Why You Should Hike Saghro and Explore the Draa Valley
Hike Saghro on a 10-day trekking adventure that connects the volcanic peaks of Jebel Saghro with the palm groves and dunes of the Draa Valley. This scenic route is perfect for those seeking cultural depth, desert beauty, and off-the-beaten-path mountain trails in southern Morocco.
Saghro and Draa Valley trek in 10 days
Saghro and Draa Valley Trek: A 10-day trek combining the Saghro mountains and the Draa Valley to discover its palm groves, oases and Sahara dunes.
We'll start our journey by heading for Ouarzazate via the Tizi N' Tichka pass. Departure is very early from Marrakech. After discovering the Dades Valley and its thousand Kasbahs, we'll head south across a desert plateau to the village of Tagdilt. We'll spend the night with local people at an altitude of 1650 metres. The day includes 6 hours' driving.
At the start of the trek, we'll watch the mules being loaded. We cross a huge plateau before climbing to the Tizi N'iferd pass (2400m). Here you'll enjoy a beautiful view of the central High Atlas massif. We then descend to the Iferd plateau. We'll set up camp on a plateau often used by the semi-nomadic transhumants of the Ait Atta. We'll spend the night in tents at an altitude of 2,250 metres. The day includes 5 hours 30 minutes walking.
We start this third day with a climb to the summit of Kouaouch (2600m). This climb requires no technical equipment. Our cook will provide us with a picnic lunch. The descent is via Tassegdilt. We spend the night in tents in Igli at an altitude of 1700 m. The day includes a 5hr 30min hike.
On the fourth day, we descend through the Afourar Valley, which gradually becomes a gorge. We pass through the small Bouallouz oasis, then arrive at Ousdidene. The landscape opens out onto a huge plateau dominated by the Bab n'Ali peaks. After climbing up to the famous Bab n'Ali gate, we continue on towards the Ighazoune oasis. We spend the night in tents. The day includes a 5-hour walk.
We set off at around 8.30 am in the direction of the small Tifdassine pass. It's a long descent down the beautiful valley of the same name. We'll enjoy a good lunch under the almond trees. We'll then set off again for the village of Handoure. It's a 5-hour walk and we'll spend the night with local people.
After thanking our muleteers, a stretch of track takes us to the town of Nkob. We then descend into the Draa Valley, with its magnificent Ksars and impressive fortified villages. Then we reach the town of Zagora. We then continue on to the great desert of Nesrat, where we meet up with our team of camel-drivers. We spend the night in tents. The day includes a 4-hour-and-a-half drive and a 2-hour walk.
This seventh day begins with a descent into the Draa Valley, passing through the charming Berber villages of Ignaoun and Moulay Ali Achrif. We'll also have the chance to meet the local people. We will then head for the village of Zaouiat Sidi Salah (the capital of the region). We'll enjoy a delicious meal prepared by a cook on the edge of an oasis. After an hour and a half's walk, we arrive at our camp at the foot of the great Tidri dune. We spend the night in tents. The day includes a 5-hour walk.
This eighth day is a beautiful stage during which you can climb up and down the golden dunes of Tidri. We cross a Reg (hard, rocky plateau) with its impressive stone desert. Enjoy the silence of the Erg Sahel desert. In the afternoon, you can take a walk in the dunes to enjoy the magnificent sunset at the end of the day. In the evening, we'll build a campfire and bake bread in the sand. We spend the night in tents. The day includes 5 hours' walking.
Our last day's walk takes us through magnificent desert landscapes near the village of Bonou. Lunch will be taken near the village of Ergabi. You can then explore the architecture and adobe houses of Ergabi. We'll then make our way to the village of Ouled Driss. We'll spend the night in tents. The day includes a 4 and a half hour walk.
The last day will be a transfer to Marrakech (450 km) via the Drâa Valley road, Ouarzazate and the Tizi N'Tichka pass. Along the way, we'll make a few photo stops.
