Marrakech - Imlil - Tachdirt valley
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Imlil
You depart from Marrakech for this trek, driving along the Asni valley arrive to Imlil (1740m). From there, you will head to the east and upward until you come to Tizi ‘n’ Tamaterte at 2272m above sea level. Your journey will take you on through fields of wheat and orchards of walnut, apple and cherry trees, before you arrive in the village of Tamaterte.
Duration: 2 hours
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Once through the village, there is a path that leads up through pine and juniper woods to the Tizi, a superb point to admire the Imlil and Imnan Valley. From here, you will be able to pick out Berber villages tucked into the slopes and Jbel Oukaîmeden (‘Ouka’ to the locals), which is 3268m above sea level.
The next hour or so will be spent travelling to the villages of Ouaneskra and then up to Amghedoul at 2130m, where you can stop for a picnic on the plateau.
Duration: 2 hours
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Hiking into the afternoon, you will travel through the valley along mule trails until you reach the oldest Berber village in the Toubkal Massif: Tachdirt, which is set among terraces made from the slopes themselves at 2291m. There is then an overnight stay in Tachdirt, in a gite d'etape (a French phrase that refers to a Berber House with a hot shower) and whilst dinner is being prepared, there's ample opportunity to visit the village and spend time with the friendly Berber villagers.
Whilst spending time in their village, you may want to observe how they cook their meals, their breads and their soups, or maybe how they have made their houses from pise, a mixture of stone and mud.
Duration: 3 hours
Tachddirt - Iaabassene - Timichi
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The second day begins with a 7-hour southeastward hike, up to 1860m and the village of Timichi, situated at the head of the Ourika valley. You will get a stunning view of the Jbel Aksouâl (3842m) on the one side and Bou Iguenouane (3882m) and Angour (3616m) on the other as you hike up Tizi n'Tachddirt (3200m) with the verdant valley stretching out beneath you. The trek continues northeastwards for a further 2 ½ hours, until you reach the Berber village of Iaabassene (2030m), where you can stop for a picnic next to a spring just outside the village.
After the picnic, there is a 2-hour afternoon hike that takes you northeastward and up before cresting and descending into a valley. Here, you will find the old village of Timichi, set among ancient nut trees. This is where you will be staying for the night: a friendly, traditional Berber home in Timichi.
Duration: 7 hours
Timichi - Isghouarne - Agadir n'ait Boulmane - Setti Fadma
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Setti-Fatma
After breakfast you set out for a 5 to 6 hour eastward hike down through the valley. The valley, or 'wadi', is full of cornfields and orange groves, criss-crossed with streams flowing down from the upper slopes.
You’ll pass through the villages of Isghouarne and Agadir n'Aït Boulmane to arrive at the end of the Ourika Valley and arrive at the village of Setti Fadma, an ancient Berber village surrounded by waterfalls and nut trees. There will be a picnic stop just outside the village before a final half hour hike to rejoin the vehicle and head back to Marrakech
Duration: 6 hours
