TREK THROUGH TRADITIONAL BERBER VILLAGES TO COMPLETE A MOST AMAZING RIDGE WALK AROUND THE REMOTE HIGH SUMMER PASTURES OF THE MOST VERDANT AND LEAST FREQUENTED QUARTER OF THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS
Head through historic Berber villages in which traditional values and customs are still held dear. Climb out of the valleys to visit the beautiful, elevated summer pastures of the Tichka Plateau in the remote Western High Atlas Mountains. Complete an amazing ridge walk around the plateau and take time to explore a succession of peaks, including Amendach, the highest of them all, that encircle it.
Morocco
Western High Atlas
Duration
8-10 days
Mountain Trek
Moderate/Challenging
This trek is available as
trek with High Atlas transfers or with add-ons
INTRO TO TICHKA PLATEAU CIRCUIT
Head through historic Berber villages in which traditional values and customs are still held dear. Climb out of the valleys to visit the beautiful, elevated summer pastures of the Tichka Plateau in the remote Western High Atlas Mountains. Complete an amazing ridge walk around the plateau and take time to explore a succession of peaks, including Amendach, the highest of them all, that encircle it.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Private transfers to and from the Western High Atlas Mountains
- Trek across the high summer pastures of the Tichka Plateau
- Enjoy the plateau’s carpet of early summer flowers
- Complete an amazing ridge walk around its western and southern edges
- Fantastic panoramas
- Shepherds and goatherds working with their flocks
- Optional ascent of the summit of Amendach (3,382m)
- Traditional Berber villages
- 5 nights camping in the High Atlas Mountains.
PLACES TO BE VISITED
- Marrakech – Aguersafene – Targa Oufella – Tizi Asdim – Awrir n’Tidaf – Guenfis meadows – Wajir Ouadadene – Tagouyamt – Imrardene – Askawn – Amendach – Tasghimout – Tiziatin Forest – Imlil – Souq Sebt Ghbalou – Marrakech
KEY INFORMATION
- 7 days of moderate/challenging trekking, maximum altitude – 3,382m (optional ascent of Amendach)
- 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
- It would be possible to organise for you another night or more in a comfortable, local Berber lodge in Imlil or in a riad in Marrakech
- 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 Western High Atlas
- Meals: lunch and dinner on Day 1, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Days 2 to 7, and breakfast and lunch on Day 8, all including bottled mineral water and hot drinks
- Transport: a modern, air-conditioned minibus or 4×4 vehicle with a professional driver for transfers to and from the Western High Atlas
- 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
- Meals in Marrakech
- Sleeping bags
- Travel insurance
- Tips
- Soft drinks & items of a personal nature
Best Season
April to October
DATES
TREK WITH HIGH ATLAS TRANSFERS
- Thurs 2nd April – Thurs 9th April 2026
- Thurs 20th August – Thurs 27th August 2026
DATES
TREK WITH ADD-ONS
- Wed 1st April – Fri 10th April 2026
- Wed 19th August – Thurs 28th August 2026
PRICES
With High Atlas transfers
Including Add-ons
£1200pp
£1500pp
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 Marrakech to Aguersafene
We transfer from Marrakech to the Western High Atlas Mountains and camp for the night on the banks of the Assif Sembal at the very edge of the traditional village of Aguersfene (1587m). 6 hours transfer, approximately.
DAY 2
Walk from Aguersafene to Azmou n’Guenfis (Guenfis meadows)
We begin our walk by following the Assif Ida Gourion upwards through mixed almond and walnut trees, passing occasional small villages and hamlets along the way. Once beyond Targa Oufella (1959m), the highest settlement in the main valley, the trail rises very steeply to cross Tizi Asdim (2842m) and onto the Tichka Plateau.
We follow the western ridge of the Tichka Plateau, gently rising to the small peak of Awrir n’Tidaf (2934m) from where we enjoy wonderful views westwards across the Western High Atlas Mountains. Finally, we descend to the plateau itself to reach the idyllic summer pastures of Azmou n’Guenfis (Guenfis meadows) where we camp for the night. (6 hours’ walking, approximately)
DAY 3
Walk from Azmou n’Guenfis to Tagouyamt
We climb back up onto the undulating ridge of the Tichka Plateau for more spectacular views westwards until we rise once more to Wajir Ouadadene (3139m). From here, the highest point of the day, we head back down to the plateau to Tagouyamt, another beautiful summer pasture, where we camp for the night, close to the shell of a former-French military station. (4 hours’ walking, approximately).
Walk from Tagouyamt to Imrardene and Askawn
We leave behind our tents and head back up a small tributary valley and then undertake a wonderful ridge walk which wraps around the south-western and then the southern rim of the Tichka Plateau, rising to a succession of high points including Imrardene (3351m) and Askawn (3078m). The views to the south are quite breath-taking and reward us for quite a tough day’s walking. From we finally descend and return to our camp at Tagouyamt. (7 hours walking, approximately).
Walk from Tagouyamt to Tasghimout
Today we take a gentle walk back across the summer pastures of the Tichka Plateau, taking time to enjoy this rather special pastoral landscape and camp for the night (2417m) below the rocky knoll of Tasghimout (2844m). (3 hours walking, approximately)
DAY 6
Optional ascent of Amendach
Today we have the option of climbing Amendach (3382m), the highest of all the peaks that encircle the Tichka Plateau, for wonderful views in all directions. Alternatively, there is the choice of either gently exploring the summer pastures of the plateau or even taking a rest day and simply enjoying the natural beauty of our location. 5 hours’ walking for the optional ascent of Amendach.
DAY 7
Walk from Tasghimout to Imlil
We break camp and begin our descent from the plateau. The trail soon joins the banks of the Assif Nfis, at times rising high above the river, at others descending to cross its tributary valleys. We head on, descending further through the legendary Tiziatin Forest and stunning mountain scenery, until we arrive at the traditional village of Imlil (1706m). We camp for the night close to the marabout of Ibn Toumart, founder of the Almohad Dynasty. 7 hours’ walking, approximately.
DAY 8
Walk from Imlil to Souq Sebt Ghbalou and transfer to Marrakech
We continue gently downriver, following the piste that leads onwards from Imlil along the north bank of the Oued Nfis until it reaches its confluence with the Assif n’Oumsour. Here we arrive at the market town of Souq Sebt Ghbalou (1615m) where our vehicle will meet us. If this is a Saturday, we can take time to enjoy the weekly market. We then transfer back across the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Test (2092m), the most dramatic mountain road pass in Morocco, and take you to your riad in Marrakech where you will have free time in the evening to continue your exploration of this celebrated city. 2 hours walking and 3 hours’ transfer, approximately.
TICHKA PLATEAU CIRCUIT
WITH ADD-ONS
Our Tichka Plateau Circuit 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 to Aguersafene in the Western High Atlas mountains for the start of your trek
- Transfer from Souk Sebt Ghbalou 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.
