Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
roccan areas, it is often possible to stay in village houses, but you must still be prepared to
camp and to carry food and water.
The best way of doing this is by hiring a guide and mules; there are trekking guides -
and
faux guides
- in Tafraoute. As ever, insist on seeing a guide's ID card before you start
discussing possibilities. As a rule, trained mountain guides do not tout for business in the
street. Mules are rarely found around Tafraoute, but you may be able to arrange this
through your guide.
Jebel L'Kest and the approaches from Tafraoute are covered by the 1:50,000 map sheets
Had Tahala
and
Tanalt,
while the whole area is covered by 1:100,000 sheets
Annzi, Ta-
frawt, Foum al-Hisn
and
Taghjijt
. You should be able to find these maps in Au Coin des
Nomades (
Click here
)
, in specialist bookshops (
Click here
)
, or in good big-city bookshops
in Morocco.
This part of the Atlas is not well developed for tourism, and transport is an issue
throughout.
Camionettes
(pick-up trucks) and minibuses provide a reliable though infre-
quent service to some villages and grands taxis run on souq days, but at other times you
may need to hire one to get to trailheads.
Jebel L'Kest
The area's star attraction is this massive quartzite ridge that stretches away northwest of
Tafraoute. Despite the harshness of the landscape, the Berbers who live in local villages
manage to grow the mountain staples of wheat, barley, olives, figs and almonds. The vil-
lage of Tagdichte is the launching point for a day ascent of Jebel L'Kest (2359m). Tagdi-
chte can be accessed by minibus or taxi, and homestay accommodation can be arranged
there.
Ameln Valley
There are some 26 villages neatly spaced out through the Ameln Valley, which runs along
the south side of Jebel L'Kest, and they make for a great walk. You'd need weeks to do a
full circuit, but a stunningly beautiful and suitably stretching five-day walk would start in
Oumesnate, take in several villages, and head up to Tagdichte for an ascent of Jebel
L'Kest. Alternatively, the ascent could be tackled as part of a gentle trek east through the
