On this hike you will explore the Jebel Saghro. During a 6-day trip you’ll walk along Tagmout, the Village of Assaka-n-Aït Ouzzine, cross the Tine Ouayour Plain, climb to the summit of Jebel Kouaouch and get back to Tagdilt. (This trek can be extended by a few days.)
LOOP SAGHRO MOUNTAINS
Day 1: Ouarzazate – Aït Youl - Ashmarah (1600m)
Early morning transfer by minibus or 4WD from Ouarzazate, via El kalâa mgouna (route of 1000 Kasbahs) to Aït Youl, the starting point of our hike where we will meet the muleteers. After lunch we will gradually walk up to our first bivouac at Ashmarah. Overnight stay in tents.
Day 2: Ashmarah – Tagmoute (1790m)
Steady climb up to cross the Tizi n’Tagmout (2000m). Looking out over the mountains, we still can see the snowy peaks of the High Atlas in the north before we enter the real Saghro Mountains. We’ll start descending a beautiful but steep and rocky path to climb up again on the other side of the gorges. At the end of the day, we'll arrive to our bivouac in Tagmoute, next to a well. Overnight stay in tents.
Day 3: Tagmoute – Assaka n’Aït Ouzzine - Irhissi (1630m)
Today we’ll walk between two mountains ranges, heading to the village of Assaka n’Ait Ouzzine (1600m). After lunch we will climb up to the endless plain of Tine Ouayour (2100m) and then we’ll start the long descent with a steep path through the gorges of Irhissi at the end. Overnight stay in tents near the ruins of an old kasbah.
Day 4: Irhissi – Berkou - Igli (1733m)
Half way through our trip, we’ll follow the valley to Berkou (1900m), climb the Tizi n’Taggourt and move on to Tadaout n’Tablah where we’ll admire the fabulous rock pinnacles (including "the elephant"). Overnight stay in a gîte in Igli where you can enjoy a hot shower.
Day 5: Igli – Jebel Kouaouch - Tizi n’ouarg (2250m)
Today will be a rather tough day. From Igli we will immediately climb steeply up to a first pass where we’ll admire the beautiful view of the small village and its surroundings with shapely rock formations. After this first climb the path becomes a little less steep to the pass (2480 m) just below the Jebel Kouaouch. We’ll climb the summit (2592 m). Looking out over the mountains, we will see the snowy peaks of the High Atlas in the north and the beginning of the desert in the southeast. Via the Tizi-n-Ouarg we’ll descend to our bivouac at Almou-n-Ouarg (2250 m) where the nights can be rather cold. Overnight stay in tents.
Day 6: Tizi n’ouarg – Tagdilt - Ouarzazate
On our last day of hiking we’ll first pass Isk n’Iferd (2400m) and walk slowly down to Tagdilt for lunch. After lunch a 4WD or minibus will transfer us to Marrakech or Ouarzazate, where we will spend our last night in a hotel or riad.
Day 7: Marrakech or Ouarzazate
Got to catch that airplane!