Exclusive private departures, min 2 people, £725. Please call our office to book.

FLIGHT PRICES WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER AT PEAK PERIODS (HALF-TERMS, EASTER AND CHRISTMAS)

Siroua Summit - Morocco Trekking to Jebel Siroua is special. Few people visit this quiet corner of Morocco where the local Berbers live a traditional life grazing their flocks, farming almonds and saffron, and as true artisans hand craft their famous Moroccan carpets in their homes. On our short trek here the experience you have will depend on when you choose to travel. At any time you will be able to see the carpets in production and enjoy tasting a cup of saffron tea in a village house. In February snow usually covers the summit of Jebel Siroua (3305m), an ancient volcanic plug whose vertiginous true summit can only be climbed using ropes. By Easterthe snow will have melted, the temperature is getting hotter and there will be more cultivation in the fields. October or November is when the saffron is harvested and you might like to join in and find out just how time consuming it is to gather this valuable delicate spice. After finishing the trek we drive back to Marrakech via the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and the old Glaoui palace at Telouet.

Why not extend your stay with extra time in Marrakech in a Riad or a hotel, or take trip to the coast at Essaouira. Please contact us for more information.

Dates & Prices

Itinerary

Day 1 Fly to Marrakech and take a taxi to the hotel. Rendezvous with your leader at 8.00pm in the hotel. In the evening you might like to watch the antics in the main square, the Djemma El Fna.

Day 2 In the morning you will transfer by minibus to the delightful town of Taroudant, at the foot of the Western Atlas mountains, travelling along Morocco's newest motorway towards Agadir for part of the journey. After lunch in Taroudant we continue on for a couple of hours to the village of Ifrane on the south side of the Jebel Siroua.

Day 3 We descend into a wide river valley which is followed using a combination of dirt roads and mule tracks northwards into the mountains. The villagers in this region don't see many western visitors the welcome we may receive as we pass through villages makes this region special. 4 to 6 hours walking.

Day 4 We continue on up the valley, which narrows as we get closer and closer to the mountain. At Tizgui the road ends with some steep zig gaps passing a spectacular waterfall and ancient dwellings and 'agadirs' (grain stores) built into the cliffs above. The climbing continues up more gently across rocky terrain and into upper fertile valley dotted with 'azibs' (summer dwellings). We contour around this upper bowl and  descend slightly to cross the  river heading to an excellent campsite looking right back down the valley. 5 to 6 hours walking.

Day 5 From here we can look up the valley to the conical summit of Siroua at the head of the valley. There are a number of options for today's walk and the exact route chosen will be determined by snow cover (in spring). As we head towards Siroua, we can follow the valley or broad ridges towards the summit plateau (3200m). The true summit cone (a volcanic 'plug') can only be ascended by climbers. From the summit we descend open ground to a spacious campsite on the edge of an extensive grassy plain. 6 to 7 hours walking.

Day 6 Today we head back down to 'civilisation' crossing a couple of shallow cols with superb views across to the High Atlas range and out to the desert around Ouarzazate. In the autumn we can expect to see the saffron harvest in action and maybe stop and try our hand at collecting this valuable flower and sample a cup of saffron tea with the villagers. The last section of the walk from Tizwat to Tamazight crosses a pleasant col from where the views back to Siroua will be remembered with fondness of our brief visit to this rather special region of Morocco. 6 to 7 hours walking.

Day 7 Our vehicles will collect us from near camp and we start the journey back to Marrakech; a spectacular drive from the desert and over the Atlas. Rather than take the shortest route we will take you via two of Morocco's best known historical sites; the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and the old Glaoui Palace at Telouet. A newly surfaced road now connects these two places making the drive comfortable. We will be back in Marrakech early evening and you may like to enjoy you last night in this fascinating city dining at a restaurant on or overlooking the main square.

Day 8 Transfer to airport to fly home, or stay longer in Marrakech.

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