Three Day - Gorge to Gorge - Walking With Nomads, A unique experience with the last of the nomadic tribes

In the breathtakingly beautiful, High Atlas Mountain areas of Boumalne Dades and Toudgha (Todra) Gorge, we offer Walking with Nomad experiences. Anything from a half day loop to a 4 day trek, you will be staying in nomadic encampments and learning more about the way of life of these ancient tribes people.

Despite being in the mountains this is hiking / trekking and not climbing and the experience can be easily slotted into your tour of Morocco. The route is reversible so you can start your trek in either Dades or Todra and extend the trek to 4 days if you would rather spend more time with the nomads.

1N/1D Trek - Starts at M'hamid - ends at Erg Zahar with exit transfer included the next day

Day One: Todra Gorge - Atlas Mountains

Description – 50km / moderate level

This is a gentle to moderate hike of approximately 50km, you will meander through a spectacular gorge and pass a natural spring and waterfall. Suitable for moderately active people, from teenagers and up.

Starting after lunch in the heart of the Todra Gorge, we will fill up our water bottles from the natural mountain spring. We then commence our journey by hiking up into the Atlas Mountains and start to really take in the unique beauty this range has to offer.

Along the way we meet our native Nomad guide who will help us navigate across the mountainous terrain, where we will descend into a gorge to find our first night’s resting place in a traditional shepherds hut. Here we will take have ample opportunity to soak up the atmosphere and start to understand what it must be like to live the simple and harsh life that the local tribes-people do.

Day 2: Gorges & Waterfalls

The next day we will awaken to a Moroccan breakfast and continue on our journey through another gorge to a small waterfall (which can be used as a shower if feeling inspired by the life of the Nomads) and then further along reach another natural spring, where we can once again top up our water supplies.

The journey continues where the gorge becomes narrower and we snake amongst the mountains and take in the dramatic scenery whilst looking out for nomad shepherds supervising their goats. Here we will have a much deserved lunch stop accompanied by Moroccan tea prepared in the style of the mountains with the thyme we picked fresh as we walked.

Tonight we will stay in a nomad settlement (or 3rd if you prefer to slow down the pace) under the darkest sky and brightest stars you have ever seen.

Day 3: Final Leg to Dades Gorge

This morning we will wake up again to the sounds of nature and absolutely nothing else. Today we will walk the final leg of the hike before we will reach our journeys end at the Dades Gorge around lunch time.

Depending on your fitness and experience levels, there are two options for this hike.

The other option is to hike across the top following the peaks and taking in stunning mountain scenery from above. This means that you will not descend into the gorges and will miss the waterfall but will still experience nomad life in an overnight camp and several nomadic stops en-route. This is only suitable for regular, experienced trekkers or very active, fit people.

We are very unlikely to encounter other tourists on either of these Gorge to Gorge options.

The Gorge to Gorge treks are possible in February, March, April, October & November. May is likely to be very hot, so would depend on fitness levels and December and January are likely to be very cold with potential heavy snowfall.

Note:

You will need to carry your sleeping bags, water, snacks and minimal personal belongings. We will supply a list of essentials. Hiking shoes or boots are required. The terrain is not tough but the ground is uneven with loose stones. It can get windy at the top and suitable clothes will be required. All meals will be vegetarian and can be vegan on request. There is some connection en-route and we recommend an INWI Sim card as there is no Orange connection in these mountains.