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Beautiful scenery, accessible summits
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Dangerous Roads
In a nutshell
Great Experience
bluedook Says: Mount Toubkal is the highest mountain in North Africa. (4167m). It can be climbed in a minimum of two days starting from Imlil. We stayed in Aremd a short distance from Imlil. There is no climbing involved and anyone of reasonable fitness can reach the summit. There was a...
barryg23 Says: The most popular hike in the Atlas mountains is the ascent of Jebel Toubkal, Morocco’s highest mountain. Toubkal is 4167 metres and is in the highest mountain in the Maghreb countries of North Africa. The first recorded climb was in 1923 though it’s likely that local Berbers...
barryg23 Says: Sidi Chamarouch is the last settlement on the route from Imlil to Toubkal. It's about 1/3 of the way along the route from Imlil and takes 2 hrs to get here. It's marked by a distinctive white rock which you'll see in the distance long before you arrive. There are shops here...
barryg23 Says: Aroumd is the first village on the hike from Imlil to Toubkal. (You may also see his town called Armed or Around in different guidebooks) It's about 30 minutes walk between the two, and part of the route is via a motorable road. Aroumd has a small choice of hotels and...
barryg23 Says: Imlil is the most popular trailhead for the ascent of Toubkal. There are good transport links with Marrakech, and a large selection of hotels and restaurants. Also, in Imlil, you can rent crampons, find out about the latest weather conditions and stock up on provisions for...
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We only had a drink here, and enjoyed the view tremendously. The place was modern and clean, and I should imagine it would be a great place to stay - waking up to such tremendous vistas every morning. It really was miles from anywhere though.
Written May 10, 2005
barryg23 Says: The Tizi n’ Tichka is a road through the Atlas mountains, connecting Marrakech to Ouazazarte and the rest of the south east. It’s spectacular drive with plenty of climbs and switch backs and the views are superb. The road was build during the French occupation and made the...
barryg23 Says: Most people planning the trip to Toubkal from Imlil hire guides, mules and porters. However, none of these is really necessary, provided you don't mind carrying your backpack to the Toubkal refuge and that you have a good idea of the route. On a busy day the latter is not an...
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Make sure you stock up on food, drink and other supplies in Imlil or Aroumd as there are few opportunities to buy food or drink in the mountains. On the long hike to the refuge, you can get basic stuff at Sidi Chamarouch or Aroumd, but it’s better to stock up beforehand.
Drinks are occasionally available along the route to Toubkal. We passed this little “shop” about 30 minutes up hill from Sidi Charamouch. He had an interesting way of keeping his drinks cold using an empty plastic bottle to spray hosed water from the nearby stream. He charged 10 Dh for a bottle of sprite - the normal cost is 3 - but I guess he has to cover transport costs somehow. I think this was the last place before the refuge where to buy anything.
Written Apr 27, 2007
grets Says: These bright orange plastic bottles hanging on tree along the side of the road, indicated that there is a small family run olive press here, and you are able to buy olive oil. In other words, a very effective, non-verbal shop sign.
grets Says: Seeing the cooking facilities in the local Berber home I visited makes me realise how lucky we are in England, and how much we take our easy life for granted! This is their oven, here is where they cook all the family meals. Having to bend down to ground level to cook would...
gmg61 Says: If you drive from Marrakesch to Ouarzazate you have to pass through the Atlas. The road is steep and narrow, with no protection at its edge, and sometimes you have absolutely the feeling of driving over the hell. Be very careful and beware also of vehicles coming the other...
barryg23 Says: In our hurry to leave Marrakech we forgot to go to the bank to get more money. We assumed we'd find an ATM at Asni or Imlil. However, when we got here there were none and we were face with surviving on 800 Dh (about 80 Euro) between us for 3 days. Given that accommodation in...
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Luggage and bags: If you forego hiring a porter and mules and decide instead to carry your own stuff in the Atlas mountains, the obvious constraint is weight. We carried one large ruck sack and one smaller one between us and it made the climb from Imlil to the Toubkal refuge very difficult. Make sure you only bring what's absolutely essential.
Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: 1. Crampons are necessary between November and May. You can check with the guys at the friendly CAF refuge in Imlil about what gear to take/hire.
2. Hiking boots are essential.
3. Ice-axes are not necessary from April onwards. Many people had them on the day of our climb but they are only useful if you slip or if you want to slow down when sliding down hills on the descent. In winter they are probably necessary. Again, check in Imlil.
4. A waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers are useful but not essential.
Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Toilet paper is on sale in the refuge but it's helpful to bring your own anyway. Aspirin or paracetamol is useful. Also, you might want iodine tablets for purifying water as water is scarce and expensive in the Atlas.
As the sun is very strong at the higher altitudes in the Atlas, sun cream is essential. I stupidly left mine in Imlil so for two days I got badly burned on my face, especially my nose which was bright red by the time we returned to Imlil. A hat and sunglasses are also very useful.
Photo Equipment: Batteries will run down quicker in the cold temperatures in the mountains and there is nowhere to recharge them so make sure you bring enough spares to last as long as you need. The scenery in the mountains is excellent though we took fewer photos than planned, especially at altitude. When every step was hurting taking pictures is the last thing on your mind.
Updated Apr 23, 2007
grets Says: We stop for lunch in the small town of Settat - a modern, non-descript city. There is a lovely green area in the centre of town in front of the Hotel du Ville (Town Hall), where we can take a pleasant stroll after your lunch. There is grass, aplm trees and flowers, and...
Sean1901 Says: If you carry on the road through Telouet and beyond, you come to several stunning hidden villages. Stop at the first one you come to (about 10 miles after Telouet) and you can do a stunning walk up into the mountains through several more villages.
barryg23 Says: If you climb Toubkal in winter or spring you’ll need crampons. You should always double check the latest conditions for Toubkal before you head off but a useful rule of thumb is that the winter snowline is at Sidi Charamouch (2300m altitude) while the spring snow line is at...
grets Says: We stopped by the side of the road to photograph a very cute white baby camel, and were immediately offered camel rides. For a charge of course. They had no saddles, so you had to ride bareback. David was th only one who tried, and he said it was easier than it looked.
Reaching the summit of Toubkal
barryg23 Says: I think my fondest memory of our time in the Atlas mountains was reaching the summit of Jebel Toubkal. Toubkal is the highest mountain in Morocco and at 4167 metres it is the highest point to which I have hiked. It had been a very tough 5 hours from the refuge to the...
grets Says: One of my very happy memories from the Atlas Mountains, was seeing a really cute baby camel at the side of the road. There were also sheep and goats all along, but I really took to this lovely little fellah.
The atlas mountains are a mountain range stretching some 2400 km through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of 4167m. The offer stunning vistas of snow-clad...
The Atlas Mountains are truly spectacular, and are well worth a few days exploration. It is excellent walking country with stunning vistas. However, if you're in a car you need a strong head for...
The Atlas mountains stretch across most of Northern Africa starting in Morocco. One of the best routes is Marrakesh to Ouarzazate.
If you drive from Marrakesch to Ouarzazate you have to pass through the Atlas. The road is steep and narropw, with no protection at its edge, and sometimes you have absolutely the feeling of driving...
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