Walking in the Atlas Mountains

Distance: 4 miles (6.5km)

Ascent: 450ft (140m)

From the village, we’ll walk to Sidi Moussa, built on the top of a distinctive conical hill, which was used until recently to store and protect all the village harvests. The ascent is very short but quite steep. We’ll then descend into the village of Timit, carrying on across fields to the village of Aguerd N Ouzrou. Keep an eye open for dinosaur tracks in the exposed rock. Apple orchards and streams also surround our return walk to Imelghas.

Distance: 8 miles (13km)

Ascent: 950ft (300m)

Today we’ll walk through the village of Imelghas, past Iskattafen, and up into the foothills below the mountain of Ighil n’Aït Ourit. Rocky paths are lined with juniper and oak trees as we follow the valley to Ahabbay. Walnut and apple trees also blanket the valley below, while the fields are still managed by hand. We’ll climb up to a picnic spot with views towards M’goun then walk to the small shepherds’ huts to Ighil n Tissila and back down the valley to Imelghas.  

Distance: 5 miles (8km)

Ascent: 100ft (30m)

Walk through fields from Imelghas, following tracks that weave through apples orchards and criss-cross over irrigation ditches. Once we reach the main village of Bouguemez - Tabant, we’ll stop for a coffee here before walking alongside the foothills of Adazene on mule tracks to Ibaklliwn village. We’ll return via Ait Imi where the Tizi n’Ait Imi pass walk starts.

Distance: 9.5 miles (15km)

Ascent: 160ft (50m)

Passing the shrine of Sidi Moussa, a conical hill with an ighrem building (defensive mud brick granary store) perched on top, we’ll wind our way through fields and orchards. Look up and you’ll see stork nests balanced on top of trees as we make our way to a picnic stop near the Gorges of Tighza. On the other side of Aït Bouguemez valley, we’ll walk to the village of Aguerd N Ouzrou before returning to Imelghas.  

Distance: 4.5 miles (7km)

Ascent: 550ft (170m)

We head south into the foothills of the Ighil n' Ait Ourit ridge, where 2,800-metre-high peaks tower above us. Follow the valley past fields, oak trees and juniper. Mule tracks then take us past Iskattafen with a short climb to loop to the next valley. We’ll return along Tadghouit valley to Imelghas.

Distance: 8.5 miles (14km)

Ascent: 1,150 ft (350m)

This walk explores the southern parts of the valley towards the mountain range that includes M’goun, the second highest peak in North Africa. We'll pass the village of Aguerd D Ouzrou and climb up Ighill n' Igoudamene towards the high mountain pass of Tizi n’Ait Imi. We’ll then descend to the village of Tabant on stony mule tracks.

Distance: 3.8 miles (6km)

Ascent: 260ft (80m)

We’ll walk westwards past Iskattafen, where juniper bushes, lush vegetation, twisting streams, and orchards line the valley floor. Walk past the village of Taghdouit, spectacularly built on the end of a mountain ridge, and have tea with a Berber family. Then we’ll continue along the valley to Ait ouchkhachan back to Imelghas.

Distance: 8 miles (13km)

Ascent: 1,450ft (450m)

Today’s walk leads us along the orchard-lined tracks to the south towards Tabant, where the main souk happens every Sunday. We’ll then walk up the valley to the village of Rbat where nearby you can see fossilized dinosaur footprints on exposed slabs of rock. Starting the climb from Ibakalloun, there’s the option of a picnic at the top before descending into the valley, crossing the river and continuing to Imelghas.