On poor dirt roads and footpaths around the M'Goun peak

Through deep gorges, lovely valleys and over rough passes, sometimes by bike and sometimes by mule. A hard, but superb trip in the heart of the high atlas. Check the snow situation before starting. You will reach altitudes of up to 3000m.

For this off-the-map you will need 2-4 days.

Roadbook

Km	Hm	Locality	Description
0		Imi-n-Oloun	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. Leave the village on the dirt road which heads to the north east and follow the river on the left side til the road descends to the river.
6.1		River crossing/ Crossroad	Cross the riverbed and follow the road which climbs up on the opposite river side. Steep gradient to the left side valley (in direction of Tirazeri). You will cycle (or push...) through an almond grove and climb higher and higher. Finally you will reach a great high valley and descend to a no name village.
12.8		No name village	You will pass by a school, then turn left to the village (mosque). Pass the mosque on the left side and descend to the river. Follow the road to Tirazeri.
15.4		Tirazeri	This village is smaller than the no name village (accommodation, meals available, ask for El Mokhtar). Downhill through a red valley to the valley bottom where the village of Kantola/Tatrarate is situated.
19.5		Kantola/Tatrarate	River crossing on the new road. Take water here.
20.6		Crossroad	After the river crossing take the poor road heading up the left hillside (some pushing necessary). Don't follow the new road to Tamtatouche!
22.4	2096	Summit	After pushing 1.8km you will reach the summit, then nice downhill to a wide dry plain.
25.4		Plain	Crossroad. Here you will reach the main road coming from Tamtatouche. Take the left branch and follow the plain in longitudinal direction (east/west). Head always straight on by the different crossings. Troublesome gravel road with a lot of dry wadis. No water til Ait Youb. Just before the village you will cross the high-tension line.
41.5		Ait Youb	Village, two shops, by the second shop at the end of the village ask for accommodation (Morchid Mohamed). No meals available.
42.9		Crossroad	After the school turn right. Follow the valley on a good dirt road.
52.2		Imzilm	Very impressive Saturday berber market (souk).
53.4		Alemdoun	Gite d'étape, small shop. Do not enter the village but take the branche leading to the left into the mountains to Amajgag. After 1.5 km the road begins to climb over a hill. This way is easier than to follow the riverbed.
55.5		Amajgag	Very small shop, gite d'étape and weaving cooperation (atelier de tissou). Ask for actual information about the road (water level). Pass the village and follow the road through the gorge bottom. Very bad track.
65.0		Amesker el Fougani	Gite d'étape. Here starts the road over two tough passes. If you are late, stay in the gite. During the nights there may be heavy winds in the altidude, provoke rock falls. Difficult to camp beside the pass road. Don't forget to refill your water bottles in the gite. Very steep gradient to the pass, pushing necessary.
73.5		First pass	Steep descent after the pass to a valley bottom. The road begins to climb again to the second pass.
80.5		Second pass	The road follows the ridge with up and downs. After 3.8 km the real downhill begins.
86.6		Crossroad	Take the left branch heading down to the valley bottom. After 2.4 km downwards they are constructing a new road. Head to the right.
92.7		Road end	At km 92.5 turn left valley upwards. After 200 m the road ends and a footpath begins. Go straight on, pass through the fields, then cross the river over a trunk. Maybe there are some children, ask them for the gite d'étape.
93.7		Marabiti	Gite d'étape, no meals. Very small shop.
			Footpath by the river side (about 5 km), several up and downs. Pushing necessary. On this way you pass two small villages, in the second one is a better gite (serving meals, breakfast). In this villages you can look for a mule to transport your bike and luggage over the pass.
		Tizi-n-Ait Imi	Go straight on through the green valley til a dried "oued" branch to the right. After 1,5 h of walk begins on the right side the small and steep mule path over the pass. After crossing the pass you will descend very steep down to Ait Imil. Head on the left side of the village and cross the fields on the valley bottom.
		Tabant	After 4 hours of walk you will reach Tabant. No Gite, continue by bike on the dirt road for 1.5km downwards and you will reach the asphalt road. 8km to the Gite of Agouti.

April 2008