CHAMHAROUCH

TREK

A 6 hour guided moderate day trek in Toubkal National Park, from Dar Assarou to the tiny hamlet of Sidi Chamharouch, with a pre-Islamic Marabou shrine.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

A moderate day trek
See Sidi Chamharouch
Trek through Aremd
Views of Imlil Valley
Toubkal N. Park scenery
Meet the Berbers
High Atlas views

The Sidi Chamharouch trek is suitable for trekkers who don't want to climb Mount Toubkal but still want to experience a part of the classic trek route from Imlil. Graded as a 'moderate' day trek due to its 600m of ascent and descent and approx. 6 hours of walking, this route offers wonderful mountain scenery, waterfalls and great views of the Toubkal massif. Sidi Chamharouch, or Saint Chamharouch, is regarded as the King of Jinns, worshipped in a pre-islamic Marabou shrine - a large boulder painted white. Sidi Chamharouch is a famous pilgrimage site in Morocco where animals are sacrificed daily for healing health problems, exorcising spirits, solving problems or for wishing good luck. A picnic lunch is included in the day trek - your guide can recommend a tranquil spot next to the stream.

Families can choose to start and end the walk at the police post at the start of the trail below Aremd. This short option usually takes 2 hours up and 1.5 hours down. Mules can be hired if children (or adults) want to ride up to Sidi Chamharouch.

PRICES PER PERSON

PRICE INCLUDES

English-speaking local mountain guide; picnic lunch en route.

PRICE EXCLUDES

Tips, beverages & meals not specified, optional activities and items of a personal nature.

Children 5 to 11 years old are FREE OF CHARGE (must be min. 2 adults accompanying). Children 12 and older pay adult price. Kids might like to ride a mule to Sidi Chamharouch. These can be pre-booked at a cost of 200 dirhams per mule.

TYPICAL ITINERARY

0900 Depart Dar Assarou (1,761m); hike to Aremd.

1000 Reach Aremd and cross the Assif n'Isougouane riverbed (1,864m).

1200 Arrive at the hamlet of Sidi Chamharouch (2,350m).

1215 Visit to the Marabou shrine and explore the hamlet; picnic lunch.

1330 Begin walk back down the river valley to Aremd.

1500 Reach Aremd; follow a different trail to Imlil.

1600 Arrive Dar Assarou.

Timings indicated should be used as a rough guide and may vary depending on season, weather, photo stops, individual fitness levels and pace of walking.