| Toubkal circle Trek 6days/5nights
Day 1: Marrakech-Imlil-Tacheddirt
We leave Marrakech after breakfast and drive to Imlil via Asni. Imlil is the
principal trailhead for walkers, and a busy market town. There is a constant
movement of people coming down from the mountains, and an equal supply of
activity from those about to embark on their adventure. We meet our mule team
and once all our gear is loaded we begin walking along the valley towards
Tacheddirt, some 8kms beyond Imlil. Soon the trail begins to rise as we climb up
to the pass at Tizi n'Tamatert (2279m). We then descend to the pretty village of
Ouaneskra and continue, for a further half-hour or so, to Tacheddirt (3000m),
where we generally camp near the river.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Day 2: Tacheddirt-Azib Likemt
Crossing the valley we begin a long, slow ascent to the pass at Tizi Likemt
(3555m). The going is quite tough as there is a considerable amount of loose
scree on the ground. At the top we enjoy our first fine view of the Toubkal
massif before a long downhill descent to the village of Azib Likemt, where we
camp for the night.
Day 3: Azib Likemt-Tizi n'Ourai-Amsouzert
This long, but relatively easy, day takes us through a variety of contrasting
landscapes. From Tizi n’Ououraine (3120m) we enjoy further views of the Toubkal
massif, including the summit, the east face and the Ifni Dome (3876m). The trail
leads on towards Amsouzert, one of the most striking villages in the region,
where we spend the night – dormitory-style - in a simple village Gite.
Day 4: Amsouzert-Ifni Lake
West of Amsouzert 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.
We camp tonight in this area.
Day 5: Ifni Lake-Nelter Hut
By now we should be both fit and acclimatised, and ready to tackle the hardest
day of the trek. We make our way along a steep path that leads up a seemingly
endless scree slope. At length we reach the pass at Tizi n'Ouanoums (3664m), a
narrow ledge between two shafts of rock. From here it is a long zigzag descent
to Nelter Hut, a mountain refuge where we spend the night (or alternatively camp
outside).
Day 6: Mt. Toubkal Summit- Imlil
We 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 summit, where we
enjoy expansive views of the entire Atlas range and the Marrakech plains beyond.
Returning to base, we then descend fairly rapidly to the villages of Sidi
Chamharouch and Aremd, before following the Mizane River, along a well-forested
trail, to the trailhead at Imlil.
Day 7: drive back to Marrakech
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