THE SOLT ROUTE (OUNILA VALLEY) - 6 DAYS

from/per person €300
  • Itinerario naturalistico
    Nature tour
  • Montagna
    Mountain
  • Pernottamento presso famiglie locali
    Homestay accommodation
  • Architettura e monumenti
    Monuments and architecture
  • Gastronomia e tipicità locali
    Food and local products
  • Circuiti a cavallo
    Horse-riding tours

General description

Six day trekking trip at the very heart of the central High Atlas, along the ancient caravan trade route between Marrakech and Ouarzazate, the city without noise at the gates of the desert. A pleasant hike though oasis, canyons, lakes and gentle slopes, presenting no particular difficulties, suitable for families with children and for less experienced walkers, with mild temperatures also in summer months.

Other details


Included services:

Transfers by 4x4 or minibus from/to the arrival/departure point - 1 professional nature guide throughout the duration of the trip – 3 nights in bivouac, with accommodation on full board basis - 1 nights in hotel with accommodation on full board basis – 1 homestay night in a local village - 3 liters of water per day and per person during the trek - Cook and equipment for the bivouac: restaurant and kitchen tent, igloo tents and mattresses - Muleteers and mules for carrying luggages, equipment and supplies - Hammam and massages at the end of the trekking - 24h24 assistance.

Extra services not included:

Airplane tickets - Drinks - Tips for staff – Optional activities – Travel health and cancellation insurance (upon request, Direction Sud will help you identify the most suitable for your needs). Direction Sud guarantees no hidden costs or other extra fees.

Stages of the trip

6 days / 5 nights

Tighza - Lake of Tamda - Tiurassin - Tizgui n' Brda - Asaka - Tamedakht - Ait Ben Haddou
Starting from Marrakech, we’ll cross the central High Atlas at the Tizi n’ Tichka pass (2200 m) for a first stop at Berber village of Telouet, in a wide windy valley at about 1800 m. Here, we’ll visit the ruins of the Glaoui Palace (19th century), located in a very strategic position along the ancient caravan trade route leading to Ouarzazate and near important mines of salt, crossed by the Ounila river thus inevitably changing the life and landscapes of these magic places. Our trek starts from the salt mines, hidden on the steep red slopes the Atlas mountains, with a first stop at the Berber village of Tighza, where we’ll spend the night with local families, having the unique opportunity to discover the traditions of the valley and taste local products (nuts, figs, almonds). From here we’ll climb along a narrow nomadic path up to the Tamda Lake, enclosed in a valley protected from Jbel Anghomr (2740 m), from whose summit we’ll enjoy a stunning view of the mountains and the surrounding valleys. Following an old nomadic route we’ll descend toward the berber village of Tirwassin, immerse in a lush vegetation thanks to the abundance of water, as witnessed by numerous natural springs where nomadic tribes come to graze animals. We’ll then leave the Atlas peaks to discover the heart of Ounila Valley, hidden among narrow steep canyons dividing the Kasbah of Telouet by the prestigious Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, admiring the dazzling contrast between the red ocher of the canyons and the lush green of the oasis that run at the bottom of steep cliffs. Hiking is definitely the best way to discover the Ounila valley, yet so barely known to most tourists, and to enjoy the beauty of its extraordinary landscapes. Situated on the southern side of the central High Atlas, this natural corridor was a natural passage to the desert and still represents an absolutely fascinating transition zone, suspended between two worlds. During the trekking, we’ll visit the caves of Asaka (carved on the side of a steep cliff and accessible only by a rope ladder), the berber village of Tamakoucht (classical example of traditional architecture), the caves of the troglodytes in Tezleft and finally the Kasbah of Tamdakht, whose gardens will be the perfect place for a refreshing break before exploring the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, majestic fortress of earth and straw at the doors of the desert, where our 4X4/minibus will wait to take us back to Marrakech.

Duration: 6 GIORNI