A trek in Morocco with a difference: live like a nomad. Join a semi-nomadic, transhumance Berber family of the Aït Atta warrior tribe, on their great annual migration trek from the High Atlas Mountains to their homeland in Jebel Sahro
A trek in Morocco with a difference: live like a nomad. Join a semi-nomadic, transhumance Berber family of the Aït Atta warrior tribe, along with their entire livestock of camels, sheep and goats, hens, donkeys and dogs, on their great annual migration trek from their hereditary summer pastures in the High Atlas Mountains back south to their homeland in Jebel Sahro in September. Alternatively, reverse this trek and join them in Jebel Sahro for their annual summer migration trek, heading northwards back to their summer pastures in the High Atlas Mountains in May. With hardly a permanent settlement to be seen along the entirety of this route, follow an exceptional, remote and high-level trail only ever used by transhumance families on their migration trek.
Morocco
Mgoun & Sahro
Duration
12-16 days
& Tribal Trek
Challenging/Tough
This trek is available as
trek only or with add-ons
Intro to Aït Atta Tribe Transhumance Trek
A trek in Morocco with a difference: live like a nomad. Join a semi-nomadic, transhumance Berber family of the Aït Atta warrior tribe, along with their entire livestock of camels, sheep and goats, hens, donkeys and dogs, on their great annual migration trek from their hereditary summer pastures in the High Atlas Mountains back south to their homeland in Jebel Sahro in September. Alternatively, reverse this trek and join them in Jebel Sahro for their annual summer migration trek, heading northwards back to their summer pastures in the High Atlas Mountains in May. With hardly a permanent settlement to be seen along the entirety of this route, follow an exceptional, remote and high-level trail only ever used by transhumance families on their migration trek.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Either start or finish your trek in the beautiful Aït Bou Guemez Valley in the High Atlas Mountains
- Meet and get to know a semi-nomadic, transhumance Berber family of the Aït Atta tribe and understand their way of life
- Accompany the family with their entire stock of sheep, goats and camels on their remote, high level migration trek
- Walk for 11 days along a trail only used by semi-nomadic families through both the High Atlas Mountains and Jebel Sahro
PLACES TO BE VISITED
- Aït Bou Guemez Valley – High Atlas Mountains – Jebel Sahro – Nekob
KEY INFORMATION
- 11 days of challenging/tough trekking, maximum altitude – 3211m
- 11 nights camping
- You can start your trek either in May (heading south to north) or September (heading north to south), the precise date of the start of the migration trek being chosen by the transhumance family near the time
- It is essential to have flexibility in your dates as the precise start date will only be decided near to the time and the finish date can be affected by local factors
- On occasion local weather conditions may require the trekking route to be altered in the interests of your safety
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Full escort: an official mountain guide of the Aït Atta tribe – our treks are fully escorted by an English-speaking, local, official mountain guide, muleteers and a cook
- Accommodation: 11 nights camping
- Meals: lunch and dinner on Day 1, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Days 2 to 11, plus breakfast and lunch on Day 12, all including bottled mineral water and hot drinks
- Transport:local transport from Aït Bou Guemez Valley to the Aït Atta summer pastures at the start of your trek and from Bab n’Ali to Nekob at the end of your trek
- Documentation: provided documents include a personalised itinerary for your trek, a full risk assessment of your trekking route, a bespoke kit list and facts about the country.
- Plus add-ons
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- International flights
- Sleeping bags
- Travel insurance
- Tips
- Soft drinks & items of a personal nature
Best Season
May & September only
DATES
TREK ONLY
- Tues 19th May – Sat 30th May 2026
- Mon 14th September – Friday 25th September 2026
DATES
TREK WITH ADD-ONS
- Sun 17th May – Mon 1st June 2026
- Sat 12th September – Sunday 27th September 2026
PRICES
Trek only
Including Add-ons
£1200pp
£1600pp
Maximum group size – 12
Bespoke, private tours: Please talk with us if you would prefer a private, bespoke, tailor made tour for dates of your own choosing.
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.
Aït Atta Tribe Transhumance Trek
With ADD-ONS
Our Aït Atta Tribe Transhumance Trek is also available with add-ons – which include:
- Airport pick-up upon arrival and transfer to a riad in the medina of Marrakech
- 1 night’s accommodation with breakfast in a riad in Marrakech before your trek
- Transfer from Marrakech either to Aït Bou Guemez Valley (September) or Jebel Sahro (May) for the start of your trek
- 1 night’s accommodation with breakfast and evening meal in local accommodation either in Aït Bou Guemez Valley or Nekob at the start of your trek
- 1 night’s accommodation with breakfast and evening meal in a small hotel in Nekob or Aït Bou Guemez Valley at the end of your trek
- Transfer from Nekob or Aït Bou Guemez Valley back to Marrakech at the end of your trek
- 1 night’s accommodation with breakfast in a riad in Marrakech at the end of your trek
- Transfer back to the airport for your departure from Morocco
- All transfers are taken in a modern, air-conditioned minibus or 4×4 vehicle with professional driver.
