How to drive the helical tunnel through Tizi Tagountsa in the High Atlas?
Tizi Tagountsa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,226m (7,303ft) above sea level located in the High Atlas of Morocco. The road through the pass, the P7113 track, is famous for its helical tunnel, a 360-degree spiral carved into the rock by the French Foreign Legion in 1933.
How does the spiral tunnel of Tizi Tagountsa work?
The Tagountsa Tunnel is a unique engineering feat where the track enters the mountain and completes a full 360-degree turn while descending inside the rock. It emerges directly below the entrance but facing the opposite direction. The tunnel is totally unlit.
How long is the road through Tizi Tagountsa?
The road through the pass is 45 km long, running between Agoudim and Ait Sidi Mhamed. There is zero help, no fuel, and no workshops for the entire drive.
Is the road through Tizi Tagountsa unpaved?
The road is entirely unpaved. The floor is uneven, covered in loose rocks and deep dust that can hide sharp edges, making a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle required. The surface comprises sharp stones and hard-packed earth that becomes a mud trap during Atlas rainstorms.
How challenging is the road through Tizi Tagountsa?
There are no guardrails, and in many sections, the road is a narrow shelf with vertical drops of up to 1,000 meters into the valley below. The track is very narrow, often barely wide enough for one vehicle. If you meet someone, one driver must reverse to a wider spot on the edge of the precipice.
Is the road to Tizi Tagountsa maintained?
Since it was built as a military route in the 1930s, the track has received almost no maintenance. It is subject to natural erosion, and rockfalls often block parts of the path. You must check the state of the small bridges near Agoudim before crossing, as they can be weakened by winter floods.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez
Pic: Harry Meidert