Gardens of the Western Atlas
8 days, Guided for 2 people or more, Seasonal Daily Departures
Nestled in the mountains above Taroudant in the Western Atlas are beautiful villages and valleys unspoilt and untouched by the tourists. It is into these areas that this trek takes you. Starting in Taroudant you have a day to absorb its sites and sounds, before transferring into the mountains to start your trek through the green, verdant valleys. If you have previously completed our trek in the High Atlas you will be surprised at how different this area is in terms of cultivation and the warmth of the people in more remote villages.
- Day 1. Outbound
- Fly to Agadir and transfer to Taroudant.
- Days 2 and 3. Taroudant
- Staying in the Hotel Saadiens with its courtyard and pool you have a day to explore the souks and sites of this 'mini-Marrakech'. In the morning you have a city tour and the afternoon is at your leisure. The following day you transfer into the Western Atlas Mountains and start your trek along the river to Afensou.
- Day 4. Afensou and Imoulas
- Staying at the 'Riad' Afensou with its gardens of banana plants and walnut trees, your first walk is a circular one up the valley to Imoulas. You meander through the almond trees (blossoming in January and February) and via the wheat fields to the little village where you might stop in a cafe for a refreshing mint tea. Lunch is prepared under the shade of an Argan tree on the way down the valley, giving you plenty of time to absorb the breathtaking scenery with the high snow-capped peaks in the background. In spring the ground is carpeted in flowers of yellow and red making the landscape come alive.
- Days 5 to 7. Over the Tizi
- With mules to carry the baggage you walk over the col into the next valley where electricity pylons have not yet arrived! You walk over well-made mule tracks and paths and through tiny villages, all with their own mosques and minarets. The main attraction is the peace and tranquillity of the area accompanied by its rural nature where you will not see another tourist. The views are awesome and the colours vary from the green valleys to the rocky red mountains with dustings of snow on the tops. The Berber mud houses all seem to effortlessly blend into the surroundings, with only the sound of the goat bells and the call to prayer disturbing the sound of the insects. There will be opportunities for swimming in rivers along the way, whilst you relax and enjoy the scenery. The accommodation is in simple village houses adding an insight into the lives of the people of this valley. On the last day you transfer back down to Taroudant.
- Day 8. Homeward
- Transfer back to Agadir to catch the flight home.
