Toubkal and Desert Trek

We start this exciting 5-day adventure with a two hour drive from Marrakech. After we reach the little village of Imlil we begin our mountain trek. Heading along the Mizane Valley, we first pass the village of Aremd and then onto the shrine of Sidi Chamarouch. We then continue east and by crossing the flood plains our route takes us along mule tracks and up into the high rocky cliffs above the valley. Crossing the river we eventually come to the pastoral shrine of Sidi Chamarouch, which attracts both tourists and pilgrims. From here the trail continues to climb steadily, snaking and zig-zagging its way up to the snowline and the Toukbal Refuge (3206 meters), this will be our stop for the night. First day will involve approx. 4 to 5 hours walking.

Early in the morning of day 2 we make our attempt on the summit of Jebel Toukbal, the highest peak in Northern Africa (4,167 metres). Our route takes us up the south cirque, crossing the stream above the refuge. The trekking is relatively straightforward, but the scree and the altitude will make it a bit tricky in parts. But the landscapes along the way are spectacular and absolutely breathtaking. When you reach the the summit you will see that it has all been worth while and your reward is unrestricted views in every direction, from the Marrakesh Plain to the High Atlas in the north and as far south as the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara. We will stay at the top for a while before we retrace our steps. When we return down the mountain we will head back towards Imlil. We are spending the night in a very nice local guesthouse in Imlil Riad Oussaggou.

Today drive will be towards the Moroccan desert. First we will cross the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka Pass of the High Atlas mountains. You will also pass through many authentic Berber villages, and once in the desert, riverside oasis and barren hillsides are clustered with Kasbahs. After our lunch we drive further to Valley of the Roses, with beautiful views of the Dades valley, valley of a thousand kasbahs. We will spend the night in Dades.

After breakfast we drive to Todra Gorge and after a short stop there we drive on to “Auberge du Sud” at the dunes of Erg Chebbi. After arrival you will ride camels into the dunes, where you will spend the night in berber tents. After seeing a beautiful sunset you will enjoy a fantastic dinner.

After viewing the most stunning sunrise and having breakfast at the camp site you will ride the camels back to the auberge. From there it will be a long day driving back to Marrakech, again via Tichka pass.