Hiking around Toubkal in the Atlas

Transfer from airport to hotel.
Welcome dinner and briefing about the circuit we will follow.
Overnight in a hotel

We leave from Marrakech early in the morning. Transfer to the Ourika valley. We meet our mule drivers team at Oukaimeden, and we start hiking. This first stage starts with the ascent through the sheepfolds to the Tizi n’Ouattar pass (3000 m). A beautiful descent takes us to Timichi.

Around 5 hs walking.
Overnight in cottage.

By the Oued of Timichi, we continue walking  in the superb Lkissatiate gorges, with our feet in the water. The mule drivers follow the path, and we meet them at the camp in Assaka. We are in the deep Atlas. Here men can only be found in some sheepfolds, and in a village that we will see tomorrow.

Around 6 hs walking.
Overnight in tents.

By a small pass we reach the Amenzel village (2250 m). We go by the Azib Boukachoud sheepfold, then the oak and cade forest, until we reach the Tizi n’Oumchichka pass (2900 m), which is long and difficult. A shepherd and some goats here and there, that’s everything we will find! Then we descend to the Azib n’Taroutoulte camp.

Around 7:30 hs walking.
Overnight in tents.

By the Azibs Likemt, we start ascending to the next pass. A great ambiance in the heart of the high plateaus, where some semi-nomadic families spend the summer with their herds. We follow the Tinzart river until the sheepfold at the foot of the Tizi n’Ourai pass.

Around 6 hs walking.
Overnight in tents.

Option: Djebel n’Dern ascent. We go up the ridges and follow them until the summit. A beautiful itinerary since it’s wild and remote, and the views are amazing.
Around 8-9 hs walking (in total).

A small ascent and we reach the next pass, Tizi n’Ourai (3110 m)! A long and steep descent awaits, then we get to the Tizgui valley. Superb villages, well cared for fields, multicoloured dresses, old walnut tress, a variety of beautiful colours in the middle of the arid landscape of the mountains. In Amsouzerte, we find a small village, where it’s possible to buy supplies at the small shop.

Around 4 hs walking.
Overnight in cottage.

By small hidden villages between walnut trees we continue with a light ascent. Then we descend until the magnificent Ifni lake. We are at the foot of the impressive Toubkal walls, in the heart of the massif. Afternoon off.

Around 4 hs walking.
Overnight in tent.

Option: Camp Ouanoums Gorges. It’s only possible with groups of less than 10 people. After lunch by the Ifni lake, we go up to the camp at the entrance of the Ouanoums gorges (2500 m). Around 1:30 hs extra walking.

A long and steep climb along the narrow valley, a difficult progression, but with a spectacular high mountain ambiance! We follow the mule path until the Tizin’Ouanoums pass (3600 m). Then a short descent takes us to the camp near the refuge.

Around 6-7 hs walking.
Overnight in tent.

Option: Ascent of Djebel Ouanoukrim (4089 m). Below the pass, towards the south, we can go up to this summit. It’s a bit more engaged in some places, but there are no true difficulties. It would be a pity to miss this aesthetic progression. Around 3-4 hs extra walking.

We ascend by a small rocky path. In a mineral environment, we reach Morocco’s and North Africa’s culminant point: the summit of Toubkal, at 4167 m.
It’s a fantastic peak and its access is easy. We dominate the Anti Atlas, the Siroua massif, many summits over 4000 m, as well as the valleys and plains of El Haouz towards Marrakech. We descend and return to the camp.

Around 5 hs walking.
Overnight in tent.

The path takes us to Tizi n’Tadat (3800 m). From there, the views of the Toubkal and the Imli valley are beautiful. From the pass, we continue (optional) to the summit of Bouguinoussen (4002 m). We return to the pass, then descend to the Tazarart refuge (also called Lépiney) and the Ighouliden cascades. Maybe we can swim in the Assif Melloul.

Around 6:30 hs walking, with the summit around 8:30 hs.
Overnight in cottage.

We ascend to the Tamsoulte sheepfold at Tizi Mzeken (2489 m). By a magnificent oak and cade forest we reach the Imlil valley and its walnut trees. A short ascent takes us to the Aremd village, where we spend the night.

Around 5 hs walking.
Overnight in cottage.

We go up to the Tizi n’Tamatert pass (2279 m), in an Aleppo pine forest. There are beautiful views over the Tacheddirt valley. Then a short and steep descent takes us to the river. We continue along the beautiful valley through a pass dominating multiple crop terraces. Tonight we camp for the last time, at the Amssakrou village.

Around 6 hs walking.
Overnight in tent.

We cross the last pass of this beautiful hike, the Tizi n’Oukaimeden pass (2700 m), after a long and nice ascent. The views over the surrounding villages and the Asni valley are spectacular. A short descent and we reach Oukaimeden.

Around 4 hs walking.
After lunch, we continue by car towards Marrakech (around 2 hs).
Overnight at hotel.

Free day. You can visit the red city and discover the new thematic circuits, very interesting.

Farewell dinner at the Dar Marjana restaurant.
Overnight at hotel.

Transfer from the hotel to the airport and departure.