Morocco Hiking Adventure - Rif Mountains

A walk through the wild and less visited Rif Mountains near Chefchaouen 

Morocco Hiking Adventure - The Rif Mountains are the northernmost of Morocco’s mountains and are a very quiet trekking destination due to the popularity of other regions within the country. The range is full of beautiful peaks, gorges and forested valleys and with varied bird species as well as mountain goats, gazelle and the rarely seen wolves.

Potential visitors are sometimes put off travel to the area, by the fact that the Rif Mountains are notorious for its marijuana production. This should not put anyone off from travel in this beautiful region, although over 90% of the cultivable land is used for ‘Hashish’ production, it is not a dangerous destination and getting into bother with the growers is rare.

The walk starts in the charming town of Chefchaouen, which has always been a travellers favourite. It has plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation and restaurants and there is plenty to see and do in the town and its surrounding area.

WALK FACT FILE   Length of walk: 5 days, averaging 4 to 5 hours walking a day. Start point: Chefchaouen Finish point: Bab Taza Nearest town to walk: Chefchaouen, a pretty town in the mountains at the start of the walk. Transport links to most main towns. Transport: Chefchaouen is linked will all of the large Moroccan cities and taxis from Bab Taza to Chefchaouen are regular and cost around 15Dr. Accommodation: On the walk itself camping will be the norm, though there is cottages to be hired at Akchour. There is a variety of places to stay in Chefchaouen, ranging from backpacker guesthouses, starting at around 20Dr, to the top end of the hotel market, with costs beginning at 320Dr. Supplies: Most supplies and maps can be bought in Chefchaouen. There are a few shops in Akchour where you can stock up on food. Water can be stored from various springs along the trek. Best time to walk: The Rif Mountains are a year round trekking region, though if you prefer it not to be ice cold and without snow you should not attempt the walk between November and March. Rain can suddenly come on anytime between September and June and the high summer is very hot. The best times to trek are probably spring time between April and June. Difficulty: ●●●●○ This walk has been given a difficulty rating of four as it can be quite strenuous with a full pack and may include some scrambling. You will need to be pretty fit for this walk as in can be very tiring.

Day One

Your Morocco Hiking Adventure starts north of Chefchaouen’s medina and follows a 4WD track that winds its way around and skirts Jebel el Kelaa. The track follows on past a natural spring and on to the highest point of the walk, the 1800m Sfiha Telj pass. There is a campsite here, but it is not the best place to stay as you are only half way through the day’s walk. The views from this vantage point are a dream and sometimes you can even see the Mediterranean Sea. From the Sfiha Telj pass you will head east, again along a 4WD track but this one is thankfully in the shade. The track makes its way to the small hamlet of Azilane and from here the track extends for about an hour to the small settlement of Afeska where there is a campsite.

Day Two

On the second day of the walk you will be heading to the village of Akchour, which is a pleasant place to relax after a hard day in the sun. From the campsite you will head north again going through Afeska, over a gentle stream and into some woodland. Past the woodland is Sidi Meftah where there stands a mausoleum. From here the path stretches its way down to the village of Imizzar, where you will cross a river and follow an old path that leads to the ancient bridge at Pont Farda. Following the western bank of the river for a while, you will turn left towards the village of Ouslaf. You do not go into Ouslaf, rather you will come across a north going trail that leads to the outskirts of Akchour.

Akchour has a few campsites, some cottages that hire for around 200Dr a night, a few shops and a wonderfully cool pool in which you can swim. Akchour is linked to Chefchaouen by public buses.