Route 1 The Oued Anougal Circuitįrom Le Source Bleu, descend to the piste road running from Amizmiz to Azegour and then head on uphill past the Maison Forestière. As few roads are signposted, the Amizmiz 1:100,000 topographical map is highly recommended, and best obtained from specialist map shops before you leave home. All routes begin and end at Restaurant Le Source Bleu located in Irghagn, above Amizmiz. Of the three routes detailed below, the first two can be done by a novice with a rented bike, while the third is best left to the proficient, preferably on their own bike. A helmet is recommended, and carry plenty of water. If renting a bike, negotiate essential extras like a pump, puncture repair kit and/or spare inner tube. Travelling independently, it’s important to be aware of local sensibilities ride slowly through villages, giving way to people where necessary, especially those on mules and children tending livestock. The High Atlas has jeep and mule tracks that cover the countryside and several adventure companies offer mountain biking as a pursuit. Morocco offers some of the best adventure riding in the world with routes suitable for all abilities. Mountain biking – some routes from Amizmiz A few villages dot the landscape and walking to some of the low-lying hills for views of the region makes a worthwhile day’s venture. Views from the lake of the surrounding mountains make for wonderful photo opportunities in the winter with the surrounding snowcapped peaks in clear view. For the most part, it’s a steady, easy foray into villages, valleys and foothills, but there are some slightly steep inclines approaching the ridges.Īn alternative to both of these villages for an overnight stop is Lalla Takerkoust, 22km northeast of Amizmiz. The walk is at a relatively low altitude for the mountains, and the surrounding hills are green in the spring months and roasted brown in the summer and fall. It’s possible to arrange a walk to Ouirgane from here, which takes three to four days and is best done in the cooler months – a highly recommended guide is Omar Jellah ( contact at least two to three days in advance), who specializes in this region. Ait Zitoun is a tricky place to find it’s located on a short piste veering left off the main road connecting Amizmiz to Ouirgane (look for a small sign stating Gîte Ait Zitoun). Amizmiz makes a good base for mountain biking in the High Atlas.įrom Amizmiz, the nearby village of Ait Zitoun is a lesser-known, yet much better place to start treks than Amizmiz, as you can arrange both mules and supplies here, along with a local guide. The town comprises several quite distinct quarters, including a zaouia, kasbah and former Mellah, separated by a small, usually dry, river. The small, dusty town of AMIZMIZ, 58km from Marrakesh, is the site of a long-established Tuesday souk – one of the largest Berber markets of the Atlas, and not a key destination for tourists. The Agoundis piste soon passes El Makhzen and a prominent house in wedding-cake style before becoming progressively narrower, exposed and rough, passing perched villages and ending at the village of Aït Youl.įrom Aït Youl, strong walkers can reach the Toubkal Refuge in a day, crossing the Tizi n’Ougane (risk of snow on the final slopes from November through May) passing through wild gorges and screes on the way. Continue walking to the village of Taghbart where there is a fork take the right branch to cross the river, which makes an impressive ascent to the 2202-metre Tizi-n-Ou-Ichddane on the Atlas watershed. After an hour’s walking you reach the wreck of an old mineral processing plant, a gondola still high in the air on a cable stretched across the valley to mines that closed decades ago. The scenery opens up to distant peaks and there are a surprising number of villages. On foot, from Ijoukak head out on the Marrakesh road, cross the Oued Agoundis river bottom and turn right onto the up-valley road, passing several gîtes. To the East from Ijoukak winds the Agoundis Valley, which offers an alternative access to Toubkal it takes two days of serious trekking from Ijoukak to reach the Toubkal Refuge.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |