Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TREKKING IN THE RIF MOUNTAINS:
TALASSEMTANE NATIONAL PARK
TOP OF CHAPTER
Chefchaouen to Bab Taza
This is the best introductory walk to the Rif Mountains. Within the
Talassemtane National
Park
(
www.talassemtane.com
)
and starting from Chefchaouen, it takes in some spectacular
scenery, including the geologically improbable God's Bridge, a natural stone arc spanning
the Oued Farda. You are also likely to meet troupes of Barbary apes.
The full trek takes five days, but there are plenty of ways to shorten the distance or dura-
tion. One option would be to arrange transport from Akchour back to Chefchaouen at the
end of day two. Transport isn't too hard to find in Akchour, or you can arrange for a grand
taxi from Chefchaouen to pick you up at a specified time. Alternatively, you may be able to
hike back along an alternate route.
The Talassemtane National Park is one of two parks in the Rif Mountains (the other be-
ing Bouhachem). It's a largely undiscovered area and yet these mountains make perfect
trekking country, blessed with magnificent ranges, gorges and valleys, with forests of ce-
dar, cork oak and fir. Being close to the Mediterranean, the Rif are also the greenest of Mo-
rocco's mountains, and springtime, with its riot of wildflowers, is one of the most delight-
ful times to walk here.
One thing that does deter trekkers is the region's reputation as an area of drug produc-
tion. But although cannabis takes up over three quarters of cultivatable land east of
Chefchaouen, trekkers have little reason to feel threatened, especially if travelling with a
guide - villagers will be genuinely interested and welcoming. The trek detailed here, set-
ting out from Chefchaouen, is well trodden and unproblematic in this respect. In a concer-
ted effort to reduce reliance on the cannabis industry, local organisations, backed by the
government, are setting up rural tourism facilities such as
gîtes
and homestays, managing
routes and training guides.
The Rif Mountains rarely top more than 2500m in height, with most treks only occasion-
ally venturing over 2000m, so altitude sickness isn't the worry it can be in other parts of
Morocco.
