from the Atlas to the Sahara
from the Atlas to the Sahara This crossing of the High Atlas is full of contrasts. A sharp contrast between the aridity of the mountains and the green oases of the valley bottoms. These high valleys of the central High Atlas are open to any hiker who wishes to experience them in an original and easy way. Accompanied by a team of Berber nomads, this trip is a superb crossing of the Atlas. From the Aït Bouguemez Valley to the Valley of Roses, a cocktail of landscapes and unforgettable encounters: discovering the Berber way of life, hiking through fabulous landscapes: bare soils, green valleys with terraced crops, narrow gorges of the M’goun River, and superb mud-brick villages.
You’ll love:
● Walking in the heart of sublime nature, a complete change of scenery.
● The Happy Valley, the Valley of Roses, and the M’goun Gorges.
● Meeting the nomads of the central High Atlas. ● The Splendid Dunes of Erg Chebbi.
● Explore the legendary city of Marrakech.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Marrakech.
– Airport reception
– Transfer and check-in to a comfortable hotel (***) near the famous Djemaa El Fna square or riad.
– Free dinner
Day 2: Marrakech – Aït Boulli Valley — Ait Bouguemez.
– 8:00 a.m.: Departure from Marrakech
– Visit the natural bridge of Imi-n-Ifri
– Visit the rock carvings of Tizi-n-Tirghist
– Departure for a 2-hour hike in the red villages of Aït Bouali.
– Picnic lunch (included)
– Visit the Jaro Gorge, swimming possible.
– Arrival at the lodge “La montagne au pluriel” (mountains in the plural). – Dinner (Included) at the lodge.
Day 3: Aït Bougmez, exploring the valley.
– From the lodge, depart for a half-day hike.
– We climb to the granary of Sidi Chita, where our guide will tell us the legends that inhabit the valley.
– We take the path through the fields to reach the lodge.
– Lunch (Included)
– The afternoon is devoted to participating, each on their own, in the lives of these mountain people, working in the fields with the women harvesting wheat, barley, potatoes, etc.
– Opportunity to discover and participate in weaving among the village women. The idea is to experience a magical and unforgettable moment, characterized by tradition, hospitality, tolerance, discretion, and humor.
– Return to the lodge to watch the sunset over the Atlas Mountains. – Tea, rest on one of the terraces
– Dinner (included) at the lodge
Day 4: Agouti – Azib n’Ikkis.
– Meet the team of muleteers.
– We begin our trek along a trail, reaching the Arous Valley and the village of the same name, where Berber shepherds peacefully lead their flocks while other farmers drain water to their verdant terraces at the bottom of the valley.
– Visit a family for tea.
– Through a canyon so narrow it barely lets in sunlight, we climb to the high-altitude sheepfolds, the Azibs n’Ikkis. Superb view of the summit ridge of the MGoun massif (4,068 m).
– Lunch and camp setup. – We follow the trail that runs along the left bank of the Ikkis stream to the gorge. – Return to the bivouac for dinner and overnight stay.
– 6 to 7 hours of walking / Ascent 550 m
Day 5: Azib n’Ikkis – Marate Plateau
– This is a short day full of surprises, in a magnificent landscape.
– Steady climb to Tizi n’Oughri (3200 m), remarkable view of the vast northern slope of the M’Goun.
– Bivouac in sublime high-altitude settings.
– Meet the Aït Atta nomads who left the Sahara for the summer in the central High Atlas. – Participate in a cooking class under the tents
– Head to the gorges for a tour and a cold shower
– Visit a nomadic family
– Return to the bivouac for dinner and overnight stay
– 5-hour walk / Ascent 650 m / 450 m
Day 6: Marate Plateau – the source of Mgoun (Aflafal).
– Steady climb amidst the Atlas Mountains, your senses accelerate to discover other breathtaking horizons
– Arrival at the Tizi Nouagmar Pass (2900 m), then descent to the Oulilimt Valley.
– Fairy chimneys rise along the Oulilimt stream
– We will discover the postural world of the great nomadic tribes. On the mountainside and steep cliffs, Berber sheep, goat, and camel herders have been digging shelters for their families and herds for centuries when they arrive from the south (from early May to late September).
– Camp near the M’Goun spring and a surprise from our cook. Swimming is possible. (5-hour walk, D= 500m / M= 400m).
Day 7: The Mgoun Spring (Aflafal) — Dades.
– We gradually leave the high mountain landscapes and take the 4×4 towards the Valley of Roses and Dades.
– Cross the Ait Ahmed Pass, panoramic view of the Saghro massif.
– Hike in the Valley of Roses, another superb stop: River, narrow gorges, impressive cliffs.
– Visit a nomadic family and have tea with them.
– Short walk in the Dades Valley.
– Dinner (included) and shower at the hotel.
Day 8: Dades — Merzouga.
– Departure in the morning for the Todra Gorges.
– Walk in the gorges.
– Lunch.
– Continue to Erfoud, famous for its fossilized marble. – We pass through Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet, and head along the trail towards the Merzouga desert.
– Arriving at the foot of the dunes, we depart by camel (1 hour) to the bivouac located in the middle of Erg Chebbi.
– Sunset, mint tea, dinner, entertainment, and overnight in a tent or under the stars.
Day 9: Merzouga — Ait Benhaddou.
– After a short camel ride and breakfast,
– Departure by 4×4 from Merzouga to Tazzarine, through beautiful desert and mountain landscapes, oases, and kasbahs, to the Drâa Valley, passing through N’kob and Tansikht.
– Descent to the verdant Drâa Wadi at Agdz, passing through ochre-colored villages. Dinner and overnight stay in Ouarzazat.
Day 10: Ait Benhaddou — Marrakech.
– Departure in the morning after breakfast via the mountain road towards Ait Benhaddou, visiting the Kasbah.
– On the way, we will stop in Telouet to visit the Telouet Kasbah.
– Lunch will be taken in Taddart.
– Then, we will continue our journey towards Marrakech, with photo stops planned.
– We will arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon at a riad or hotel.
Day 11: Departure from Marrakech.
– Transfer to the airport and return flight.
Included:
● 2 nights in a riad in Marrakech with half-board or an equivalent in a 3-star hotel.
● Full-board during the tour for the group and the accompanying team. – The accompanying team (guide, cook, muleteers).
● Mules for luggage transport.
● Nights in guesthouses and hotels in Ouarzazate and Dades.
● Nights at a bivouac in the Sahara.
● Cooking equipment.
● Transfers by minibus or 4×4.
● Round-trip airport-hotel transfers.
Not Included:
● Individual travel insurance.
● Camels in the Sahara.
● Meals in Marrakech, drinks, and tips.
● Airfare.
Note: All our trips can be customized to suit your needs and the duration that best suits you.
Please do not hesitate to contact our travel advisors to discuss your preferences. We will do our best to accommodate your request and provide you with a quote as soon as possible.
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