Ouirgane Trekking Guide
Ouirgane Trekking Guide at your disposal if you are planning your holidays towards Morocco, do not miss to do some Trekking !! It is the best things that Morocco has to offer to his visitors. We invite you to explore the High Atlas Mountains, known as the heart of the Berber country, it’s less than one hour and half drive from the imperial city of Marrakesh on the road to the famous pass of Tizi Ntest.
We suggest to go for trekking and hiking in Ouirgane Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys of the High Atlas Mountains. Additional to its spectacular natural scenery, a fabulous panoramic views of the wild National Park of Toubkal, the valley of Ouirgane is an open forest of native flowers of; Juniper, Pins, Lavender, Thyme… And wild animals; Boars, Squirrels, Horned Barbary Sheep…
Moreover, the area keeps an authentic social and cultural heritage, life here is not changed a lot for many hundreds of years! The hospitality of its people give a good chance to be served a traditional Berber meals by the local families that has lived here for many generations, the food come straight from the organic family gardens and the cooking is prepared on a clay stone oven.
Every discovery Trek is led by a qualified authentic Berber Guide, speaks Berber, Arabic, French and English, highly experienced and has led many Walking and Hiking Trips including the Climbing of the Summit of Toubkal (4167m), knowledge about the country and the traditions of people.
Mohamed Ait Mhand is a graduated and licensed Trekking Guide, grow in the valley of Ouirgane, has organised and led Treks through the Atlas Mountains for more than 14 years. Today he is inviting you to share his experience of exploring the Authenticity of the Berber life and the charming beauty of his Valley.
If you are staying in a hotel in Ouirgane the guide will come to meet you and take you from where you are staying, but if you are staying in Marrakech , our driver will pick up in the morning then drive towards the south to arrive to Ouirgane Valley, then meet your guide at the village of Marigha; where salt is mined in huge wells, then brine is left to evaporate in a salt basins, then the salt is carried on donkeys to the neighbouring village to be sold…
Set off with your driver from Marrakech towards the Ourika valley, where you will stop for a short visit of a naturally garden of Safrane. Then head up to the West to Oukaimeden, snow skiing station. Then drive to cross the heart of these beautiful mountains with a wonderful views the Sidi Fares valley. Then head down to the South to get to the village of Asni, where a big local market is being organized every Saturday…
Pick up from Marrakech then drive towards the South through the Hawz plain, open fields of olive trees and barley. We get to Tahanaout village after 30 minutes, here is the main village” district” of western high Atlas. The meaning of Tahanaout in Berber language is coming from “Hene” the plant that women use to adorn on weddings. The plant used to be grown in this village fields, beside the road a big channel of irrigation system…
Set off day from Marrakech towards Ourika valley, one of the beautiful areas close to Marrakech. Cross the nursery gardens of Marrakech to arrive to the Safran garden then stop for a visit. Later we continue driving a long side of the river and through the villages located on the two sides of the road and on the riversides. Here another stop to visit a local typical home in on of the villages then visit a water mill…
The mule is hybrid animal,it is a cross of a horse and a donkey. It is the practical animal used for riding in the Atlas mountains. It’s still used a lot for a different purposes, it’s a very good adventure to go for trekking on mules for both if adults or children. You meet the mules and muleteers in Ouirgane valley, South of Marrakech, then ride mules and go for a trek through the mule paths in the heart of the the national park of Toubkal…
The Kasbah was the local establishment,where the local governors, who are at the same times the leaders of their tribes during the history the country. The Kansas was also a local palace where all the affairs of the tribe used to be managed through different departments as; military, taxes, caravans services. That will be very informative to organize a day trip to the valley of Ait Ben Haddou, where is the most important Kadabahs of the Pasha Glaoui…
We organize a moderate trip of 2 days hiking to the Atlas mountains, hiking through altitudes of 2000 m to 3000 m. Set off with your guide and drive to Ouirgane, where you will meet your multer, then start the hiking through the National Park of Toubkal. After a couple hours of hiking we get to the village of Anraz for tea and lunch…
On the first day morning we drive to Imlil village 1700m,Where we meet the guide and the multer. Set off the hike through the Imlil gardens of walnuts and cheers towards the east. After 2 hours of hiking we get to the village of Sidi Chamharouch, or the saint of Chamharouch, where many moroccan pilgrims come to visit. Here we stop for a picnic lunch and mint tea prepared by our team…
Setting off from Ouirgane valley towards the east. This trek follow the Azzaden river through the berber villages of Anraz, Torord and Tassa Ouirgane. Then catch the wild national Parc of Toubkal, and hike on the side if the river then above the terraces gardens of the village of Azerfsan. After 3 hours of hiking, set for a picnic lunch on the river near water, under the walnuts…
OUIRGANE TREKKING GUIDE
- Ouirgane 62km from Marrakech