The caves

Another important feature of the Talassemtane Park are its caves. During our stay in Café Refuge Rueda we had the possibility to visit the most particular among them: the cave of Knadel. It gives a great opportunity for speleologism, if you’re able to find it in the mountains. The cave is located near the Jbel Kelti and the road between Chefchaouen and Oued Laou. A guide will be indispensable however.

The cave of Knadel

In the park you can find hundreds of other caves and caverns. A good opportunity to see some of the more interesting ones is a hike in the mountains near the inn of Afasska. Once again it is advised to take a guide with you, as there isn’t any signalization in the region for now. The inn owner can certainly help you out in appointing a local guide or can even personally accompany you on a tour in the mountains. As the inn is located on a relatively high level, there is a big chance that in winter you’ll be able to walk through some snowy areas, while the many pines give this area a very European outlook. Also the richness in bird singing is impressive and during our walk in the month of March we heard dozens of woodpeckers digging their nests. What you shouldn’t forget is to bring enough drinking water, as water sources are rather rare here. Our walk took about 5 hours, but longer and shorter variations are also possible.

Cavern near Afasska

The inn of Afasska is a good stopping point with a nice view and located next to the house of the family of the inn owner. It provides basic comfort with showers and a small furnace for the colder winter evenings. The family will gladly help you out with any necessities, even washing some clothes if necessary. Another extra in this inn is the possibility to join in some Moroccan cooking. We took the opportunity to make our own baghrir and rghaif, both types of typical pancakes which are often eaten with honey, and to bake bread in a traditional clay oven. Highly recommended!

Making Baghrir and Rghaif in the inn of Afasska