Arrive Marrakech, Morocco.

Historically a desert caravan outpost, the city of Marrakech has been a must-see for all travelers to North Africa for centuries. Marrakech is a melting pot of Berber and Arab culture. It is a place without description and only something you can experience in the flesh. A popular Moroccan proverb is perhaps the best description we can offer. Ma doumta fil magrib fa la tastagrib. When in Morocco, don’t be surprised by anything, everything is possible.

• Airport pickup from Marrakech-Menara international airport
• Afternoon guided tour of Marrakech’s medieval markets (medina), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Ben Yusuf Medersa.
• Dinner overlooking the famous Djemaa el Fna square; watching the ancient tradition of story tellers, magicians, and acrobats.
• Relax and sleep at Hotel Assia, a traditional riad in Marrakech’s medina (old city). (double occupancy, private bath)

Foothills of the Central High Atlas Mountains

Catch a glimpse of your skiing objectives as you travel overland through olive groves and the plains of Marrakesh into the foothills of the Central High Atlas Mountains. These lands are layered with a tapestry of tribal rights, pastoral lands, sacred peaks and stunning natural beauty. The vast, high plateaus are the summer grazing grounds for the Ait Atta, southern Morocco’s largest nomadic tribe. Here you will discover the purest example of the Imazighen (local word for Berber that means the ‘free people’) culture. Little development has reached this area due to its extreme geography and isolation in winter.

• Depart Marrakesh after breakfast. Travel through the Central High Atlas Mountains to the Ait
  Bouguemez Valley. (4-5 hours from Marrakesh, private 4×4 or minibus)
• Lunch and short walk at Cascades d’Ouzoud, a 110 meter and three-tiered waterfall home to wild Macaque monkeys.
• Prepare for morning departure to mountains
• Stay at locally owned Gite Flilou, a traditional guesthouse in the village of Agouti. (Shared occupancy, shared bath)
• Traditional Berber dinner of couscous, tagine and mint tea.
• (B,L,D)

Ait Bouguemez Valley/Trek and ski to Tarkeddit Refuge through the Berber highlands

Ait Bouguemez, known by locals as the ‘happy valley’, sits in a broad, lush valley at the base of North Africa’s second highest mountain Jbel M’Goun (4068 m). Less than a decade ago the valley was shut off from the rest of the world for four months out of the year due to remoteness and snowfall. The inhabitants of the Ait Bouguemez Valley are renowned for their resourcefulness having survived in such a remote and harsh location for thousands of years. Their resourcefulness continues with ambitious development of sustainable development projects, cooperatives, schools and associations.

• After an early breakfast set out for Tarkedit Refuge with mules and muleteers.
• Begin trekking in village of Agerssif (1489meters) travel through small Berber hamlets.
• Picnic lunch along river valley of Assif Ait Mellal.
• Trek and ski tour up and over the Tarkeddit Col (3450m) enjoying views of the snow-capped Central High Atlas Mountains. Hike down to the refuge on Tarkeddit Plateau (2900m).
• Prepare for early morning summit climb. Eat traditional Berber dinner, sleep at Tarkeddit Refuge. (shared occupancy, shared bath)
• 8+ hours of trekking and ski touring.
• (B,L,D)

Summit Climb and Ski Jbel Oumsoud (3883m) in the Berber highlands.

Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. Historically they spoke various Berber languages, which together form a branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Today Arabic is spoken almost universally by Berbers, along with Darija, as well as French (in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria) and some Spanish (in Western Sahara and parts of Morocco), due to European colonization of the Maghreb. Today most Berber-speaking people live in Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mali and Niger. Many Berbers call themselves some variant of the word Imazighen (singular: Amazigh), possibly meaning “free people” or “free and noble men.” Ibn Battuta is one of the best known historical Berbers, a medieval explorer who traveled the longest known distances in pre-modern times.

• Ski Jbel Oumsoud (3883m).
• Return to Tarkedit Refuge for welldeserved rest and traditional Moroccan dinner.
• 8+ hours of ski touring, crampons and ice-axe required.
• (B,L,D)

Summit Climb and Ski Jbel M’goun (4068m)

You are now in the heart of the summer grazing grounds of the Ait Atta, Morocco’s largest nomadic tribe. Spending nine months of the year in the Sahara Desert and Jbel Sarghro regions of southern Morocco, they travel to the Central High Atlas Mountains every June in search of green pastures and cooler temperatures. The Ait Atta and inhabitants of Ait Bouguemez Valley and surrounding valleys have a centuries’ old land sharing agreement that is still in place today. They are also historic allies having banded together against threatening tribes or more recently the French occupation of Morocco.

• Pre-dawn departure for the summit.
• Ski Jbel M’goun (4068m). From the summit look out over Jbel Sarghro and the Sahara Desert.
• Return to Tarkedit Refuge for well-deserved rest and traditional Moroccan dinner.
• 10 hours of ski touring, crampons and ice-axe required.
• (B,L,D)

Ski Jbel Oumsoud

Ski touring in the Central High Atlas Mountains started as early as 1925 when the first north to south crossing of the range was accomplished by a group of French skiers. The first documented ski of both Jbel Azourki and Jbel M’goun was in 1942; again by the French. In the 1950’s, the infamous Edmond Charlet began exploring the region and two decades later, in 1972, the British began to explore the region. Despite the relatively early exploration of these mountains by Europeans they have remained off of the radar of those looking to ski in Africa, always overlooked by the Jbel Toubkal region which lies in close proximity to Marrakech. As a result, they provide a very intimate, remote and aweinspiring experience to the backcountry skier.

• Relaxing start to the day. Skiing on new terrain in a familiar setting.
• Ski Jbel Oumsoud.
• Return to Tarkedit Refuge for well-deserved rest and traditional Moroccan dinner.
• 8+ hours of ski touring, crampons and ice-axe required.
• Evening of traditional Berber music.
• (B,L,D)

Climb and Ski Jbel Tarkeddit (3650m)/Trek to village of Aguerd n’Ouzrou, Ait Bouguemez Valley

• Early morning departure for summit and ski of Jbel Tarkeddit.
• Trek and tour back to Ait Bouguemez Valley accompanied by mules and muleteers.
• Picnic lunch along river gorges or in apple orchards. Terraced fields yield small crops of winter wheat and corn, and small orchards produce figs, apples, almonds, walnuts and peaches.
• Stay at locally owned Gite Flilou, a traditional guesthouse in the village of Agouti. (Shared occupancy, shared bath)
• Traditional Berber dinner of couscous, tagine and mint tea.
• Full day skiing and trekking.
• (B,L,D)

Ski Jbel Azourki (3677m)/Zawiya Ahansal

Jbel Azourki has long been a sacred mountain for the region’s tribes and seasonal nomads. Annually, inhabitants would challenge themselves and climb to the summit to make a sacrifice and ask Allah for blessings of rain, plentiful crops, regional peace and health. After our final ski decent we end at Ism Suq, an historical weekly market for the semi-nomadic and nomadic tribes of the region. Six days a week it is a deserted, dusty outpost but on market day it is teaming with donkeys, camels, goats, sheep and their owners who have made the long trek to trade with their neighbors for another week’s meager rations. Private 4×4 will meet us at Ism Suq for transfer to Zawiya Ahansal for a celebratory goat sacrifice and shwaa (traditional earthen barbeque).

• Early morning departure.
• Travel by 4×4 over the mountain pass Tizi n’Tirghist. (1 hour, private 4×4)
• Climb and ski Jbel Azourki.
• Travel by 4×4 over the mountain pass Tizi n’Illisi to Zawiya Ahansal. (1 hour, private 4×4)
• Stay in Dar Ahansal for a well-deserved rest and hot shower. (double occupancy, private bath)
• 6+ hours ski touring, roadside access.
• (B,L,D)

Zawiya Ahansal/Marrakech

Less than 80 kilometers separates the Ait Bouguemez Valley from its neighboring region of Zawiya Ahansal. Founded in the 13th century by a traveling saint, Zawiya Ahansal is one of the oldest zawiyas (holy center) in Morocco. Despite its seemingly remote location it was established on the original caravan route over the Atlas Mountains from Timbuktu and quickly became a center for learning and knowledge. To this day, Zawiya Ahansal has active branches throughout Morocco and Algeria, and pilgrims regularly visit the shrine during the Islamic month of shawaal bearing gifts for Saint Sidi Said Ahansal. Zawiya Ahansal is the second poorest region in Morocco, a statistic that is apparent in the extremely high illiteracy rates, complete lack of healthcare and continued subsistence living. Due to these centuries-old hardships the inhabitants have become known for their strength and independence; they were the last stronghold in North Africa against the French occupation in the late 1930’s. Despite its poverty, it is perhaps the richest of Morocco’s regions in terms of architecture, culture, natural beauty, and hospitality.

• Early breakfast of traditional breads, local honey, amlou (a Moroccan almond butter made with spices and argan oil) and mint tea.
• Morning tour of the village of Aguddim.
• Depart for Marrakech. Picnic lunch. (4-5 hours, private 4×4)
• Evening of shopping in the medieval markets. Carpet shopping, souvenirs, evening out on the town.
• Experience Marrakech’s world-renowned cuisine at a palace restaurant. Good-bye dinner.
• Relax and sleep at Hotel Assia, a traditional riad in Marrakech’s medina (old city). (double occupancy, private bath)
• (B,L)

Marrakesh/USA.

Morocco has more to offer! Extend your stay with a trip to the Atlantic beaches of Essaouira or Agadir, or a trip to the Saharan dunes of Merzouga and Zagora.

• Airport transfer.
• Head home or continue on an extension.
• (B)