Tizi Nomads
Terraced barley fields and stone villages in the High Atlas valleys
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Mountains

High Atlas Valleys

A five-day walk between douars in Aït Bouguemez and Aït Bougmez — barley terraces cut by hand, mule tracks, and every path ending in a glass of tea.

Route length
5 days · 62 km
Best season
April – October
Where you base
Tabant, Aït Bouguemez

The route

Five days, village to village

You drive to the start, then walk. Everything between Tabant and Aït Bougmez is on foot, with mules carrying the heavy bags and a host family meeting you at each stop.

The order below is what we do most springs. In June the broom is in flower; by late September the walnuts are being knocked down and the tracks turn gold.

  1. Day 1

    Marrakech to Tabant

    Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass, turn off at Aït Ourir toward Azilal and climb the canyon road to Tabant — six hours with stops. Evening tea with the family you will walk with.

  2. Day 2

    Tabant to Ibaqalliwn

    A mule track past the Sunday souk and up through almond terraces to a douar of eleven houses — around five hours of walking, lunch under a walnut tree.

  3. Day 3

    Ibaqalliwn to Aït Bougmez

    Over a 2,600 m col of wild thyme and juniper, then down into the Aït Bougmez valley — the one locals call the valley of happiness.

  4. Day 4

    Aït Bougmez loop

    A rest day that turns into a gentle walk: the rock arches at Imsker, dinosaur footprints above Ibaqalliwn, and dinner of tanourt bread and tagine.

  5. Day 5

    Aït Bougmez to Marrakech

    Morning market at Azilal, then back over the mountains, with an optional stop at the natural bridge near Demnate.

Where you sleep

Rooms, not resorts

  • Gîte in Tabant

    Family guesthouse above the souk — shared bathroom, thick blankets, and dinner served on the roof.

  • Village room, Ibaqalliwn

    A mattress room in a stone house, with a bucket shower and a stove that warms the whole floor.

  • Aït Bougmez farm stay

    A mud-brick room off the courtyard; breakfast is bread, olive oil and honey from the same valley.

What to pack

Light bag, warm layers

  • Broken-in boots with ankle support
  • Three-season layers — 25°C at noon, close to 4°C after dark
  • Refillable bottle and a filter; village taps are fine, streams are not
  • Cash in dirhams — the last cash machine is in Azilal
  • Sun hat, high-factor cream and sunglasses
  • Headlamp and a lightweight sleeping bag liner
  • A small gift for your hosts: good tea, dried fruit or a printed photo

Plan this route

Tell us your dates and how many walkers. We will match you with a host family and a guide from the valley.

Plan this trip

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