Circuit of the adrar Meltsene – Engraving of the Yagour

5 days itinerary :

• Marrakech – Amlougi 1540m – Aïn n’Tilst 2400m : ideal for a bivouac – 3h30 walk

• Aïn n’Tilst – Tarzit 1980m : incredible village after crossing the beautiful Zat gorges – 5h walk

• Tarzit – Tallouite 1400m : Zat Valley, between amazing villages and cultivated terrasses – 4h30 walk

• Talouite – Azib Zguigui 2250m : Last big ascent before the unbelievable supriseof rock paintings – 5/6h walk

• Azib Zguigui – Aguerd 1500m : One last day (5h walk)… The final note ? End with an amazing canyoning descent in the Aguerd Canyon ! (Option)

Option:

• Canyoning dans le Canyon de l’Aguerd : à partir de 72 € / pers.
• Ascension de l’adrar Meltsène 3 595m (+ 1 Jour) : Nous consulter

Technique :

• Positive elevation : 3 280m
• Level : advanced
• Training : acclimatization and previous physical traning in altitude are recommended.

The team :
professional guides of the Imlil guide office 

Meals :
fresh and healthy, elaborated by our cook: complete lunch «pic-nic» ; diner at the hostel.

Equipement :
mules (1 for 2 people), walking sticks, water, snacks, first-aid kit

The environment…
The impressive Toubkal massif, going up to 3000m of altitude, essentially formed of granite and lava giving it an initimidating and breathtacking look. The surrounding flora is mainly constituted of juniper forests. At the outskirts of the Lepiney shelter, this trek offers an incredible set during spring when the Spergularia (5 white petals flower) and the Alyssons (pink flower) blossoms.
The Yagour plateau is famous for it’s breathtaking landscape : endless fields, unexpected small gorges, which procures a impression of vastness to the lanscape. With a lot of flowers during spring, the Yagour plateau is caracterised by a an intense pastoral life in summer. We can observe numerous cereal plantations on terrace cultivation, while corn and potatoes grow on plains. This hike is cadenced by the encounters with small farms and the search for cave paintings, symbolic of the region. Indeed, the Yagour plateau, dominated by the Meltsene (peak at 3595m) was venerated as a sacred mountain by farmers who were fleeing the progressive droughts of the south. They were heading north, in search for new pastures. These artists of the Atlas, chose granite paving stones to curve symbols or images of their time : hunting scenes with the representations of lions or elephants. Later on, with the introduction of metal, we will observe some representations with weapons, particularly knives and halberds. This paintings gave their name to the plateau, Yagour coming from Agouram «holy» meaning «holy place». Why such cave paintings? The engraver would represent a coveted animal to attract him : by drawing its prey it would banish the bad lot. In addition, there was also the desire to leave a mark of ones heroic action, hunting or battle. Today, it is about protecting and respecting this historical site unfortunately threaten of degradation.