Walking in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco

14/9/2024 – 22/9/2024 or 5/10/2024-14/10/2024

Version 1 of Plan/Itinerary

General Description

Hafida, through previous contacts with a guide in Morocco, is organising a walking trip to the Atlas Mountains in September 2024.  This is not organized by the LDWA per se, but she is offering regular LDWA walkers first choice. This email is thus going to social walkers in TV only, but may be followed by one to all members if spaces remain available (so you may receive it twice).

The objective of this trip is to offer the LDWA's members the opportunity to hike abroad in the Atlas Mountains, within beautiful scenic surroundings with warm weather, good food and laughter.  We will visit mainly areas around the Ait Bougmaze valley, we will enjoy the mountain landscapes with Berber villages and orchards. The trip is for eight nights between two weekends with two nights in Marrakech, pick up and drop off from Marrakech airport, full board, accommodation, guides and transport. Costing £600 per person ( based on two sharing a room). Alternative arrangements may be available dependant on responses. The day in Marrakech will give you the opportunity to sooth the body and mind with the hammam, sightseeing in the beautiful Medina and to enjoy the hotel pool and facilities. 

As indicated above, this is a trekking holiday and we will stay in different accommodation throughout the holiday. The luggage is transported for you, so you do not need to worry about that. An interesting detail is that we get our own cook, who will follow us around the trip. We have asked for accommodation with ensuite facilities, but we must expect some of the accommodation in the mountains to be of a lesser standard and we may have shared bathrooms. Hotels are listed below in the Itinerary.  Accommodation is organized as double (couples) or twin (sharing). Different arrangements are possible if the hotel has limited options.

Accommodation, transport and walks are organized by a local Moroccan company. This will be a “proper” walking holiday where two grades of difficulty are offered each day (except for the last day, which is more of a sightseeing day). Equivalent of about 10 miles or 14 miles, taking the terrain into consideration, meaning they can be shorter if there is much ascent or difficult terrain otherwise. We will be using local guides who are recommended to us and they shall assess capabilities during the day and adjust the walks if necessary. You can change between long and shorter walks as you please, but there is no option to opt out of walking on days that we move hotel.

A similar trip was organised for Henley and Goring Ramblers in 2023 and was highly successful. A report on this trip is at https://www.ramblers-oxon.org.uk/henley-goring/trips.html.   Some photos from the trip can be viewed at https://ldwa.org.uk/ThamesValley/W/9340/morocco-2024-proposal.html

Preliminary Itinerary (subject to change)

DAY 1 : Arrive in Marrakech. Met at airport at time of arrival of BA flight and transport to hotel. Dinner

Chems Hotel

DAY 2 : Departure from Marrakech to Ait Bougmaze valley via Azila city gite Touda

Walks in the area

Dar Itran Hotel

DAY 3 : After breakfast we head to R’bat where we will spend the night in Dar Itran,

walks during the day.

Same hotel Dar Itran

DAY 4 : We start our day from R'bat N'tirssale towards to agouti Via sidi Moussa.

Same hotel Dar Itran

DAY 5

Imlghs - Agrd Nouzro

Discover the amazing farms and Berber villages.

Same hotel Dar Itran

DAY 6

A beautiful day to discover a part of nomadic life.

And back to Riad Flilou.

Hotel : Kasbah of M'Goun.

DAY 7

Crossing Berber villages and visit the shrine of Sidi Shita.

Same hotel Kasbah of M’Goun

DAY 8

We will visit the waterfall at Ouzoud on our way to Marrakech. That will be in the

shape of an easy walk for the full group. We expect to be arriving in Marrakech in the second half of the afternoon, where there are a few options available for you. You can relax in the hotel, which also has a Spa. You can join a guided walk (we organise a guide) to the square Jemaa El Fnaa, we know we have a guide, not what he is going to show. And/or visit a public Hammam as an alternative to the hotel spa

Hôtel El Andalous Lounges & Spa

DAY 9

Breakfast

Transport to airport and return to UK.

Booking

The cost of the trip is expected to be £600 pp (on sharing basis).

If you are interested In this trip, please reply to this email, stating which of the two weeks quoted you would prefer and state whether you can or cannot make the other dates. You will then be placed on a bulk email list to receive further communications. You will be supplied with Hafida’s bank details to make a transfer of £100 as deposit : your place is not confirmed until this is received. This will be refunded if we do not receive at least 8 registrations , then the trip will not proceed.  The maximum we can take is 26. The deposit is only refundable if you cancel and someone else takes your place.

The BA flight to Marrakech is currently selling for ca. £100 (this is not included in the price of the trip) but please do not book until the trip is confirmed. You will be required to have and to show your own travel insurance.

Hafida would also like someone to help with the organisation. Please indicate if willing.

Included in cost:
• All accommodation
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, except lunch on arrival

• Guided walks
• Transport to and from the airport in Morocco

• Transport to the walks and hotel

• Guides for walking
• Guided tour of Marrakesh
• Luggage transport

Excluded:
• Flights to and from Marrakesh
• Drinks (except water)
• Dinner in Marrakesh (last evening)

• Lunch on arrival day