Jebel Sirwa Trek
One says that the Massif Sirwa is relatively undeveloped and they are still relatively little visited. I wanted to know why Morocco, with its labyrinthine medieval cities, isolated hilltop casbahs, and epic landscapes, has fascinated travelers for millennia. And I soon found out if you seek solitude you need not to explore far beyond the more-established routes. Therefore, to my mind, this trip became an exciting adventure. The Massif Sirwa is a mountain range of exceptional beauty and cultural interest.
On this Trekking trip we pass sheer rocks, rough plateaus and desolate valleys. The Djebel Sirwa — to the south of the High Atlas, with a view upon the mountain Toubkal and other high summits of Morocco — forms a natural border with the Sahara desert. This chain of mountains shows its visitors another side of the Moroccan highlands, a world that is even more rough and impressive than the 4.000 m high summits to the south of Marrakech. This far-off Djebel Sirwa, surrounded by magnificent, isolated valleys is one of the least known mountain range of Morocco. It is an extinct volcano which reaches a height of 3.305 m.
| Most successful treks are tailor made with client requirements, age and numbers in consideration. Please have dates in mind and approximate number of people. |
| All our treks include an English speaking guide, mules and a cook, transport to and from Marrakech and all food whilst on the trek. |
Walking Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech – Amerzgane – AnezaL – Tamlakhout. You will be picked up from your hotel in Marrakech at 0700h (7am). Accompanied by an English-speaking guide drive south over the Tizi n’Tichka (2260m), the highest mountain pass in Morocco and continue along the Western High Atlas Valley to Taliouine d’Amerzgane.
From here we turn towards the south-west and the Assif Iriri Valley until we reach the village and important animal market of Anezal. Here we alight from our vehicle, meet up with our mules and muleteers. We set off now towards the west for a 2 hour hike to the oasis village of Tamlakhout (1700m). Overnight accommodation in a Berber Gîte d’étape
Day 2: Tamlakhout – Tamazirrt – Tizouâd. We set out towards the south-west for our 7 hour hike across the Oued n’Aït Ouissadene, until we reach the remote village of Tamazzirt . From here we shall follow a piste which leads us up to the Imghi Heights . Our afternoon is spent hiking along the now almost-flat piste to the Berber hamlet of Aït Tizouâd (2030m) where we shall stop. Our overnight accommodation is either in a tent or in a basic Berber family’s home.
Day 3: Tizouâd – Oued iriri – Tassirouät.We set out south-east, our walk today is around 7 hours and will take us along a piste scattered with craters and volcanic plugs up and through the stark Tizi (2300m) and down to the Oued Iriri. The afternoon is spent hiking towards the west, through a chaos of black rock until we arrive up at the village of Asrir n’Tassirouât, where our camp for the night is being set up amidst a volcanic moonscape.
Day 4: Tassirouät – Jbel Sirwa Summit – Âazib n”iriri – Ammassine. Whilst our muleteers and mules set off for the Âazib n’Iriri, we set out for a 2-3 hour attack on the summit of this extinct volcanic twin-peak (3304m). The final metres involve scrambling, but the panorama from this summit makes it all worthwhile. From here you can see the High and Anti Atlas ranges, dramatic gorges, blasted plains, a cliff village and the nearby twin cones of Jbel Tikniouine (2948m) (2905) to the north, Jbel Guiliz (2906m) to the south and of Jbel Talzouggaght (2841m) to the west.
When ready, we set off back down along a winding path for some 5 to 6 hours steady hiking towards the north-east through fields of saffron crocus to the Âazib n’Iriri (2340m), where we meet up once more with our muleteers. We shall set off down through a chaos of black rocks, stones and pebbles towards the remote village of Ammassine (2000m). We’ll take a stroll around this strange village with its large, bizarre storage places of wheat and hay, and back up to the Âazib n’Iriri where we’ll camp for the night.
Day 5: Ammasine – Tachakoucht – Tamlakhout. Today we take an 8 hour hike down to the Oued Tachakoucht and along a winding piste through groves of almond, olive and orange trees until we come to the village of Tachakoucht. We carry on to the Tachakoucht Reservoir and sudden fields of corn. Later we continue down a stony piste striking the hamlet of Tamazzirt to arrive at Tamlakhout, a market town of terraced fields and gardens of saffron crocus. Our evening entertainment is provided to us by a merry band of muleteers.
Day 6: Tamlakhout – Anezal – Amerzgane – Taddert – Marrakech. We rejoin our vehicle to take us back to the north. We pass over the Tizi n’Tichka and take a short stop at Taddert en route.