6 Days And 5 Nights: Ourika And Toubkal Trekking
Spend 6 days hiking in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The unspoilt beauty of the Ourika Valley, which is home to the famous Berber tribes of Africa, is best explored on-foot. Your trail will lead you through olive groves, terraced fields and thundering waterfalls, you will stop amidst the beautiful scenery to enjoy a picnics in a Berber villages. Get a better insight into the local culture as you stay in a Moroccan style Berber home in the village of Timichi and in Tinoughar, see women at work, groves of almond and walnut trees and centuries-old terraced irrigated fields. Brace yourself for a steep climb to the highest peak in the Maghreb from where you can enjoy splendid views of the Atlas Mountains. This exhilarating tour shows you a side of Morocco which many tourists never see.
This trek runs all year-round and can depart at any date of your preference.
We usually have several treks departing each week that you may join if you wish , please get in Touch!!
All of our Mountain treks ca be combined with some other tours either to the sahara desert, Imperial cities or to the Atlantic coast,
Pick Up & Drop Off
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech city, many riads does not have access by car so the driver will park nearby and come to get you.
You will be dropped off at the nearest point to your riad/hotel, our driver can call your riad to meet you if needed.
Route Details
Day 01
Marrakech - Ourika Valley - Setti Fatma - Agadir N'Ait Boulmane - Timichchi
Starting in the little riverside village of Setti Fatma where we meet up with our mountain guide and muleteers we strike out upon the far side of the river, through 100-year-old walnut trees for some 30 minutes to visit the six, sometimes seven cascades. Returning via the first of these waterfalls, we swing back via Setti Fadma’s twin village of Zaouia Mohammed to take our picnic in the village. Suitably refreshed, we now start the serious part of our hike of between 5 and 6 hours towards the west along the western branch of the valley, the Adrar n’Oukaïmeden and Jbel Angour in front of us, drawing us like a magnet past streams flowing from the upper slopes, through the tiny hillside villages of Isghouarne, Agadir n’Aït Boulmane, Tadrart, Tiourdiou and Izouggaghene with their cornfields, terraced irrigated plots and groves of orange and olive trees, to finally arrive at the village of Timichchi, set amongst ancient walnut trees, where we shall have our Berber dinner and accommodation for the night in the home of a Berber family. 5 to 6h walking.
Day 02
Timichchi - Iaabassene - Tacheddirt :
After an early breakfast we start our morning’s superb 2 hour hike towards the west along well-defined mule trails in the lush upper valley to the Berber village of Iaabassene (2,030m), set beside a spring. From here we traverse the rocky lower levels of the Tizi n’Tacheddirt (3,200m) of mighty Jbel Angour range (3,616m), the stunning panorama of Adrar n’Ineghmar (3,892m), Jbels Bou Iguenouane (3,882m) and Aksouâl (3,842m) in all their immense glory before us. We’ll stop for our field picnic after some 2½ hours incredible hiking before setting out once more for a further 2 hours down to the terraced village of pisé homes called Tacheddirt (2,291m), set amongst terraced, irrigated fields clawed out over the centuries from the surrounding mountainside. Tacheddirt is easily the oldest and quaintest of all the Berber villages in the Toubkal Massif. Tonight we’ll relax and enjoy our dinner and accommodation in a Berber gîte d’étape set amidst some awesome countryside. 6 to 7h walking
Day 03
Tacheddirt - Imenane Valley - Agersioual - Imlil :
After breakfast we set off down the Assif Imnane Valley , passing throught several berber hamlets and thence up to the Tizi n’Ageursiwal (2,000m). Once through the col we shall now go down more winding mule tracks leading to the village of Aguersiwal (lunch spot ) set off in river bed of Imlil, allow another hour to get up the valley to Imlil. 6 hours' walking. 6hours walking
Day 04
Imlil - Tizi M'zzik - Aazib Tamsoult :
Start of a 6 hour trek up via long, winding mule tracks to Tizi Mzik (2,664m) giving an awesome panorama of the Imlil Valley and of Jebel Toubkal (4,167m). From here you descend to Aazib n'Tamsoult (2,145m) for a picnic by a stream. Thence, on up to the Tamsoult Cascade, also known as the Irhoulidene Cascade (2,200m) and return down for dinner and overnight in a basic refuge. 5hours walking
Day 05
Âazib Tamsoult - TiziI Aguelzim - Toubkal Refuge :
After breakfast, we now set out eastwards on a moderately difficult hike up winding mule tracks to the Tizi Aguelzim (3,104m) with our picnic taken en route, thence a further 3 hours south-east to the Toubkal (ex Neltner) Refuge which marks the spring snowline at 3,207m, where we shall have our dinner the Cafe Refuge. 6 to 7hours walking.
Day 06
Toubkal Refuge - Summit Jbel Toubkal - Aremd - Imlil - Marrakech :
Early this morning we make our attempt on the summit of Jebel Toukbal, the highest peak in Northern Africa. Our route takes us up the south cirque, crossing the stream above the refuge and then heading across one of the mountains numerous scree fields, where we will have to negotiable a seemingly endless carpet of boulders and rocks. The walking is relatively straightforward, but the scree and the altitude will make the going quite difficult in parts, however, the views along the way make the journey more than worthwhile. Cresting the ridgeline we find ourselves on the plateau, from where it is a short walk to the summit From here there are unrestricted views in every direction, from the Marrakesh Plain to the High Atlas in the north and as far south as the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara. After taking enough pictures and had some food we then turn back to the hut for lunch then head back towards Imlil where we will meet with the car prior to returning to your accommodation. 9 to 10 hours walking.
Note : Itinerary is just a guideline and subject to change to suit local condition
Equipment
Please ensure you have packed all safety essentials. See the Equipment List here if you're unsure of what to bring. Our guides will conduct a final gear check in Imlil before we commence the ascent to the higher altitudes of the Toubkal massif.
Tour Rates
Flexible Pricing
Group 1 person : 620€
Group 2 -3 people : 440€ / person
Group 4 - 7 people : 400€ / person
Group 8 - 12 people: 350€ / person
What Is Included?
-
Expert, Berber, English-speaking mountain guides
-
Mules and muleteers to carry your luggage
-
Berber Cook
-
All meals on the hike
-
Accommodation in a Berber village (gite)
-
Round-trip Transportation between the trek and your accommodation in Marrakech .
-
Camping Materiels ( Tents & Mattress) for summer treks.
What Is Not Included
-
Travel insurance.
-
Soft/alcoholic drinks
-
Tips and personal expanses
Accommodation & Shelters
The accommodation will be mix of camping, gites and mountain huts, trek only available from May -Octo.
NB : If accommodation is required in the Atlas Mountains either before or after the trek, we can always book you at our Guesthouse Dar Adrar in Imlil or in our Eco-loge in Ouirgane
Clothing & Essential Equipment
Essential Equipment
Can Be Hired From Us
-
Good walking boots and socks / good trainers for valley treks
-
Personnel First aid Kit
-
3 to 4 season sleeping bag ( winter) or light Sleeping bag ( Summer)
-
Lightweight waterproof over-trousers / rain-pants
-
Water bottle or camel back (recommended)
-
Soft-sided bag (50-80 litres)
-
Lightweight daypack
-
Sunglasses
-
Sunscreen
-
Torch and batteries
-
Towel & all personal toiletries
-
Crampons : 5 €/ Day/pair
-
Ice Axe : 3 €/day
-
Walking boots : 5 €/day
-
Sleeping bags : 2.5 €/day
-
Rain Jackets : 3 €/day
-
Walking Poles : 3 €/day/pair
-
Back packs : 3€/day
-
Stoves : 2€/day
What Is Appropriate Attire In Morocco?
Morocco is a conservative and religious country, which means you always need to be mindful of your clothing choices. This is especially true in the country’s more rural areas, which include the Sahara Desert and its surrounding villages. As a general rule of thumb, you should always attempt to cover body parts considered “private”. For women, this means covering the arms (or at least the shoulders) and the knees up. For men, it requires covering up the shoulders and above the knee.
High Energy Meals
Meals on the trek are cooked by the Berber muleteers. The food is fresh and healthy. Example meals:
Breakfast: Jam, bread, cookies, fruit, juice, butter, coffee, milkLunch: salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, fish (sardines, tuna), seasonal fruit
Dinner: Soup, classic Morooccan tajine, couscous, olives, nuts, fruit
Can my dietary requirements be catered to?
Absolutely. Just let us know about your catering preferences when you confirm your booking to ensure any dietary requirements are met. Please remind as well your guide and cook on first day of the trek.
Start Your Journey
Ready to explore the Atlas Mountains? Reach out to us for detailed trek inquiries, tailor-made itineraries, or any questions about our Berber-led adventure tours.
Email: aztat.trek@gmail.com
Phone: +212 668-760165
Location: Imlil, Morocco
Personal baggage, cooking equipment and food are carried by the mules, leaving you to carry only a rucksack with whatever you need close at hand for the day. NB: Left luggage or unnecessary luggage can be left safely in our storage in Imlil till you come back from the trek.