4000m Peaks of the High Atlas

Itinerary

• Day 1

  ARRIVE IN MARRAKESH

  Arrive in Marrakesh and transfer to your hotel We provide transfers at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, exit the arrivals building and look out for one of our team holding a KANDOO sign.

  • Transport: Private transfer (0.3 hour, 8 km)
  • Accomodation: Hotel
• Day 2

  MARRAKESH - OUAKAIMEDEM – TACHEDIRT

  Today we transfer by minibus from Marrakesh to Oukaimeden, a journey of around 2 hours. We will meet our mule drivers, load our luggage and begin our trek. Our first objective is the pass of Tizin’Eddi at 2980m. From the top we will have panoramic views of the Imane valley and the High Atlas summits. We descend to the village of Tachedirt and continue a little further to Fousaou where we set up camp at 2300m.

  • Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours
  • Ascent: 620 m
  • Descent: 840 m
  • Max. altitude: 2980 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 3

  TACHEDIRT – YABASSEN

  This morning after breakfast we head east up the valley to reach the col of Tizi n’Tachedirt at 3172m. From the top there are awesome views of the summits of Bouignouane (3882m) and Jebel Aksoual (3842m). A rocky track takes us steeply down again until we are back among trees and cultivated terraces on the valley floor. We continue down to Yabassen, a colourful old village surrounded by walnut trees and make camp at 2150m.

  • Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
  • Ascent: 680 m
  • Descent: 1030 m
  • Max. altitude: 3172 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 4

  YABASSEN - AGADIR AIT BOULMANE

  Today we follow a balcony trail on the northern side of the valley and descend over 700m to the meeting point of the Ourika and Adrar n’Dern valleys. Along the way we will pass through the villages of Anfli, Tadrart and Chiker and eventually arrive at the gorges of Agadir n’Ait Boulmane. Here we will have lunch and set up our camp under walnut trees on the banks of the river.

  • Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours
  • Descent: 750 m
  • Max. altitude: 2150 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 5

  AGADIR AIT BOULMANE - BOUKCHOUD AZIBS

  From our camp by the river, a track climbs up to the beautiful secret valley of the Tamatert and Amenzel villages. On route we may spot barbary macaques in the trees above us. Keep your sandals to hand today as we will be negotiating gorges that may still be flowing with water as we head towards the pass of Tizi n’Boukchoud. Akchoub means “wood” in the Berber language and we set up camp at the base of the pass surrounded by small Juniper trees.

  • Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
  • Ascent: 1500 m
  • Descent: 500 m
  • Max. altitude: 2196 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 6

  BOUKCHOUD - ADOUZ AZIBS

  This morning we cross over Tizi n’Boukchoud at 2976m and take in the spectacular views of the high peaks and the wild and lesser known side of Toubkal. Dropping down into the next valley we reach the village of Adouz Azibs at the entry to the Tifnoute gorges. The peak of Adrar n’Dern, our next day’s objective, towers above us.

  • Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours
  • Ascent: 780 m
  • Descent: 580 m
  • Max. altitude: 2976 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 7

  ADOUZ AZIBS  - ADRAR N’DERN - TIZI N’OURAÏ

  We are now in a part of the High Atlas that sees very few visitors and feels a thousand miles from civilisation. Today is tough day with a lot of ascent. Carrying our lunch with us, we will start at roughly 5am and climb a narrow ridge toward the summit of Adrar n'Dern at 4001m. The views become more and more spectacular as we gain height and gaze across at Jebel Sirwa and Jebel Toubkal. After a rest at the summit, we descend to the foot of Tizi n’Ourai and make camp in a meadow at around 3000m.

  • Hiking time: 8 - 9 hours
  • Ascent: 1750 m
  • Descent: 1500 m
  • Max. altitude: 4001 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 8

  AOURAÏ – AMSOUZART

  After a strenuous day yesterday, we take today a little more slowly. A short rise from camp takes us to the top of Tizi n’Ourai at 3100m. We then slowly descend through a volcanic landscape into the green Tizgui Valley. We will reach the village of Amsouzart at roughly 4pm, and relax for the rest of the day. Here you will find some small shops where you can buy snacks and drinks. Tonight we will stay in a basic shelter in the village where there is dormitories and a shared bathroom.

  • Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
  • Ascent: 100 m
  • Descent: 1350 m
  • Max. altitude: 3100 m
  • Accomodation: Refuge
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 9

  AMSOUZART - IFNI LAKE - OUANOUMS GORGE

  Leaving Amsouzart we ascend gradually towards Tizi n’Ouanoums, easily the most spectacular of all the High Atlas cols. We pass through Imhilen and Ait Igrane, villages buried deep within the enormous mountain landscape. Above Ait Igrane the track becomes steeper and zig zags up to the spectacular Lac d’Ifni flanked by the two highest peaks in the range, Toubkal and Ouanoukrim. After pausing for lunch by the lake we continue to the entry of the Ouanoums Gorge and make camp at 2700m.

  • Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours
  • Ascent: 1040 m
  • Max. altitude: 2700 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 10

  OUANOUKRIM SUMMIT

  Another big day today as we bag our second 4000m peak. We leave camp by 7am and 3 to 4 hours of ascent will take us to the top of Tizi n’Ouanoums at 3600m. We are now standing directly in between the two highest peaks in the Atlas and the views are phenomenal.
  At the col, the summit of Ouanoukrim is only 400 vertical metres above us and our route to the top requires some scrambling over steep rocky sections. Once at the peak we are standing on the second highest peak in Morocco at 4088m and Toubkal lies directly in front of us. After pausing for photos, we descend to the Nelter Refuge at 3200m.

  • Hiking time: 7 - 8 hours
  • Ascent: 1590 m
  • Descent: 1090 m
  • Max. altitude: 4088 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 11

  TOUBKAL SUMMIT

  We will leave before sunrise, climbing a steep rocky track up the mountain side to reach a hanging valley known as the South Cwm where huge boulders are scattered around the track. We continue up steep scree slopes to hit the summit ridge at 3940m and follow the crest of the ridge to the summit pyramid at 4167m. You have now climbed to the highest point in North Africa! We descend the northern side of the mountain and return to the Nelter Refuge.

  • Hiking time: 7 - 8 hours
  • Ascent: 960 m
  • Descent: 960 m
  • Max. altitude: 4167 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 12

  BOUIGUINOUSSEM SUMMIT

  Today we climb out of the valley on a steep track, with some scrambling required at times, to reach the pass of Tizi n’Tadat at 3800m. Looking east, we have fantastic views of our route up Toubkal the day before. From here we take on our fourth and final big peak, Bouiguinoussem (4025m). To reach the summit we climb a steep ridge from the col which involves some scrambling in places and is certainly the most challenging terrain we have encountered so far. At the summit we have the satisfaction of knowing this is our fourth 4000m peak in the last few days. We have succeeded in this epic journey and that makes the views all the more enjoyable. We descend carefully back to the col and continue down to the shelter at Tazarat. Here the Ighouliden waterfalls cascade down the mountainside and we can take a swim at Melloul Assif. We make camp at Tamsoulte at an altitude of 2100m.

  • Hiking time: 7 - 8 hours
  • Ascent: 825 m
  • Descent: 1925 m
  • Max. altitude: 4025 m
  • Accomodation: Camping
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 13

  TAMSOULTE – AREMD

  Today we take it slow and spend time taking photos and drinking in the scenery as we meander through Juniper forest to Tizi n’Mzik at 2500m. From here, we have views across to Oukaimedem peak near where our journey began. We descend to the village of Aremd where we will spend the night (in a real bed!) in one of the local shelters. As the sun starts to go down and the temperature cools, a walk around the village is a nice way to say goodbye to the mountains and the people who have been so welcoming to us for the last 13 days.

  • Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
  • Ascent: 350 m
  • Descent: 600 m
  • Max. altitude: 2500 m
  • Accomodation: Refuge
  • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day 14

  AREMD - IMLIL – MARRAKESH

  After breakfast we walk to the road head at Imlil and transfer to Marrakesh. We will arrive in late morning and check in to our hotel. We then have a free day to soak up all the fascinating sights of Marrakesh. Visit the Majorelle Gardens, Bahia Palace and Jama El f’na Market. A guided tour with an English speaking guide can be arranged.

  • Hiking time: 1 - 2 hours
  • Descent: 150 m
  • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Meals included: Breakfast
• Day 15

  DEPARTURE FROM MARRAKESH

  Transfer to the airport and flight home.

  • Transport: Private transfer (0.3 hour, 8 km)
  • Meals included: Breakfast
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