Hike in the pink granite around Tafraoute
Trip from Agadir: 3 hours / 165 km
Jbel Lkest is the imposing mountain range (2359 meters above sea level) north of Tafraoute which closes the Ammeln Valley. For the ascent to the summit of Jbel Lkest, start from the village of Tagdicht (29.785349, -9.009414) north of Tafraoute. In Tagdicht, the departure is not easy to find.
We advise you to be accompanied by someone from the village if you are not experienced. The time required for the ascent is 4 hours for 1000 m of vertical drop (count 2 hours 30 mins for the descent) for regular hikers.
After parking the car, cross the village to the left (west) along a narrow road through the houses. Once at the western end of the village, cross a valley and go up the opposite slope following a winding path, then continue bending to the left. Cross a narrow rocky pass, then climb a good trail for quite a long time. After a small pass, walk along a hill. At the junction with the path coming from Aggui (West), head to the right, taking a path on a slight slope marked by cairns passing by a characteristic shepherd’s cave until you reach a green valley at the base of the rocky escarpment at the summit.
Climb deep along the narrow green valley, exit onto open ground and continue until you reach the base of a rocky ramp. Easily climb the rocky slope to reach the summit marked by stone shelters. At the top, you will see to the south the beautiful valley of Ammeln and its many villages as well as the second highest mountain in the Jbel Lkest chain, the Adrar Mgourn. It is a very stony hike but there are no particular difficulties. However, you will not find any water sources on the way.
The Jbel Lkest allows you to trek for several days, you just need to contact a guide in Tafraoute. The best season is February-March to have the Amelnn valley with its almond trees in bloom.
How to get there:
Departing from Agadir, take the N10 southbound then head in the direction of Biougra- Ait Baha via the R105 to Tafraoute. From Tafraoute, go to the village of Tagdicht (29.785349, -9.009414).
