In summary
-
Sports
-
Duration8 days
-
LevelIntermediate
-
DestinationAtlantic Coast of Morocco / Tessaout
-
AgeFrom the age of 18
-
CO₂-Emissions94.42 kg CO2
-
Type of stayIn a group
-
Languages
French
In a few words
The valleys of the Central High Atlas are renowned for the beauty of their villages and the warm welcome of their inhabitants . We set off to discover three of them , offering easy hikes , magnificent landscapes , and authentic encounters . We begin our trek by following the Assif Tessaoute river, which winds its way through red sandstone cliffs. The valley is cultivated, and we are captivated by the beauty of the villages perched like eagles' nests . Then we cross a mountain pass and descend into the Ait Boulli Valley , a pastoral landscape dotted with sheepfolds and grazing plateaus. From Tafanfant, we have a superb view of the last valley, the Ait Bougmez , also known as " the happy valley ," a fertile land with earthen-roofed villages and a welcoming, warm population. 3 different valleys for an authentic route , built for hikers who want to exchange , share and experience the daily life of these proud and endearing mountain people.
The highlights
-
Discovering 3 of the most beautiful and varied valleys in the Central High Atlas.
-
An easy trek through villages, gorges and grazing plateaus
-
Discovering with our team the life of the Berbers in these remote lands.
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
Management
Program
-
Flight to Marrakech (custom flight not included, please contact us).
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
You can arrive in Marrakech at your leisure, either on the day itself or a few days before, depending on your preference and the flight you find. We can, of course, arrange your flight and airport pick-up if you wish; just contact us.Day 1 -
Tessaoute Valley: Imi n'Tissili – Aït Ali N'Itto (1860 m).
- Transportation Minibus - 04h - 240km
- Activity Hiking
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We depart by minibus towards the Tessaoute Valley. We pass through Demnate and the natural bridge of Imi N'Iffri. We have lunch en route, and our vehicle drops us off in the small village of Imi N'Tissili, the starting point of our trek. We pass through the village of Fakhour before reaching our guesthouse in Aït Ali N'Itto. There, we meet our team of muleteers who will accompany us this week.Day 2 -
Tessaoute Valley: Aït Ali N'Itto – Imi N'Ikkis (2200 m).
- Activity Hiking
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We continue our exploration of the Tessaoute Valley, sometimes cut off from the world during the harsh winters of the Central High Atlas. We walk sometimes along the mountainside trail, sometimes along the banks of the Assif Tessaoute, which winds its way between impressive cliffs. We pass through beautiful villages like Ichbakan, villages of stone and earth clinging to the mountainside or perched on promontories. We arrive in the afternoon at our campsite, the sheepfolds of Imi N'Ikkis.Day 3 -
Tessaoute Gorges – Tizi N'Ghougoult – Ait Bouli Valley
- Activity Hiking
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today we're taking a trail that follows the impressive Assif Tessaoute gorges. The red earth contrasts with the green of the wheat and barley fields and the blue of the sky, which sometimes struggles to break through the cliffs. We leave the gorges, climbing to the Tizi N'Ghougoult pass at 2910m before descending to the Imi N'Waqqa N'Tfira pass. We'll camp at the foot of the pass.Day 4 -
Aït Bouli Valley: N'Waqqa N'Tfira Gorges – Ifri N'Aït Kherfela (2600 m).
- Activity Hiking
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today we reach the village of Ghouglout to descend the Assif N'Waqqa N'Tfira river. Around us, holm oaks and junipers grow on the mountainside, and shepherds accompany their flocks of goats and sheep to the high pastures. We arrive in the late afternoon at the village of Ifri N'Aït Kherfela, where we camp in this vast pastoral landscape.Day 5 -
Ait Bouli Valley - Tafanfant Plateau - Ait Bougmez Valley
- Activity Hiking
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We set off for our last beautiful day of hiking. We begin with a climb through juniper trees, which offers a superb view of the Ait Boulli valley below. We descend onto the Tafanfant grazing plateau, where here and there we see herds and their shepherds in a rugged landscape where a small river flows peacefully. We overlook the Ait Bougmez valley, where the two marabouts, Sidi Chitta and Moussa, stand proudly. We settle into our guesthouse.Day 6 -
Ait Bougmez Valley – Idoukalen – Imelghas – Marrakech.
- Transportation Minibus - 05h - 170km
- Activity Hiking
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
In the morning, we explore this fertile valley. We walk from village to village until we reach the shrine of Sidi Moussa. We meet farmers who will undoubtedly invite us to share tea with bread and olive oil or almonds from their fields. We arrive at the village of Imelghas where we have lunch at the charming Dar Itrane guesthouse (the house of stars) before our minibus takes us to our final destination, Marrakech. Dinner is at your leisure.Day 7 -
Return flight (custom flight not included, please contact us)
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Departure after breakfast. If you wish to extend your trip, we would be happy to discuss the various options with you; speak to your travel advisor who is an expert on the country!Day 8
Note
Accommodation
Hotel :
In Marrakech, you will be accommodated in a good standard 4**** hotel, which we have carefully chosen based on their location, tranquility and cleanliness.
As a guide (this may exceptionally change depending on availability), this trip most often stops at the Meriem
Cottage:
We have tried to select the guesthouses based on their charm and comfort, but also on the friendliness and helpfulness of your host. The guesthouses are equipped with showers and facilities designed to accommodate several hikers. Comfort levels may vary depending on the stage of the hike.
Bivouac:
Chosen in quiet, spectacular locations, and ideally near a water source, the tents are igloo-style, accommodating 2 people for three, with 5cm thick foam mattresses and individual fitted sheets for your comfort. A mess tent, a traditional Berber tent, is provided for your meals and evenings, complete with folding chairs and a table. Finally, for your convenience, we set up a toilet tent and a shower tent, and water is provided (when possible) in a basin for washing.
Access
Go to the starting point
Price details
The price includes
- Local transfers
- Accommodation
- Full board except in Marrakech
- The local team of drivers, muleteers and cook
- A French-speaking Berber tour guide
The price does not include
- The round-trip flight to Marrakech
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
- Meals in Marrakech (approximately 2 meals at €12 per meal)
- Tips for the local staff (at your discretion)
Options
- Extra night before stay - Double room : CHF82.33 / unit
- Extra night before stay - Single room : CHF82.33 / unit
- Additional night after stay - Single room : CHF82.33 / unit
- Additional night after stay - Double room : CHF82.33 / unit
- Flight booking : CHF73.18 / person
- Airport pick-up and transfer to the hotel : CHF22.87 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
We provide the equipment for group camping and both group and individual cooking.
Equipment to bring
- Walking stick(s)
- Earplugs or Hears, your choice.
- Notepad and pen, a good book, a deck of cards...
- A bag for dirty laundry, so you can separate it in your main bag from your clean clothes.
- Sleeping bag: comfortable, adapted to your size, rather mummy-shaped (closer to the body and with a hood that closes) with a side zip closure for opening at your convenience.
It is necessary to adapt your sleeping bag to the temperatures encountered, determined according to your travel dates and the region visited. We advise you to choose a sleeping bag that is comfortable at 10°C below the lowest average temperature encountered (for example, if you are traveling in the Atlas Mountains in April (see temperature chart), you need a sleeping bag that is comfortable at: 3 - 10 = -7°C).
A sleeping bag that's comfortable at 5°C will also be comfortable at 20°C; simply open it to allow air to circulate inside. Conversely, if you already have a sleeping bag that's comfortable at 10°C, for example, a fleece sleeping bag liner will make it about 5 degrees warmer.
- Cotton sleeping bag liner
- Toiletry bag and towel
- Small personal pharmacy
- Sunscreen cream and stick (face and lips)
- Headlamp with spare batteries and bulbs
- Gourd
- Toilet paper + lighter for destruction
- A multi-purpose pocket knife is preferable (note: it must be packed in your checked luggage!).
Clothing to bring
Clothing, from head to toe:
- High hiking boots
- Tennis shoes or walking sandals: to be worn in Marrakech or in the evening at the campsite, they should be taken in addition to the closed shoes mentioned above.
- Shoes/sandals for walking in water.
- Socks: light for the day and warm (wool or looped) for the evening.
- Trekking trousers and Bermuda shorts (avoid shorts or skirts: see "Etiquette").
- Swimsuit
- On your skin: this is your first layer of insulation, so take good care of it. Fine technical fibers, like Carline or Polartec, are very effective because they are warm, supple, comfortable, and lightweight. They also dry very quickly, which is a real plus when the evening chill sets in early.
- Shirts or T-shirts
- Warm sweater or fleece: the latter has the advantage of being durable, warm, lightweight, and quick-drying, with the added benefit of being soft to the touch. The best-known fibers are Polartec, Carline, and Ulfrotté.
- Rain cape or Kway in case of rain and/or wind.
- Hat or cap with neck protection
- Category 3 sunglasses
- Warm and windproof jacket: down or Gore-Tex jacket. The most effective jackets against wind and rain are made of Gore-Tex or Micropore, "breathable" materials that allow for rapid wicking of perspiration while maintaining perfect insulation.
- A pair of gloves and a hat
They traveled with us
The Paulin team
We are sorry to hear that.
Help us improve this page. Tell us what information you would have liked to see.
Have a question about this trip?
Select the type of request, and we will get back to you shortly.
- Valid for a first booking on our site, with no minimum purchase required.
- Can be combined with any other current promotion.
- Not valid on air transport, carbon offsetting and insurance.
- All you need to do is subscribe to our newsletter.
- You will receive your promo code by email immediately after registering.
- ✅ A 100% identical offer: Same dates, same services, same sales conditions.
- ✅ A public and accessible price: The offer must be proposed by a French professional website, in euros.
- ❌ Flights and transport in your name: Airline or train tickets already issued in your name are not refundable under this guarantee.
- ❌ Specific named services: Certain personalized services (such as a special permit or a named registration for a race or accommodation) may be excluded.
- You pay a 30% deposit today to reserve your stay.
- The balance (the remaining 70%) must be paid no later than 30 days before departure.
- ✅ Of an amount greater than €300.
- ✅ Whose departure is in more than 30 days.