Imlil & the Toubkal valley
The trekkers' base village: a terrace lunch at Kasbah du Toubkal, then an easy walk across to Aroumd or up the mule path toward Sidi Chamharouch.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Imlil valley, High Atlas · Photo: Mounir Neddi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Jbel Toubkal, at 4,167m, is the highest peak in North Africa, and Imlil is the walnut-and-cherry village at its foot. The trekking High Atlas rises out of the Marrakech plain, so a Fes-based trip reaches it on the southern leg. Choose a single mountain day, a quiet lodge weekend or a guided two- to three-day summit trek.
- Private or small-group
- A written quote for your dates
- WhatsApp support during your trip
Why go to Atlas Mountains
The trekking High Atlas around Imlil and Toubkal lies in the far south, rising out of the Marrakech plain rather than the Fes one — so we add it to the southern half of an imperial journey, reaching it through Marrakech an hour up the valley road. From Fes you would first cross the country; once you are on the Marrakech leg, the mountains are close at hand. Imlil sits at 1,740m among walnut and cherry orchards, and the trails above it climb to Jbel Toubkal, at 4,167m the highest peak in North Africa. Treat it as a single mountain day, a quiet lodge weekend, or a full two- to three-day trek with local guides and mules.
- Best time
- April–June and September–November (winter for snow)
- How long
- 1–4 days
- Nearest airport
- Marrakech Menara (RAK), then 1h drive
- Region
- High Atlas · Imlil & Toubkal
What you'll see in Atlas Mountains
The Toubkal summit
A mule-supported two-day ascent to 4,167m — a walk-up in summer, a winter mountaineering route needing ice axe and crampons once the snow sets in.
Ourika valley & Setti Fatma
The gentler option nearer Marrakech: a riverside lunch, the Monday Berber souk, and the seven-waterfalls scramble above the village.
Asni & Ouirgane
Lower, greener villages with a handful of boutique mountain lodges — the choice for guests who want the Atlas without the climb.
Ways to see Atlas Mountains
Trips we build around Atlas Mountains. Tell us which one fits and we'll write the days and quote them for your group.
3 days
Toubkal summit trek
A mule-supported climb to the roof of North Africa with certified local guides, finished with a Berber hammam back in the valley.
Before you go
Permit. Required for Toubkal summit since 2018 — we arrange it
Fitness. Toubkal: good cardio. Day walks from Imlil: any reasonably active traveller
Altitude. Imlil 1,740m, Refuge 3,200m, summit 4,167m
Read next. High Atlas Mountains Day Trip from Marrakech: Imlil, Ourika & What to Expect; Is Volubilis Worth Visiting, and How Do You Do a Meknes & Volubilis Day Trip from Fes?; Can You See Wild Monkeys Near Fes, and Is the Ifrane & Azrou Cedar Forest Day Trip Worth It?.
Pair Atlas Mountains with
The places closest to Atlas Mountains, easy to join on one private route.
Questions about Atlas Mountains
Read these before you add Atlas Mountains to a trip.
Can you climb Toubkal without a guide?
No — a licensed guide has been mandatory since 2018. We work with a small, trusted circle of Berber mountain guides from the valley.
Is the Atlas worth it if I'm not trekking?
Yes. Asni, Ouirgane and Ourika all have comfortable lodges with short, level walks, and many guests use a couple of mountain nights to slow down between the cities of an imperial route.
Tell us your dates. We'll plan Atlas Mountains with you.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.