7-Day Circular Trek Imlil to Toubkal Base Camp

After breakfast, we depart from Marrakech and drive to the Imlil Valley via Asni. Imlil is a bustling market town and a major trailhead for hikers. The town is alive with the movement of people descending from the mountains and those preparing to start their adventure. We meet our team in Imlil, load our equipment, and begin our trek along the valley towards Tacheddirt, which is about 8 kilometers beyond Imlil. The trail gradually ascends as we climb to Tizi N'Tamatert (2,279 meters). From there, we descend to the picturesque village of Ouaneskra and continue for another half-hour to Tacheddirt (3,000 meters), where we usually set up camp near the river.

We start by crossing the valley and begin a long, gradual ascent to Tizi Likemt (3,555 meters). The trail is challenging due to the significant amount of loose debris on the ground. Upon reaching the summit, we are rewarded with our first clear view of Toubkal. We then embark on a long descent to the village of Azib Likemt, where we set up camp for the night.

This long yet relatively easy day takes us through a variety of contrasting landscapes. From Tizi Ououraine (3,120 meters), we enjoy more views of Toubkal, including its southern face, as well as the Dome (3,876 meters). The trail then leads us to Amsouzert, one of the most picturesque villages in the region, where we spend the night in a simple village cottage with dormitory-style accommodations.

The erea of Amsouzert, is dotted with several small villages on our way to Lake Ifni, the only lake in the mountains. This unforgettable sight is surrounded by rocky mountains and massive piles of rubble, and it is unusually deep. We plan to arrive before noon and spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach. In the evening, we set up camp nearby.

By this time, we should be well-prepared and in good shape to take on the toughest day of the trek. We navigate a steep path that winds through extensive talus slopes. Finally, we reach Tizi n'Ouanoums (3,664m), a narrow rocky pass nestled between two peaks. From there, we descend in a series of zigzags to Nelter Hut, a mountain refuge where we spend the night, or we can choose to camp outside nearby.

We set out before dawn, following a familiar path towards the summit. With favorable conditions, reaching the summit shouldn't take more than 2-3 hours, offering us sweeping views of the Atlas range and the plains of Marrakech beyond. After descending to base camp, we continue swiftly through the villages of Sidi Chamharouch and Aremd, following the wooded path along the Mizane River back to the trailhead at Imlil.

Following breakfast, we depart from our lodge and head south towards the Berber village of Aremd. We traverse steep slopes, with the rugged peaks of the Western High Atlas, including Mount Aguelzim (3,547m), Aksouâl (3,847m), and the Adrar Adj (3,122m), towering in front of us. We enjoy lunch amidst nature before returning to the lodge for a shower, and then we transfer back to Marrakech.