Taghia Gorge

Taghia is a village of about thirty houses at the meeting of two gorges in the central High Atlas, with limestone walls rising up to eight hundred metres directly above the roofs on several sides. There is no road: from Zaouia Ahansal it is around two hours on foot or with a mule, and everything in the village comes up that way. Climbers found it in the 1990s and it now has several hundred routes, many of them long multi-pitch lines of considerable difficulty on excellent rock, and it has a reputation as one of the finest limestone venues on the continent - which is what brings most visitors. For non-climbers there is walking: the gorges themselves, the passage under the natural rock arch, and routes over the passes to neighbouring valleys. Accommodation is in a handful of village gites with basic rooms and full board, run by families.

What you actually see

• Eight-hundred-metre walls - limestone rising directly above a village of thirty houses.
• No road - two hours in on foot or by mule from Zaouia Ahansal.
• Several hundred climbing routes - long limestone lines on some of Africa's best rock.
• Family gites - basic village rooms with full board, the only accommodation.

When to go

Spring and autumn; summer is hot and winter cold. Several days.

Honest expectations

There is no vehicle access and no shop - everything is carried or bought in Zaouia Ahansal. Accommodation is basic and full board is the only arrangement. There is no rescue capacity and climbing here is committing. Mobile coverage is patchy at best.

Nearby

Zaouia Ahansal is down the valley; the Cathedral of Imsfrane is further north.