Taken in the month of May, this photo shows fields of wheat and poppies in the Central High Atlas Mountains. Late spring is arguably the most picturesque time to visit Morocco, when wild flowers bloom and fields of wheat catch the first rays of clear summer light. This region, between the valley of Ait Bougmez and Imilchil is one of the most spectacular in the whole range, offering broad fertile valleys, rolling pastures and vast plateaux where nomads roam with their flocks of sheep and goats. Four Epic Morocco trips pass through this region, our "Three Peaks Challenge", "Mgoun Circuit", "Walking with Nomads" and our biking adventure "Central Atlas Explorer". The first three of these are trekking tours which start in the Ait Bougmez region, a valley that is home to most of our team as well as the only mountain guide training college in Africa. The "Three Peaks Challenge" has a clear objective: to climb North Africa's three highest mountains in 8 days, and includes the ascents of Mgoun (in this region), plus Ouanoukrim and Jebel Toubkal (in the Toubkal National Park close to Marrakech).. The "Mgoun Circuit" is a moderately-strenuous hike from Bougmez to the summit of one of the High Atlas' most spectacular peaks; that translates to five days of glorious off-the-beaten-track high mountain trekking. Our "Walking with Nomads" tour is a unique week-long trek through the High Atlas Mountains following a family of migrating nomads from the Ait Atta tribe. Not in the least bit intrusive and not in any way "staged", this is intended to be a "cultural exchange", where two radically different groups of people find out a little more about each other's lives and cultures. There is also a second stage to this trip that completes the migration route into the Jebel Saghro Mountains to the east o the Draa Valley. Finally the mountain biking tour "Central Atlas Explorer" is a challenging ride along dirt roads and singletrack from Ait Bougmez to the Dades Valley on the south side of the range. This trip includes a momentous century ride (100km) for its last day, and passes through some of the most unspoilt and beautiful scenery that you're ever likely to see. For keen, fit riders and lovers of spectacular high mountain scenery then this is the tour that we recommend. Throughout the region sophisticated accommodation is virtually nonexistent so in order to access such an untouched paradise you'll have to be prepared to make some compromises on comfort! |
