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Walking with Berber nomads in Morocco / Morocco tours

A glimpse into nomadic life while traveling with the last nomads of Morocco!
Twice a year the nomadic people of the Ait Atta tribe go in search of fodder for their large flocks of animals. Each year depending on grazing requirements and the vagaries of the climate, The Berber nomads follow a seasonal migratory pattern with their livestock and entire households.

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Walking with Berber nomads / Moroccan Nomads Travel

Are you looking for a cultural tour in Morocco? A traveling with nomad trip? a walking with Berber nomads? Ait Atta nomad transhumance? Twice a year the nomadic people of the Ait Atta tribe go in search of fodder for their large flocks of animals. Each year, depending on grazing requirements and the vagaries of the climate, they follow a seasonal migratory pattern with their livestock and entire households.

Over eight days of walking with Berber nomads, you will experience traveling with a family of the Ait Atta. A Berber tribe whose origins allegedly date back to Goliath, as they migrate with their livestock from their homeland in Jbel Saghro through the Dades Valley to the summer pastures in the High Atlas Mountains or the other way around. Your guide will be a member of the Ait Atta clan. You will be introduced to traditions that are centuries old and passed from one generation of the Ait Atta to the next.

Traveling with Moroccan nomads tour is an amazing and unique cultural experience not found in many other places. The trek takes you back in time crossing eroded plateaus, rocky peaks, and dotted green oases in a team of caravans. Following the rhythm of the goats, camels, humans…

Why traveling with nomads is a unique cultural tour in Morocco?

This special trek in Morocco is possible only twice a year. At the beginning of summer, nomads of Ait Atta travel to their land in the High Atlas, following their flock. As the first snow starts to fall at the beginning of winter, they start charging their luggage back to their home origin in the Jbel Saghro Mountains. It is a lifestyle that connects the nomads with their animals.

This Walking with Berber nomads during their transhumance is far from a standard tourist experience; traveling with the nomadic Ait Atta means fitting into the organization of the caravan and accepting the decisions of the nomads’ chief for the breaks, campsites, and departure times. It also requires that each member of the team helps with simple chores; loading pack animals, collecting the firewood, and gathering sheep and goats. However, while this will be a relatively unstructured journey with the potential for surprises, it is unlikely to be anything but a unique experience.

Travel with Berber Nomads in Morocco

The highlight of the traveling nomad transhumance trip:

- Exceptional travel green experience in sharing every moment with the Ait Atta tribe.
- Join one of the best cultural tours in Morocco
- Trekking to cross the High Atlas and head towards the south.
- Discover Ouzoud waterfalls and the valley of Ait Bouguemez.
- Explore the old lifestyle of Moroccan Berber nomads

Details about traveling with nomads trip:

The departure date for this culture tour in Morocco:

20th September to 30^thSeptember 2023.

Trek options and daily path:

Walking with Berber nomads takes 4 to 7 hours a day. Every day you will have the choice of either following the shepherd with his flock of goats and sheep or following the dromedaries That carry the luggage.

Our guides:

All our hikes are led by graduates of the Moroccan Guiding School, who speak fluent English, French as well as other languages. They are very professional with a deep understanding and knowledge of the land, history, and traditions of the country in which you will spend time with the people you will meet. They are also qualified in first aid.

Our cooks:

All your meals will be carefully prepared by our cooks who use the spices of North Africa to create tasty and appetizing food – fuel for your hike.

Our muleteers/cameleers:

You won’t find many who speak your language, but you will see their kindness in the way they treat their animals. At night they will share their music and community spirit with you. You will bond with farmers, shepherds, nomads, fathers, brothers, and sons.

Taking you to see their hidden pastures, sharing their way of life, and showing you their country earns them some additional income. This allows them to buy not only the essentials such as sugar, oil, and tea but also books and educational materials for their children.

Their loyalty and motivation show you the best the nomads of Morocco have to offer and this will make your trip not only a success but unforgettable.

Our nomad family:

They are a part of our tribe in the south of Morocco and some of them are our families, they don’t speak your language, but they will be very happy to accompany you and show you every step of their daily life during their annual nomad transhumance.

Trek Conditions for Walking with Berber Nomads:

- The minimum age is 12 years.
- Suitability – you need to be in good physical condition and reasonably fit.
- Level 2 – medium. This route is not technically difficult (you don’t need to be an experienced rock climber), but you need to be reasonably fit and accustomed to completing day hikes. You will be walking an average of six hours each day and sleeping in bivouacs.
- The best temperature, not cold nor hot: is mainly mid-April to the end of May and the start of September to the beginning of November.

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Moroccan Nomads Travel itinerary:

Day 1: Transfer from the airport to the riad in Marrakech

Your guide will welcome you to the airport and drive you to your Riad in the heart of Medina in Marrakech. Free time and free dinner in the City.

Day 2: Marrakech – Ouzoud waterfalls – Ait Bouguemez valley

After a Moroccan breakfast, we start driving to Ait Bougmez Valley. On the way we will drive 16km off the main road to visit the famous waterfalls of Ouzoud, a great natural place where there is an opportunity for a small walk. Barbary apes are easily observed in the forest there.

We continue our way to Ait Bougmez via Azilal and witness amazing views of the High Atlas throughout the 78km snaking road.

We arrive at our guest house in Ait Bougmez. Dinner and breakfast included.

Day 3: Ait Bougmez – Ifran – Tamda (Nomads pasture)

We meet our muleteers and load the mules. As we walk through the valley of Ait Bougmez towards the nomad’s place, we will cross fields while meeting the local people.

First meeting with the nomad family and night in the tents.

5 hours walk.

Day 4: Tamda – Pass of Tizi-n-Tirghiste (2629 m) – Plateau Izoughar (2525 m)

By the first light of the day, the nomad family will wake up and start preparing for the trip. After having breakfast, they will start dismantling their goat hair tent and packing up the luggage on the camels and mules. The journey will take us towards the lake of Izoughar. We will cross Tizi n Tirghist at 2629m altitude. We continue down the valley of Ait Bougmez but this time accompanied by nomads and their flocks, then following the path up towards our first camp in Izoughar Lake 2500m. Night in tents.

4h30 hours walk.

Day 5: Lake of Izoughar– Edge of Tizi n Igrourne (3200 m)

As a caravan, we continue our 5^th day towards the Edge of Tizi N Igrouren getting close to the High Atlas central peaks among the wild landscapes. Sharing every moment with the nomad family.

We arrive at Aqqa N Izoughar and camp in the Edge of Tizi n Igrouren.

5 hours walk.

Day 6: Tizi –N- Igrourne (2700m) – Tizi – N- Tamgmart (2976m)

Today’s itinerary will offer us an amazing view by crossing the Mountain of Adrar n Amzourka. We will have to cross Tizi Igourane and Tizi N Tamgmart 3976m to reach the top with its amazing landscapes and then we go down towards our camp.

6 hours walk.

Night in tents with full board.

Day 7: Tizi-n- Tamgmart – Imejdag (2380m)

Today’s journey of walking with Berber nomads will take us to the heart of the Atlas in the territory of the M’goun tribes. Here we find a succession of mountains to the lunar landscapes. At the top of Jbel Abouch, we discover breathtaking views stretching out of sight until the nomad family friends who will continue their way towards Jebel Saghro now. We join AitYoul village where we will find our bus to drive us to Marrakech. On our way back we will cross the valley of the Roses and Ouarzazate city before we cross the High Atlas mountain via Tizi N Tichka pass to Marrakech.

Overnight in the Riad. 6 hours drive.

Day 11: Transfer to Marrakech / Casablanca airport

End of your trip: Moroccan Nomads Travel.

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Health conditions

Trekking with Nomads transhumance requires you to be physically fine and in good health. In certain places mentioned in the itinerary emergency, measures may be quite difficult to access therefore a thorough health checkup is strongly recommended before departure.

Luggage and Equipment:

You will travel on foot, but your luggage and camping equipment with supplies will be carried by mules and camels.

Please use a soft travel bag and make sure your belongings don’t weigh more than 15kg. You may carry a very small daypack for your valuables, water, and camera. This should not weigh more than 10 kg.

IMPORTANT:

The price depends on the number of the group

Your subscription will not be confirmed till we have the receipt of:

- 20% of the quote for the trip as a deposit to secure your reservation.
- Full personal details: full name, copy of your passport, Address, and Phone number.
- The number of your passport or identity card.
- Phone number of a person we can contact in case of an emergency.
- Copy of your travel insurance (name, number of the contract, and phone number of your insurance company).