Day trip from Chefchaouen · The high forest
Talassemtane National Park hike from Chefchaouen
Talassemtane National Park was created in 2004 to protect Morocco's last fir forests. Atlas cedar grows here too, and Barbary macaques live in the park. This is a guided forest walk for people who want the mountains rather than the river.
Moroccan fir forest in Talassemtane National Park. Photo: Original: Tahamaaroufi; this edit: MPF, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How long is the Talassemtane hike?
- How long
- Full day
- Getting there
- Depends on the trailhead we choose for the season; we confirm it in your quote
- Your quote
- Free, in writingPrivate and custom, shaped to your dates, group and budget. You pay nothing until you agree it.
How hard is the Talassemtane hike?
Moderate. A mountain walk of 3 to 5 hours on forest tracks and paths, with real climbs. We set the length to your group.
Talassemtane fir forest photos
Photo: Tahamaaroufi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Tahamaaroufi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Medxaouen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Walter Rodriguez from Helsinki, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Who is the Talassemtane hike for?
Good for
- Keen walkers who have done Akchour or want something quieter
- Nature lovers and birders
- Hot summer days: the high forest is cooler than the valley
Not ideal for
- Families with small children
- Anyone who needs a fixed timetable: routes depend on weather and snow
Talassemtane hike itinerary
A typical day. Times move with the season, the weather and your pace.
Forested ridges in Talassemtane National Park. Photo: Tahamaaroufi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Early
Driving into Talassemtane National Park
Your driver takes you to the trailhead your guide has chosen for the season. Above the valley the oak gives way to conifers and limestone.
Moroccan fir forest in Talassemtane National Park. Photo: Original: Tahamaaroufi; this edit: MPF, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Morning
Walking in the fir forest
The Moroccan fir is a rare tree that grows in only a few places. Here it makes dark, dense forest on the steep slopes. Your guide knows the paths and the springs.
A small cascade in Talassemtane National Park. Photo: Walter Rodriguez from Helsinki, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Midday
Springs and wildlife
Lunch is a picnic by a stream. Barbary macaques live in the park and you may see them, but sightings are never guaranteed. Please do not feed them.
Afternoon
Back to Chefchaouen
You walk down to the car and drive back. You are in town in the late afternoon.
What's included
- Private to your group: your own guide and vehicle
- Local mountain guide
- Pickup and drop-off at your Chefchaouen riad or hotel
- Picnic lunch
- Bottled water
Not included
- Tips
What to bring
- Walking boots or trail shoes
- Warm layer and rain jacket: it is cooler and wetter up high
- Sun hat and sunscreen
- A small backpack for water and the layer you take off
Best time to go
- April to June
- The best months. Green forest and long days.
- July to August
- Cooler than town. Start early.
- September to October
- Settled weather and clear views.
- November to March
- Snow and rain close some routes. We choose a lower walk or move the date.
Talassemtane hike: questions
What is special about Talassemtane National Park?
It was created in 2004 to protect Morocco's last fir forests. It also has endangered Atlas cedar and Barbary macaques, and it covers the mountains between Chefchaouen and the Mediterranean, including Akchour and God's Bridge.
How is this different from the Akchour waterfalls?
Akchour is a river walk low in the gorge and gets busy. This walk goes up into the high forest, which is quieter and cooler, with more climbing.
Will we see Barbary macaques?
Maybe. They live in the park, but they are wild and we cannot promise a sighting. Please do not feed them.
How much does the fir forest walk cost?
We do not publish a fixed price for this walk. It depends on the route, group size and vehicle, so we send a written quote for your date.
Talassemtane hike: get a free quote
The form already names this trip. Add your date and how many of you there are, and a person in our team replies with a written quote. You pay nothing until you have agreed it.
Private and custom: a free written quote for your dates, group and budget
More day trips from Chefchaouen
Photos on this page are from Wikimedia Commons and used under their Creative Commons licences; they were resized for the web.
- Moroccan fir forest in Talassemtane National Park: Photo: Original: Tahamaaroufi; this edit: MPF, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Dark fir trees on a steep mountainside in Talassemtane National Park: Photo: Tahamaaroufi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A stony track through tall conifers in Talassemtane National Park: Photo: Tahamaaroufi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Forested ridges of Talassemtane National Park under a blue sky: Photo: Medxaouen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A small cascade in Talassemtane National Park: Photo: Walter Rodriguez from Helsinki, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Blue-washed steps in a Chefchaouen lane, lined with potted plants: Photo: Buiobuione, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons