The Toubkal summit (4,167 m)
A two-day, mule-supported climb — a night at the Toubkal Refuge (3,207 m), the summit at first light, then down to Imlil the same afternoon. A walk-up in summer; crampons needed from November to April.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Imlil valley, High Atlas · Photo: Mounir Neddi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Imlil, Morocco
Imlil is a Berber village at 1,740 m in Toubkal National Park and the main launch point for climbing Jbel Toubkal, the highest summit in North Africa. It sits on the Marrakech side of the country, about 60 km and an hour's drive south of Marrakech, so Fes-based trips reach it on the southern leg.
- Private or small-group
- A written quote for your dates
- WhatsApp support during your trip
Why go to Imlil
Be clear about the map: Imlil sits on the Marrakech side of the country, not the Fes one, so guests building a Fes-anchored trip reach it on the southern, Marrakech leg rather than from the north. It is a Berber village at 1,740 m in the Toubkal National Park, about 60 km and an hour's drive south of Marrakech up the Mizane valley, and the main launch point for climbing Jbel Toubkal (4,167 m) — the highest summit in North Africa and across the whole Atlas chain. From here a web of mule tracks fans out to High Atlas hamlets you can only reach on foot. Even without trekking, the drive up rewards the effort: terraced cherry, walnut and apple orchards climbing above the Asni market, and the village of Aroumd balanced on a ridge over the valley. Toubkal is a non-technical walk-up in summer, but crampons and an ice axe are essential once winter snow sets in.
- Best time
- April–June and September–November for trekking; December–February for winter mountaineering
- How long
- 1–4 days
- Nearest airport
- Marrakech Menara (RAK) + 1h drive
- Region
- High Atlas · Toubkal National Park
What you'll see in Imlil
A mountain lunch above the village
Atlas-facing terraces, a hammam and an unhurried lunch in a converted Berber kasbah perched over the valley — the obvious place to slow down and take in the range, summit or no summit.
Walks to Aroumd and Sidi Chamharouch
An easy two-hour stroll to the cliff-clinging village of Aroumd, or three hours up the Mizane valley to the whitewashed Sidi Chamharouch shrine at 2,310 m — satisfying day hikes that skip the summit grind.
The Berber mule-track traverse
A four-day circuit linking Imlil, Tacheddirt, Tizi n'Tagharat and Ouaneskra over high passes, with nights in remote gîtes and the Atlas ridge in view the whole way.
The High Atlas trekking base for Jbel Toubkal.
Imlil valley, High AtlasWays to see Imlil
Trips we build around Imlil. Tell us which one fits and we'll write the days and quote them for your group.
3 days
Toubkal summit, Berber-guided
Climb Jbel Toubkal with certified local guides and a mule-supported camp, closing with a Berber hammam back in the valley — slotted onto the Marrakech leg of a wider trip.
1 day
A High Atlas day from Marrakech
A private day up into the mountains: the Asni souk, a walk through Imlil village, a terrace lunch with Atlas views and back to Marrakech by evening.
Before you go
Getting there. 60 km from Marrakech — 1h by private car via Asni; no public transport runs directly to Imlil
Guide permit. A licensed mountain guide is mandatory for the Toubkal summit since 2018; we work with a small panel of local guides
Altitude. Imlil 1,740 m · Toubkal Refuge 3,207 m · Summit 4,167 m — acclimatise in Marrakech for 1–2 nights first
What to bring. Solid hiking boots, warm layers (summit nights can drop to −10°C), sun protection and a headlamp
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 Imlil with
The places closest to Imlil, easy to join on one private route.
Questions about Imlil
Read these before you add Imlil to a trip.
How demanding is the Toubkal summit?
In summer it is a long, steep walk rather than a technical climb — you need solid fitness but no mountaineering skill. The real test is altitude, with 2,400 m of ascent gained from Imlil. Above the snow line in winter it becomes a proper mountaineering route needing crampons, an ice axe and cold-weather experience.
Is Imlil worth it if I am not summiting?
Very much so — it suits non-trekkers as a day trip or a lodge stay. The walks to Aroumd, Sidi Chamharouch and along the valley are gentle, and the drive up through the orchards is worth it on its own.
When is the best time to trek from Imlil?
April–June and September–November bring settled weather, clear skies and comfortable walking temperatures. July–August is hot and busy lower down but fine at altitude. December–March is serious winter terrain above 3,000 m.
How does Imlil fit a Fes-based trip?
It does not connect to Fes directly — Imlil is roughly 60 km and an hour south of Marrakech through the Asni valley, on the opposite side of the country. We add it to the Marrakech leg of an imperial journey, where it is an easy day trip or a short trekking extension rather than anything you reach from the north.
Tell us your dates. We'll plan Imlil 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.