Valley of Roses with a thousand scents

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  France - Marrakech

  

  Welcome at Marrakech airport by our team, then transfer and check-in at the hotel. Meals not included. Transfer: private vehicle, 4x4 or minibus, about 15 minutes. Accommodation: riad or hotel*** (depending on availability on the day of your registration). Meals not included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 2

  Marrakech - Boutaghrar - Alemdoun - Tamatount

  

  Transfer by vehicle via the Tichka pass and Ouarzazate, then descent along the immense palm groves of Skoura, from which emerge the sumptuous ochre earth kasbahs. Arrival at Boutaghrar, a small town with pink earth walls, then continuation to the village of Alemdoun. Departure on foot along small paths lined with rose bushes where, from April to June, the subtle scent of blooming roses fills the air... A true fairyland of colors and scents! Dominated by the majestic kasbahs, we continue among the yellow and green checkerboard of crops up to the plateau overlooking the Aït Hamed valley. Arrival at the ecolodge overlooking the entire green valley. We will certainly have the famous mint tea on the terrace, to admire the magnificent landscapes of the Valley of Roses with, as a backdrop, the grandiose High Atlas range still edged with snow. Transfer: private vehicle, 4x4 or minibus, about 6 hours, including stops. Walking time: about 2 hours. Accommodation: ecolodge or hotel (depending on availability). Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 3

  Tamatount (1770 m) - Agouti - R'Bat n'Aït Hamed - Tamatount

  

  Through the lush oases, between the fields and orchards of apricot, almond, and fig trees... and blooming roses (depending on the season), we cross the Tadouit el Lothe pass (2100 m) and arrive in the small villages of Znag and Lothe, renowned for their superb kasbah, remarkably well preserved. We continue the walk through the villages of Agouti Tahtani and Agouti Fougani... We are in the heart of the Valley of Roses; we meet and interact throughout the journey with villagers working in the fields... Morocco as we dream of it! In the afternoon, we go up the small gorges of Agouti where oleanders splash the path to the village of R'Bat n'Aït Ahmed (1770 m) with mauve color, a magnificent site where the famous kasbahs of the former lords of Marrakech still stand... Surprising and beautiful landscapes will be with us all day long. Walking time: about 5 hours 30 minutes. Positive elevation gain: + 200 m. Negative elevation loss: - 510 m. Accommodation: ecolodge or hotel (depending on availability). Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 4

  Tamatount - R'Bat n'Aït Ahmed - Amskar Gorges - Amejguague

  

  Ascent in the morning to the Aselda plateau (2410 m); the views over the Aït Ahmed valley, the Dadès valley, and the rocky mountains of the Djebel Saghro are simply magnificent. Lunch before descending from the plateau, in the shade of the red junipers, then descent towards the picturesque village of Amskar with its traditional Berber houses. The hike continues through the small El Qadi gorges, lined with oleanders; these gorges were once the path taken by the proud Imgouns tribe, a branch derived from the Aït Atta tribe. The descent continues through small villages with beautiful terraced fields bordered by roses... Then crossing the superb Amskar gorges with pink and ochre reflections; arrival at the village of Amejguague, then continuation along the valley, by small paths crossing the fields. Throughout the day, there will be many encounters with the inhabitants of the villages. Walking time: about 6 hours. Positive elevation gain: + 640 m. Negative elevation loss: - 510 m. Accommodation: ecolodge or hotel (depending on availability). Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 5

  Tamatount - Timda - Meeting with the nomads - Tamatount

  

  Departure in the morning along the trails overlooking the M'Goun river; among a few clusters of incense junipers, we cross more arid lands where the atmosphere becomes magical and the silence impressive. The views of the Djebel Saghro and the Dadès valley are magnificent. Still along the M'Goun river, we will come across troglodyte houses used as shelters by nomads in winter... Perhaps we will be able to share the tea ritual with them... A great moment of encounter! Then arrival at the village of Alemdoun and the possibility to visit a cooperative created by the women of the village to weave the famous Berber carpets. Walking time: about 6 hours. Positive elevation gain: + 500 m. Negative elevation loss: - 500 m. Accommodation: ecolodge or hotel (depending on availability). Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 6

  Aguer Zagua - Ighrem Akdim - Boutaghrar - Tamatount

  Short transfer by local vehicle to discover the most spectacular landscapes of the Moroccan High Atlas: the gorges and the M'Goun valley. Departure on foot along the M'Goun river, lined with countless oleanders; we are in the heart of the M'Goun gorges, the most impressive in Morocco. You will have to cross the riverbed several times to discover the typical and authentic villages of Aït Mraoue, Ighrem Aqdim, and Tamguellouna, where women still dress traditionally... Meeting with the villagers of the Aït Mraoue tribe, then arrival at the magnificent village of Boutaghrar, one of the most beautiful in the Valley of Roses, with its red and ochre rammed earth walls... Return by local vehicle to the ecolodge for our last night in the Valley of Roses. Transfer: local vehicle, about 1 hour round trip. Walking time: about 6 hours. Negative elevation: -300 m. Accommodation: ecolodge or hotel (depending on availability). Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 7

  Tamatount - Boutaghrar - Marrakech

  

  Return transfer to Marrakech via Kelaat M'Gouna, the site of the rose festival in May, Ouarzazate, and the Tichka pass. Arrival in the late afternoon in the red city; check-in at the riad, then free time for dinner and evening to rest or discover the Djemaa el Fna square with its unique atmosphere, legendary souks, orange juice stalls, acrobats, storytellers, and snake charmers. Transfer: private vehicle, 4x4 or minibus, about 6 hours, including stops. Accommodation: riad or hotel*** (subject to availability). Meals included: breakfast - lunch. Free meal: dinner.

• day 8

  Marrakech - France

  

  Free time in Marrakech if flight schedules allow. Flight to France. Transfer: private vehicle, 4x4 or minibus, about 15 minutes. Meals included: breakfast. Meals not included: lunch, dinner.