Happy Valley - Mgoun Trek

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Duration
5 days
Location
High Atlas Mountains
Group Size
Up to 12 people
Transport
Private Vehicle
Difficulty
Hard
Best Season
May to October
This 5-day trek begins and ends in Marrakech, with the option to extend your holiday in the Atlas Mountains for further exploration. Venture into the heart of the High Atlas Mountains and explore a region that offers a dramatic contrast to the more well-known Toubkal area. This route takes you through the Bougmez Valley, often referred to as the “Happy Valley”, known for its unspoiled beauty, peaceful atmosphere, and authentic Berber villages. The landscape here is shaped by typical sedimentary rock formations, with striking escarpments, long ridgelines, and deep gorges carved by rivers flowing through softer layers as the young fold mountains have gradually risen. This gives the area a unique character, quite distinct from the granite-dominated Toubkal region. The highlight of this trek is the ascent of Mount Mgoun, the second-highest peak in the Atlas Mountains at 4,071 metres. This route is perfect for wilderness lovers and keen hikers, offering sweeping views, diverse geological formations, and rich encounters with local Berber communities. For five days, you’ll experience a journey of contrasts, from high alpine landscapes to lush valleys and terraced fields, all while discovering the resilient culture of the mountain people.

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Marrakech – Azilal – The Ait Bougmez valley − Night at the local's house in the village of Timit (1750m)

    Departure from Marrakech is scheduled at 8am towards Azilal, the gateway to the central high atlas. Then head towards the Oughbar pass at an altitude of 2200m before descending by a narrow mountain road. We are in the heart of the Ait Bouguemez valley called the happy valley; installation at the inhabitant's in Timit. Welcome to the Berber with a mint tea. Then free walk through the houses and fields of the villages. Dinner prepared by our Berber family. Night at the lodge. 5h30 drive.

  • Day 2: Discovering the Ait Bougmez valley − Night at the same Timite lodge.

    Departure of our hike between the valley cultures with their traditional irrigation system. Superb day that allows us to meet the villagers working in the terraced crops, cross the villages of Tabant, Ait Imi. The visit of the famous dinosaur tracks in the middle of the village IBaklioune. Night at the inhabitant in Timit. 5h30 of walking.

  • Day 3: Timit (1750m) − The Arouss Valley – Azib N'Ikiss (2300m)

    We start our trek with a small climb to the collective granary and the marabout of Sidi Moussa from where a magnificent view on three directions of the valley of Ait Bougmez called the happy valley. After the descent the happy valley towards the village Agouti. Lunch under the large walnut trees near the village Arouss. After 2 hours of walking, we arrive at our camp in Azib N'Ikkiss. 5h30 of walking.

  • Day 4: Azib N'Ikiss (2300m) − The Col de Tarkaddit (3400m) – Tarkkadit (2900m)

    We climb by a good path towards the Tarkkadit pass (3400m). Beautiful on the Mgoun chain and their summit of 4068 meters of altitude. After an hour of descent towards the Tarkkadit plateau in a place frequented by nomads with their herds of goats, sheep and dromedaries. Night under the tents 5h30 of walking.

  • Day 5: Tarkkadit (2900m) − Ascent M 'Goun (4068m) − Oulilimt (2600m)

    Breakfast around 4am, departure around 5am. Our cook brings us a picnic. The climb is quite long, but does not require any technical means, about 4 hours of climbing very gently, from the summit of M'goun (4068m) a magnificent view of the peaks and valleys of the South, valley of roses, Dadès. Then we follow a beautiful ridge before going down to the camp. Afternoon rest. 8 hours of walking. Night in tents.

What's included

What's not included

From £700 / Person