6-Day Toubkal Circuit Trek from Marrakech with Ifni Lake and Summit

• Depart from Marrakech after a good breakfast and drive to Imlil via Asni. Imlil is the principal trailhead for walkers and a busy market town.

• Meet your mule team and, once all the gear is loaded, begin walking along the valley towards Tacheddirt, 8 km beyond Imlil.

• Start a gentle climb as the trail rises all the way up to the pass at Tizi n Tamatert (2,279 m).

• Descend to the pretty village of Ouaneskra and continue further to Tacheddirt (3,000 m).

Camp near the river.

• Cross the valley and begin a long, slow ascent to the pass at Tizi Likemt (3,555 m). Today's trek is quite tough, as there is a considerable amount of loose scree on the ground.

• As you reach the top, enjoy your first fine view of the Toubkal massif before a long downhill descent to the village of Azib Likemt, where you camp for the night.

• Embark on a long but relatively easy trek that takes you through a variety of contrasting landscapes.

• From Tizi n Touraine (3,120 m), enjoy further views of the Toubkal massif, including the summit, the east face, and the Ifni Dome (3,876 m).

• Continue on the trail towards Amsouzert, one of the most striking villages in the region, where you spend the night dormitory-style in a simple village gite.

• Traverse through several small villages on your route towards Ifni Lake, the only lake in the massif. The lake is a memorable sight, surrounded by rocky mountains and giant heaps of rubble, with its depth enhancing the experience.

• Arrive by lunchtime and spend the afternoon relaxing at the shore. Set up your camp there.

• Make your way along a steep path that leads up to a seemingly endless scree slope. At length, you reach the pass at Tizi n'Ouanoums (3,664 m), a narrow ledge between two shafts of rock.

• Descend to Nelter Hut, a mountain refuge where you'll spend the night, along a zig-zag trail. You can opt to camp outside, taking in the eclectic atmosphere.

• Leave before dawn, following a well-worn route to the summit. If conditions are good, it should take no more than 2-3 hours to reach the top.

• Enjoy the expansive views of the entire Atlas range and the Marrakech plains.

• Return to base and descend rapidly to the villages of Sidi Chamharouch and Armed, before following the Mizane River along a well-forested trail to the trailhead at Imlil.

• If you are staying in Marrakech, you will be taken there by car at the end of the day.