5 days
The Happy Valley in 5 days: Beni Mellal and Aït Bouguemez
From Beni Mellal to the Aït Bouguemez valley via Lake Bin el Ouidane: rammed-earth villages, the Sidi Moussa granary and nights in a gîte.
- Beni MellalDay 1
- Bin el Ouidane LakeDay 2
- Aït Bouguemez ValleyDay 3–5
Overview
5 days and 4 nights to discover the central High Atlas without a hard trek. The road from Azilal to Agouti is paved but narrow and winding: allow almost two hours, and fill up in Azilal, as there is no petrol station in the valley. Indicative budget per person excluding car hire, with two half-board nights in a gîte.
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Budget
- Moderate
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
The route
Day by day
Beni Mellal, springs and kasbahs
Plan for the day
- Walk at the Aïn Asserdoun spring and terraced gardens
- View over the Tadla plain from the Ras el Aïn kasbah
- Souk and Tadla produce: oranges, olives, figs
- Tagines and grills in a local restaurant
- Hotel in central Beni Mellal
Lake Bin el Ouidane
Travel Beni Mellal → Bin el Ouidane via Afourer, about 1 h · ≈ 1 h
Plan for the day
- Viewpoints over the lake along the Azilal road
- Kayak, paddleboard or boat trip, depending on the water level
- Quiet end of the day by the water
- Tagines and grills at the hotel or a lakeside restaurant
- Lakeside hotel, lodge or campsite
- Fill up with fuel in Azilal before heading up to the valley.
To the Happy Valley
Travel Bin el Ouidane → Azilal (about half an hour), then Azilal → Agouti (almost 2 h) · ≈ 2 h 30
Plan for the day
- Mountain road from Azilal to Agouti, at the entrance to the valley
- First walk among barley fields and irrigated orchards
- Settling into a family-run gîte
- Family dinner at the gîte: tagine or couscous, homemade bread
- Gîte in Tabant, Agouti or Imelghas, half board
- Bring warm clothes: evenings are cool above 1,800 metres.
Sidi Moussa granary and villages
Plan for the day
- Walk from village to village along the valley
- Climb to the Sidi Moussa communal granary, behind Timit, at sunset
- Dinosaur footprints near Tabant, with a local guide
- Picnic prepared by the gîte, dinner at the gîte
- Same gîte
- Ask before photographing people, and take a licensed guide for the summits.
Back to Beni Mellal
Travel Aït Bouguemez → Beni Mellal via Azilal, about 3 h · ≈ 3 h
Plan for the day
- Last morning in the valley
- Drive back via Azilal to Beni Mellal
- Breakfast at the gîte, lunch in Azilal
- No night included: departure day
Where to stay on this route
The towns where you spend the night, each with a link to compare places to stay.
Best time
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr ✓
- May ✓
- Jun ✓
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep ✓
- Oct ✓
- Nov
- Dec
Practical tips
- No petrol station in the valley: fill up in Azilal or Demnate.
- Book gîtes ahead in spring, the busiest season.
- Shared minibuses go up from Azilal but only leave when full: a car remains easier.
Where next?
More plans
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