Ida Outanane, Aqesri
Ait Chleuh Valley
A green valley in the Ida Outanane mountains with water running all year, reached on foot through an old Amazigh village.
The practical bits
- Length
- Half day
- Time out
- About 8 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- From Agadir
- 43 km
- Drive time
- 1h15
- Altitude
- 700 m
- Best time
- Spring, autumn and winter
- Phone signal
- No phone signal
Northeast of Agadir, the road climbs into the Ida Outanane mountains and eventually stops. From the village of Tizgui you walk the last twenty minutes — there is no other way in, which is most of why the valley still looks the way it does.
What you find is water. Not a single famous waterfall with a car park beside it, but a valley with streams running through it all year, pools the colour of green glass, and argan, olive and juniper growing down to the water. At around 700 metres the air stays cooler than the coast, and the sound is entirely birds and moving water.
The village above the valley is a working one. People farm here, keep animals here, and have done for a long time. Going with a local guide is the difference between walking past that and being welcomed into it.
What makes it special
- Streams and waterfalls that run all year, not only after rain
- Clear turquoise pools you can swim in
- Argan, olive and juniper woodland
- A traditional Amazigh village still lived and worked in
- Around 700 m up, so noticeably cooler than Agadir
What you can do here
- Swimming in the natural pools
- Walking and light trekking along the valley
- Photography
- Exploring the village and meeting the people who live there
- Camping overnight
- Tasting home-cooked local food
Everything here is included in the day if you want it, and nothing is compulsory. Tell us in advance what you are hoping for and we will plan around it.
When to come
Spring, autumn and winter are the good months. We do not recommend this trip in high summer: the valley gets seriously hot and the walk in stops being a pleasure.
What to bring
- Proper walking shoes — this is not a sandals walk
- Clothes you can walk in comfortably
- Swimwear and a towel
- Plenty of water
- Sun hat and sunscreen
Good to know
- There is no mobile signal in the valley. Tell someone where you are going, and expect to be offline for the day.
- The final twenty minutes to the valley is on foot over uneven ground.
- Pools are natural and unsupervised — depth changes, and rocks can be slippery.
Other trips
Half day or full dayAit Lahcen Waterfalls
Waterfalls, pools and a palm oasis an hour from Agadir — with an optional climb to a 1 160 m summit looking back at the coast.
- Distance from Agadir
- 32 km
- Drive time
- 1h
- Difficulty
- Easy to moderate
Private tripAsk for a price
Full dayAssif n Ahad Cave
The quietest of our trips — a cave mouth and rock formations in the Tidrart valleys, well off any tourist route.
- Distance from Agadir
- 70 km
- Drive time
- 1h30
- Difficulty
- Easy
Private tripAsk for a price