
Lunch along the way
Arrival to Marrakech and open afternoon for a visit of the ochre city
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to Marrakech airport |
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