Ait Bougmaz Trek 6 days

Day 1: Marrakech – Tabant – Ait Said – Azib n’Ikkis

Depart Marrakech by car and meet our guide and mules in Agouti (1850m). We then set off on an easy 3 -4 hour walk to our campsite near the summer pastures of Azib n’Ikkis (2250m). On the way we pass through the typical Berber villages of Ait Said and Arouss.

Day 2: Azib n’Ikkis – Tarkeddid Refuge

A short day’s walking – about 4 to 5 hours – but quite steep, involving the ascent of the Oumskig Pass (2909m) and the very steep Aghouwri Pass (3400m) which provide magnificent views over the surrounding area. We then follow another steep, zigzag path down to the Tarkeddid refuge (2900m) where we spend the night.

Day 3: M’Goun Summit

An early start for our 4 to 5 hour climb to the summit. The ascent is not technically difficult and the magnificent views, when we reach the top, make the effort worth while!. To return, we retrace our steps – a descent of about 3 hours.

Day 4: Tarkeddid refuge – Oumsoud Pass – Oulilimt Valley– Ain Aflafal

A varied day’s walk, around the edge of the Arouss Gorge, down and along streams and rivers, and an ascent to the Oumsoud Pass (2969m). We stop for a picnic in a delightful meadow with a spring in the Oulilimt valley. After lunch we continue to follow the river for a further 3 hours until we reach the Ain Aflafal refuge.

Day 5: Ain Aflafal – Ait Imi Pass – Tabant

Today we walk for about 5 or 6 hours, returning over the Ait Imi Pass (2905m) to Tabant. Initially this is easy walking, but as we approach the Ait Imi Pass we start to climb, and there is a steep ascent at the end. From here there are views down into the M’Goun valley and on a clear day we can see the village of Tabant, our destination. The descent from Ait Imi Pass is steep and over loose scree , but after about 1 1/2 hours we arrive in the village of Ait Imi which is only about half an hour from Tabant. Stop for night.

Day 6: Tabant – Marrakech: Transfer to Marrakech, night in Hotel or Riad.

Tabant – Marrakech: Transfer to Marrakech, night in Hotel or Riad.

M’Goun is the second-highest mountain of Northern Africa following the Jebel Toubkal. The summit offers zero climbing interest. However, it is a very attractive trekking destination, particularly when added to a 10-12 day, 200-kilometer circuit that includes the spectacular M’Goun river gorges and various remote Berber villages. The summit is not difficult in summer, however freak snowstorms do occur even in July and high winds are common (we experienced flying rocks). Perhaps 20 people reach the peak daily during this period. The elevation gain from the “base camp” directly to the north of M’Goun is about 1200 meters.