The 28th December group did days 2 and 3 in reverse sequence to be sure of two dry days for the walks.
In the event this was not necessary since the weather stayed fine.
Click here if you would like a map of the area in a second window.
Tassa Ouirgane
We drove to Asni, where we picked up our guide (Mohammed or his brother Mubarak) and continued to a small hamlet called Marigha, before Ouirgane, on the road to the Tizi n'Tizit Pass.
From there we made our way up to and through the small village of Tassa Ouirgane. On the Eastern outskirts of the village we had lunch in an orchard.
Afterwards we made our way back down through the village and then struck off towards Ouirgane. We arrived there at the well-known hotel "Le Sanglier qui fume", where we sat and had a drink before setting off back to Marrakech.
Marrakech Souks
The first group had Sheraph as a guide and the second had Haj M'Barak.
We first went through some of the alleyways of the Medina, looking at the style of architecture and building. Then we walked through some areas of the souk, passing between marchants stalls and workshops.
We visited the Ben Youssef Medersa, where students used to study the Koran, and we saw the restored plaster-work and carving and also looked at the students rooms.
This was followed by traversing more of the souk and a visit to a spice shop. Finally we reached the Djema al Fna and went to the Hotel Foucauld for lunch.
Afterwards we walked for a visit to the Saadian Tombs. Near there was the Artisanale with a huge array of ornate items for sale. Finally we returned to the Djema al Fna where the group split up.
Kik Plateau
Again we drove to Ansni to pick up the brothers as guides. The first group had Mubarak as guide and the second group had Mohammed as guide, complete with his four year old son who walked the whole way!
Not far West of Asni is the small "Atlas Minereaux" stall where we began our climb up to the Kik Plateau. [The name means "Wheat Plateau"]
The cluster of houses near a well was Isgane. Some distance past here we stopped for lunch. Later we had tea in a house in the village of Tadert. Our walk finished at the town of Moulay Brahim.
Amezmiz Berber Market and walk up valley road.
We spent an hour in the Berber Market at Amezmiz. A short drive took us to a forestry cottage where we began our walk.
The first village was Ait Ouskri and the second was Tizgui. It was just beyond Tizgui that we stopped for lunch.
FREE DAY.
[Essaouira visit or touring Marrakech]
Ourika Valley
Setti Fadma was the touristy village where we started and finished our walk. We also picked up Abdul and his brother Adel from there. The zig-zags started with the village of Agadir n Ait Boulmane across the river from us. Our ascent was on a track leading to Tadrart, although our "forward position" was still some 40min away from it.