A Winter Break in the Jebel Sahro
10 days, Guided Group with Fixed Departures or Guided for 2 people or more daily October to March.
Our winter trek in the Jebel Sahro creates an attractive short winter break. The tour visits a relatively low and gentle region of mountains on the very fringe of the Sahara desert. During the winter months, when snow turns the High Atlas into a skier's domain, the Jebel Sahro provides a delightfully contrasting walking area that becomes oven hot in the summer months. Here you walk past stunning wind eroded rock sculptures, green oases and gently trickling streams which enhance the beauty of the semi-desert landscape. Sparsely populated by the gentle Ait Atta Berbers and seldom visited, this is a destination for those that thrive on peace and tranquillity. The pace of the trek is gentle and with no long, steep ascents this holiday is ideally suited to those looking for a relaxing winter walking holiday.
- Days 1 and 2. Outbound
- Fly to Marrakech, and transfer to your hotel, just a 10minute drive from the airport. A full day's drive takes you across the High Atlas Mountains via the magnificent Tizi n' Tichka pass to Ouarzazate. Beyond here the terrain is very barren until the road rejoins the Draa river at Agdz, and follow the incredibly scenic palm and kasbah fringed river towards N'kob - a traditional sub-Saharan village and the start point of the trek.
- Days 3 to 5. Into the Mountains
- Two days walking takes you through the foothills, passing small villages and isolated homesteads to the village of Tagra. Following mainly wide-open valleys with some gentle ascents, you pass the first of many spectacular rock pinnacles that are common in this region. As you get deeper into the mountains water is more plentiful and you see more cultivation around the villages. A short ascent takes you out of the Tagra valley and up onto a fine plateau region where you will find some of the semi-nomadic Ait Atta Berbers in their large tents with their flocks of sheep and goats. You pass Tadout n' Tablah, a forest of wind eroded pinnacles, and the impressive free standing rock tower of Bab N'Ali. After a short break at a roadhead 'gite' you head north to reach the small village of Igli, situated right in the heart of the Jebel Sahro.
- Days 6 and 7. Over the Camel's Humps
- A little way north of Igli are the rock formations of Tassigdelt (the camel's humps) which you will pass by today. Beyond here you ascend to the Tizi n' Ouarg pass. The energetic amongst you may like to ascend to the top of Kouaouch (2592 metres), from where there are fine views to the Atlas Mountains to the north. Continuing north, there are a variety of options today, but (2569 metres), before descending the northern flanks of the Sahro and leading on to the small settlement of Tagdilt, your final destination on the trek.
- Days 8 to 10. Marrakech and Homeward
- Another full day's drive takes you back past Ouarzazate and over the Tizi n' Tichka to Marrakech. This is followed by a full day free to explore this fascinating city. There is time for a tour of the old city, and to go shopping in the bazaar. On your last day you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. Extra nights can be arranged in Marrakech from £20 pppn (Hotel Foucauld).
