• Leave Marrakech after breakfast

• Drive to Imlil via Asni. Imlil is the principal trailhead for walkers and a busy market town.

• Meet our mule team, and once all our gear is loaded, we begin walking along the valley towards Tacheddirt, some 8 km beyond Imlil. Soon the trail starts to rise as we climb up to the pass at Tizi n’Tamatert (2,279 m).

• We then descend to the pretty village of Ouaneskra and continue, for a further half-hour or so, to Tacheddirt (3,000 m), where we generally camp near the river.

• Cross the valley and begin a long, slow ascent to the pass at Tizi Likemt (3,555 m). The path is quite challenging as much loose scree is on the ground.  

• Enjoy the first fine view of the Toubkal massif before a long downhill descent to the village of Azib Likemt, where we camp for the night.

• Travel from Tizi n’Ououraine (3,120 m), we enjoy further views of the Toubkal massif, including the summit, the east face and the Ifni Dome (3,876 m). The trail leads on towards Amsouzert, one of the most striking villages in the region, where we spend the night in a Berber house.

• West of Amsouzert, there are several small villages, which we explore as we make our way towards Ifni Lake, the only lake in the massif. It is a memorable sight, surrounded by rocky mountains and giant heaps of rubble, and is unusually deep. We expect to arrive by lunchtime and spend the afternoon relaxing at the shore.

Overnight camp.

• Reach the pass at Tizi n’Ouanoums (3,664 m), a narrow ledge between two rock shafts.

• Travel to Nelter Hut, a mountain refuge where we spend the night.

• Climb to the highest peak in Maghreb (4167 m). The panorama from here is simply stunning.

• Take the Ikkhibi Sud or South Cirque for a straightforward – with your guide – 2 to 3-hour descent back to the Refuge for a picnic.

• After lunch, set off towards the north along steeply descending, zigzagging trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of the Assif n’Isouhouanem n’Ouagounss towards the Shrine of Sidi Chamharouch. There is a pilgrimage ‘marabout’ shrine here, probably the remnant of a pre-Islamic culture but forbidden to non-Muslims.

• Get to the village of Imlil, from where most of the treks start before taking the transport back to Marrakech.