Atlas Mountains
Jebel Saghro Loop
- Distance: Approx. 90 km
- Duration: Four to five days
- Start: Boumalne Dades
- End: Kalaat M’Gouna
- Difficulty: Moderate
The Jebel Saghro is a mountain range located in the Anti-Atlas region of Morocco, between the High Atlas and the Sahara Desert. Vast barren plains, rocky peaks and deep gorges create a dramatic landscape that is great for exploring by foot.
The Jebel Saghro Loop is an off-the-beaten-path five-day trek that starts near Boumalne Dades and ends at Kalaat M’Gouna, passing through remote hamlets and palm groves, crisscrossing mule tracks and dry river beds. Guides are optional and it makes an ideal winter trek when other Moroccan ranges are covered in snow.
The trek’s challenges are mainly the variable terrain and the lack of water sources along the route but with a lower altitude it’s generally less strenuous than some of the treks in the High Atlas region.
Some highlights of the Jebel Saghro Circuit include the Bab n'Ali rock formations, the Afourer gorges, and the views from the top of Kouaouch. The trek also offers a chance to experience local Amazigh (Berber) culture, as the Jebel Saghro region is home to the Aït Atta tribe, one of the last nomadic tribes in Morocco.