Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech – Imi oughlad – Tizi N’tachte – Tiziane
Early morning, departure from Marrakesh for a pleasant drive south, winding our way up through the Moulay Brahim gorge, and upper valleys to arrive at the higher foothills of the western high atlas mountains, and our trailhead of Imi Oughlad (1450m) with the Jbel Toubkal, at 4167m the highest peak in north Africa, Aglzim 3650m, and Aksoual 3847m, looming before us. Here we alight from our vehicle and meet up with Berber muleteer crew. We set off up in north-westerly direction for a 2 hour acclimatization hike up switchback mule tracks, passing by cornfields woods pine, and juniper to the Tiz n’ Tachete (2000m),where we shall stop to look back down on the Imlil and Ait Oussaden valley, before carrying on for another half hour to Imi n’Ifri, and our field picnic. Then a slow hike for about 2 and half hours, south-west down along a dirt track to Assif n’ Ait Oussaden, and the red clay terraced berber village of Tiziane ( 1750 m ) Overnight in Gist house.
Day 2: Tizziane – Tizi N’taghrhourte – T’kint
after breakfast, we now set off on our hike up along the Assif n’ Ait Oussaden valley, passing through the walnuts groves , up to Tizi n’ Taghrhourte (1995m), and through to a rare almost flat stretch to arrive at assaka spring, where we will stop for our field picnic amidst, and awesome silence after some 2 and half hours relatively easy walking. Our afternoon’s hike takes us down along the edges of the forest, until we reach the Berber village of D’knt (1870m), or Agouns n' Assoul, where we will have our dinner Overnight in Gist house.
Day 3: T’knt – Tizi N’tagdalte – Azib Tamsoult Hut
we set off for our morning’s 3 hours trek up through groves of walnut trees, fields of corn and barley to greet the many sheep and goatherders – and womens and childrens bent over with 20 kg loads of faggots and dried herbs. We traverse the Tizi n’ Tagdalte to the descent among the juniper trees till, we come to a small spring set among the trees, where we will stop for our picnic. Once refreshed, we are off down winding tracks of upper slopes for some 3 hours to come to a small river, at the beginning of the valley of Assif n’ Ait Oussaden. From here we enter the village of Tizi Oussem (1850m) then up to the summer village Of Tamsoult. Overnight in hut.
Day 4: Azib Tamsoult Hut – Tizi Agelzim – Toubkal Hut
After breakfast, we now set out eastwards on a moderately difficult hike, up winding mule tracks to the Tizi Aguelzim (3550m), thence a further 3 hours south-east to the Toubkal Refuge which marks the spring snowline at 3207m, where we shall have our dinner. Overnight in Toubkal Hut.
Day 5: Toubkal Hut – Summit Jebel Toubkal – Imlil – Marrakech
A very early breakfast to set out around 6 am., to attain, after a three hour steep climb, the highest peak in the Maghreb-Toubkal Summit (4167m). The panorama from here is simply stunning. Whenever you are ready, we shall 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 We shall now set off towards the north along steeply descending, zigzagging trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of the Assif N'isougane N'ouagounss towards the Shrine of Sidi Chamharouch. Set beside a waterfall, There is a pilgrimage 'Marabout' shrine here, probably the remnant of a pre-Islamic culture, but forbidden to non-Muslims. Another 2 hours downhill will allow getting to the village of Imlil, from where most of the treks start prior to take the taxi back to Marrakech.
