Royal Palaces & Ancient Souks in Marrakech
See Berber Culture & Villages
Walk in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains
Walking in Morocco awakens your senses. Just imagine the scent of spices wafting out of villagers houses, the patch of colours from the ochre buildings, fruit orchards, lush, green valleys and snow-capped peaks. Join us as we discover this beautiful country from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech to walking in the peaceful Atlas Mountains with its traditional villages.
EASY TO MEDIUM GRADE
What’s Extra
Welcome to Marrakech! Upon arrival we will transfer to our hotel.
After check in we will meet for our Welcome Drink followed by dinner in the hotel.
Today we get a full introduction to this Garden City, we visit the dramatic Almohad Koutoubia Minaret and the lavishly-decorated Saadien Tombs – some dating from the middle 1550’s. We also spend some time in the tranquil Menara Gardens and the Bahia Palace before walking through the labyrinth of narrow alleyways making up the renowned cool, colourful and aromatic Souqs of Marrakech. The Dyers’ Souq being the last to be visited because you emerge into the famous Djemâa el Fna Square (which translates as ‘Assembly of the Dead’), where, until the 19th century, the severed heads of criminals were traditionally displayed! We will see stalls of goods, from fruit to alarm clocks; snake charmers and water sellers; fortune tellers and public scribes; tumblers and nakkachat, women with syringes full of henna, soothsayers and gnaoua musicians.
We have a free day to further explore the exciting city of Marrakech. Our Tour Leader will be able to make some suggestions for sightseeing or you may just prefer to take in the city at your own leisure.
In the evening we meet up to enjoy the Chez Ali Fantasia experience which includes dinner and a folklore show.
After breakfast we will transfer to the Atlas Mountains and the village of Ouirgane where the landscape is breathtaking.
The rest of our day is at leisure before we get together in the evening for dinner at our hotel.
We set off from our hotel at 09.00 for our first full day of walking with our Moroccan Mountain Guide, heading east through fields of corn and flowers to follow alongside the river’s course up and down small hills dotted with red juniper, passing by isolated Berber hamlets until we reach the salt mines at Marigha. Here the Berbers have been mining salt using methods unchanged for centuries. We may see them riding from village to village, selling their salt from the back of their donkeys!
From here we enter the immense Tassa Ouirgane Valley via a track which leads us through more fields and orchards of apple, peach, cherry and apricot and near the vast forest of Takherkhourte until we reach our field picnic spot at the village of Tassa.
After breakfast we meet up with our Mountain Guide and transfer to the Berber village of Ijoukak. Here, at the junction of the Oueds N’Fis and Agoundis, we set off down a country lane in the foothills of the Jbel Erdouz passing the Berber villages of Souq Ijoukak, Tagountafte, Souk Larbâa and Ikhfe N’Boul. We arrive at the exterior of the riverside tribal kasbah of the once-powerful feudal chieftain Sultan Caïd Goundafa. The inner part of this now decaying palace-fortress still retains traces of its original Hispanic-Arabesque decoration. From here we continue our walk down alongside the river, following contours of the high valley of the Assif N’Fis. We come across the beautiful hidden Valley of Ijoukak, with its stream lined with hillside hamlets, orchards and ancient terraced irrigated fields. We then arrive at the small, remote stronghold settlement of Tin-Mal where we will see the fortress of high walls and strong towers, the sole survivor of the once holy 12th century city built by the founder of the Almohad dynasty. It is the only mosque in Morocco – other than the new mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca – into which a non-Muslim may enter. We may enter the mosque, built by between 1153/54 through a small, sturdy door in the corner of the main tower.
We set off for today’s walk at 09.00 from our hotel with our Moroccan Mountain Guide along mule tracks near a long salty stream to the village of Marigha Izdern. From here, with the Adrar Takherkhourte to our right, we walk alongside scattered fields of maize, seasonal wild flowers, olive trees and occasional Berber hamlets to the little village of Tinzert (‘nose’ in the Berber language). Here, surrounded by mountains, we’ll come across a centuries’ old salt mining industry. Salt has been a currency here for a very long time and is more precious to the the local people than gold! Walking on from this special village we’ll stop and enjoy our picnic amongst the olive, walnut and almond trees. After lunch our route takes us to the top of the Tizi n’Tarabaza where we can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the Plateau of Tarabaza, Khik and Moulay Brahim.
We say goodbye to the beautiful Atlas Mountains and transfer to the airport for our flight home.
We stay in comfortable hotels throughout as details below (or similar);
4* Hotel Kech – Marrakech
3* Ksar Shama – Ouirgane
Marrakech Airport to our Marrakech hotel is approximately 15 minutes.
Ouirgane hotel to Marrakech Airport is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
Three guided walks are included in the programme. Your walking guide will advise you in resort of the daily programme. The walking programme is graded as Easy to Medium and you can expect to walk between 5km to 10km per day, with some ascents/descents and sometimes rough underfoot terrain and medium altitudes involved.
Below are the distances for each walk, however, please bear in mind these are approximate and subject to change due to local conditions.
The Tassa Ouirgane National Park – 8Km
The Oued N’Fis Valley & Tin – Mal Mosque –5Km
A Ouirgane of Wild Valleys & Plateau – 10Km
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain that you will be walking.
You could be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet. If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it. Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require. Solo’s Holidays Ltd cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident, or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.
Dressing in layers is recommended, temperatures can vary in different places in Morocco. Casual evening wear is recommended and comfortable shoes for sightseeing.
Our Walking guide recommends you bring the following; Good trainers or walking boots. Rambler pole (optional), hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, camera and filled water bottle.
Please note
A reasonable level of fitness/mobility is required for sightseeing and walking.
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. Your Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection to cover drivers, porters and hotel staff of €30.00. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate add on.
We’ve been nominated for the Best Travel company for Singles Holidays. Your vote counts: Click Here to Vote.
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”
“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
