Outline
Itinerary
The
following itinerary is intended as a working guide only and is
subject to variation as a result of weather, local conditions and
group progress.
We reserve the right to alter (lengthen or
shorten) any trek at any time if necessary.
Local
time: GMT-1 BST and GMT as British winter time.
q
Day 1: Sunday
flight to Marrakech (450 m). Transfer to
the Hotel Foucauld. You can make use of Easyjet, Thompson or Ryan Air flights
(lower cost) as a ‘LandOnly’ Customer. You will need to make
your own way to hotel (15 mins by
taxi around 100 Dh, or by public Bus No: 41, 20 Dh) you will have
time to look around the vibrant central square near the hotel: the
‘Djemaa el Fna’. There are plenty of good restaurants around
there to enjoy a good tagine or even a pizza.
q
Day 2: We
make an early start for the long drive over the magnificent Tichka
pass (2220m), one of only two main passes through the High Atlas
chain. We have lunch
in Ouarzazate overlooking
the Kasbah (at own expense, around 120 Dh), and then drive past
the Barrage El Mansour Eddahb Lake along the Route des Kasbahs in
the Dades Valley, arriving via Qalaat Mgouna at Ait Boubker –
Ait Youl village mid-afternoon to stay the night in a simple
Berber gite. Dormitory style sleeping on mats, all in the same
lounge. Usually cold water washing.
q
Day 3: We
begin our walk by heading south towards the heart of the Sahro
range. A half-days walk will bring us through hot dry riverbeds to
our campsite on a terrace at Titkit
(1800 m), which affords views to the north, and the Mgoun
Massif - spectacular if snowcapped. (4 hours walking. Total
Ascent: 519m / Descent:223m).
q
Day 4:
We continue to walk South, up and over a low pass, entering
a delightful gorge then heading up to a baked-dry plateau where we
lunch by a well head and stream. In the afternoon we climb up to
the Tagmout Pass (2000m) again giving wonderful views of the huge
Mgoun mountains to the North, then descend to the east of the
village of Tagmout to camp on a plateau (1825m). (5-6 hours
walking. Total Ascent: 606m / Descent 543m).
q
Day 5: Some
of the great contrasts in scenery of the Sahro are seen today. Our
morning-only walk takes us East along a (often dry) river valley,
and then we enter a small gorge with clear rock pools, and soon a
classic Kasbah appears between birches and palms; although this
one, long abandoned, is slowly dissolving back into the river
bank. We continue to our camp near a Kasbah in
Assaka-n-Ait-Ouizzine (1650m/4 hours. Total Ascent: 180m / Descent
325m) much to the amusement of the locals!! This is the biggest
village that you will visit on the trek (except Ait - Youl, where
you started) and it offers good opportunities for photography and
observing local life as the locals take time to observe you! You
might go out and visit a local house in the afternoon. Perhaps
women will be washing clothes in the river, or someone will be
preparing almonds or dates. Maybe the little children will want to
practice their English or French on you!
q
Day 6: A
wonderful walk full of interest and scenic contrast. We descend
along a river valley into an ever-deepening gorge of rock pools
full of fish and frogs. You will need to cross the stream many
times, but it is normally shallow enough to rock-hop. Just after
the gorge opens out we have lunch. In the afternoon we head into
scenery like that of a Western movie across a hot dusty plain,
peppered with little settlements, towards some amazing rock
formations. Nomads and perhaps their camels observe our progress
inscrutably. After a small col beneath a giant rock-face we
descend to camp by the small village of Ihazzoun-n-Imcas. (1330 m)
(7 hours walking. Total
Ascent: 381m / Descent 667m).
q
Day 7: We
head up towards the dramatic Mesa of Bab-n-Ali. We may camp at our
lunch stop - a truly memorable spot near Bab-n-Ali, surrounded by
strange volcanic rock shapes. Our camp is at around 1425m (5 hours
walking. Total Ascent: 343m / Descent 154 m). The location of the
campsite today will perhaps vary depending upon other groups in
the area and your guide’s knowledge and preference. During the
afternoon you will have plenty of opportunities to wander and take
photos and explore the ‘badlands’
etc. Note that the conglomerates
around here are loose / brittle
and dangerous for
scrambling.
q
Day 8: A
lovely walk to the beautiful spot of Igli to camp. Lunch maybe a
rock pool, where there maybe a possibility of a bathe (but not in
December – too cold!) You are surrounded by beautiful rock
formations today and children may try to sell you crystals that
they have scraped out of the strata here abouts! Igli is a farm at
the bottom of the Tassigdelt
escarpment, and across
from the rocky
formation known as the Camel. At certain times of day and at
certain angles, you can see why! The rock looks like a Camel
squatting on its haunches, with a sleepy eye!
The entrepreneurial owner of the Igli ‘farm’ may be
offering soft drinks, souvenirs and warm showers for a few Dirhams.
Once you are settled at Igli there are opportunities for
additional short walks if you want to (Igli 1750 m) (3 1/2 hours
walking. Total Ascent: 645m / Descent 374 m).
q
Day 9: Today
is the toughest day of the tour, but perhaps also the most
beautiful: An early start takes us behind and perhaps up onto
the rocky escarpment of Tassigdelt-Tamajgalt. Look out for a rock
Mesa known as The Camel. We climb on to Tizi-n-Ouarg for lunch. We
then ascend Kouaouch, with a short scramble up to the summit. This
at 2600m is our trek high point. Views in all directions are
breathtaking if it is clear. We then head west for about 6 kms,
passing a couple of cols to arrive at our 2100m camp in the almond
terraces at Almoue- nouareul. (6 hours walking, total Ascent:
1183m /Descent 797m).
q
Day 10:
There are a couple of steep passes ahead today! The walk is
different from anything so far as we head West into sharply folded
igneous and metamorphic rocks similar to the High Atlas with
steeper ascents and descents. Fine views again ensue. The very
high pass is called Tizi-n-Timircht 2200m, and this brings us back
to the extensive views northerly again. A long descent along a
river valley brings us to camp at 1960m, at the tiny settlement at
Irhioui. (7 hours walking. Total ascent: 542m / Descent: 747m).
q
Day 11: A
gentle morning’s walk West takes us via some tiny settlements
long the ’Tizqui’ River bank, with several
stream crosses once again assisted by boulder hopping. We
soon arrive at an attractive farm by the river and a large cistern
and well complex. The self-sufficiency of the family living near our campsite
is amazing in terms of crop diversity, animal husbandry and
irrigation. They even have beehives. At dusk you may notice one of
the young girls bringing all the goats in to be corralled. They
will have spent the whole day out seeking grazing pastures, and
you may notice her going out with them again in the morning. You
may also notice in the evening other daughters driving donkeys
into the ‘farm’ laden with cut grass feed. You may then see
the girls making bread in the external bread oven. The family
appear to be constantly challenging the harsh environment in which
they live (3-4 hours walking. Total Ascent: 88m / Descent: 399m).
q
Day 12: Another
gentle riverbed crossing walk brings us back along the last few
desert kilometers to the gite in Ait Boubka – Ait Youl for
lunch. It is quite a shock to leave the quiet Sahro and see so
many people and hear traffic. Depending upon its state, you will
either wade across the Dades River or use strategically places
tree trunks! The walk
up into the Ait villages is
very interesting, passing by dissolving Kasbahs of families
who have moved into more
modern housing in the town. There are beautiful birch trees lining
the river bank, which gleam silver in the bright sunlight.
Traditional Berber singing in the courtyard of our house is
possible in the evening...bring Asprin but not because of any
alcohol! (4 hours walking. Total Ascent: 62 m / Descent 172m).
q
Day 13:
We drive back to Marrakech, stopping en route near Tizi n' Tika
near where we have lunch (Included). We return to Marrakech and
the Hotel Foucauld late afternoon.
End of trek buffet dinner at the hotel (included). This may
be provided tomorrow night instead.
q
Day 14:
Morning tour of the souks (markets) of Marrakech for those last
minute presents. Particularly good are the products that are made
of wood and leather, but you will find plenty of interesting items
including dates and walnuts. The leader will be able to help you
find items that you may want, but we leave the haggling up to
you... it is all, too stressful! As an alternative, go early by bus or taxi to the beautiful
Marjorelle Gardens soon after breakfast and before the crowds
arrive! A beautiful relaxing and cool place for
photography and pondering. You could then walk back
into the Medina and find the
Ben Youssef Medressa, a 16th century Islamic
teaching college, next visit the
Marrakech Museum and the 11th Century Koubba
next door: the oldest remaining structure in the city, and the
source of its distinctive architecture. In the afternoon we
recommend that you go to the Saadian tombs and maybe if you still
have clothes to look smart (ish) in, attempt to get into the
famous Mamoumia Hotel for a drink...at a price. This was the hotel that Sir Winston Churchill
often stayed in and is still, by World standards, excellent.
Lunch
and dinner today is at your expense. You may like to eat in the
Djemaa El Fna, the central square in the city, which at night
takes on vibrance and personality that is unique in the World,
(just watch your pockets though). Quite a few Westerners
eat actually in the square, where there are many barbecues
lighting up (and smoking up) the place. Here you can eat for
around 50 dirhams (including a soft drink) fish and chips, kebabs,
and chicken. The advantage of the place is that you can actually
see how your food is being cooked and get them to redo it if
necessary. On the other hand the meat may be a bit ropey to start
with!
q
Day
15:
Transfer to the airport (15 minutes) and fly Marrakech to London, normally an early morning flight.
(Note that most the duty free
shops sell items in Euros/Pounds /Dollars only, although if you do
have a few Dirhams left some
airport cafes will serve you drinks for them). |
Grade
The
trek is graded easy – moderate and is well within the
capabilities of any normally healthy and active individual who
takes part in regular hill walking. The route is not difficult and
even the 2600 m highpoint is optional, but you should be used to
walking in fairly loose rubbly terraine, and be prepared for
little vegetation cover. It can be pretty hot on the lower parts
of the trek especially on autumn departures, although it is a dry
heat. On the Christmas trek, there maybe snow in the mountains and
overnight temperatures can be cold at any altitude. There are
times when you have to cross streams and the water level varies
depending on rainfall and snow melt but will not in normal
circumstances be deep. Water resistant boots are advised for these
reasons. Most days
are fairly short and our main baggage is carried by mules.
Campsites can be dusty and sometimes low river and well water reserves may not permit full washing, some people
bring alcohol based washing gels or ‘wet wipes’. On this tour
it is important to have the attitude of mind to accept and
appreciate a culture very different from our own.
Climate
The
best time to go trekking in the Jbel Sahro region is between
October and April; outside these months it is uncomfortably hot.
Expect average daytime temperatures to vary between 10-25 C
during December and January. And between 18-35 C in
October/November and February-March. There can, however seldom, be
some grey skies, rain and even snow at the highest altitudes of
the trek (Dec/Feb). Night time temperatures can vary from
pleasantly cool to cold. You may experience some frosty mornings
during December and the highest camps will probably drop way below
freezing overnight.
Equipment & Clothing
In
addition to a good pair of broken in (but not breaking down)
walking boots, a 2-3 season sleeping bag (3-4 season for December
departures), a fleece, sunglasses a hat and a couple of water
bottles (with water purification) are essential. The sun can be
excessively strong, and cotton long sleeved shirts and Sunbloc are
very important. Bring
more cold weather clothing
for December departures as it can be particularly
cold over night. A detailed list of recommended clothing
and equipment is included in our pre-departure booklet, which is
sent with confirmation of your reservation.
Food
All
food is included once on trek. In Marrakech you will be staying on
a Bed and Breakfast basis, although there is one evening meal
included at the hotel on your return. Lunch on the drive out at
Quarzazate is not included, but lunch on the return drive is.
The
food that you will eat is very healthy on trek, including
Couscous, Tagine, olives nuts and fruit. Please decide as soon as
possible once you arrive on trek whether you are going to be a
vegetarian etc. This is not a problem for our Berber cook crew, as
apart from the fish (Tuna and Sardine) often served at lunch time
with vegetable salad; there is not normally a lot of meat and when
meat is available separate dishes such as vegetarian tagine, can
always be prepared. Many people bring their own treats and food
supplements if they have special dietary requirements. It is very
difficult or impossible to get a lot of common western items
actually once on trek, but things have improved slightly over the
years.
Average
lunch or dinner costs are about 100-150 Dirhams without drinks.
Soft drinks cost between
5 Dirhams and about 10 Dirhams for a Coke. Freshly squeezed
orange juice is also highly recommended 5D - 7D when available.
Berber tea varies between 2 - 9 D.
Music
Berbers
love their rhythm driven music and chanting repetitive choruses,
and a good crew will bang on pans, water bottles and plates
for percussion. Some walkers soon get tired of this, others love
it and get involved.
Western music is more melody driven and is hard to reconcile with
the Berber style, but if you are good with music or if you
can hammer out a song like ‘Taxman’ then you are in good
company!
Tipping
Rather
like in Nepal (if you have been) the Berbers expect a tip for good
service. We do stress this is voluntary, but more and more they
see it as part of their income. On the last night on trek your
leader will quietly encourage you to make some kind of
presentation; any monies or material items will be gratefully
received and shared between them.
Local
Customs and Laws
In
Morocco, access to Mosques and holy places is forbidden to
non-Muslims. A few exceptions are the Hassan II Mosque in
Casablanca, the Mohammed V Mausoleum in Rabat, the Moulay Ismail
Mausoleum at Meknes and the Moulay Ali Cherif Mausoleum at Rissani.
Homosexuality
is considered a criminal offence in Morocco. Sexual
relations outside marriage are also punishable by law and there
have been a number of arrests in 2007.
Avoid
provocative clothing.
Accept
mint tea when offered, it is a sign of hospitality
Avoid
drinking, eating and smoking in public in daytime during the
period of Ramadan
If
you want to photograph somebody, don't forget to ask for
permission.
Escorted departures 2010
Sun
04 April – Sun 18 April
Sun
10 October – Sun 24 October
Sun
12 December – Sun 26
December
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