From Blue to Blue - Hiking tour in the Rif Mountains of Morocco 

5 days of hiking from the "Blue City" Chefchaouen to the blue Mediterranean coast

Our hiking tour begins in the charming blue town of Chefchaouen, at the foot of the Morocco Rif mountain range, with its crystal-clear rivers flowing through the middle of the city. 

We walk across meadows and fields, through small mountain villages, rocky mountain paths, through forests, over mountain peaks to waterfalls and finally down to the Mediterranean coast.

In the town of Chefchaouen and in Tetuán we stay in beautiful Riad Hotels (first and last night), within the National Park in simple guest houses, in the style of mountain huts.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Chefchaouen "The Blue City"
• Talassemtane National Park
• Pinsapo Forest
• Akchour Waterfall
• The God's Bridge
• Great food

A challenging but unforgettable mountain tour through the Talasemmtane National Park.

PROGRAMME 

Day 1, getting there

TRANSFER MARBELLA TO CHEFCHAOUEN

Transfer from Marbella to the port of Algeciras, Ferry to Tanger Med (about 90 minutes), from there we travel by mini-bus to Chefchaouen. Our local hiking-guide will welcome us and take us on a little city tour around his beautiful home town.

Dinner and accommodation at a charming Hotel in Chefchaouen

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Day 2 - 1st hiking day

 

CHEFCHAOUEN - ZAOUIYA HABTENNE

Early in the morning we start our trek to Talassemtane Park accompanied by guide, the hike lasts 4 hours. Along the rocky path of Tissouka Mountain, you will have a broad view of Chefchaouen city and the beginning of the Oued Laou valley with its typical agricultural landscapes. You will see the traditional dwellings of the Rif’s villages. We arrive at the Mechkralla village and finally to Gite Talassemtane guesthouse at the end of the trek. Half board accommodation in Talassemtane guesthouse

 

Difficulty

 easy- 4 hours, 12 km

Elevations

↑461  ↓348m

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Day 3 - 2nd day of hiking 

 

GITE TALASSEMANE-JBEL LAKRAA-GITE GITE
TALASSEMTANE

After a traditional breakfast we start the trek to the highest Summit of Chefchaouen province. On the way, we come cross caves and Talassemtane magnificent fir trees. We stop for lunch at Cave Baroud, an ancient cave that used to be a refuge during the war of the Rif .We continue the expedition up to the Summit, and then we go down towards Plaça d’espagne, a wonderful place full of Moroccan fir, an endemic species that is found only in this part of Africa. Transfer on a land rover back to Zaouia guesthouse where we will spend the night

Difficulty

 difficult- 7 hours, 15 km

Elevations

↑1259m  ↓462m

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Day 4 - 3rd day of hiking

GITE TALASSEMTANE-TESSOUKA VILLAGE- AFASKA- GITE AZILANE

We leave Zaouia after breakfast, overlooking fir trees (Abies maroccana). You continue to cross Valley of tissouka maintain. Down to Afaska village. After 6 hours of hike we reach Azilane where we spend the night in half board accommodation in Gite Azilane.

Difficulty

 medium/high- 6 hours, 16 km

Elevations

↑800↓500m

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Day 5 - 4th day of hiking

 

GITE AZILANE – GOD BRIDGE - AKCHOUR

We leave after breakfast, overlooking fir trees (Abies maroccana) Jbel Tissouka and Jbel
Lakraa. You continue towards Imizzar village and cross Ain Danou source which comes out
of Oued Farda. It is a major resurgence of water that comprises the entry of a cave of the same
name. Oued Farda is a small torrential stream characteristic of the Rif that creates refreshing
water excursions.
We finally find God’s Bridge, a true natural and spiritual curiosity. The bridge of God is a
huge natural arch shaped over time by Oued Farda. We will take our lunch at the bridge of
God, and then we continue towards Douar Ouslaf where you can discover the traditional
surroundings. Finally we reach Akchour where we spend the night in half board
accommodation in a refuge.

Difficulty

 medium- 6 hours, 14 km

Elevations

↑505↓1340m

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Day 6, 5th day of hiking:

AKCHOUR-WATERFULL -OUED LAW

Today’s hike will be the discovery of the waterfalls of Akchour, a hidden treasure in the heart
of the Rif Mountains. After 4 hours of walk, we will take lunch on Oued Farda River’s
boards. We return back to Akchour than transfer to Oued law.

Difficulty

 medium- 5 hours, 14 km

Elevations

↑↓492m

 

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Day 7, journey back

TETUÁN - MARBELLA

Morning in Tetuán. Transfer from Tetuán to Tanger Med, ferry to Algeciras and transfer back to Marbella.
We should arrive to Algeciras at about 16:30. Ferries can have a delay, do not book your flight for the same evening. 

To end our beautiful experience together, we can have a drink or an early dinner at a beach bar on the way back to Marbella. 

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Price: 920€

Included

All transfers in Moroccoo, transfer from/to Marbella, Ferries, 4x4 within the park. 

Local hiking guide and tour guide

Accomodation with breakfast, half board during the 5 days walk. 

Not included

Dinner in Chefchaouen on the first evening, and dinner on the last evening in Tetuán.

Sandwiches and packed lunches, snacks and drinks. 

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS - REGISTRATION:

• To participate in this tour it is important to read the full description for each day
• You need to have a good fitness level
• Valid passport (not ID card) valid for at least 6 more month at the date of travel.
• Health insurrance valid in Morocco
• Special health conditions need to be communicated to the tour leader when registering
• A detailed packing list will be provided.
• If you have never walked with us, please send an email with all your details, full name, date of birth, email, phone number and a short introduction about yourself to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

FIND MORE USEFULL INFORMATION AND A PACKING LIST BELOW

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SHARING ROOMS - SINGLE ROOMS:

 

The first and the last night we stay in lovely Hotels in cities (Chefchaouen and Tetuán), single rooms are available on request.

Please be aware, within the National Park we stay in mountain guesthouses, similar to mountain huts, they generally have shared rooms.

In most of the guest houses there are also a limited number of single rooms available. You have reserve them early.

The guesthouses are simple, but quite comfortable, with hot showers and all have good beds. If you want to book single rooms, you should do it soon, it's 92€ extra for all together, except Azilane, where it is not possible. 

The Guesthouse in Azilane is the oldest guesthouse in the Rif, it is rather primitive and no single rooms available. Though at the end of the tour, this guesthouse was the most memorable one for everybody, it has stunning views, a very friendly owner and good food. 

 

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PACKING LIST FOR HIKING WEEK BLUE TO BLUE  

Good equipment is important!, keeping the weight low is just as important, do not carry anything unnecessary! We have luggage transport, you only have to carry your day-pack, but still, please keep you luggage small, you still have to carry it from the car to the accommodation, even if it's only a couple of hundred meters.  Think about it: what do I really need? 

Necessarily:

• Travel documents:
  IN MOROCCO YOU NEED A PASSPORT (not ID-CARD) VALID FOR AT LEAST TILL THE END OF YOUR JOURNEY 
• waterproof trekking boots (Goretex) with good profile 
• hard Shell / rain jacket
• rain trousers
• backpack, or light travel bag 
• day-pack
• hiking / touring pants / zip-off pants
• fleece sweater / fleece jacket or soft shell jacket
• sport underwear
• hiking socks
• change of shirt
• warm hat / sun hat
• hut shoes
• sports towel
• swimwear
• water bottles to refill
• sun-cream 

Recommended:

• walking sticks / trekking poles
• rain cover for the backpack
• headband
• sunglasses
• waterproof dry bag for dry laundry in a backpack
• Little gifts for children (colour pens)

Your personal first aid box (your guides carry a general first aid kit)

• blister plaster
• magnesium helps against muscle spasms
• Electrolyte
• earplugs (if someone snores!)