From your hotel you will be  driven to the Berber village of Ijoukak to start a 16 km hike at the junction of the Oueds n’Fis and Agoundis. First we head off down a country lane in the foothills of the Jbel Erdouz passing the Berber villages of Souq Ijoukak, Tagountafte, Souk Lara and Ikhfe N’Boul.

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We arrive at the riverside tribal kasbah which was once the home of a powerful feudal chieftain, Sultan Goundafa. The inner part of this now decaying palace- fortress, with storks nesting on the ramparts, still retains traces of its original Hispano-Arabesque decoration. This area is the traditional land of the Berber Goundafa tribe, one of several powerful tribes who strove to control the High Atlas Mountains in the 19th century. This feudal warrior constantly waged war with the neighbouring Glaoui clan, who burned down his kasbah of Talat n’Youb. As a result the castle of Agadir n’Gouf was built. It was here that the Scottish author R.B Cunningham Graham had been detained at the Sultan’s convenience. In the 1920s, this became an outpost of the French Foreign Legion.

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We walk on to the partially ruined Goundafa stronghold of Talat n’Youb. Then continue on an easy descent alongside the river, following contours of the high valley of the Assif N'fis. We walk amidst olive, walnut and almond trees until reaching the hauntingly-beautiful hidden Valley of Ijoukak, with its cool, clear stream full of trout. Next we reach the small and remote stronghold settlement of Tin Mal located high up on the opposite bank of the river.  We visit the fortress (and one-time state treasury) which is the sole survivor of the once holy 12th century city. Built by the founder of the Almohad (Unitarian) dynasty, Mehdi Ibn Toumarte, this is the only mosque in Morocco (other than the mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca) in which a non-Muslim may enter – except on Fridays. Inside we see fine examples of the ancient, intricate Almohad décor of rosette, scallop and palmette. Cedar from Azrou is used for the ceilings; a special lime has been imported from Spain; no cement or concrete is used and the several cupolas have been restored in some areas with richly decorated stalactite plaster.

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In the village there is another small kasbah in ruins, a Medersa and an old water tank which produces a regular supply of the French gastronomic delight – edible frogs. You may buy a litre of Tin Mal olive oil from the olive press and mill down towards the river. Here we picnic on the river bank. Then set off towards the south, down the valley of the Oued N’Fis through stands of juniper, Barbary fig, apricot, cherry and walnut tree. We pass many Berber hamlets on the lower slopes of the Adrar Adafelt until we reach the town of Mouldikht at the beginning of the corkscrew road leading up to the Tizi n’Test (3,080m). Here our Atlas Tin Mal Trek ends as we rejoin our vehicle.

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ITINERARY

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0800   Rendezvous with driver. Depart Marrakech, drive via Asni

0945   Arrive at Ijoukak village; start walking

1300   Picnic lunch and mint tea near Tin Mal Mosque

1630   Mouldikht; meet vehicle and return to hotel

1830   Arrive Marrakech

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Timings are approx. and may vary due to interests of the group, weather or seasons.

This one day Atlas trek is suitable for everyone of reasonable fitness. You walk up and down a maximum of 600 metres for approx. 5-6 hours – walking is not at all strenuous. Visit charming hidden valleys and  meet the mountain Berber families in their own environment and enjoy a picnic lunch.

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DEPARTS DAILY

Private departures operate daily. 

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DON'T FORGET

Take walking shoes/boots/sandals plus sun protection.

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