Hiking around Chefchaouen
Near the once popular Chefchaouen is one of Morocco’s best and most unobtrusive hiking and trekking routes. The undulating paths lead through gorges, valleys, cedar and fir forests, hills and mountains. As this area has fewer hikers than Mount Toubkal in the High Atlas, you will need to bring your own sleeping bag, mat and tent. If you plan to hire a guide, bring the essentials in terms of provisions, as mules are not always available.
Chefchaouen, a unique fauna and flora
The trees in the Chefchaouen area are rare versions of the cedar. Pines, oaks and wild olive trees grow near the mountains. Golden eagles, ravens and kites are easily seen in the area. There are many local signs of wild animals, wolves and gazelles.
Hiking in Akchour
Most hikers choose to hike or trek around Akchour, or from the Rif Mountains of Chefchaouen to Bab Taza. This standard hike can take from three to over five days, depending on the season and pace.
If you want a shorter hike, you can head northeast to Bou Ahmed, where you can reach the Mediterranean. Either of these hikes offers some naturalness and famous birds endemic to the area.
Explore the Afaska climb to 1200 metres
If you choose to venture out for a hike from Chefchaouen, take a hike to Afaska, a 1200 metre climb. You will have views of the Jebel el Kelaa and finish at around 1800 metres. There is a camping area with great views on a clear day.
From Afeska you can head to Akchour and perhaps make a side trek to the real Pont de Dieu, where you will pass waterfalls and eroded rock formations. If you go to the Bridge of God, you may have to spend the night in Akchour, where there are cafes, restaurants, some cheap accommodation, a campsite and a swimming pool. You will be at an altitude of about 1,000 metres. If you skip the Pont de Dieu, you can theoretically get to Abu Bnar, where a short side trip takes you to a beautiful water source and Sidi Jil. Where you can camp if you wish, but you will be sleeping at over 1300 metres.
Hiking around the Talassemtane National Park
The easiest way out is to return to Abou Bnar, although there are a few 4WD tracks you can follow that can link you to the same road below. From Abu or the track, head for Talassemtane National Park. If you want to see wildlife along this route, this is where you’ll have the best chance. Monkeys are said to be abundant and untamed here. You can take a nice walk through the park or you can go to Bab Taza in one go. In this case, you will have to trek for five to eight hours.
With the other day hikes and treks around Chefchaouen, you can take it as easy or as hard as you like. You can go it alone, use a Moroccan tour operator or just meander over a lesser-used pass. It’s best to have some plans in mind, though, as the area is so vast.
The orange-covered trees will make you wonder how such a cold place can produce citrus. There are many hills and mountains, and it’s best to plan extra days in case the weather turns sour.
To visit Chefchaouen is to discover a hidden gem of Morocco, which is sure to become more and more invaded with Moroccan and world tourism being multiplied year after year, and outdoor activities such as hiking are becoming famous and popular year after year around the town of Chefchaouen.
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of organising this hike in Chefchaouen yourself, you can contact a Moroccan tour operator or book a hike through a specialised platform. Most tours in Morocco offer pick-up options from Tangier, Casablanca or even Marrakech.
