This trek, like so many to the Toubkal Region, departs from Marrakech around 8 to 9 in the morning (depending upon season) for an exhilarating two hour drive south up over gorges and high passes to the Berber town of Imlil (1740m). Imlil is set in the upper foothills of the Western High Atlas mountains, a main trailhead in these parts with mule paths branching out in all directions.

After loading up your main luggage on to the mules we leave Imlil and strike out for some 4km towards the south up to the Berber village of Aroumd (1843m) and the hamlets of Taourirt, Targa and Imoula, up and down the stark slopes, the magnificent Western High Atlas peaks of the Toubkal Massif immediately before us. We shall stop at Aroumd to visit this rather singular village in the Assif Aït Mizane Valley, built seemingly house upon house on a large moraine spur, overlooking ancient irrigated terraced fields of fruit trees and vegetables.

A further 8km we reach the equally-quaint village of Sidi Chamharouch, a Berber village set beside a waterfall and small stream, again with its pisé homes seemingly built somewhat chaotically one into another. This village is a place of pilgrimage for devout Moslems and it is where there is a marabout shrine - forbidden to non-Moslems and said to be a relic of a pre-Islamic religious cult. We take a break for our field picnic within full view of mighty Jbel Toubkal, at 4167m the highest peak in the Maghreb, prior to setting off up to the Toubkal Refuge for our dinner and overnight accommodation in the Refuge.

A very early breakfast today as we set out around 6am to attain, after a three hour, non-technical but steep climb, the highest peak in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from here is simply stunning. This remarkable climb and view is what you have come so far for. The first recorded climb of this peak, in 1923, was made by the French mountaineers V. Berger, M. Doubleau and the Marquis de Segonzae; many serious trekkers since then have made the highly rewardable effort. Whenever you are ready, we shall take the Ikkhibi Sud or South Cirque for a straightforward, with your guide at least, 2 to 3 hour descent back to the area near the Refuge for our picnic.

This afternoon, we shall take a gentle hike south-eastwards for a couple of hours up to the head of the Assif Aït Mizane Valley and Tizi n'Ounoums (3664m) which, from this high point, gives us a tremendous view of the trail we've covered and of the distant cobalt green outline of Lake Ifni. When ready, we return to the area of the Toubkal Refuge for our welcome dinner, bivouac or overnight accommodation in the Refuge.

Breakfasted and ready, we shall now 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 Berber village of Sidi Chamharouch (3106m). Before entering the village your guide will draw your attention to a special tree, sacred to the local Berbers, on which they hang strips of coloured cloth and pile up stones around the trunk. After a brief stop here to relax, particularly welcome on a hot day, we descend high above the valley of the Assif Aït Mizane, down zigzagging trails around granite and basalt grey rocks for about 8km to the village of Aroumd (Aremd) (1840m), commanding one of the more fertile valleys of the High Atlas mountains with terraced, irrigated plots and fields of maize, onions and fruit trees on all sides.

Here we will stop for our final picnic prior to continuing on along the floor of the valley, thence up a well-defined mule track zig-zagging above the river for some 4km to arrive, at around 2 to 3 in the afternoon back at the Berber village of Imlil and a welcome glass, or two, of mint tea in the home of our senior guide prior to your return to Marrakech and arrival around 5pm.

- please call or email for a full quote - all our holidays are tailor-made and the cost of each trek is based upon the following:

* whether you are including any additional accommodation (e.g. in Imlil or Marrakech)