Journey Beyond Travel...going beyond the destination

A trek through the High Atlas Mountains can take visitors to a number of anthropological sites filled with culture and history.  One region in the High Atlas Mountains is Ait Bougmez Valley.  Ait Bougmez Valley is characterized by the M’goun Massif, the tallest mountain in this area. This valley was not visited only a few years ago; however, today the Ait Bougmez Valley holds many secrets for the keen explorer.

If you are not looking to scale mountains but wish for a nice trek to some of the more remote Ait Bougmez regions, you should consider Sidi Moussa.  Sidi Moussa trekking takes you from Agouti towards the east. Agouti is the first village you come to about 2,000 meters up into the valley. 

 Sidi Moussa is a historical marvel for the area because of the Granary.  The Granary is a circular tower with four stone faced towers.  The turrets have small openings that look out.  These turrets were used in the past by villagers looking out for troubling or invading tribes.  A spiral staircase inside allows people to reach the upper floors as well as the roof. The towers were not only used for lookouts, but also for grain storage. 

Sidi Moussa was also known for the holy man who performed good deeds and was a remarkable healer.  Today villages, especially women, will go to Sidi Moussa to pray to the holy man and leave offerings at the shrine. 

A trek or walk through Sidi Moussa will take you from the lower Ait Bougmez Valley into the heart of the area.  From the tower you can look over the rest of the valley, seeing the outline of some of the nearby villages dotting the undulting hillsides. Vibrant green forests, red hills, and various water sources fill the valley.  This or other day trips as part of your custom Morocco holidays will leave you with a feeling of wonder.

by Sam Mitchell