Trekking: Toubkal - Maroc
Climb the highest peak in north Africa discovering the Berber culture!
The National Park of Toubkal in Marrakech, is located in the High Atlas Mountains, between the valleys of western N'Fiss and eastern Ourika. Based during the French protectorate of 1942. Its extension is of 100,000 hectares, which 38,000 conform the central area and 62,000 the peripheral area.
The Toubkal is the mountain range of volcanic origin formed by rocks of different origin, basalt ones like the rhyolite or the andesite. Its numerous valleys and Berber culture, with many buildings made of adobe, terrace cultivation, diverse flora and fauna, “agdales” systems for the flow control of transhumance, also known for its cave engravings and the warm welcome of its inhabitants. We offer you the best trekking selection to get to know these amazing mountains:
A place you can’t miss!
TK02 - AZZADENE VALLEY TREKKING, CLIMB TO TOUBKAL MOUNTAIN, 6 / 4 trekking days.
A trekking available to all because of its multiple airport connections from Spain to Marrakech and, thanks to this, we can enjoy a great trekking in only few days getting to know other cultures. With this route we will enjoy a path through Berber towns of Azzadene Valley, getting to know the Berber community, its original architecture, its irrigation systems and its terrace cultivation, at the same time we get progressively used to the walk before we climb the Toubkal Mountain at 4,167 meters, the highest peak in the north of Africa!
The ascent doesn’t pose great difficulties during Spring, Summer and Autumn - it goes through mountains and rocky paths, while over Winter, it could be necessary the basic use of ice axes and crampons at certain height (we will teach you how to make use of the equipment).
Marrakech trekking summary:
Day 1, Origin - Marrakech - Imlil
Day 2, Imlil - Aguerssioual - Matate - Aït Aisa - Tizi Oussem
Day 3, Tizi Oussem - Refugio Azib Tamsoult - Aguelzim Col - Neltner Refuge
Day 4, Refugio Neltner - Toubkal Peak - Neltner Refuge - Imlil
Day 5, Imlil - Tizi n´Tamatert - Tinerhourhine - Ikkiss - Tizi n´Aguersioual Col - Imlil
Day 6, Imlil - Marrakech - Origin
AZZADENE VALLEY AND TOUBKAL MOUNTAIN CLIMB ITINERARY:
Day 1, Airport (450 mts.) - Imlil (1,775 mts)
Arrival to Marrakech airport, welcome by our local guide who speaks Spanish, transfer to hotel in Imlil once all the participants have arrived (we advise morning schedule). Chance to stop at Souq Asni (only market days). At Imlil we will be staying at the beautiful and cozy Riad Jnane Imlil where we will have for dinner traditional Berber meals. After dinner, you will have some spare time to enjoy a walk through this lovely Berber town, to enjoy a fresh mint tea and start to discover its people and culture.
Day 2, Imlil (1,775 mts.) - Aguerssioual (1,650 mts) - Tizi Oussem (1,850 mts.)
After an abundant traditional breakfast at the Riad Jnane Imlil, at nine in the morning, we will hand in the bags with our personal belongings to hoist our loads onto the mule’s backs (our muleteer/s and cook will be in charged of them). Then, us, accompanied by our expert guide, will leave towards Aguerssioual through a path located over the river, that will firstly take us to Taddert to start our trekking in Azzadene Valley.
From Aguerssioual right after going through a little section of the track, we take a path that will take us to Matate, to then overcome Tizi Oudidte Col at 2,219 meters, with some impressive views to the mountains and Berber towns. We will go through an spectacular forest full of conifers (genevrier thurifiere and oxycedre) which makes an amazing contrast with its green side as well as its basalt rocks and ginger lands. Before Col, we will meet our team who will be waiting for us with a tea and a great Berber traditional lunch.
After crossing the col, we will have a beautiful descent to Aït Aissa town, admiring the multicoloured valley, to then continue from the town through a little path ascending to Tizi Ousem at 1,850 meters, a beautiful Berber settlement where we will stay the night in a Gîte (shelter in a traditional house). After the dinner our team cooked, we will have the chance to walk over the steep streets and enjoy the amazing local architecture and the beautiful people living here.
(6 - 7 hours of trekking)
Day 3, Tizi Oussem - Aguelzim Col (3,560 mts.) - Neltner Refuge (3,207 mts.)
We have to get up early to have breakfast and leave at five in the morning in this technical journey, essential to warm us up in height and be able to face the climb to Toubkal in perfect conditions.
On this second day, we should expect an intense climb from the impressive Azzadene Valley to Nelter Refuge.
Once we leave Tizi Oussem behind, we quickly start to gain altitude, and after crossing Azib Imnouatts, a picturesque path among conifers will take us to Azib Tamsoult Refuge, with its beautiful cultivation terrace, that we will leave on the side to keep climbing to Ighoulidene Waterfalls, and once we overcome the same ones through the narrow gorge, the path turns and climbs on our left till reaching Tiguinuria, with 600 meter slope, with a zig-zag climb that will directly take us to Aguelzim Col at 3,650 meters high and highest point in this journey of warming up and learning.
We will enjoy a picnic at the col and will have impressive views over the mountain range of Atlas. From this point, the descent will directly take us to Neltner Refuge at 3,207 meters high, where we have shared rooms with other roommates in bunk beds.
Our team will provide some some at our arrival, and later on, a dinner to recover some energy. We should go to bed early if we want to conquer our challenge: the roof of north Africa.
Day 4, Neltner Refuge (3,207 mts.) - Toubkal peak (4,167 mts.) - Imlil (1,775 mts.)
We have to get up really early, at around for in the morning, to start our climb. We will first climb to the Akhbi n'Tizi hole at the left of our refuge at 3,700 meters, and from here, we slowly climb to Toubkal Col at 3,950 meters where, if we are lucky, will surprise us with an amazing dawn.
From this col we continue our climb through the Toubkal edge, that will take us to the peak at 4,167 meters, where we will make a stop to rest after 3 hours and a half of trekking, picnic, taking pictures of some exceptional views of the Atlas mountain range, the green valleys and small Berber towns, and to enjoy the panoramic views over Djbel Siroura at 3,500 meters, known as the door to the desert.
Descent of something less than two hours to the refuge, rest and descent to Marabou Sidi Chamharouch at 2,350 meters, a very visited sacred building and venerated by pilgrims suffering from spiritual evils, also known as the Sultan of Devil, where our team will be waiting for us, as usual, with some tea and some great food.
Once we have rested and recovered some energy, we will descend through an easier path to Imlil.
Depending on the weather conditions, and if on day 4 we haven’t been able to climb Toubkal, on day 5 we will be able to climb and come back to Imlil in the afternoon.
Day 5, Imlil (1,775 mts.) - Tizi n´Tamatert - Tizi n´Aguersioual Col (2,100 mts.) - Imlil
If we have been able to completely climbed Toubkal on our first try, we will have a day off and in this case, we will enjoy an easy trek to get to know Imenane Valley. We don’t have to get up really early, and after having breakfast in Riad, we will drive to Tizi n´Tamatert Col at 2,280 meters high, going through the green valley with the same name.
From the col, a winding path that takes us to Tinerhourhine to then continue to Ikkiss. From this point, we will climb Tizi n´Aguersioual Col where before arriving to this point, our team will welcome us, as usual, with some tea and a Berber lunch.
Once we have finished lunch, we will descend through a path, directly to Imlil. Free afternoon that we can use to have a pleasant Arab bath in the Hamman of Imlil, buy souvenirs, or rest having a beverage in some of its picturesque locals.
Day 6, Imlil (1,770 mts.) - Marrakech (450 mts.) - Airport
The best option is not being lazy and make the most of our time here in Marrakech. We propose you to get up early to leave at 8 in the morning towards Marrakech, and depending on your flight time (we advise you to book it in the afternoon), enjoy the Medina, have lunch and then, take you to the airport.
General conditions of the experience:
- Time: Available throughout the whole year, for other dates or similar dates, we can prepare a program for you.
- Weather: dry and hot in Spring, Summer, and Autumn, through Winter the nights are cold. Possible storms.
- Transfers: walking and with mules.
- Marrakech Tourism License: 48D/16
- Accommodations: Riad Jnane Imlil, Gîte and Refuge.
The experience includes:
- Mountain guide speaking in Spanish.
- Cook and cooking equipment.
- All meals and mineral water during our routes (Typical menus: Tagine, Couscous, fresh products and complemented with preserves, meat bought in the mountain. At midday, lunch will be a picnic or salads, and dinner will be a warm dish)
- Mules and muleteers for luggage.
- Nights in Gîte, (traditional house) and/or double tents with mattress depending on the trekking.
- Night/s in refuge depending on the trekking.
- Night/s in Riad, full board in Imlil with the established days depending on the trekking.
- Transfer (back and forth) to the trekk.
- Transfer to airport - hotel on the first day and hotel - airport on the return.
- Needed insurance in Marrakech.
- The last night, if all the group agrees to, can be in a three star hotel in Marrakech instead of the Riad in Imlil.
The experience does not include:
- Flight tickets, airport taxes (check information)
- Travel insurance (we recommend to hire one)
- Winter equipment: crampons, ice axes if enjoyed in Winter. (You can rent them at Imlil)
- Tops, touristic visit, tickets to monuments, etc.
- Lunch and dinner in the journeys in Marrakech. (first and last day)
- Other lunches and beverages non specified.
- Personal expenses.
- Unexpected and non controlled expenses caused by: cancellations, flight delays, weather conditions...