Berber Villages Treks

Berber Villages Treks

The Berber people have made these mountains their home for centuries, and although their life is simple and rustic, they are incredibly hospitable and only too eager to invite you in for a mint tea. Despite the often harsh landscape, the Berbers will always offer you a winning smile as you pass shepherds tending their flocks and locals travelling between villages.
In the valleys below they cultivate beautifully terraced gardens, fruit groves and fields of wheat, barley and vegetables amongst the rocky ground. The region is wild and harsh and the mountains are criss-crossed by mule paths that are the only access ways between villages.

Treks from Marrakech through many little hamlets and Berber villages to the magnificent Western High Atlas Mountains.


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Berber Villages & Mountain Passes Trek

Berber Villages & Mountain Passes Trek
Spend 4 days exploring the high peaks of the Atlas Mountains on foot. A hike amidst cool vegetation of juniper and pine trees is a perfect way to rejuvenate your mind and body. Go across deep gorges, gushing river streams and groves of cherry and walnut trees, as your guide takes you on a great walk up and down the beautiful hills.
The valleys are home to tiny hamlets and villages of the ethnic Berbers, a herding and farming community. Visit their homes and interact with them to know more about their traditions and customs.
See their terraced fields of corn and barley and get a glimpse of their day to day living.
Berber Villages & Green Valleys and Mountain passes Trek Itinerary:
1. day :Marrakech –imi oughlad –tizi n'tachte –tiziane :
early morning departure from marrakech for a pleasante drive south winding our way up through the moulay brahim gorge and upper valleys to arrive at the higher foothills of the western high atlas mountains and our trailhead of imi oughlad (1450m) with the jbel toubkal , at 4167m the highest peak in north africa , aglzim 3650m and aksoual 38847m ,looming before us . here we alight from our vehicle and meet up with berber muleteer crew . We set off up in north-westerly direction for a 2hour acclimatisation hike up switchback mule tracks , passing by cornfields woods pine and juniper to the tiz n'tachete (2000m),where we shallstop to look back down on the imlikl and ait oussaden valleys before carrying on for another half hour to imi n'ifri and our field picnic .thence a slow hike for about 2 and half hours south-west down along a dirt track to assif n' ait oussaden and the red clay terraced village of tiziane ( 1750 m )for our accommodation in our bivouac or gite.
2. day :tizziane – tizi n'taghrhourte – D'knt :
after breakfast we now set off on our hike up along the assif n'ait oussaden valley , passing through the wallnuts groves , up to tizi n'taghrhourte (1995m )and through to a rare almost flat strecth to arrive at assaka spring, where we will stop for our field picnic amidst and awesome silence after some 2 and half hours relatively easy walking .our afternoon's hike takes us down along the edges of the forest untill we reach the berber village of D'knt (1870m) or agouns n Assoul where we will have our dinner and spent the in a bivouac or gite .
3. day : D'knt – tizi n'tagdalte – tizi oussem :
we set off for our morning's 3 hours hike up through groves of walnut trees, fields of corn and barley to greet the many sheep and goatherders – and women and children bent over with 20kg loads of faggots and dried herbs. We traverse the tizi n'tagdalte to the descent amongst the juniper trees till we come to a small spring set amongst the trees , where we will stop for our picnic .once refreshed , we are off down winding tracks of upper slopes for some 3hours to come to a small river at the beginning of the valley of assif n'ait oussaden . from here we enter the village of tizi oussem (1850m) then up to the summer village Of Tamsoult for our camp or gite.
4. day : tizi oussem -- Tizi M'zzik --- Imlil :
Trek to a small waterfall at Azib Tamsoulte and return to cross the Tizi 'n Mzik pass (2,500m). We join the main Toubkal valley at Imlil (1,900m), where we have lunch before the drive to Marrakech.

Option 2 :
Day1: : Marrakech - imlil – tizi n’tamaterte – Tachdirth :
Transfer from marrakech to Imlil then set out towards the east ; up winding mule tracks to the tizi n’ tamaterte (2279m) to enjoy the amazing panorama of the surrounding atlas mountain range peaks and valleys on our way to our picnic spot on the tizi n’tamaterte , overlooking jbel oukaimeden and the beautiful encircled plateau. After lunch set of following the path down to imnane valley intill our gite d’etape in Tachdirth village . 5 to 6 hours walking.
Day2: Trek down the valley of Imnane accross lot of Berber villages :
Ounskra, tamguist , ikkis , amssakrou , Arg and Imsker , night in a Berber home. 5hours walking.
Day3: Trek from Imsker to Tizian via Tizi n Lbour and tizi n tacht mountain passes all day through tuya and juniper groves. 6hours.
Day4 : Tizian to Imlil via Ighouliden waterfalls , summer villgaes of Azib n Tamsoult and Tizi M'zzik Mountain pass , 6hours walking
Note : Itinerary is just a guideline and subject to change to suit local condition.


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Welcome to Atlas Trek Shop

Welcome to Atlas Trek Shop
Welcome to the magical country of Morocco – a land of hospitality , peace, and generosity, where a smile greets every traveller. Whether you are dreaming of a trip into the peaks and the Berber Villages of High Atlas Mountains, a camel trek into the the rolling dunes of the Sahara Desert, a visit to the ancient cities and colourful markets or a relaxing time on the sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast, Mohamed & his teams have the knowledge and expertise to help you put together the cultural itinerary or trekking excursion of a lifetime!.
Whenever you want to travel and whatever your level of fitness, we can organize your trip to suit you. Whether you want to climb mountains, walk through deep shaded valleys, ride camels across the desert or relax by the beach, we design superb value itineraries using hand-picked a fantastic selection of riads, boutique hotels, Kasbahs and Berber Gites. We will enable you to experience your desired holiday.

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Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent

Just 3 hours flight from the UK, The High Atlas Mountains near Marrakech offer some of the finest trekking in the world. This five day trek is the classic route, taking in the beautiful peaceful valleys around the Imlil area and culminating in the highlight, climbing Mount Toubkal. All treks are private and accompanied by an English speaking guide and muleteer / chef.

Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent Trek Itinerary:

1. day : Marrakech –imi oughlad –tizi n’tachte –tiziane :

early morning departure from marrakech for a pleasante drive south winding our way up through the moulay brahim gorge and upper valleys to arrive at the higher foothills of the western high atlas mountains and our trailhead of imi oughlad (1450m) with the jbel toubkal , at 4167m the highest peak in north africa , aglzim 3650m and aksoual 38847m ,looming before us . here we alight from our vehicle and meet up with berber muleteer crew . We set off up in north-westerly direction for a 2hour acclimatisation hike up switchback mule tracks , passing by cornfields woods pine and juniper to the tiz n’tachete (2000m),where we shallstop to look back down on the imlikl and ait oussaden valleys before carrying on for another half hour to imi n’ifri and our field picnic .thence a slow hike for about 2 and half hours south-west down along a dirt track to assif n’ ait oussaden and the red clay terraced village of tiziane ( 1750 m )for our accommodation in our bivouac / gite

2. day :tizziane – tizi n’taghrhourte – D’knt :

after breakfast we now set off on our hike up along the assif n’ait oussaden valley , passing through the wallnuts groves , up to tizi n’taghrhourte (1995m )and through to a rare almost flat strecth to arrive at assaka spring, where we will stop for our field picnic amidst and awesome silence after some 2 and half hours relatively easy walking .our afternoon’s hike takes us down along the edges of the forest untill we reach the berber village of D’knt (1870m) or agouns n Assoul where we will have our dinner and spent the in a bivouac / gite..

3. day : D’knt – tizi n’tagdalte – tizi oussem :

we set off for our morning’s 3 hours hike up through groves of walnut trees, fields of corn and barley to greet the many sheep and goatherders – and women and children bent over with 20kg loads of faggots and dried herbs. We traverse the tizi n’tagdalte to the descent amongst the juniper trees till we come to a small spring set amongst the trees , where we will stop for our picnic .once refreshed , we are off down winding tracks of upper slopes for some 3hours to come to a small river at the beginning of the valley of assif n’ait oussaden . from here we enter the village of tizi oussem (1850m) then up to the summer village Of Tamsoult for our camp / hut

4. day : ÂAZIB TAMSOULT -TIZI AGUELZIM - TOUBKAL REFUGE :

after breakfast, we now set out eastwards on a moderately difficult hike up winding mule tracks to the Tizi Aguelzim (3550m) , thence a further 3 hours south-east to the Toubkal Refuge which marks the spring snowline at 3207m, where we shall have our dinner, in bivouac around the Refuge.

5. day : TOUBKAL REFUGE - SUMMIT JBEL TOUBKAL- SIDI CHAMHAROUCH - Imlil - Marrakech :

A very early breakfast to set out around 6am., to attain, after a three hour steep climb, the highest peak in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from here is simply stunning. Whenever you are ready, we shall take the Ikkhibi Sud or South Cirque for a straightforward - with your guide - 2 to 3 hour descent back to the Refuge for a picnic. After lunch We shall now set off towards the north along steeply descending, zigzagging trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of the Assif n'Isouhouanem n'Ouagounss towards the Shrine of Sidi Chamharouch. Set beside a waterfall, There is a pilgrimage 'marabout' shrine here, probably the remnant of a pre-Islamic culture, but forbidden to non-Muslims. another 2 hours downhill will allow to get to the village of Imlil from where most of the treks start prior to take the taxi back to Marrakech.

Note : Itinerary is just a guideline and subject to change to suit local condition.

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This diversify trip in the high atlas mountains to see both Berber villages & Toubkal Summit which is the highest peak in North Africa.

Level: Medium (for walkers)  Period: From March to October ( for climbers it's accessible also from Octobre to March) Services: Mountain Guide, Cook, Mules, Food & transport from & to Marrakech  Duration: 8 days & 7 nights Overview Itinerary: This diversify trip in the high atlas mountains to see both Berber villages & Toubkal Summit which is the highest peak in North Africa. Day 1: Arrival to the airport of Marrakech Menara. Night in the hotel. Day 2: pick up from Marrakech – Imlil (1740m) – based camp near Toubkal refuge (3200m). Day 3: Based Camp – Toubkal Summit (4167m) – Imlil Day 4: Imlil village – Tachdirte village 2500m (Imnane valley) Day 5 : Tachdirte village – Imsker village (1700m) Day 6: Imsker village – Id Issa Azzaden valley. Day 7: Id Issa village – Tassa Ouirgane – Marrakech Day 8: Marrakech – airport & return home.

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Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent 5 days in morocco

Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent 5 days| High Atlas Mountain Treks | Toubkal Guide

Day 1: Marrakech –imi oughlad –tizi n’tachte –tiziane : early morning departure from marrakech for a pleasante drive south winding our way up through the moulay brahim gorge and upper valleys to arrive at the higher foothills of the western high atlas mountains and our trailhead of imi oughlad (1450m) with the jbel toubkal , at 4167m the highest peak in north africa , aglzim 3650m and aksoual 38847m ,looming before us . here we alight from our vehicle and meet up with berber muleteer crew . We set off up in north-westerly direction for a 2hour climatisation hike up switchback mule tracks , passing by cornfields woods pine and juniper to the tiz n’tachete (2000m),where we shallstop to look back down on the imlikl and ait oussaden valleys before carrying on for another half hour to imi n’ifri and our field picnic .thence a slow hike for about 2 and half hours south-west down along a dirt track to assif n’ ait oussaden and the red clay terraced village of tiziane ( 1750 m )for our accommodation in our bivouac.
Day 2: tizziane – tizi n’taghrhourte – D’knt :after breakfast we now set off on our hike up along the assif n’ait oussaden valley , passing through the wallnuts groves , up to tizi n’taghrhourte (1995m )and through to a rare almost flat strecth to arrive at assaka spring, where we will stop for our field picnic amidst and awesome silence after some 2 and half hours relatively easy walking .our afternoon’s hike takes us down along the edges of the forest untill we reach the berber village of D’knt (1870m) or agouns n Assoul where we will have our dinner and spent the ina bivouac .
Day 3: D’knt – tizi n’tagdalte – tizi oussem : we set off for our morning’s 3 hours hike up through groves of walnut trees, fields of corn and barley to greet the many sheep and goatherders – and women and children bent over with 20kg loads of faggots and dried herbs. We traverse the tizi n’tagdalte to the descent amongst the juniper trees till we come to a small spring set amongst the trees , where we will stop for our picnic .once refreshed , we are off down winding tracks of upper slopes for some 3hours to come to a small river at the beginning of the valley of assif n’ait oussaden. From here we enter the village of tizi oussem (1850m) then up to the summer village Of Tamsoult for our camp.


Day 4 : ÂAZIB TAMSOULT -TIZI AGUELZIM – TOUBKAL REFUGE. after breakfast, we now set out eastwards on a moderately difficult hike up winding mule tracks to the Tizi Aguelzim (3550m) , thence a further 3 hours south-east to the Toubkal Refuge which marks the spring snowline at 3207m, where we shall have our dinner, in bivouac around the Refuge.
Day 5 : TOUBKAL REFUGE – SUMMIT JBEL TOUBKAL- SIDI CHAMHAROUCH – Imlil – Marrakech A very early breakfast to set out around 6am., to attain, after a three hour steep climb, the highest peak in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from here is simply stunning. Whenever you are ready, we shall take the Ikkhibi Sud or South Cirque for a straightforward – with your guide – 2 to 3 hour descent back to the Refuge for a picnic. After lunch We shall now set off towards the north along steeply descending, zigzagging trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of the Assif n’Isouhouanem n’Ouagounss towards the Shrine of Sidi Chamharouch. Set beside a waterfall, There is a pilgrimage ‘marabout’ shrine here, probably the remnant of a pre-Islamic culture, but forbidden to non-Muslims. another 2hours downhill will allow to get to the village of Imlil from where most of the treks start prior to take the taxi back to Marrakech.


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Mgoun Circuit in morocco

Mgoun Circuit
An adventurous trek in rural Morocco taking you into untouched regions of the Atlas Mountains for a real insight into the traditional mountain community culture and some great views on the way! Walking beyond the reach of vehicles, assisted by mules to carry the load, you envelop yourself in the real Morocco.
Beautiful Bougmez valley with impressive gorges and rocks formations. Your trekking culminates with the chance to climb Jebel Mgoun(4068m) for spectacular sweeping views across the Atlas before completing the circle by returning to the Bougmez valley . In complete contrast to the peace of the mountains
 
6 Days Mgoun Circle Trek :
Day 1:Drive from Marrakech to Agouti In the morning, we transfer by minibus to Agouti There is time to relax at the guesthouse in agouti when we arrive in the late afternoon.
Day 2:Agouti to Arous Camp overnight.
Day 3:Trek to Tarkedit Plateau We walk up in a wild landscape before crossing the Aghouri pass at 3,450m then descend to the wind-eroded and snow-covered high plateau of Tarkedit (2,900m). After lunch (there is a hut on the plateau), we climb up to the southern side of the plateau and establish a camp at 3,400m, directly below M'goun West (3,978m). 7-8 hours walking. Camp.
Day 4:Ascent of Djebel M'goun (4,068m) to Oulilimt Today we make our ascent to the summit of Djebel M'goun. The climb follows a long ridge, all at or above 4,000m, which typically takes between 4 and 5 hours to the summit, depending on snow conditions. From the top, there are impressive views across the Draa valley and towards the Sahara Desert to the south. We descend back to Azib Izabine. 8-9 hours. Camp.
Day 5:Trek Down the valley into Ain Aflafal and to Tighermet n ait ahmed ( 5hours walking) Camp.
Day 6:Climb Tizi n'ait Imi (2960m) then long descent to ait Bougmez valley and drive back to Marrakech



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