Trekking in Morocco: Happy Valley in High Atlas

SUMMARY

Discover Morocco’s best kept secret with this 8-day walking and hiking trip through the Happy Valley – or Ait Bougmez in the Central High Atlas Mountains. Running along the M’goun Massif, this is home to Morocco’s third-highest mountain peak – Jebel M’goun. Traversing through rural villages, ancient ruins, lush vegetation, cascading waterfalls and fields of grain, you’ll learn about the rich culture of the Amazigh people, the history of dinosaurs who once lived here and why sometimes, exploring on foot is the only way to witness the authenticity of a place bursting with stories. Enjoy homecooked meals and stay in traditional mountain gites, while you make your way through the villages and towns of Ait Imi, Ifrane, Arous, Agouti and lakeside Bin El Ouidane – ending it all in bustling Marrakech.

TOTAL DURATION : 8 Days

GROUP SIZE : MIN 1 MAX 12

TOUR ITINERARY AND DATES

START : Marrakech

END : Marrakech

COUNTRIES VISITED : Morocco

Validity : 01 JAN 2024 To 31 DEC 2024

Day :1

Location : Marrakech

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Morocco. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you'll meet your fellow trekkers and trip leader. After, you might like to join your leader on a jaunt to Djemaa el-Fna Square in the centre of the medina. Huge crowds converge at night to see the singers, drummers, fortune tellers, dancers and bustling street food bazaars all vying for attention here. This square is one of the largest public meeting places in the world, so you’re sure to find something that catches your eye tonight.    

Day :2

Location : Aarous

After breakfast this morning, say goodbye to Marrakech and take a private transfer towards the orange hills of Denmate. When you arrive in Denmate, you’ll stop for lunch at the Imi n’Ifri Natural Bridge. Then, continue your journey into the Atlas Mountains. Stop for a short walk through Ait Bou Oulli – a small town and commune in the Azilal Province with traditional red-hued houses among rolling red-dirt hills. Drive through an impressive 2700 m mountain col before heading down to the valley of Ait Abbas and arriving at your lodge in the commune village of Arous. The Arous Valley feels like an untouched gem, with the rugged terrain flanked by towering mountains and dotted with shrubbery. Take a free evening to explore on foot or relax, then join your group to swap stories over dinner.

Day :3

Location : Ait Imi

This morning, begin your trekking adventure with a few small trails in the fields of Ait Bougmez – coined by the French as Happy Valley. The valley is home to Morocco’s third-highest peak – Jebel M’goun, which runs along the M’goun Massif in the Central High Atlas Mountains. Passing from village to village, you’ll hike quietly in the shade of the walnut and apple trees that make up the richness of this valley’s landscape. In the village of Idoukalen, you’ll be invited to enjoy a delicious mint tea (or several) by the collective granary of Sidi Chita – a stone ruin that was once a holy house of Marabout (a Muslim holy man or hermit) that stands on the hill, overlooking a beautiful view of the valley. These community granaries were built in Morocco to protect the yearly harvest from floods and other natural disasters and are still used today throughout the country. The locals here are very welcoming, so this is a good chance to connect, ask about their lives in the mountains and share a moment of connection. Walk to Aguerd n'Ouzrou, where your leader will point out the ancient traces of dinosaurs – before settling into your gite (mountain home) for the night in the village of Ait Imi.

Day :4

Location : Ifrane

This morning, continue your adventure through the mountains. Stop at the village of Dibaqliwen for a visit to the most intriguing dinosaur tracks in Morocco. Learn about the history of this land from your local tour leader, then continue your journey into the pastoral world of local shepherds and their herds of goats and sheep. Walk to a high pass in the small chain of Adazen to the other side of the Happy Valley before arriving in the small village of Ifrane. Here, you’ll stay in another traditional gite, enjoying dinner with your group and spending the night.

Day :5

Location : Agouti

This morning after breakfast, appreciate the landscape of Ifrane once more and then set off for the day’s adventure. Descend the valley on the bank of Ait Hkem and wander across several villages where the cereal culture remains strong. Your trek will take you through the many grain and cereal crops under the shade of hundred-year-old walnut trees. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the locals who live here, learning about their way of life and rich culture. Stop for lunch along the way. After, take a transfer to the village of Agouti, where you’ll have a group dinner and spend the night.

Day :6

Location : Bin el Ouidane

After breakfast this morning, you’ll be transferred to picturesque Bin El Ouidane – a small town surrounding a striking blue lake and dam of the same name. Head to the White Water gite for a delicious Moroccan lunch with your group, then head out on a scenic walk around the reservoir, enjoying the beautiful views surrounding you. Then, see the landscape from a different perspective. Tonight, you’ll enjoy a group dinner before heading to your hotel for the night.

Day :7

Location : Marrakech

After breakfast this morning, depart the glittering blue reservoir town of Bin El Ouidane and begin your return journey. Along the way, you’ll visit the stunning Ouzoud waterfalls – a collective name for several cascades that empty into the Slaves’ River gorge. Walk around the waterfalls, take photos, and then continue your journey back to colourful Marrakech. When you arrive, you have the rest of the day free to explore, choose an optional activity or find a great café to sit and people-watch in the medina. Maybe head out with your group tonight to Djemaa el-Fna for a farewell dinner full of Moroccan street food favourites, like snail soup, tagine and couscous.

Day :8

Location : Marrakech

Your adventure ends after breakfast this morning. If you wish to spend more time in Marrakech, just speak to your booking agent.