A tough route through a lonely and forgotten valley in the high atlas. The berber people is still living like its ancestors, the time seems to stand still. Superb landscapes, friendly and hospitable people, isolated villages with casbahs and herds of goats on the valley sides.
For this off-the-map you need 2 days.
For this off-the-map you need 2 days.
Roadbook
|
Km
|
Hm
|
Locality
|
Description
|
| 0 | Toufrine | A few houses near of a bridge, some small shops (bread, biscuits, potatoes,...). Gite d'étape (=accommodation). Just before the bridge there is a poor dirt road heading into the Tessaout valley. |
|
|
2.8 |
Follow this road and pass through a small village. If you follow the main river you will reach a crossroad. Turn right, follow the river always on the left side (there are a few tributary river crossings). | ||
| 8.6 | Assourfou | Gite d'étape. Go straight on, don't cross the river. | |
| 9.4 | The road becomes worse, partly you have to cycle/walk in the riverbed. | ||
| 19.4 | Small village with Gite d'étape. The road becomes better, leaving the riverbed and climbing up the valley side. After a while it descends to the river again. Some parts may be destroyed by water. | ||
| 22.6 | River crossing | Cold and with current - take care. Follow the footpath on the right side. | |
| 23.2 | Alotil | Some houses, maybe overnight stay by a berber family possible. The road becomes worse. Then you have to cross the river for the second time. | |
| The road follows the river on the left side and then suddenly begins to climb. After the highest point the road softly descends to the village of Amezrit. | |||
| 29.0 | 2200 | Amezrit | Gite d'étape (50 DH/pers). The children will guide you...Very simple, dirty toilets, only berber speaking. Cross the river by the bridge. Then the quite well road begins to climb to the pass on the right side of the valley. Great views over the atlas range. |
| 36.2 | 2800 | Tizi-n-Oualoum (pass) | Begin of the descent to Tamezrit. |
| 45.1 | Tamezrit | Small village, some shops. Descend to the valley bottom, cross the river and then follow the way on the right side of the valley (on the contour line). | |
| 53.6 | Sign Gite d'étape | Leave the main road and take the branch which leads left to the gite in direction of Imi-n-Ouloun. | |
| 55.0 | 1800 | Imi-n-Ouloun (=Alt Mountzit) | Small village, shops and great gite (125 DH /pers, meal and breakfast included). The friendly owner Brahim Boukyoud works as a mountain guide and knows everything about the environments. |
| For the continuation see Off-the-map MOR2, or take the main road to Ouarzazate. |
April 2008