During the meeting
- Guided walks through the traditional Souk El Had, an authentic traditional market with more than 3000 stalls offering spices, Moroccan argan oil and its derivatives and souvenirs.
- A visit to the Agadir Oufella Kasbah's ruins, offering exceptional views over the bay of Agadir and the city harbor (transport and entrance fees apply).
- Guided tour to the University Museum of Meteorites, the first of its kind in Morocco, which hosts a permanent exhibition on meteorites that frequently land on Moroccan soil.
- A visit to the municipal museum of the Amazigh patrimony, which is dedicated to the Amazigh legacy in the region, and highlights the very special Berber culture (entrance fees apply).
After the meeting
Field-trip registration deadline : 15 January 2021, 23:59 UTC
Field trip 1
Visit to Wintimdouine cave and Imouzzer (Western High Atlas Mountains)
Yassine Ait Brahim
Postdoctoral Research at Xi’an Jiaotong University
Specialized in Speleothem-based Paleoclimate and Geochemistry
Abderrahmane Wanaim
Assistant Professor at Ibn Zohr University.
Specialized in Speleology, Structural Geology and Karst Environments
23 May 2021
50 EUR, including lunch and water
10-100 (only up to 30 participants can go inside the cave)
Our first stop will be at Wintimdouine cave, located in the Western High Atlas Mountains, about 60 km NW of Agadir. Participants who are interested in entering the cave can enjoy its beautiful sights and various forms of speleothem forms, including stalagmites, stalactites and flowstones. Please note that only up to 30 participants can be allowed inside the cave and they will be assisted by local speleologists. The cave visit will take about 1 hour. Meanwhile, other participants can enjoy a nice Moroccan tea and the beautiful view outside the cave. Please also take into consideration that there is a walking distance of 1.5 km between the parking area and the cave entrance.
Our second destination will be the region of Imouzzer. The small village of Imouzzer is located in a fertile valley and its true natural beauty lies in its surrounding areas. Unlike big cities, the residents of this village reflect a strong cultural identity. The area is well-known for its cascades, as well as local products such as argan oil, olive oil and amlou (local Berber Almond butter).
The trip will start at 8 am. Our first stop will be Wintimdouine cave, followed by Imouzzer village and cascades, then we will make our way back to Agadir around sunset.
The caving gear (helmets with head torch, neoprene dry swimsuits, and swim rings) will be made available onsite for up to 30 participants.Each participant should bring a hat, hiking shoes, sunscreen, and if possible a rain jacket.
Field trip 2
Day trip to Marrakesh
This trip through the interior of the country is an easy way to discover stunning landscapes and the background of the High Atlas.
This trip through the interior of the country is an easy way to discover popular Marrakech city, stunning landscapes and the background of the High Atlas.
Place Jamaa El Fna area
Departure: 07h00 from collection points
Itinerary: 3 hours drive from Agadir towards the north-east crossing the beautiful landscapes of High Atlas Mountains.
Jardin Majorelle
Field trip 3
Day trip to Paradise Valley
This hidden valley is 58 km away from Agadir in the High Atlas gorgeous mountains. The valley is known for its palm trees, natural water slides, rock pools and waterfalls carved out of the rocks through millions of years of erosion.
Departure: 08h00 from collection points, one hour drive from Agadir towards the west High Atlas mountain.
Field shoes, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and swimming clothes.
Field trip 4
Four-day field trip through the Atlas Mountains to the desert of the great Sahara
Mohammed Hssaisoune
Professor at the department of Earth Sciences, University of Ibn Zohr. Agadir. MH is specialist of the Anti-Atlas geology and environment.
Hanane Reddad
Currently works at the Physical Geography Department, University Sultan Moulay Sliman: Moroccan geomorphology and paleoclimatology.
In this four-day field trip we will go through stunning geological settings towards one of the most extreme environments.
Departure: 07h30min
Itinerary:
Day 1: Departure to Ouarzazate through Taroudant, known as “the little Marrakech”, Taliouine and Taznakht. We will continue to the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and spend the night in Ouarzazate city.
Day 2: Ouarzazate to the Todra gorges via the oasis of Skoura, travelling off-road to see Kasbahs. The main road passes through the valley of desert roses and the Dades valley to the Todra gorges where we will stop for lunch. In the afternoon, our trip continues to the dunes of Merzouga for a 2 hours camel ride to reach the dunes of Erg Chebbi. The sunset is spectacular on the top of the dunes. At Erg Chebbi, we will have dinner and spend the night in a campsite.
Day 3: If participants wake up early enough, they can enjoy a magnificent sunrise, when the color of the dunes and the play of shadows are an awesome sight. We will return to the hotel in Merzouga to have a shower and breakfast. The itinerary continues to the valley of Draa via the villages of Rissani (the fossil heaven), Alnif, Tazzarine and N’Qob where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we will head to Tanasikht then towards the ancient caravan route in the Draa valley, with its huge palm trees and ancient villages. At the end of the afternoon, we will reach Agdez for dinner and a night rest.
Day 4: After breakfast, we will head north from Agdez to Taznakht, famous for its Berber gelims and carpets. Later, we continue to Agadir crossing the Tizi-n-Ikhsane and Tizi-n- Tighatine mountain passes. We will have lunch in Taliouine (the heart of the saffron growing area of Morocco). In the afternoon, we will head to Taroudant and then to Agadir by the end of the afternoon
Field trip 5
Two-day field trip AGADIR-TAFRAOUT (Western Anti-Atlas, Morocco)
Hydrogeology of crystalline massif in arid climate
Tafraout is one of the most attractive tourist areas in the south of Morocco. It shows diversified landscapes. The climate is arid and is a niche of the famous endemic argan tree. These regions are occupied by berbere-speaking populations with a long hospitality tradition. Its contrasted scenery varies from karstic table-land, crystalline escarpments and granitic chaos.
The two-day field trip will allow us to visit beautiful natural areas and to have an overview of the hydrogeology of a typical arid to semi-arid crystalline massif through the Souss plain and the hydrology of two dams. The itinerary will also illustrate the complex geological history of these areas from 2 Ga to present-day. Expect short walks on rough terrain.
Departure: 8 am (May 23): AGADIR-TAFRAOUT (night at Tafraout city)-TIZNIT-AGADIR: Return 7pm (May 24)
Itinerary:
Day 1: Agadir----Aït Baha----Tafraout (155 km)
Stop D1.1: The Wadi Souss hydrology (km 8), (N30° 21' 36", W9° 29' 46")
Stop D1.2: Geology and hydrology of the Souss plain. Moving dunes and desertification at the south part of Souss plain (N30° 12' 18", W9° 19' 58")
Stop D1.3: Cambrian rocks of Imi M’qorn (N30° 06' 49", W9° 14' 12")
Geological cross-section of the Imi M’qorn-Ait Baha Cambrian Plateau (in Soulaimani and Ounaimi, 2007).
anoramic view of the lower Cambrian limestones and Precambrain rhyolites. The High Atlas mountain can be seen in the background
Stop D1.4: Regional dams. Example of Aït Mzal dam(N30° 03' 41", W9° 07' 12")
Dam of Ahl Souss on wadi Aït Baha.
Stop D1.5: Ida Ou Gnidif Kasbah and common granary.
Stop D1.6: The Ammeln Valley with ~ 20 spring and old adobe houses (N29° 44' 01", W8° 50' 41")
Stop D1.7: The quiet Tafraout town (N29° 43' 32", W08° 58' 20")
Sale of slippers in the souk of Tafraout.
ITINERARY AND STOPS OF DAY2
Day 2 Tafraout ↔ Tiznit ↔ Agadir (96 km)
Stop D2.1: The Aguerd Oudad (Chapeau de Napoleon) pink granite rock of Tafraout (N29° 41' 48", W8° 58' 00")
Stop D2.2: Kerdous Pass panorama
Stop D2.3: Tighmi : Typical Berber village and its artisanal pottery (N29° 34' 55", W9° 25' 15")
Stop D2.4: Wadi Assaka and fluvial terraces (N29° 41' 27", W9° 31' 53")
Stop D2.5: Tiznit: silver jewellery and Blue spring
Stop D2.6: Wadi Massa (N29° 53' 19", W9° 35' 30")
Participants should bring hiking shoes and proper sun protection including a hat and sunscreen.
