The Ouirgane Valley, an hour’s drive south from Marrakesh towards Taroudant although its Thursday souk provides a hubbub of activity and local colour, Ouirgane itself is more a string of small settlements than a single village and holds little of interest. But the valley is in the heart of Berber countryside, with tracks and pathways leading across streams and through verdant forest towards lovely mountain villages.

This trek heads south along mule tracks near a saline stream towards the village of Marigha Izdern (1,205m) then Imareghan Noufla (1,224m) where the intensely flavoured olive oil that is so distinctive to this area is produced using old stone equipment driven by mules and donkeys.

From here, with the Adrar Takherkhourte (2,660m) to our right, we trek through countryside with a beautiful mix of field crops, wild flowers and olive groves via Berber hamlets to the little village of Tinzert where salt is mined from huge wells and then the brine left for the water to evaporate on salt pans.  

The return leg is via a pass, the Tizi n’Tarabza (1,706m), from where there can be seen superb views of the Tarabaza, Kik and Moulay Brahim plateaus with the Tizi n’Test Pass and Jbel Oukaïmeden beyond.

Most successful treks are tailor made with client requirements, age and numbers in consideration. Please have dates in mind and approximate number of people.