Difficulty analysis
Although in April there is usually no snow on the southern slope, depending on the weather conditions, crampons may be needed on the summit day to hike on the ice. To further assist you in understanding whether you are fit enough to participate in this adventure, Rahhalah’s expert team will assess your fitness levels before your registration and, once you register, will help you prepare a training routine to guarantee the success of your trip.
Itinerary Details
Upon your arrival at the airport of Marrakech, you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative and transferred to your hotel.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, relaxing or exploring the exotic alleys of Marrakech. Make sure you visit the famous Jemaa El-Fnaa square and marketplace, recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity thanks to the numerous snake-charmers, dancers, and story-tellers that flood the place in the afternoons, preserving – albeit in an increasingly touristic way – the Berber traditions.
Accommodation: Marrakech Riad Africa (3*) or similar.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the town of Imlil: the starting point of your trek. There, you will hike around the nearby Berber villages, enjoying mint tea, bread or soup with the locals, observing the typical architecture of these settlements, and understanding a part of their history. At the end of the trail, you will be served a Berber lunch in a traditional Berber house – or perhaps outside under the walnut trees.
Transfer time: 1.5 hrs.
Hiking details:
Hiking time: 3 to 4 hrs.
Accommodation: a Berber house in Imlil.
After breakfast, you will head towards the Toubkal Base Camp, crossing the Maizane Valley. You will first pass by the village of Armed and then the famous shrine of Sidi Chamharouch which attracts numerous tourists and pilgrims. Once you cross the floodplains, the trail takes you along the mule tracks to the high rocky cliffs above the valley. From there, you will continue to climb steadily, snaking and zigzagging your way up to the snowline and the Toubkal Refuge (3,206m), where you will rest for the night.
Hiking details:
Hiking time: 5 hrs.
Accommodation: Toubkal Refuge.
After a very early breakfast, you will begin your ascent to the summit of Jebel Toubkal: the highest peak in Northern Africa. The route takes you up the south cirque, crossing the stream above the refuge. It is overall relatively straightforward, though the scree and the altitude increase the level of difficulty. At the summit, you will marvel at the panoramic, breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, from the Marrakesh Plain to the High Atlas in the north and as far south as the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara. After a short break for photos and snacks, you will retrace your steps to the Toubkal Refuge, enjoying on the way the views that were hidden to you by the darkness during your ascent.
Enjoy the rest of the day at the lodge, relaxing, interacting with the other hikers, and getting a feel of the community bonds that unravel in a mountain refuge.
Hiking details:
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hrs.
Accommodation: Toubkal Refuge.
Today you will hike back to Imlil passing through small Berber villages with walnut and cherry orchids. You will enjoy the rest of the day in Imlil, relaxing in your hotel (most probably a riad: a renovated, traditional Moroccan house with an indoor garden or courtyard), where you can wash-off the fatigue of the hike and enjoy delicious, well-deserved meals.
Hiking details:
Hiking time: 4hrs.
Accommodation: Riad Atlas Toubkal / Riad Atlas Prestige or similar
After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and you will head back to Marrakech. Enjoy the rest of the day, exploring the city at your own pace.
Transfer time: 1.5hrs
Accommodation: Marrakech Riad Africa (3*) or similar.
After breakfast, and depending on your departure details, you will be transferred to the Marrakech airport for your flight back home.
