OUR ECO-TRAILS
PLANNING A GREEN GETAWAY ?
Discover local biodiversity and culture through our eco tours, which will introduce you to the natural world of Oukaimeden and its rich traditions. On the Oukaïmeden plateau, large pasture lands are traditionally managed under the name “Agdal”, which refers to an ancient practice that regulates access and user rights under traditional customary law. Agdals play a key role in biodiversity conservation because the timing of the opening and closing dates of the pasture allows vegetation to complete its full reproductive cycle before grazing is opened to herds of animals.
​
This herding prohibition usually takes place in Spring, which is a key moment of the vegetal cycle. Closing the Agdal during this time guarantees high plant growth, accompanied by the flowering, pollination and production of seeds. As a result, this practice maximizes feed production for livestock while also supporting the sustainability of local ecosystems. In Oukaïmeden, the opening of the pasture takes place on August 10, which is celebrated by the community with a local festival (Moussem).
The Relaxing Trail
Duration: 60min
Distance: 2km
Level: Easy
Departure point: Ecomuseum
Your eco walk starts at the Oukaïmeden Ecomuseum, from where you will walk downhill past a local primary school. Once you leave the village you turn right towards a small forest. Enjoy the fresh air as you make your way under beautiful old walnut trees, while listening to birdsong and the peaceful sounds of the Oukaïmeden River. There are plenty of wild plants for you to discover, such as timija, mint and thyme, which are commonly used to prepare tea. You will cross a seguia, a small traditional water channel, and continue your route towards the douars (villages) of Lbaraghn, Lmasakin and Idhya.
​
You will meet local community members, farmers and grazing sheep on your way and if you look hard enough you will find some local species of butterflies, bees, snails and salamanders on your path. As you walk down to the village of Ait Lkak, you will cross several agricultural terraces, some of which are beautiful Apple tree orchards. If you are visiting in Autumn, you will be able to taste the delicious apples that Oukaimeden is well known for. When you arrive at the village of Ait Lkak, you will come across some lovely examples of traditional ancient houses as well as everyday life in a High Atlas village. Soak up the smell of freshly baked bread as you finish your walk.
​
Continue your tour with a visit to the Ecomuseum and/or Plant Nursery, where you can enjoy a nice tea and learn about local plants.
The Discovery Trail
Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 4 km
Level: Easy to Moderate
Departure point: Ecomuseum
Your eco walk starts at the Oukaïmeden Ecomuseum, from where you will walk downhill past a local primary school. Once you leave the village you walk straight ahead past a small forest on your right. You climb up on a small path, which looks down at the small forest with plenty of lushious walnut trees. You will be accompanied by bird song and the soft sound of the river stream below. At the beginning of your path, you will find an example of a traditional practice called «Lgzin nofayno» which consists of a covered and natural place to keep the grass and fodder dry and stored until winter, in order to ensure feed for the animals.
We cross a seguia, a small traditional water channel, as well as a water basin and we continue our route towards the douars (villages) of Lbaraghn, Lmasakin and Idhya. You will meet local community members, farmers and grazing sheep on your way and if you look hard enough you will find some local species of butterflies, bees, snails and salamanders on your path. As you walk down to the village of Ait Lkak, you will cross several agricultural terraces, some of which are beautiful Apple tree orchards. If you are visiting in Autumn, you will be able to taste the delicious apples that Oukaimeden is well known for. When you arrive at the village of Ait Lkak, you will come across some lovely examples of traditional ancient houses as well as everyday life in a High Atlas village. Soak up the smell of freshly baked bread as you finish your walk.
Continue your tour with a visit to the Ecomuseum and/or Plant Nursery, where you can enjoy a nice tea and learn about local plants.
The Nomad Trail (Agdal Sidi N'Fares)
Duration : 4-5 hours
Distance : 2km
Level : Moderate to Challenging
Departure point : Ecomuseum
Your eco walk starts at the Oukaïmeden Ecomuseum, from where you will walk downhill past a local primary school. Once you leave the village you walk straight ahead and you leave the river and small forest behind you. You start to climb on a track between two high mountains. You will enjoy beautiful views on your way until you arrive at Igountar, a very interesting historical site with ancient rock engravings. Admire engravings of a magnificent shield and daggers, axes or clubs, bovid and other animals, geometric shapes and other engravings.
​
The land of the plateaus in Oukaimeden are composed of Permo-Triassic sandstone, with inclined plates that are more or less flat, either emerging from the pastures, or standing as well straightened blocks. As you continue your way on the plateau, you will look out on magnificent panoramic views of different breathtaking landscapes and villages. We walk in the agdal and arrive at the Oukaïmeden 'centre', where you will find earth and stone structures called 'aezib', where herders keep their livestock here at night during grazing periods. You will also pass the beautiful lake, the ski resort and a second engraving site.
From the Oukaimeden lake, you can drive back to the Ait Lkak village to the Community Plant Nursery, where you can enjoy a nice tea and relax before heading back to Marrakech.
