After breakfast we leave Marrakech and drive through Asni to Imlil. Imlil is the main trailhead and a busy market town for walkers. There is a constant movement of people coming down the mountains and an equal supply of activity from those about to embark on their adventure. We meet our mule team and we start walking along the valley to Tacheddirt, some 8kms beyond Imlil, once all our gear is loaded. As we climb up to the pass at Tizi n’Tamatert (2,279 m), the trail soon begins to rise. Then we go down to the beautiful village of Ouaneskra and continue for about half an hour to Tacheddirt (3,000 m), where we usually camp near the shore.
We start a long, slow climb across the valley to the Tizi Likemt pass (3,555 m). The going is pretty hard as there’s a lot of loose scree on the ground. Before a long downhill descent to the village of Azib Likemt, where we camp for the night, we enjoy our first fine view of the Toubkal massif.
We start a long, slow climb across the valley to the Tizi Likemt pass (3,555 m). The going is pretty hard as there’s a lot of loose scree on the ground. Before a long downhill descent to the village of Azib Likemt, where we camp for the night, we enjoy our first fine view of the Toubkal massif.
This long but relatively easy day takes us through a variety of landscapes that contrast. We enjoy further views of the Toubkal massif from Tizi n’Ououraine (3,120 m), including the summit, the east face and the Ifni Dome (3,876 m). The trail continues to Amsouzert, one of the most important villages in the region where we spend the night in a simple village Gite
There are several small villages to the west of Amsouzert that we are exploring as we head towards Ifni Lake, the only lake in the massif. It is a memorable sight, and is unusually deep, surrounded by Rocky Mountains and giant rubble heaps. We expect to arrive at lunchtime and relax at the shore the afternoon. We’re camping in this area tonight.
We should be fit and acclimated by now, and ready to tackle the toughest day of trekking. We make our way along a steep path leading up an apparently endless slope of the scree. At Tizi n’Ouanoums we finally reach the pass (3,664 m), a narrow ledge between two rock shafts. It’s a long zigzag downhill from here to Nelter Hut, a mountain refuge where we’re spending the night (or camping outside).
After a well-worn route to the summit, we leave before dawn. If the conditions are good, it should take no more than 2-3 hours to reach the summit, where we enjoy wide views of the whole Atlas range and the plains beyond Marrakech. Returning to base, we descend relatively quickly to the villages of Sidi Chamharouch and Aremd, then follow the Mizane River along a well-forested trail to Imlil’s trailhead. If you stay in Marrakech, at the end of the day you will be taken by car.
Note: Itinerary is just a guideline and subject to change to suit local condition.
