Morocco Mgoun & Ait Bougmez Valley


Morocco Mgoun & Ait Bougmez Valley

Morocco trekking tours are recommended to explore th prepossessing M’goun region in Morocco. The tour guides are often natives, familiar with the area as well as the local customs. Utilize the services of an educated tour guide through a Morocco tour operator to better explore this authentic Berber villages. Satiate your lust in Wanderlust by trekking through pastoral valleys, indulging in the sights and sounds offered only in this part of Morocco. The coupled Mgoun and Ait Bougmez Valley proffer villages, people and ways of life unique to only this region in all of Africa.

Sights and Sounds

Mgoun contains portions of mountain ranges that practically reach the sky. It holds the distinct honor of being the second highest mountain range in Morocco (second to Mount Jbel Toubkal). Leading up to this majestic mountain range that stands at 4,068 meters is the beautiful Ait Bougmez Valley.

Mgoun makes a home in the High Atlas Mountains where it covers a territory space of 250 kilometers. Its boundaries stretch from Marrakech to the east of Jebel Toubkal. Nestled in the valleys of Mgoun are authentic Berber villages where life stays true to traditional Moroccan customs.

Being nestled in the Ait Bougmez Valley affords M’goun the opportunity to indulge in a variety of attractions and activities that give a sense of what Morocco rural life is like. Travelers will delight in witnessing the sights of such destination attractions as Tighremt Valley; Ait Boulli Village; Oulillimt gorges and Tessaout.

Trekking Mgoun Morocco

Adventurous holiday goers will enjoy trekking Morocco even more if they choose to get off the beaten path. There are numerous guided tours available for inexperienced trekkers and those who are visiting the region for the first time.

Mgoun treks cover paths from north to south and everything between. Treks take Morocco holiday travelers up towards the Mgoun summit. Along the path, trekkers will be treated to unforgettable scenery such as nomadic shepherds leading a flock of sheep across a field or the sun setting behind the towering caps of the High Atlas Mountain range. Consume the breathtaking 360 degree views afforded by the Mgoun gorge with a crystal clear river flowing through its center.

An Mgoun trekking adventure spans the course of eleven days from start to finish. Many guided tour companies remain below a 10,000 foot altitude level during the trek. At or below this level inexperienced and experienced trekkers alike should undergo no problems in altitude adjustments.

Ideal times to engage in an adventure is anytime of the calendar year with the exception of attempting a climb to the top of Mgoun during the months of January through March, as avalanches are common on the upper peaks. While July and August are hot, trekking in the mountains at higher altitudes will always mean cooler morning and evening temperatures.

Trails follow a zigzag pattern in some portions of the trek. One section in particular looks impossibly daunting. However, after one hour, this section is finished, proffering panoramic vistas to conquerors. Participants must maintain a certain level of physical fitness in order to successfully engage in any Mgoun trek. Basic hiking and walking fitness should suffice. You can always hop on a mule for part of the half- or full-day treks.

Terrain substances changes in the blink of an eye. Therefore, participants should also be able to switch walking trail surfaces without a problem. A good already used-by-you hiking boots should be used. Guided tours typically take participants on the trails for six to seven hours at a time per day (this includes stops, eating and everything in between).

The M’goun area in Morocco measures slightly smaller than its blue-ribbon predecessor Mount Toubkal. It is highly regarded as the greatest trekking adventure in Morocco. This is due in large part to the stunning views that are afforded to trekkers at every turn on the paths and trail ways. Pass through a Berber village that displays authentic red soil with the mountain range as a backdrop. Take in views afforded by ancient rock carvings and preserved dinosaur footprints, often hard to spot without a trained eye.

Morocco Itineraries for Trekking Mgoun & Ait Bougmez

Detailed itineraries will vary depending on each individual and their needs. The most general itineraries start on the first day leaving from Marrakech. Tours head towards Azilal where a stop for lunch and mint tea is made. After a delicious Moroccan meal, tours move on towards the Idoukalm Berber village near Tabant. Here is where the first overnight stay will occur.

Sights along the way include rock carvings that date back some 8,000 years situated alongside rock strata. Follow a beautiful waterfall to a cold plunge pool and enjoy a refreshing dip in the waters if you dare. Overnight camps will be created in the midst of jagged mountain peaks and star formations glistening in the night Moroccan sky.

As the Mgoun trek begins to wind down, participants finally reach the majestic summit massif. This point rests at 4,068 meters above the earth providing trekkers with a moment to feel on top of the world–or almost on top of Africa. From this picturesque point, trekkers make their way down Mgoun and back towards the Ait Bougemez Valley. A final overnight camp is set up in Agouti village. The final day of ends with a light morning trek followed by transport back to Marrakesh.


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morocco city



 Marrakesh
Individual arrival at Marrakesh, Assistance at the airport, transfer to the hotel. Dinner and Overnight.

Thursday: Marrakesh
Full day to Marrakech, the second oldest Imperial city, known as the pearl of the South. The historical sightseeing includes the Menara garden, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia palace, the Koutoubia and the Dar Si Saïd museum. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon, visit of the souks and handicraft quarters displaying a variety of items and the famous place Djemâa El Fna with its non stop entertainment. Optional : typical dinner under caidal tents at the famous "Chez Ali" restaurant, enhanced by the performance of several folkloric troops Accommodation.
 Marrakech-Ouarzazate-Zagora (380 km)
Breakfast at the hotel, departure to Ait Benhaddou through Tizi N’yichka pass (2260m high). Visit of the famous kasbah that where many great movies were filmed. The Kasbah is actually UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch (optional) at a local restaurant facing the Kasbah & continuation to Zagora crossing the Draa valley. Dinner & accommodation at the hotel in Zagora.

 Zagora-Nkob-Tazzarine-Erfoud (360km)
Departure to Tamgroute & short visit of the famous coranic library that contains old books and documents dating back to the 12th century. Departure to Erfoud, through Tansikht and Nkob where splendid sceneries of pre-saharian and Berber villages of the Sargho Mountain massive follow each other perpetually. Lunch (optional) at Tazzarine, small Berber village. Afternoon, continuation to Erfoud via the villages of Alnif and Rissani, birthplace of the present Alaouites Dynasty. Optional : excursion by 4x4 cars to experience a unique dinner and night under a Bedouin tent at a camp site “Bivouac” at the foot of the Merzouga sandy dunes. (Optional tour: Camel ride at sunset in Merzouga, 1 hour duration for 16 Euro per person)

Erfoud-Tinghir - Ouarzazate (370 km)
Optional : Early wake-up & departure by 4x4 cars to Merzouga to admire the sunrise on the top of the sandy dunes. After breakfast departure to Tineghir, visit of its magnificent Todra Canyons which rocks reach an altitude of 250 meters. Lunch (optional) at a restaurant located at the foot of the canyons. Afternoon departure to Ouarzazate via the road of the Mille Kasbahs passing by El Kelaa de Mgouna & the village of Skoura.

Ouarzazate - Marrakech (210 km)
Breakfast at the hotel & departure for an orientation city tour of Ouarzazate, Continuation then to Marrakech & Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure. (optional) dinner at a Moroccan palace located in the heart of the Medina. Overnight in Marrakesh
Marrakesh- departure
Breakfast & transfer to Marrakech Menara airport for departure according to your flight schedule.



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Morocco in Focus


Morocco in Focus 
Photography Tour. Master your photography skills on a classical tour of Morocco hosted by Doug McKinlay, an acclaimed London-based documentary, travel and reportage photographer and feature writer. Doug’s work frequently appears in the national press, Conde Nast Traveller, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet publications and many more. Visiting the labyrinth souk of Marrakech, fortified Kasbahs, high Atlas passes, gorges and the vast Sahara Desert – by camel trek, with Doug’s hands on instruction, tips and advice for capturing the perfect shots.

Day 1: Marrakech by night
Welcome to Marrakesh. On arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to hotel to check-in and freshen up. Later we meet in hotel lobby at 6pm and proceed to Djemma El Fna for some evening exploration and then will enjoy our first taste of delicious local cuisine over dinner at one of the roof top restaurants surrounding the Djemma. After dinner there will be a brief on what to expect technically from your photography tour and some relevant trip notes. Overnight - Marrakech (D)

Day 2: Dades Gorge at sunset
Marrakech - Dades Gorge. After an early breakfast we will be on the road by 7:00am to explore the Dades Gorge and its Kasbahs. Arriving at the gorge sometime in the mid to late afternoon we will photograph the stunning architecture and local colours. Our tuition will cover panoramic techniques and pictures. Later we check into our hotel, freshen up and then there will be a two to three hour photography lecture covering technical as well creative aspects. Overnight - Gorge du Dades (B, D)
Morocco in Focus - 8 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Day 3: Todgra Gorge - wadi & kasbah landscapes
Dades Gorge - Todra Gorge. Setting off early we drive along the Valley of the Roses to the Todra Gorge, stopping for landscape and architectural images and local colour, palmeries, wadi and kasbah landscapes. Subject to opportunity we will try to photograph local people with tuition en route covering tips on how to approach people without causing offence. After dinner some more anecdotal talks and techie tips will follow, and perhaps even a slide show for those interested. Overnight - Todra Gorge (B, D)

Day 4: Sahara - afternoon light & long shadows
Todra Gorge - Erg Chebbi - Sahara. After breakfast we will head for a photo safari in Todra Gorge – mostly looking for landscape images. We will then continue our drive to Erg Chebbi, with a picnic lunch along the way and an estimated arrival of 2-3pm and into the dunes for the afternoon light. Taking our sturdy camels we will reach the Berber Camp and experiment with deserts shots using our camels and Berber riders as props. There will be plenty of time for an evening photo talk after dinner and possibly a star trails photography expedition. Overnight - Sahara Berber Camp (B, L, D)
Day 5: Sunlight on the Erg Chebbi dunes, camels & riders
Sahara - Ait Benhaddou. After a morning photography session experimenting with the dunes and sunlight we settle into a good breakfast before driving on to Ait Benhaddou to arrive by approx. 4pm. There will be more photo opportunities before a local dinner at the hotel and the rest of the evening will be free. Overnight - Ait Benhaddou (B, D)

Day 6: Fortified cities & Berber villages
Ait Benhaddou - Marrakech. This morning we take photos of the legendary Ait Benhaddou - a fortified city situated alon g the caravan route before driving into the heart of the High Atlas to the lost palace of the Glaoui at telouet for a chance to photograph the palace and the berber villages nearby. Continuing on to Marrakech we can enjoy an afternoon shooting on the Djemma el Fna practicing all our newly learnt photography skills. Enjoy a dinner in a local restaurant and some evening photography around the souks and night markets. Overnight - Marrakech (B)

Day 7: Souks of Djemma el Fna
It's an early breakfast today, before heading of to explore the souks of Marrakesh - and if, time permits, take a visit to the tanneries and the Jardins Majorelle. After dinner we can enjoy a final slideshow of our all our work back at the hotel. Overnight - Marrakech (B)
Day 8:
Spend the morning at leisure or further exploring the souks of the old medina before hotel check out and included departure transfer to the airport. (B)



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