DAY 1

Transfer from Aït Bou Guemez Valley to Agoudal n’Tamda

You will be met by your guide in the fertile Aït Bou Guemez Valley and transfer to the summer pastures of the Aït Atta in the High Atlas Mountains. Here we will meet the Aït Atta family who wish to share their migration trek with us. The rest of the day is free for you to explore their summer pastures, overlooked by Jebel Azourki (3677m). We camp on the pastures with the family.

1 hour transfer.

DAY 2

Walk from Agoudal n’Tamda to Ikkis

Today we break camp. Our Aït Atta family does likewise, as they prepare to leave their summer pastures behind and begin their return south to their homeland of Jebel Sahro. We rise steadily to cross our first mountain pass, Tizi n’Tirghist (2629m), and descend to the valley floor at Ikkis where we sleep for the night.

3 hours walking.

DAY 3

Walk from Ikkis to Imi Tizi n’Igourane

We leave Ikkis behind, climbing out of the valley again to enjoy a terrific panorama, including views of the distant Aït Bou Guemez Valley behind us. Still we rise, skirting around the southern flanks of Jebel Azourki, crossing the mountain pass of Tizi n’Taghfist (2540m), and then walking along the length of the shore of Lake Izourar. Finally, we reach the pastures of Imi Tizi n’Igourane, tucked away at the head of a side valley, where we camp for the night.

6 hours walking.

DAY 4

Walk from Imi Tizi n’Igourane to Tamgmart

We climb steeply behind the pastures to cross Tizi n’Igourane (3211m) and then work our way around the impressive Jebel Tamaracht (3391m). The landscape becomes still more dramatic as we round Jebel Woamzrouka (3432m), crossing five successive passes, culminating in Tizi n’ Tamgmart (2976m), before finally descending to our camp at Tamgmart down by the river’s edge.

5 to 6 hours walking.

DAY 5

Walk from Tamgmart to Assif Taghaghast Valley

We follow the river down valley, passing a series of Aït Atta summer cave dwellings and then the ruins of Tighremt Majdi, formerly an Aït Atta stronghold, before ascending the valley side. There are wonderful views back across the Majdi gorge, while the Mgoun massif can be seen rising far beyond. Finally, we descend steeply into the Taghaghast Valley where we camp for the night.

5 to 6 hours walking.

DAY 6

Walk from Assif Taghaghast Valley to Imejgane

We follow the Assif Taghaghast onwards, rising briefly to cross Tizi n’Toudat (2658m), then descending across a vast expanse of beautiful green pasture. We pass through rocky gorges and emerge at Imejgane where we camp on a ledge above the valley floor.

4 hours walking.

DAY 7

Walk from Imejgane to Ait Youl

We drop back to the Imejgane Valley floor before rising again to cross Tizi n’Mident (2155m). From here, the panoramic view ranges from Ighil Mgoun (4068m) in the High Atlas to the west around to Amalou n’Mansour (2712m), the highest mountain in Jebel Sahro, to the south. The trail continues to rise and fall before reaching a river bed which leads us onwards to the outskirts of the village of Aït Youl (1600m) in the Upper Dades Valley.

4 hours walking.

DAY 8

Walk from Ait Youl to Tagitamt

Our path leads through Aït Youl, past an impressive, large kasbah, formerly owned by the House of Glaoui, and then through the small villages of Orghood and Aït Mootd. We climb out of the Dades Valley and cross Tizi Madnt to reach the vast expanse of the Dades flood plain, pitching our tents at the traditional transhumance halt of Tagitamt.

3 hours walking.

DAY 9

Walk from Tagitamt to Tanout Tamlalte

We head across the Dades flood plain towards the village of Tagdilt (1663m) and finally enter Jebel Sahro. First heading through the “Valley of the Birds”, we climb steeply onto an open plateau sprinkled with juniper trees. We camp at the edge of the plateau at Tanout Tamlalte.

5 hours walking.

DAY 10

Walk from Tanout Tamlalte to Azarzm

We head down the plateau across rocky ground, enjoying far-reaching views throughout our descent. We look across the eastern peaks of Jebel Sahro to Amalou n’Mansour and to the Bani Mountains in the distant south. We arrive at the pastures of Azarzm, our camping spot for the night.

5 hours walking.

DAY 11

Walk from Azarzm to Agersidal

From Azarzm, we descend further to cross Tizi n’Ouarg (2282m), rise again to the impressive volcanic rock tower of Kouaouch (2592m), and then descend once more to the idyllic summer pastures of Agersidal (2256m). Unfortunately, this is as far as our journey takes us in the company of the Aït Atta family. Wishing to maximise the use of the pastures here, they will stay at Agersidal for another week or two. We camp for a final night with the family.

3 hours walking.

DAY 12

Walk from Aguersidal to Bab n’Ali

After breakfast, we say goodbye to the family and descend from Agersidal, passing below the impressive rock face of Tassigdelt Tamajgalt, to arrive at the small green oasis of Igli (1708m), surrounded by wonderful natural rock formations. We carry on southwards towards Bab n’Ali, the iconic conglomerate twin rocks towers. Considered by many to be the jewel of Sahro, they make a fitting location at which to end our trek. Here we meet the road, join our vehicle, and transfer to Nekob (1051m).

6 hours walking, 1 hour transfer.