We depart from Marrakech for a pleasant drive south, winding our way up through the Moulay Brahim Gorge and upper valleys to arrive at the higher foothills of the western High Atlas Mountains.

At our trailhead of Imi Oughlad within the close proximity of Toubkal mountain national park  we alight from our vehicle and meet up with muleteer crew. We set off up in a north-westerly direction for a 2 hour acclimatization hike passing by cornfields, pine and juniper woods to the Tizi n’Tachte. There we can stop to look back down on the valley of Imlil before carrying on for another half hour to Imi n’Lfri and our wild picnic.

After our lunch and a rest, we take a slow hike for about 2 and half hours south-west down along a dirt track to Assif n’Ouissadene and the red clay terraced village of Tiziane.

After breakfast we set off on our hike up along the Assif n’Ouissadene Valley passing through the walnuts groves up to Tizi n’Taghrhourte (1995m). We continue through a rare, almost flat stretch to arrive at Assaka spring where we will stop for our wild picnic amidst the silence nature provides.

After some 2 and half hours relatively easy walking, our afternoon’s hike takes us down along the edges of the forest until we reach the Berber Village of D’knt (1870m) or Agounss n´Assoul where we will have our dinner and spent the in a bivouac or gite depending on the season.