Tassa Ouirgane National Park to Mount Toubkal

Depart Marrakech for a pleasing two hour drive south through the Moulay Brahim Gorges way up into the foothills of the High Atlas, passing through Asni, where you'll get your first real sight of mighty Jbel Toubkal (4167m) and her sisters Aguelzim (3547m) and Aksoual (3847m). Continue on to the Berber village of Ouirgane, often called the oasis in the High Atlas, with its lemon, lime and grapefruit orchards, date palms and thousands of rose bushes, to meet up with your support team and the start of a six hour hike. All ready, set out to the village of Touroud to take the piste which leads up to the Tassa Ouirgane National Park.

At the village of Tassa Ouir (meaning the centre of flowers) hike up between juniper and redwoods to stop for a picnic in the midst of walnut trees near the forest in the Valley of the Assif Azerzeane. Once refreshed, set off up the slopes, passing through Berber hamlets, their pise homes shaded by walnut and apple trees and past well-tended plots of barley and corn, through the village of Ikoubline until you reach the pretty village of Tizziane (1600m) for dinner and overnight accommodation in a Berber Gite d'etape.

• Trekking Time: 6 hours
• Overnight at Berber Gite in Tizziane (1600m)
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner.

After a typical Moroccan breakfast strike out on a six hour hike up through groves of walnut and almond trees, through stands of holm oak and red pine to traverse the Tizi n'Touati (2100m) and into the Assaka Plateau where your guide will prepare today's field picnic. Afterwards your route is up and down the higher slopes, passing by the Aazib n'Assaka and down to the Valley of the Assif D'Knt. Your guide will bring you through the Berber village of D'Knt (1800m) and continue up through fields of potato and barley to a welcoming dinner and campsite in the Aazib n'Assoual.

• Trekking Time: 6 hours
• Camp on the Aazib n'Assoual (2200m)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Breakfast over and camp struck, set off for today's five hour hike towards the south, up goat trails and stark winding slopes to traverse the Tizi n'Taghoudalalte (2700m), where you will take in some impressive vistas. Next, descend amidst the juniper trees to a picnic site by a small stream, surrounded by an almost alpine atmosphere of mountains, wild flowers, poppies, a multitude of herbs and terraced fields. From here your guide will lead you down to the head of the Valley of the n'Ait Ouissa'dane, crossing the river to hike alongside irrigation ditches and small mills towards the last village in this valley - Tizi Oussem (1850m). With Jbels Tasghimout (2004m), Aguelzim (3547m) & Tazaghart (3843m) dominating the skyline above your campsite, dinner is prepared.

• Trekking Time: 5 hours
• Camp near Tizi Oussem (1850m).
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast head off with your guide on today's four to five hour trek climbing towards the end of the Ait Ouissa'dane Valley and the juniper trees on the slopes of the Aoirir n'Irg (3173m) until you reach the Aazib n'Tamsoult (2100m) to obtain a close-up view of the snow-capped Jbel Toubkal. From here climb up to the Tamsoult Cascade (2300m), also known as the Irhoulidene Cascade, and continue up through the rocks to the final couloir in the valley to the Tazaghart Refuge (3000m) - formerly known as the Lepiney Refuge and essentially a rock-climbing base for the cliff face of Tazaghart (3843m). Your guide will prepare your field picnic on the ridge. Tonight's dinner and accommodation will be in the Refuge and there is ample opportunity this afternoon for a stroll around the starkly-beautiful upper slopes, or simply relax in some awesome surroundings, for tomorrow is going to be a long day.

• Trekking Time: 4-5 hours
• Overnight at Tazaghart Refuge (3000m).
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner.

Breakfast tucked away strike out on a seven to eight hour trek up steep, off-the-beaten tracks to traverse the remote and challenging Tizi n'Tadat (3700m) for a panorama that will simply take your breath away. Your guide will lead you along rarely trodden loose-pebbled goat trails to the Jbel Bignouissene (4009m) and up to the picnic spot on this beautiful summit within sight of tomorrow's challenge: Jbel Toubkal. When ready, set off down the slopes to the Toubkal Refuge which, at 3207m, marks the spring snowline. Here you will have dinner and overnight accommodation; time to rest up from the hard day's trek.

• Trekking Time: 7-8 hours
• Overnight in the Toubkal Refuge (3200m).
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

A very early breakfast today as you and your guide set out to attain, after a three hour, non-technical but steep climb, the highest peak in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from here is simply stunning. This remarkable climb and view is what you have come so far for. Whenever you are ready, your guide will lead you on the Ikkhibi Sud or South Cirque for a straightforward two to three hour descent back to the area near the Refuge for a picnic (this descent can be steep in places and the route is covered with many loose stones so we would recommend walking pole(s) for this section for anyone with aching joints or who is not 100% sure footed).

This afternoon, your guide will take you on a gentle (but optional) hike south-eastwards for a couple of hours up to the head of the Assif Ait Mizane Valley and Tizi n'Ounoums (3664m) which, from this high point, gives a tremendous view of the trail you've covered and of the distant cobalt green outline of Lake Ifni. When ready, return to the area of the Toubkal Refuge for a welcome dinner and overnight accommodation in the Refuge.

• Trekking Time: 6-9 hours
• Overnight in the Toubkal Refuge (3200m).
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

A more leisurely breakfast today, then set off towards the north along steeply descending, zig-zagging trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of the Assif n'Isouhouanem n'Ouagounss towards the Berber village of Sidi Chamharouch (3106m). Before entering the village your guide will draw your attention to a special tree, sacred to the local Berbers, on which they hang strips of coloured cloth and pile up stones around the trunk. A brief stop here to relax by the stream, particularly welcome on a hot day. Descend from high above the valley of the Assif Ait Mizane, down zig-zagging trails around granite and basalt grey rocks for about 8km to the village of Aroumd (1840m), commanding one of the more fertile valleys of the High Atlas with terraced, irrigated plots and fields of maize, onions and fruit trees on all sides.

Here your guide will prepare a final picnic prior to continuing on along the floor of the valley, then up a well-defined mule track zig-zagging above the river for some 4km to arrive, in the afternoon back at the Berber village of Imlil and a welcome glass, or two, of mint tea in the home of our senior guide; time to shower and change prior to your return to Marrakech and arrival around 5pm.

• Trekking Time: 5-6 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 1 - arrival into Marrakech; private transfer to your accommodation.

• stay at one of our recommended riads - 2 nights BB

Day 2 - private guided city tour (am); balance of day for independent sightseeing.

Days 3 to 9 - on trek as per itinerary above.

• stay at Douar Samra in Tamatert - 1 night HB.

Day 10 - private transfer to Marrakech Airport.