Souk Tabant

Souk Tabant is the lively weekly market at the heart of the Aït Bougmez Valley — widely known as the Happy Valley — and serves as the main gateway for hikers exploring this spectacular region of the central High Atlas. Every Thursday, villagers from the surrounding douars descend on Tabant to trade produce, livestock, handicrafts and provisions, creating a vibrant atmosphere of Berber commerce and social connection. For hikers, the souk is the perfect place to stock up on supplies, arrange mules and guides, and immerse themselves in local culture before heading into the mountains.

The Aït Bougmez Valley itself is a 30-kilometre-long oasis of walnut groves, apple orchards and emerald-green barley terraces, enclosed by stark grey mountain ridges. The trails here are some of the finest in Morocco, linking stone-built Berber villages with ancient mosques and communal granaries (agadir) that cling to rocky outcrops. From Tabant, well-marked routes lead south into the Mgoun Massif, whose summit (Ighil Mgoun, 4,071 m) is the second highest in the Atlas and can be climbed via a three- to four-day circuit. Northbound trails cross the Tizi n' Ouano pass into the Dades Valley, while shorter day walks explore the valley's side canyons and irrigation channels.

The best time to hike is from April to October, with June and September offering the most stable weather for high-altitude crossings. Several gîtes in Tabant and surrounding villages provide comfortable accommodation, hearty Moroccan meals and local guiding services. The Happy Valley remains quieter than the Toubkal region, making it ideal for trekkers seeking an authentic, crowd-free High Atlas experience steeped in Berber culture and dramatic mountain scenery.