"Discover the beauty of Morocco"

Traverse Mgoun

Discover some of the most amazing places in the High Atlas, stay in isolated campsites, experience authentic Berber villages and meet friendly local people…


Enjoy different landscapes of the High Atlas from North to South.

 

This trip is the best choice to discover the High Atlas and Mgoun mountains. We start from the amazing place of Happy Valley, then we climb Mgoun summit (4068 m) where we stay in an isolated campsite and have an opportunity to be amazed of the varied colours of scenery and wilderness of the flora and fauna.

As we continue we also have the chance to experience authentic Berber villages and kasbahs in Roses Valley and dance and drum with local people.

The trip ends in Marrakech, where we will have opportunity to visit the most famous places of the ‘Red city’: get lost in the labyrinthine narrow streets or souks and enjoy the atmosphere of the most famous Moroccan square, the Djemaa el-Fna.



Itinerary
  1. Arrive in Marrakech
  2. Marrakech – Ikiss n’Arous
  3. Ikiss n’Arous – Tarkeddit Plateau
  4. Tarkeddit Plateau – Mgoun summit – Ifri n’Ait Hamou
  5. Ifri n’Ait Hamou – Ameskar Tahtani
  6. Ameskar Tahtani – Boutaghrar
  7. Boughtagrar – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
  8. Leave Marrakech

Day 1 / Arrive in Marrakech

Arrive in Marrakech – the ‘Red city’ – any time and meet your guide in the hotel or riad.

Lodging: hotel or riad

Provision: -

 

Day 2 / Marrakech – Ikiss n’Arous

We cross the lowlands of Haouz plain towards Azilal town. Through Aghbar pass (2100 m) we get into Central High Atlas in Ait Bougmez Valley (Happy Valley), where we meet our muleteers and start trekking up Arous Valley. We camp in Ikiss n’Arous (2350 m) for the night.

Lodging: camping

Provision: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Walking: 3 hours

Altitude: 500 m gain

 

Day 3 / Ikiss n’Arous – Tarkeddit Plateau

From our camp we continue climbing through a magnificent landscape. After three to four hours of steady climbing we arrive at the pass of Tizi n’Oumskiyk (3200 m) with a tremendous view on the Mgoun peaks. Later we walk down to the summer grazing pastures of the Tarkeddit Plateau (2900 m).

Lodging: camping

Provision: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Walking: 5 hours

Altitude: 1000 m gain, 500 m loss

 

Day 4 / Tarkeddit Plateau – Mgoun summit – Ifri n’Ait Hamou

We start early to ascend Jebel Mgoun (4068 m) (optional), the only peak above 4000 meters outside the Toubkal Region. It’s a magnificent walk with superb views of multi-coloured mountains and hills. There is a nice view on the long ridge which stretches for several miles at around 4000 meters and from the top we can see some of Morocco’s jewels: Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley and the Jebel Saghro range. Later we descend slowly the South face of Mgoun mountain on a rocky way down to Ifri n’Ait Hamou (2800 m) and we camp near the river. (Note: those who do not want to climb the summit can go on different way with the mules and muleteers.)

Lodging: camping

Provision: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Walking: 9 hours

Altitude: 1168 m gain, 1268 m loss

 

Day 5 / Ifri n’Ait Hamou – Ameskar Tahtani

Today’s walk is in the South face of Mgoun with varied landscape. In our way to Ameskar (1900 m) we meet many nomads from Ait Atta tribe who spend spring and summer in Mgoun massif.

Lodging: camping

Provision: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Walking: 7 hours

Altitude: 100 m gain, 700 m loss

 

Day 6 / Ameskar Tahtani – Boutaghrar

In the morning we descend the valley through the gorges of Assif Qati. Gradually the valley becomes wide and the villages are big with scattered grand kasbahs, like Agouti and Lhout. We have a beautiful walk in the roses fields till we get the amazing Boutghrar village (1450 m) where we spend the night.

Lodging: gîte (mountain hut)

Provision: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Walking: 6 hours

Altitude: 350 m loss

 

Day 7 / Boughtagrar – Ouarzazate – Marrakech

We drive back to Marrakech, via Ouarzazate and crossing the High Atlas Mountains through a snaky road of Tichka pass (2260 m) and then descending on the North face of High Atlas in wide Haouz plain where Marrakech is situated.

We have enough time in Marrakech to sample some sights and sounds of the ‘Red city’ like the medina, the souqs, the Koutoubia Mosque or the Koranic School. We can finish the day in the well-known open-air central square, the Djemaa el-Fna famous for its food stalls, snake charmers, water-sellers and acrobats.

Lodging: hotel

Provision: breakfast

 

Day 8 / Leave Marrakech

End of trip and we say goodbye. Have a nice flight back to home.

Depending on the time of your flight you may have time to visit some more sights like the Saadian tombs (back to 16th century), the Bahia Palace or the beautiful Majorelle Gardens. Please note that we are able to organise a post-trip accommodation if you wish to extend your stay for a few more days.

Lodging: -

Provision: breakfast

 

  • In the beginning and end of the season (i.e. May and September) there can be still snow in some places in the mountains and therefore we might need to modify the program and/or itinerary of the trip.
  • The overall grade of this trip is moderate though it includes climbing Mgoun summit which is rather difficult. (Climbing the summit is optional and those who do not wish to do, can go on a different way with the muleteers.)
  • In mountain huts (gîtes) there is shared accommodation and shared facilities (shower and toilet) are available.
  • In the campsites we have two-person Igloo tents (with mattress) and shared facilities (toilet tent), but no shower is available.

 

Services Included

  • All transport within Morocco, except from and to the airport
  • All accommodations: hotels/riads, camping, gîte (mountain hut)
  • All breakfasts, other meals (lunch, snack, dinner) for 5 days (7B, 5L, 5D)
  • Professional tour leader and local staff during the whole trip
  • Communal tents (kitchen tent including equipment and toilet tents) and sleeping tents (two-person Igloo tents) with mattress

 

Services Not Included

  • Flight ticket to and from Morocco
  • Airport transfer (available for extra charge)
  • Insurance covering all your adventure activities (obligatory, please bring a copy with you)
  • Lunch and dinner in Marrakech (allow EUR 10 to 15 for each meal)
  • Soft drinks and personal purchases all over the trip
  • Entrance fee to monuments and optional activities (e.g. hammam)
  • Tipping local staff (tour guide, driver, muleteers) – not obligatory, only if you are satisfied

 

Transport and Porterage

  • Walking (5 days)
  • Comfortable minibus, Four-Wheel Drive vehicles (4WD) or taxi (depending on the size of the group)
  • Bearing of luggage by mules

 

Team

  • Berber mountain guide certified by Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism to give you interesting information about the places you visit, the history and the culture of the country
  • Local Berber cook, who will introduce you to the cuisine of Morocco
  • A devoted team of experienced drivers and muleteers

 

Food

  • All breakfasts are included
  • All other meals during the trek (5 days) are also included:
    • Lunch: varied salads, hot dish, dessert
    • Snack of tea or coffee with biscuits or cook’s specialty
    • Dinner: soup, traditional hot dish, dessert, hot drinks (tea, coffee, hot chocolate)
  • All other meals and drinks (e.g. water) will be for your expenses. Your guide will help you to discover the local restaurants
  • Please inform us of any dietary, vegetarian or special meal requirements at the time of reservation

 

For further information please check ‘General trip info’.

 

For a suit-tailored offer, booking or more information please fill in the below form or send us an e-mail with the details.

 

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Highlights included

  • High Atlas (Tizi n’Tichka, Happy Valley, Roses Valley, Mgoun), Marrakech

Adventures

  • Walking, nature, local people, camping, hammam (optional)

Grade

  • Moderate
  • Difficult

Transport during the tour

  • Walking (5 days)
  • Minibus, 4WD or taxi
  • Mules (to carry our staff and luggage)

Accommodation

  • Hotel/riad: 2 nights
  • Camping: 4 nights
  • Gîte (mountain hut): 1 night

Meals included

  • All (7) breakfasts
  • 5 lunches
  • 5 dinners

Notes

  • Runs from May to September