TREK THE HEIGHTS OF IGHIL MGOUN, THE FERTILE VALLEYS OF AïT BOU GUEMEZ AND TESSAOUT, TO MEGDAZ, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE IN THE HIGH ATLAS, AND FINALLY REACH THE PRISTINE MOUNTAIN WATERS OF LAKE TAMDA
This trek is available as
trek only or with add-ons
INTRO TO THE HAPPY VALLEY TO LAKE TAMDA
HIGHLIGHTS
- Optional climbs to the summits of Ighil Mgoun (4,068m), North Africa’s third highest mountain, and Jebel Anghomar (3609m)
- Stroll around the still waters of remote Lake Tamda
- Trek through traditional Berber villages in the pristine Tessaout Valley
- Explore Megdaz, reputedly the most beautiful village in the High Atlas Mountains
- A visit to the infamous Glaoui kasbah at Telouet (only included if booked with add-ons)
PLACES TO BE VISITED
- Aït Bou Guemez Valley – Azib n’Akkis – Aghouri Est – Tarkeddid Plateau – Ighil Mgoun Summit – Tasgaiwalt – Tessaout Valley – Ait Ali n’Ito – Megdaz – Tizi Awrghiz – Tagoukht – Tizi n’Fedghat – Tizi n’Tghaghayt – Lake Tamda – Jebel Anghomar summit – Tighza
KEY INFORMATION
- 8 days of tough trekking, maximum altitude – 4,068m
- 7 nights camping in the High Atlas Mountains. (Alternatively, sleeping can be arranged in local accommodation on some of these nights, depending on the season).
- You can start your trek on any date you wish
- This trek is available throughout the year, subject to snow
- On occasion local weather conditions may require the trekking route to be altered in the interests of your safety
- If this itinerary is not exactly what you had in mind, please do contact us for a discussion as all itineraries can be adapted according to your wishes
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Full escort: our treks are fully escorted by an English-speaking, local, official mountain guide, muleteers and a cook
- Accommodation: 7 nights camping in the High Atlas Mountains. (Alternatively, sleeping can be arranged in local accommodation on some of these nights, depending on the season).
- Meals: lunch and dinner on Day 1, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Days 2 to 7, plus breakfast and lunch on Day 8, all including bottled mineral water and hot drinks
- 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
June to October
DATES
TREK ONLY
- Wed 17th June – Wed 24th June 2026
- Wed 15th July – Wed 22nd July 2026
- Wed 12th August – Wed 19th Aug 2026
- Wed 16th September – Wed 23rd September 2026
- Mon 26th October – Sun 1st November 2026
DATES
TREK WITH ADD-ONS
- Mon 15th June – Fri 26th June 2026
- Mon 13th July – Fri 24th July 2026
- Mon 10th August – Fri 21st August 2026
- Mon 14th September – Fri 25th September 2026
- Sat 24th October – Tue 3rd November 2026
PRICES
Trek only
Including Add-ons
£800pp
£1200pp
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
Trek from Ait Bou Guemez Valley to Azib n’Ikkis
We begin our trek by leaving behind the beautiful and fertile Aït Bou Guemez Valley (1850m) known to the French as “The Happy Valley”. Climb gently through the narrowing Arous Valley, passing through the village of Aït Sayd, to reach the pastures of Azib n’Ikkis (2200m). Lovely views of Ighil Mgoun already lie ahead. We either camp on the pastures or spend the night in a local gite, depending upon the season.
DAY 2
Trek from Azib n’Ikkis to Tarkeddid Plateau
We climb steeply to cross two passes in quick succession, Tizi n’Oumskiyq (2909m) and Aghouri Est (3400m), both of which offer wonderful, far-reaching views, before descending to the vast expanse of the Tarkeddid Plateau (2900m), at the foot of Ighil Mgoun. We spend the night either camping on the plateau or sleeping in the refuge, depending on the season.
DAY 3
Optional ascent of Ighil Mgoun
Those wishing to undertake the optional ascent of the summit of Ighil Mgoun (Ighil n’Oumsoud, 4068m), will make an early, pre-dawn departure from the plateau. The climb itself is demanding but the views all round and towards the Sahara are quite amazing and absolutely worth the effort. We descend back onto the Tarkeddid Plateau for a second night.
DAY 4
Trek from Tarkeddid Plateau to Tasgaiwalt
We head westwards across the plateau and climb over a small pass, Tizi Asdim (3216m), at its far end, descending into the beautiful Tessaout Valley. We camp at the village of Tasgaiwalt (2325m) near the head of the valley, or sleep in a nearby gite, depending on the season.
DAY 5
Walk from Tasgaiwalt to Ait ‘Ali n’Ito
We follow the course of the river, passing a succession of traditional villages, including Amezri, Talat n’Tazart, Ait Hamza and Ichbbakane, to reach our overnight halt at Ait ‘Ali n’Ito (1825m). We either camp or spend the night in a local gite, depending on the season.
DAY 6
Walk from Ait Ali n’Ito to Tagoukht
Leaving the Tessaout Valley, we head south to the impressively located village of Megdaz (1961m), formerly the home of the Berber poetess Mririda n’Ayt Attiq, and considered by many to be the most beautiful village throughout the entire High Atlas Mountains. We cross the Tizi Awrghiz (2454m) to reach Tagoukht (2018m) where we spend the night in tents, or in a local house, depending on the season.
DAY 7
Walk from Tagoukht to Lake Tamda (Tamda n’Ounghamar)
We cross two more passes, Tizi n’Fedghat (2191m) and Tizi n’Tghaghayt (2838m) to reach the spectacularly located Lake Tamda. We spend the night in tents in a rather romantic setting near the lakeside.
DAY 8
Optional ascent of Jebel Anghomar and walk from Lake Tamda to Tighza
Today begins with an optional ascent of Jebel Anghomar (3609m). We then follow the Ounila Stream down to the village of Tighza (1980m).
THE HAPPY VALLEY TO LAKE TAMDA
WITH ADD-ONS
The Happy Valley to Lake Tamda 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 to Aït Bou Guemez Valley in the High Atlas mountains for the start of your trek
- Transfer from Tighza back to Marrakech at the end of your trek with a stop-off at the infamous Telouet Kasbah
- 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.
