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High Atlas Djebel Toubkal

One Day Tour High Atlas Djebel Toukbal
Duration: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Inclusion: Luxury Toyota 4x4
English, French Speaking Driver, Guide
Starting & Finishing Point: Your Hotel In Marrakesh

ITINERARY

MORNING DEPARTURE:
After breakfast at your hotel, depart Marrakesh by 4x4 and head south toward Imlil. Imlil is a small, peaceful village in the high Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Due to its unique position this quaint town has become the center of mountain tourism. At 1740 meters above sea level, Imlil sits just below Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in Northern Africa. 

As your driver travels towards Imlil, just 1 ½ hours outside the “red city” of Marrakesh, the road narrows considerably after the turn-off from the market town of Asni, winding for 18 km up into the village. Once in Imlil, travel is on foot or by mule. (If it’s Saturday remind your host to stop at the Saturday souk in Asni and stock up on supplies prior to heading to the mountains- if you’re planning an extended stay).

Your driver will take you on a small tour of the village which in fertile in spring and summer with waterfalls surrounded by greenery. Explore the small shops selling Berber silver jewelry and local Moroccan goods that can be found along the tarmac road just before the dead end that leads up to Toukbal.

Next visit the other side of Imlil through a small windy road and then a short trek downhill by foot that leads to an auberge owned by a Swiss woman. Enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace or inside this tiny, charming interior space- that boasts breathtaking views of Toukbal and the surrounding old village Kasbahs.  

Imlil as a village is a relatively new creation; it was created to cater for the amount of tourists pouring through en route to Toubkal. The original communities still exist in the valleys around: Tamatert; Ait Souka; Tagadirt; Acheim; Taourirt n'Ait Mizane; Mzikene and Arhrene. Before the advent of mountain tourism the Imlil area was well known for its walnuts, apples and cherry production.

MID-DAY:
If hiking is part of your planned itinerary Imlil makes a good base for attempting to summit Toubkal. If you are interested in hiking Toukbal, you will need to extend your trip for an overnight stay and request your driver to hire a mountain guide and mules for the onward trek. Otherwise if you’re just spending the day in Imlil then you can enjoy lunch Kasbah Toukbal’s terrace with its magnificent views of Toukbal’s snowy peaks, just a 10 minute short walk past the tarmac road. After lunch head back down to the town center of Imlil and return to Marrakesh.

EXTENDED STAY:
If you interested in trekking to Mount Toukbal and would like to summit to the top, then there’s an option to extend your stay or include the trek as part of your itinerary. Just inform your driver or Travel Exploration and we will be sure to hire a qualified local mountain guide, as well as mules and mule handlers, for transport of equipment and food supplies.

It is possible to climb Mount Toubkal in two days - first day up to the refuge (around seven hours without mules), second day to the summit (around five hours) and back to Imlil (up to five hours).

In summer the mountains can be very dry, but are sometimes subjected to storms - often in August. Although the temperature should keep above zero during the day, freezing conditions are possible over 3,500m. In winter the mountains are covered in snow and ice, and can be prone to avalanches. Skiing is possible as the snow can lie to considerable depth and covers many rocky slopes.

The standard route commences with an easy walk to the village of Aroumd. Past Aroumd a floodplain is crossed from where the route follows the left slope of the valley southwards. The valley bends to the east to the tiny settlement of Sidi Chamharouch, which has grown around a Muslim shrine. At Sidi Chamharouch a path leads over the stream and steeply uphill to the right side of the Isougouane valley, which leads to two stone-built refuges (old Neltner Refuge and new Refuge du Toubkal, 3,207m).

From that point a path crosses the stream, climbs a steep scree slope to the east and enters a valley (corrie), then climbs another steep slope to reach a col (Tizi'n'Toubkal at 3,940m). At the col the route turns left (northwards) to the summit ridge of Jebel Toubkal. The 4,167m summit is crowned with a curious pyramidal metal frame and views take in most of the Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains.

Also known as Djebel Toubkal, this impressive massif is a mecca for trekkers who climb to the summit for magnificent views of the Atlas range, and the satisfaction of conquering one of Africa's most famous mountains. It is the central attraction of Morocco's Mount Toubkal National Park. An ascent of Mount Toubkal is one of Morocco's most popular attractions, achieved in as little as two days, but normally included as a highlight of a longer trek in the High Atlas, of up to 10 days or more.