Moroccan cuisine serves as a tasty reminder that variety is the spice of life! Dar Tassa's strategic location inside Toubkal National Park promises prolific attractions and excursions; some just a stone's throw away and all within an hour's drive. To give you a glimpse into just a few of the endless options, let our virtual concierge suggest some exciting itineraries:
Please note: If you would like to modify one of our itineraries or would like us to create your own special itinerary to suit your interests, please let us know in advance so we can plan everything ensuring you have a safe and pleasant trip.
" All our activities are available to non residents of the guest house "
There is also the possibility to experience mule trekking and bicycle hire; this can be arranged at the guesthouse on your arrival or by email after booking.
13:30: Lunch on the terrace with panoramic views of the stunning landscape.
Moroccan Cooking Course
An Introduction and History of Moroccan Cooking. Drawing from Arab, Berber, Jewish, African and French traditions, Moroccan cuisine is widely recognized and provides a healthy diet. Morocco is home to an abundance of locally grown fresh food, due to the wonderful year round climate and extensive irrigation. Used with an imaginative range of spices, herbs and oils, the produce creates a distinct range of tasty meals including Tajines, Couscous, Salads and Berber flat breads. A wander round a souk gives you a sense of the immense range of fresh vegetables and fruits available to Moroccan families and chefs.
Our Berber Cookery Courses. If you are expecting some sort of regimented classroom style cookery course then its best you do not read any further. Our Moroccan, Berber cooking courses are more about spending some quality time in a beautiful location and taking a more intimate and personal approach towards the Berber style of cooking: By definition, most Berber cuisine is 'slow food' and the Berbers themselves seldom rush anyway so you need to be somewhere scenic, atmospheric and relaxed at the same time. It's all part and parcel of the Berber experience. You experience the cooking from start to finish, from buying the spices and fresh produce at the weekly markets*, to enjoying the meal while soaking in the lush mountains and village life surrounding you. The cookery courses are run by our resident chef, an experienced Berber cook whose trade secrets have passed down her family for generations. Hamid, will do the translation to English and will be assisting in the course as you learn about the techniques of traditional of Berber cooking. Our cook provides a wealthy source of information in Moroccan cuisine, cooking methods, and spices. Dishes are cooked in traditional earthenware Tajines on a Majmar, a charcoal burning brazier.
Some examples of the dishes available include: Chicken Tajine with picked lemons and olives, Beef Tajine with figs and walnuts, Beef with dates and almonds, Lamb or Chicken Cous Cous with seasonal vegetables (vegetarian options are also available). You can cook a main course with either a dessert or starter. You also have an option of experiencing the making of Berber flat bread cooked in a Teket, a traditional outdoor, clay oven.
After the cookery lesson you can sit back and sip Moroccan mint tea and wait for your day's labour to form into a delicious, home cooked, fresh meal. Hopefully you will have enjoyed the course enough to try Berber cooking at home too!
Cooking courses start at 40€. They are private and can be tailor made to suit your needs and dietary requirements. Courses can be arranged in the morning or afternoon. (A maximum of 2 people per course to keep the experience intimate & personal). *Souk days: Tuesday - Tahanout, Wednesday - Ijokake , Thursday - Ouirgane, Saturday - Asni. Souk experience is available at an extra cost. |
Assif Zegzaouane (the green river in Berber) Departures: (please book) (2 day trek : 5-6 hours each)Route: - Tassaouirgane Essentially, this walk takes you up and down, but is moderate. It takes you into charming hidden valleys to meet the mountain Berber families in their own environment. Details: Day 1: Day 2: Assif zeg - Tassa Ouirgane. On our second day, we head back to Ouirgane via Adrar Takharkhort where one can enjoy some spectacular views of the High Atlas. After that, it is downhill most of the way to Dar Tassa through the Azaden valley via the Berber villages of Tiziane, Ikoubline, Ait hareb and Douar Azerfsane.
It is recommended that you bring:
Good trainers or walking boots, rambler pole (optional), hat, sunscreen, nibbles, hygienic wipes, filled water bottle. |
Marigha / Tinzert WALKING MOSTLY ON PATHS AT LOWER LEVELS, SOMETIMES ROCKY, SELDOM FLAT FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS. GOOD TRAINERS WOULD DO, BUT TAKE BOOTS IF YOU ARE USED TO THEM. FOR ANYONE WHO LEADS A REASONABLY ACTIVE LIFE. HIKING ALWAYS INVOLVES SOME EFFORT.Departures: Daily (please book) (5 1/2 hour hike) Route : Trek Grade: Easy to Moderate 1 day
This trek heads south along mule tracks near a saline stream towards the village of Marigha Izdern (1,205m) then Imareghan Noufla (1,224m) where the intensely flavoured olive oil that is so distinctive to this area is produced using old stone equipment driven by mules and donkeys. From here, with the Adrar Takherkhourte (2,660m) to our right, we trek through countryside with a beautiful mix of field crops, wild flowers and olive groves via Berber hamlets to the little village of Tinzert where salt is mined from huge wells and then the brine left for the water to evaporate on salt pans. The return leg is via a pass, the Tizi n'Tarabza (1,706m), from where there can be seen superb views of the Tarabaza, Kik and Moulay Brahim plateaus with the Tizi n'Test Pass and Jbel Oumeden beyond.
It is recommended that you bring:
Good trainers or walking boots, rambler pole (optional), hat, sunscreen, nibbles, hygienic wipes, filled water bottle. |
The Oued N'Fis Valley & Tin Mal Mosque LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY - GRADE ONE
WALKING MOSTLY ON PATHS AT LOWER LEVELS, SOMETIMES ROCKY, SELDOM FLAT, FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS EACH DAY. GOOD TRAINERS WOULD DO, BUT TAKE BOOTS IF YOU ARE USED TO THEM. FOR ANYONE WHO LEADS A REASONABLY ACTIVE LIFE. HIKING ALWAYS INVOLVES SOME EFFORT.
Departures: Daily (please book) (5 1/2 hour hike).
Route:
- TASSA OUIRGANE
- IJOUKAK - KASBAH GOUNDAFA - TIN-MAL MOSQUE - MOULDIKHT - TASSA OUIRGANE
Details:
Essentially, this walk takes you up and down a maximum of 600 metres and is not at all strenuous. It does take you up into charming hidden valleys and to meet the mountain Berber families in their own environment. Meet up with your Mountain Guide in Tassaouirgane at 09:00 to drive with him to the Berber village of Ijoukak . Here, at the juncture of the Oueds n'Fis and Agoundis, we alight from our vehicle to set out for our 5 hour, 16km hike, first down what can best be compared to a country lane in the foothills of the Jbel Erdouz (3579m) passing the Berber villages of Souq Ijoukak, Tagountafte, Souk Lara and Ikhfe N'Boul until we arrive, after the first half an hour, at the riverside tribal kasbah of the once-powerful feudal chieftain Sultan C Goundafa. The inner part of this now decaying palace-fortress, with storks nesting on the ramparts, still retains traces of its original Hispano-Arabesque decoration.
This area is the traditional land of the Berber Goundafa tribe, one of several powerful tribes who strove to control the High Atlas Mountains in the 19th century. This feudal warrior of the old tradition constantly waged war with the neighbouring Glaoui clan, who burned down his kasbah of Ta'at n'Y'oub. As a result, this castle of Agadir n'Gouf was built. It was here that the Scottish author R.B Cunningham Graham had been detained at the Sultan's convenience. In the 1920s, this became an outpost of the French Foreign Legion. On now to the partially ruined Goundafa stronghold of Tal'at n'coub. From here we continue our easy walk down alongside the river, following contours of the high valley of the Assif Nfis, amidst stands of olive, walnut and almond trees until we come across the hauntingly-beautiful hidden Valley of Ijoukak, with its cool, clear stream full of trout.
After a further half an hour, we come to the small, remote stronghold settlement of Tin-Mal high up on the opposite bank of the river. We are here to visit the fortress (and one-time state treasury), the sole survivor of the once holy 12th century city built by the founder of the Almohad (Unitarian) dynasty, Mehdi Ibn Toumarte, the only mosque in Morocco - other than the new mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca - into which a non-Muslim may enter - except on Fridays. Inside we witness the fine examples of the ancient, intricate and variety in Almohad décor of rosette, scallop and palmette. Cedar from Azrou is now used for the ceilings; a special lime has been imported from Spain; no cement or concrete is being used and the several cupolas have been restored in some areas with richly decorated stalactite plaster
In the actual village there is another small kasbah in ruins, a Medersa and an old water tank which produces a regular supply of the French gastronomic delight - edible frogs. And you might buy a litre of Tin-Mal olive oil from the olive press and mill down towards the river, where we shall have our picnic on the riveres banks. Refreshed, we set off towards the south down the valley of the Oued N'Fis through stands of juniper, Barbary fig, apricot, cherry and walnut tree, bypassing many Berber hamlets on the lower slopes of the Adrar Adafelt until we reach the town of Mouldikht at the beginning of the corkscrewing road up through the Tizi n'Test (3080m), where we rejoin our vehicle for a short drive back up the delightful valley to Tassaouirgane.
* If vegetarian or vegan please pre-advise.
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The Tassa Ouirgane National Park LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY - GRADE ONE
WALKING MOSTLY ON PATHS AT LOWER LEVELS, SOMETIMES ROCKY, SELDOM FLAT, FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS. GOOD TRAINERS WOULD DO, BUT TAKE BOOTS IF YOU ARE USED TO THEM. FOR ANYONE WHO LEADS A REASONABLY ACTIVE LIFE. HIKING ALWAYS INVOLVES SOME EFFORT.
Departures: Daily (please book) (5 1/2 hour hike)
Route:
- OUIRGANE
- MARIGHA - TASSA OUIRGANE - TOUROUD - EL KHEMIS - OUIRGANE
Essentially, this walk takes you up and down and is not at all strenuous. It does take you up into charming hidden valleys and to meet the mountain Berber families in their own environment.
Details:
We set off at 9:30 today with our Moroccan Mountain Guide towards the east through fields of corn and flowers to follow alongside the rivers course up and down small hills dotted with red juniper, passing by isolated Berber hamlets until we reach the salt mines at Marigha. Here the Berber peoples have been mining salt by their traditional method used unchanged for centuries. You may see them riding from village to village, selling their salt from the back of their donkeys. You should also, depending on the time of day, get to see those delightful Berber women sitting on their haunches for a chat after gathering wood.
From here we enter the immense Tassa Ouirgane Valley via a piste which leads us through more fields and orchards of apple, peach, cherry and apricot and near the vast forest of Takherkhourte until we reach our Dar Tassa a Berber guest house in the village of Tassa . Once refreshed & enjoyed our lunch on the panoramic terrace we continue on to appreciate a tremendous panoramic vista of the entire Valley and of the Forestry Station - which protects the area's horned mountain sheep - and now on through the woods and sight of the Toubkal Massif National Park with its distant range of High Atlas peaks, down the slopes to ford the river and take the small path on the other side of the Valley through stands of juniper and tall fir trees to the foothills of the Adrar Takherkhourte (2309m) and on now towards the northwest through orchards of peach, plum and pomegranate and vineyards to go through the villages of Tourourd and El Khémis until we finish up at our start point in Ouirgane Centre at around half past Six in the evening.
It is recommended that you bring:
Good trainers or walking boots, rambler pole (optional), Hat, sunscreen, nibbles, hygienic wipes, filled water bottle. |
The Toubkal National Park LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY - GRADE ONE
WALKING MOSTLY ON PATHS AT LOWER LEVELS, SOMETIMES ROCKY, SELDOM FLAT, FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS EACH DAY. GOOD TRAINERS WOULD DO, BUT TAKE BOOTS IF YOU ARE USED TO THEM. FOR ANYONE WHO LEADS A REASONABLY ACTIVE LIFE. HIKING ALWAYS INVOLVES SOME EFFORT.
Departures: (please book) (2 day trek : 5-6 hours each)
Route:
- TASSA OUIRGANE
- TOUBKAL NATIONAL PARK - ILMILL
Harmony is the key to all of our private adventure travels:
We create balanced programs that include history, adventure, rest and contact with the local people. We certainly discover unusual sites but we also visit areas that should not be missed. We like to end our adventure travels in resorts for a well-deserved rest! These are all the elements you will find in Dar Tassa Adventures custom treks.
Day 1: You meet the muleteers at the beginning of the trek in Tassaouirgane at 1300m in the Azaden valley. you now enter the Toubkal National Park* with its special reserve for the mouflon (mountain sheep). Camp at Tizien (1500m). Passing through 8 Berber villages in the Azaden valley . The trek starts with a walk in a giant garden of cultivated terraces, walnut trees and colourful ochre houses. After a picnic lunch you continue the trek to Tizi Oussem at 1900m.You have dinner and spend the night in a Berbere house. 5hours
Day 2: After a Berber Breakfast ,you continue your trek passing junipers forests on the way up to the Tizi Mzik (1889m); then descend towards Imlil (The biggest village in the Mizane Valley, Imlil is also a major walkers' base at 1700m. Treks for Toubkal often start here. In the centre of the village is the car park/taxi area ) . 5hours.
The Toubkal National Park covers 36,000 ha of the High Atlas, including the highest mountain in Morocco, Jbel Toubkal (4,167 m). Located only 60 km south of the town of Marrakech, the dramatic mountain scenery attracts thousands of visitors each year, many of whom climb Jbel Toubkal or trek elsewhere in the park. The mountain summits are often only slightly above the level of their surrounding high plateaus, which are separated by deep valleys. The park extends from 1,000 m upwards and therefore encompasses a range of vegetation-types, from forest to alpine meadow. Forest only covers 15% of the park, and consists mainly of the oldest Quercus rotundifolia stands in the High Atlas and Juniperus thurifera. Along the valleys, irrigated agriculture is practised and most of the park is used for extensive livestock-grazing.
It is recommended that you bring:
Good trainers or walking boots, rambler pole (optional), Hat, sunscreen, nibbles, hygienic wipes, fleece & sleeping bag. |
Five Day Trek
Departures: (please book) (5days trek : 5-6 hours each day)
Route:
-Tassaouirgane
-Kik
-Tagadert
-Aghbalou
-Ait Zitoun
-Amergass
-Tazatourt
-Ouchfilen
-Agni
-Anraz
-Torord
Day 1: Tassaouirgane to KiK.
Our trek start from the house by walking up to the Kik Plateau. We
will pass many of Berber villages along our route. Here you will see
the diversity of the landscape and amazing views of the Atlas
Mountains. We will spend the night in a Berber house.
Day 2: Kik to Tagadert.
On the second day we head towards Amizimz enjoying the beautiful
scenery on our way to a large reservoir. We will pass many cultivated
terraces before arriving at the village of Tagaderte. Here we will
meet some of the people who work at the pottery supplying the pots for
the weekly market. We will spend the night just an hour's further walk
from there.
Day 3: Tagadert to Amegrass.
After our second night we head to the beautiful village of Amegrass.
We pass through 4 interesting Berber villages (Labouar, the pottery
village of Tagadert, lunch stop is at Aghbalou village before heading
to Amegrass village via Ait Zitoun.) There we will be welcomed by a
fresh mint tea on our arrival. We will leave our luggage there before
going for an hour' exploring the area , returning to spend our night
there.
Day 4: Amegrass to Ouchfilen.
We start with a 3 hours walk to the village of Tazatourt where we have lunch.
After lunch we go past few Berber villages, arriving at the remote
village of Ouchfilen it the afternoon where we 'll see a fantastic,
dramatic landscape.
Day 5: Ouchfilen to Tassaouirgane.
Our last day is a walk over the Nfiss Gorge towards the village of
Ouirgane and then following the track toward the pine wood forest
where we will have lunch. we hike trough villages of Agni, Anraz (old
Jewish village) , Torord.our trek finishes late afternoon Tassa Ouirgane village.
It is recommended that you bring: Good trainers or walking boots, rambler pole (optional), hat, sunscreen, nibbles, hygienic wipes, fleece & sleeping bag.
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