TOUBKAL ASCENT AND BERBER VILLAGES

Arrival at Marrakech airport where you will meet an MCT representative and your High Atlas Mountain trekking guide for your briefing of the trekking tour. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Marrakech.

After breakfast we depart for Imlil, a 1 1/2 hour drive into the foothills of the western High Atlas Mountains. As the road begins to climb, the beauty of the valley, river and small villages is more like a painting. Imlil, a beautiful mountain village surrounded by walnut and fruit trees is the starting point for the climb up Mount Toubkal (4167m), the highest peak in North Africa. The air in Imlil is crisp and clear as the town stands at an altitude of 1740 meters. We meet our muleteers and cook and then load up the mules for our journey. We set out along the trail going upstream to the river of Imenane passing through groves of almond trees of the Assif Imenane Valley. Overnight in our tented camp in the unique terraced village of Arg (1500m) a 2 hour trek.

After breakfast we set out along the trail to Tacheddirt. Along the way we pass streams, fields of wheat, walnut, apple and cherry trees. We see the many Berber villages set amongst terraced plots on the hillside including Amskere (1707m), Ikkiss (1740m), Tamguist and finally Tacheddirt. Tacheddirt, a pretty village set amid the mountains is an example of a well maintained balance of humans and nature with its stony homes perched on the hillsides and its terraced irrigated plots. Overnight in our tented camp in the village of Tacheddirt (2314m) a 5 hour trek.

After breakfast we set out along the trail to Aremd. We cross through the Imenane Valley with its many Berber villages tucked precariously on the slopes. We cross the Tamatert Pass (2279m) where we stop to admire the Imlil and Imenane Valleys. As we make our descent to the village of Aremd we take in the views of the magnificent Mount Toubkal. Aremd, built on a peculiar geographical phenomenon called a rock glacier is a striking village of terraced homes built one on top of the other overlooking ancient irrigated terraced fields of fruit trees and vegetables. Overnight in a gite accommodation including a shower in the village of Aremd (1900m) a 4 hour trek.

After breakfast we make our ascent following a steep zigzag path up the right hand side of the valley with the bulk of Toubkal on our left. As the path levels out we see the Mouflon Refuge (3200m) in the distance tucked well below the pass. Overnight in our tented camp near the refuge. A 6 ½ hour trek.

We wake early for our ascent of Toubkal. As we cross a small river gorge of the Ait Mizane we find the first of the boulder slopes as we take in the beautiful sunrise. We hike up a steep scree slope to the summit (4167m). There we find a large iron structure and weather permitting excellent views. The best view is to the south with its layered Saharan Plateau broken by the extinct volcano Siroua. We return to our camp near the refuge for the night, a 7 hour trek.

After breakfast we set off towards the north along steeply descending, zigzagging trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of Assif n’Isougouane towards the Berber village of Sidi Chamharouch (3106m) set beside a waterfall and small stream. Sacred to the Berbers and many people who make pilgrimages here there is a shrine where the locals hang strips of cloth and pile up stones. We continue to Imlil where we finish our trek in the High Atlas Mountains. A 6 hour trek. We say goodbye to our cook, muleteers and mules. From Imlil you pick up your transport to return to Marrakech for dinner and overnight in your hotel.

After breakfast you will be transported to the Marrakech airport for your return flight home. From here you say goodbye to your mountain guide. This concludes the services ofMoroccan Club Travel.