5-Day Mount Toubkal Trek from Marrakech through Berber Villages

Depart early from Marrakech for a pleasant drive south, winding your way through the Moulay Brahim Gorge and the upper valleys.

Arrive at the higher foothills of the High Atlas Mountains and your trailhead at Imi Oughlad, where you will meet the Berber muleteer crew.

Set off in a north-westerly direction for a 2-hour acclimatization hike along switchback mule tracks to Tiz N'Tachete.

Stop to look back over the Imlil and Azzaden valleys before continuing for another half hour to Imi N'Ifri for a field picnic.

Continue with a slow hike of about two and a half hours southwest, descending along a dirt track to Assif N'Ait Azzaden and the red clay terraced village of Tiziane at 1,750 m.

Set off on your hike up along the Assif N'Ait Oussaden Valley, passing through walnut groves on the way to Tizi N'Taghrhourte (1,995 m).

Cross a rare, almost flat stretch to arrive at Assaka Spring, where you will stop for a field picnic amidst the awesome silence after two and a half hours of relatively easy walking.

Hike down along the forest edge until you reach the Berber village of D'knt (1,870 m), or Agouns n Assoul, where you will have dinner and spend the night in a bivouac or gite.

Set off for a 3-hour morning hike through groves of walnut trees and fields of corn and barley.

Greet the many sheep and goatherders, as well as women carrying 20 kg loads of faggots and dried herbs.

Traverse Tizi N'Tagdalte and begin the descent among juniper trees until you come to a small spring set amongst the trees.

Stop for your picnic and, once refreshed, continue down winding tracks along the upper slopes for around 3 hours until you reach a small river at the beginning of the Assif n Azzaden Valley.

Continue up to the summer village of Tamsoult for your camp.

Set out eastwards through the beautiful waterfalls of Igholiden on a moderately difficult hike up winding mule tracks to Tizi Aguelzim (3,550 m).

Continue for a further 3 hours south-east to the Toubkal Refuge, which marks the spring snowline at 3,207 m.

Head for dinner in bivouac around the refuge or stay in one of the mountain huts.

Have an early breakfast and set out around 5:30 am for a steep 3-hour climb to the highest peak in North Africa (4,167 m).

Take in the beauty of your surroundings, as the panorama from the summit is simply stunning.

Descend for 2 to 3 hours back to the refuge for a picnic.

Then continue north along the steep, zigzagging trails of the upper slopes of the Valley of the Assif n'Isouhouanem n'Ouagounss, heading towards the Shrine of Sidi Chamharouch.

Take another 2-hour downhill walk to the village of Imlil, then return by taxi to Marrakech.