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

Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up Marbella, journey to Chefchaouen

Pass By: Chefchaouen Medina, Chefchaouen Morocco
Transfer from Marbella to Algeciras, Ferry to Tanger MED, transfer to Chefchaouen. We spend a night there.

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Charming Hotel within the Medina

Day 2: Day 2 - 1st hiking day: CHEFCHAOUEN - ZAOUIYA HABTENNE

Stop At: Talassemtane National Park, Chefchaouen Morocco
After a traditional breakfast we start our hike to Talassemtane National Park accompanied by our local guide, this first day's hike takes about 4 hours. Along the rocky path of Tissouka Mountain, we get a great view over the "Blue City" Chefchaouen 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 pass the Mechkralla village and finally get to Zaouiya Habtenne at the end of our first trek. Lunch at the guest house and after a rest we take a walk around the village to watch daily life of the Rif's people.

Full board accommodation in Talassemtane guesthouse.

Difficulty: easy- 4 hours, 12 km

Elevations: ↑461 ↓348m
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Guest House within the National Park

Day 3: Day 3 - 2nd day of hiking: ZAOUIYA-JEBEL LAKRAA-GITE AZILAN

Stop At: Talassemtane National Park, Chefchaouen Morocco
Early in the morning we start the trek to Jebel Lakraa, the highest Summit of Chefchaouen province. On the way, we come cross caves and the Talassemtane magnificent fir trees (Abies Pinsapo). We take our first brake at the Cave Baroud, an ancient cave that used to be a refuge during the war of the Rif and continue hiking up towards the summit of Jebel Lakraa. The views are stunning and make all effort worth while. From the top we walk down towards Plaça d'espagne, a wonderful place full of Pinsapo trees, an endemic species that is found only in the Betic Cordillera (Andalusia and the Rif). Transfer on a land rover to Azilane guesthouse where we will spend the night. This very simple and traditional guesthouse has the most amazing views and a delicious dinner awaiting us.

Difficulty: high- 7 hours, 15 km

Elevations:

↑1213m ↓462m
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Guest house

Day 4: Day 4 - 3rd day of hiking: AZILANE-IMEZZAR- OUSELAF- PONT DE DIEU AKCHOUR

Stop At: Talassemtane National Park, Chefchaouen Morocco
We leave Azilane after breakfast, overlooking fir trees (Abies pinsapo) and the Jebel Tissouka mountain. Our walk continues towards Imizzar village and crosses the Ain Danou source which comes out of Oued Farda, a small torrential stream characteristic of the Rif that creates refreshing water pools, inviting the brave for a swim.

We finally get to the "God’s Bridge", a true natural and spiritual curiosity. The bridge is a huge natural arch shaped by time over the Oued Farda river. We will take our lunch at the bridge and then continue towards Akchour where we still have time to discover the traditional surroundings of a very popular place. After dinner we spend the night in half board accommodation in Gite Akchour.

Difficulty:medium- 6 hours, 14 km

Elevations:↑505↓1340m
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Guest House

Day 5: Day 5 - 4th day of hiking AKCHOUR - CASCADE OUED FARD- AKCHOUR

Stop At: Talassemtane National Park, Chefchaouen Morocco
Today’s hike will be the discovery of the waterfalls of Akchour, a hidden treasure in the heart of the Rif Mountains. After about 3 hours of walk up along a beautiful path along the river, with amazingly lush vegetation, waterfalls and cool river-pools, we will take lunch on the biggest and last waterfall we can reach on the Oued Kelaa River. A relaxing day, we spend time at the waterfalls, the brave may go for a swim at the rather cool pool below the waterfall. We walk back to Akchour in the afternoon.

Difficulty: easy- 5 hours, 14 km

Elevations: ↑↓283m
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Cascades d'Akchour, Parc Talembole Medina, Chefchaouen 52450 Morocco
We will spend some hours at the waterfalls

Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Guest House

Day 6: Day 6, 5th day of hiking: AKCHOUR - BNI MALAA - OUED LAW

Stop At: Talassemtane National Park, Chefchaouen Morocco
On our last day of hiking, we walk from Akchour over hills and fields, to Bni Malaa, where our 4x4 Land Rovers await us to take us down to the Mediterranean coast, finalising our goal to get from BLUE TO BLUE. The lovely beach in Oued Laou invites us to a swim in the sea. After the break on the beach, transfert to the city of Tetuán, where we spend our last night at a charming hotel in the very heart of the medina, very close to the Royal Palace. Time for a stroll at the famous souk of Tetuán. We'll find a nice restaurant for a dinner nearby the Hotel to celebrate our last evening together.

Difficulty: medium- 5 hours, 15 km

Elevations: ↑862↓476m
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Charming Hotel in Tetuán, near the Kings Palace and the Souk

Day 7: Day 7, journey back TETUÁN - MARBELLA

Stop At: Tetuan, 29004 Málaga, Spain
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.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.