From M’Goun to Toubkal: Crossing the Atlas Mountains
From M’Goun to Toubkal: Getting close to the peaks of the High Atlas
Challenging yourself with exceptional climbs
Crossing varied landscapes and high-altitude valleys.
Discover the legendary hospitality of the Berbers.
Criss-cross the high alpine plateaus and observe the daily life of the transhumants.
Your adventure:
A hiker’s paradise, the Atlas boasts no fewer than 12 peaks over 4,000 m, standing like silent guardians. It’s also a living mountain, cherished by its Berber inhabitants. From the top of their beautiful villages, life takes on a new altitude, and you feel like a bird flying from one summit to the next. A trek that winds from ridge to valley, from one slope to the next, crossing the M’Goun massif at 4068 m altitude. Then North Africa‘s giant Toubkal, at 4167 m, offers spectacular panoramic views of both the Anti-Atlas and the Siroua. Whether conquering the peaks or immersing ourselves in the rich local communities, this adventure invites us to contemplate the incredible diversity of a world that still holds many secrets.
Marrakech – Azilal – Aît Bougmez – Arouss – Ikiss:
Breakfast at the hotel before our transfer to the Central Atlas. This green and fertile mountain range sits majestically at the heart of the Moroccan Kingdom. We pass through the town of Azilal in the “valley of the happy people” of the Aït Bougmez before arriving on the Tamzite plateau at an altitude of 1800 meters. We meet the muleteers who will be accompanying us for the next few days, and then begin our first hike towards the Arouss sheepfolds. On our way, we pass through several small villages before arriving at the pasture of the Ikiss sheepfolds at 2,100 meters altitude, where we set up our bivouac for the night.
Ikiss – Tizi n’Oughri – Tarkedit:
We begin our trek to the Tarkedit plateau. Once we’ve got our feet under us, we tackle our first ascent, to the 2,909-meter-high Oumskiyq pass. From the summit, we can admire a magnificent panorama of the pristine Tarkedit ridges, reminiscent of the Tibetan highlands. We continue our journey over a second pass, the Tizi n’Oughri pass at 3,300 metres, before starting our descent into the Tarkedit valley to set up our bivouac in the heart of nature!
Tardkedit – M’Goun summit – Assif Oulilimt:
Early in the morning, we begin our ascent of Mount M’Goun, Morocco‘s third highest peak at 4,068 meters. We take the western route, with its step-by-step path that makes walking easier. Once we’ve reached the ridgeline, we continue to the summit through the wild beauty of the Central Atlas. From the summit, we have a 360° view of the surrounding peaks, allowing us to appreciate the grandeur of the typical Moroccan Middle Atlas landscape. We then descend to the north of the massif, along a path leading us to the banks of the Oulilimt stream at an altitude of 2650 metres. Here we set up camp for the night.
Oulilimt – Red Mountains – Ifri Noukhlifa:
After breakfast by the river, we set off for a more leisurely day’s walking. We follow the northern fringe of the M’Goun and Adrar ifri Noukhlifa through nomadic country, where here and there ochre-red mountains emerge. We arrive in the enchanting valley of the Assif Amougr at 2700 m and set up camp near the sheepfolds.
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Tizi N’Ait imi – Aït Bougmez:
From M’Goun to Toubkal: Following a winding path to the west of the Tizi N’ait imi pass, we cross its crest at 3,000 m altitude. Perched on the heights, we admire an unobstructed, plunging view over the valleys. We begin our descent along a winding path, winding our way through the gardens, villages and watermills of this fertile green valley. We arrive in the village of Ait Imi, where we say goodbye to our muleteers. settle into a gîte for the night.
Aït Bougmez – Demnat – Marrakech:
This morning, we take a cultural walk and discover the granary of Sidi Moussa. A renowned Berber marabout (Sidi Moussa) is said to be buried in this earthen structure, built on the heights of the valley. Today, local women still come to pray and make offerings in this place, which was restored by UNESCO a few years ago. We then return to our vehicle to drive to Marrakech via the remote Ait Boulli valley. stop for lunch at the Imi N’ifri natural bridge and pass through the green Demnat basin. We arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon and check into our hotel. Dinner at leisure.
Marrakech:
From M’Goun to Toubkal: Free day and lunch in Marrakech. We can take advantage of this time to discover vibrant Marrakech and its labyrinthine alleys steeped in history. At sunset, the Place Jemaa el-Fna becomes the scene of local life, with musicians, dancers and spicy flavors.
Marrakech – Oukaimeden – Oussertek Valley:
After breakfast at the hotel, early departure for the Oukaimeden region, where our team of muleteers awaits us. The hike begins with a visit to the Oukaimeden plateau’s rock engravings, carved in purplish-red andesite rock and bearing witness to the history of hunters, animals and tools from Morocco’s prehistoric past. We continue over a pass to the Oussertek valley, one of the most splendid in Morocco, where Berber villages dot the landscape. We set up camp near the village of Gliz, at an altitude of 1900 m.
Oussertek – Assif Imnan – Aquersiwal – Matat:
We start our descent through the reddish-ochre villages to Imsker, nestled among centuries-old walnut trees. We continue over a small pass towards the Assif d’Aït Mizane to the village of Aguersiwal perched at 2050 meters. Our hike continues along a narrow path winding along the mountainside, where a few juniper trees still persist. We arrive at the Matat pass and set up our bivouac in the heart of the sheepfolds not far from Imlil at 2000 meters altitude.
Mattate – Azaden Valley – Tizi Oussem – Tamsoult:
From M’Goun to Toubkal: Our hike begins with a leisurely walk through the Azaden valley via the Tizi Noudite pass at 2200 meters, where colorful villages and terraced fields unfold. We then follow a path to Tizi Oussem, a small village with typical Berber architecture. continue through a forest of juniper and holm oak before arriving at the Azib de Tamsoult, where the transhumants take their herds to the high altitude pastures. We set up our bivouac at 2300 m altitude.
Azib Tamsoult – Toubkal Refuge (3207 m):
After breakfast, we begin a brisk morning ascent to the majestic Agulzim pass at 3350 meters altitude. From this promontory, we enjoy a superb panoramic view of the imposing ridges of the Atlas and the Aït Mizane valley. The hike continues down a narrow path to the Toubkal refuge, the starting and finishing point for many hikes. We set up camp close to the mouflon refuge.
Climbing Toubkal – Ighouliden waterfalls:
At dawn, we begin our epic ascent to the skies above Toubkal. In successive steps and over a stony path, we reach the first pass at 3600 meters altitude. We then continue our hike through undulating terrain. We end up skirting the side of the mountain before reaching the summit of Toubkal at 4167 meters. The reward is well worth the effort, with a 360° view of the Atlas Mountains and the Marrakech plain. On a clear day, we can even make out the Siroua and Saghro peaks on the horizon. Weather permitting, we take a short break at the summit of the Atlas Giant before descending to the refuge and continuing our walk towards the Irouliden waterfalls (2800 m), close to which we set up camp.
Waterfalls – Sidi Chamharouch – Armed – Imlil – Marrakech:
From M’Goun to Toubkal: We begin our descent into the Imlil valley to the murmur of water and birdsong. The mountainside path leads us to the mausoleum of the Marabout Chamharouch, a popular place of pilgrimage for Berbers. We pass through Aremd, a village perched on a hill, and continue on to Imlil, a picturesque village of stone and mud houses at 1760 m altitude. Last picnic in the Atlas landscapes before our transfer to Marrakech. Check-in at our hotel and free time to stroll through the alleys of the city’s lively souk. Dinner at leisure.
Marrakech Airport
Transfer to Marrakech airport and return flight to your destination.