Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DAY 1: IMLIL TO TACHEDDIRT
DURATION 3½ TO 4½ HOURS / DISTANCE 9.5KM / ASCENT 560M
Much of day one's relatively gentle route follows the road linking
Imlil
(1740m) to the vil-
lage of
Ouaneskra
, 2km west of Tacheddirt (2300m). The road climbs gently eastwards
zigzagging up to
Aït Souka
.
After an hour, just past a stream known as Talat n'Aït Souka, you can either take the
road north directly to the pass at
Tizi n'Tamatert
(2279m), or follow a fairly well defined
but rocky path east, skirting
Tamatert
village. The rocky path continues eastwards for 15
minutes, passing through a small pine grove and crossing the road, before climbing
steeply northeast to reach Tizi n'Tamatert. The walk up takes 30 to 45 minutes.
At the pass is
Bivi Thé
, a weather-beaten shack selling pricey soft drinks. To the north-
east are great views of
Tizi n'Eddi
(2960m), the pass leading to Oukaïmeden, and
Tizi
n'Tacheddirt
(3130m).
The path and tarmac meet at Tizi n'Tamatert, where it's an easy 45-minute walk to
Ouaneskra. Along this stretch you'll be treated to views across the valley to neat Berber
houses and lush terraces in Talate n'Chaoute, Tamguist and Ouaneskra.
Shortly before Ouaneskra, the path divides. The mule track to the right traverses the
southern side of the valley to an ideal camping place near the track, close to the
Irhzer
n'Likemt
stream and the starting place for tomorrow's climb.
The longer route via Ouaneskra and
Tacheddirt
takes the northern side of the valley after
crossing Tizi n'Tamatert. There are three
gîtes
in Ouaneskra and a pleasant little restaurant
- but tomorrow's walk is long, so it's best to have lunch and carry on. The village of
Tacheddirt is 2km further along the tarmac road. In Tacheddirt, 50 people can sleep at
Tigmi n Tacheddirt
( 0662 10 51 69;
www.highatlaslodges.com
; per person incl half board & shared/
private bathroom Dh180/200)
. From Tacheddirt, the hiking track loops south, up to the camp-
site near Irhzer n'Likemt.
