| Jebel Siroua Vacations and Luxury Travel Packages |
|
Following the Toubkal tour described above, it is possible to leave the route at Amsouzerte and set your sights on the little-traveled variation to Taliouine via the Siroua Volcano. Considering the lengthy passage over desolate, arid plateaux, this is really only a tour for muleriders with plenty of stamina! The first day's ride passes along the Tifnoute River heading south, arriving first Assarag (1,580 m/5,056 ft, shops, possibly a mule-driver familiar with the locality). At the other end of town, turn left onto the small trail CT 6836, passing by the rather biblical-looking village of Anmid. The unpaved road winds its way up to a sparsely inhabited plateau (2,300 m/7,360 ft). Having followed the trail for a total of 35 km (21 mi), passing by the villages of Assaka and Tazoult, one arrives at the market-town of Askaoun (1,980 m/6,336 ft, overnight accommodations available at the restaurant).
Leaving the village, turn east onto the CT 6801, which you leave again after (about 10 km/6 mi) by the Aghbalou n'Oulid Spring to follow a path heading off to the southeast - local guide required! The path goes right along the Timighad Valley, passing Yard n'Magous (2,974 m/9,516 ft), and after another 10 km (6 mi) reaches the volcanic rocks of the northwestern edge (2,700 m/8,640 ft) of the Siroua Massif. It takes a good two hours to ascend the 3,304-m (10,572 ft) summit of this volcano, which became extinct in the Tertiary Period. Once back at its northwestern foot, a two-hour hike further to the southwest brings you to an alpine meadow with an azib (herdsmens' camp), a pleasant tenting spot at an altitude of 2,600 m (8,320 ft).
After an 8-km (5 mi) descent through the Tizguy Gorge, in the village of Ti n'Iddar (Glaoua rugs are hand-knotted here), one comes upon a trail which - via the village of Mazwad, passing by Anammer and after about 30 km (18 mi; within sight of the Taliouine Kasbah) connects with the major Route P 32 running from Agadir to Ouarzazate. The town of Taliouine has the comfortable three-star Hotel Ibn Toumart as well as a small auberge whose owner, Ahmed, frequently organizes trekking tours. In closing, it's worth mentioning that this tour can be done the other way around. |
|
