Trekking in Morocco's Saghro is a real treat for the trekker who has done it all. This remote area does not experience true winter snows like High Atlas mountains. Jbel Saghro Massif lies between the High Atlas mountains and the Sahara desert. We'll traverse the range, ending on the Sahara side of Saghro. High peaks and volcanic monoliths resemble the U.S. southwest with soaring mesas, sparse vegetated plateaus, hidden springs and canyon oasis. We'll meet and have tea with Ait Atta nomads living in this harsh and remote landscape. Jackal, fox, wolf, toads, frogs, wild sheep, gazelle, vulture, Buzzard and the rare Bonelli-eagle also live here. Trees include date palms, acacia, tamarisk and oleander.
View 7 day Itinerary.
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Book this TREK
About the Trek
- 5 full days walking traverse of the Jebel Saghro mountains,
- Trek runs with 2 or more trekkers,
- Available October - May,
- Level moderately easy,
- Highest elevation 2500 metres
PRICE
per person/per day: 750 dirhams plus transportation costs.
Includes:
- Professional english speaking Berber guide,
- Transport costs from and return to Marrakech,
- All meals (vegetarians welcome),
- Accommodation: tents, refuge shelter or gite d'tape (small Berber inn),
- Mattresses for sleeping,
- Kitchen tent and equipment and cook,
- Mule handlers and mules to carry everything,
- You carry only your day pack.
Not included:
- Tips
- Personal purchases
- Marrakech hotels
Saghro 7 day Itinerary
Day 1 Marrakech to Tagdilt
Meet your guide, depart Marrakech and drive over the Tizi n’Tichka pass towards Ouarzazate. Visit Ait Benhaddou World Heritage site. Have lunch and depart for the desert. Enjoy a traditional tajine dinner and overnight in a mud-walled desert ghite d’tape (with hot showers), before the foothills of Saghro massive.Day 2 Trek: Tagdilt / Amda-n-Oughyoul - 5 H walk
Early wake up call, have breakfast, meet the mulers who will load the mules and begin trekking. Easy walking over rocky ground into the foothills of Jbel Saghro. We’ll gain 2 passes, traverse a plateau and descend into a remote valley. Wild camp*.Day 3 Trek: Amda-n-Oughyoul / Igli - 4 H walk
Ascend the Kouaouch pass (2500m), then descend through sheer conglomerate eroded cliffs, elegant mesas, and waterfalls, to an open plateau and the Berber village of Igli. Stay in ghite d’tape with showers.Day 4 Trek: Igli / Bab-n-Ali - 5 to 6 H walk
Ascend along a high ridge, with grand views of the surrounding peaks. Our trail takes us to a verdant valley and the Berber village Boulouze. We’ll follow the river, then camp at the foot of Bab-n-Ali. Wild camp*.Day 5 Trek: Bab-n-Ali / Assaka - 5 H walk
Today we’ll walk over the shoulder of Bab n’Ali and descend for most of the day, walking through a gorge to fantastic rock formations. Arrive at the village Assaka. Continuation to Ighazoune n’Oumlas by the river of Taoudachte and wild camp*.Day 6 Trek: Ighazoune-n-Oumlas/N’kob - 5 H walk
Walking along the river, we pass through many Berber villages and arrive near N’kob. Stay in ghite d’tape with showers.Day 7 N’kob - Marrakech
We’ll meet our driver and car, and follow the old Salt Road caravan route and date palm oasis of Draa valley over the Tinifift pass, toward the High Atlas mountains. We’ll stop for lunch in Ouarzazate, and head down the Tizi n’Tichka back to Marrakech. Morocco Explored can book a Marrakech hotel this night with extra cost.*Wild camp means you will sleep in tents, eat in a kitchen tent; there are no showers or toilet facilities.You will have heated water to wash.
Read more on Club Tread
Trekking Details
What you need to know about trekking...
Because the High Atlas can involve some challenging elevation gains and losses over continuous passes (2000 m+), most High Atlas treks are rated medium, meaning you should have recent experience hill hiking, carrying a light day-pack, and a tolerance for climate changes. You will need light hiking style shoes or boots with a full-tread sole and good quality outdoor clothing. Spring and fall, snow remains on the high peaks. Nights might be cold and the days can be hot and sunny. We have a list of what you will need to bring below.Fitness requirements: You should be confident of your fitness and endurance levels. The main recommendation is a sense of adventure! There is no age limit providing that you are in reasonable physical shape and you are aware of the rigors of trekking in higher elevations and have proper travellers insurance. Please make a point of telling us (quietly if you wish) if you have any medical condition/allergies or are on any medication that you think we should be aware of. We are out there for a great time and we want you to feel comfortable in your environment.
Accommodation in villages inns called gites with kitchens, sleeping areas and showers, or dome tents or, since Morocco is one of the the few areas of the world where warm temperatures combine with an absence of insects, you can sleep under the stars. Nothing can compare with a night under the brilliant starlight of North Africa. Tents, mattresses, fully equipped kitchen, food and personal baggage are carried by mules. You carry only a day pack for your water, snacks, camera and clothing. We have a limited number of sleeping bags, so you might be required to bring your own. We'll do our best to help you out with this.
All Food is included on trek and is very healthy, including Couscous, Tagine, fresh eggs, fish, olives, nuts and fruit. Please let us know whether you are vegetarian. Apart from eggs and fish (Tuna and Sardine) often served at lunch time with vegetable salad, there is not a lot of meat and when meat is available, separate dishes such as vegetarian Tagine is prepared.
Bottled water is usually available, but you might need to use your own method to purify water. Occasional villages allow for purchasing good quality bottled water along the way.
Some people like to bring their own treats and food supplements if they have special dietary requirements. If you like to drink herbal teas, bring your own. Moroccan tea tends to be a real energy booster with Gunpowder green mixed with copious amounts of sugar (refreshing and delicious!). Sugarless tea can be requested but not necessarily understood! Make use of your duty free allowance to obtain your favourite tipple.
As we are trekking in high mountains, geological variations create a full range of climatic conditions, which means it can get cold, wet, and windy. Bring a warm fleece and light weight wind jacket and long pants. During the day temperatures are relatively warm or hot, and normal attire with t-shirts and shorts will be fine. On average you can expect daytime temperatures of 20–30+ degrees Celsius.
What To Bring *denotes essential or highly recommended
Pack light and pack tight.
Sleeping bag*
Day-pack *
sunglasses *
water bottles (collapsible bladders pack flat!) *
towel (Moroccan hotels don't always have them) *
ziplock baggies *
toilet paper * (buy it in Morocco)
needle and thread / safety pins
camera, batteries, memory cards, or film – bring lots!
sealable bag for your Digital camera* (essential!! for sand/dust)Clothing
sarong (can double as a towel, lightweight sheet or scarf)
cotton long sleeved shirt (for intense sun) *
light wind-proof jacket
a hat (sun) *
warm socks*
light weight gloves*
lightweight long pants *
2-3 T-shirts
woolen sweater/fleece *
cotton scarf (doubles as a wash cloth)
Hiking boots or hiking shoes*First aid – make sure you use water proof labelling if re-packaging
disinfectant creme / gel (Polysporin)
bandaids
Ibufrofen (Advil or generic – for pain, swelling) *
Tylenol (colds and fever)
cold medication – Echanacia / zinc lozenges
tweezers
Visine
Aloe vera gel (for burns)
Anti-hystamine tablets
diahrrea medication (Immodium) *Personal
sunblock *
sanitary supplies with ziplock baggies to carry out
moisturiser / lip balm with sunblock *
simple english books / magazines / music – (cassette tapes are common in Morocco and make great gifts.)
small torch / flash-light (small bicycle lights make good travelling torches)
nail clippers
wet-wipes
soap / shampoo / toothpaste / toothbrush etc *
prescriptions in original containers
ear plugs *
Finally...
Please remember that things do change, prices go up and down, activities stop running or change format and weather can send the best laid plans out the door. We will do our best to provide what is described above but please take into consideration the nature of the journey that you are embarking on and the country that you are traveling in and understand that a certain degree of flexibility is necessary!
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