The High Atlas runs along Morocco's spine — 750 km of peaks above 3 000 m, including **Jbel Toubkal** at 4 167 m. The base for climbing it, and for many other Atlas treks, is the village of **Imlil**. **Getting to Imlil**: 90 minutes by grand-taxi from Marrakech (Bab Errobb taxi rank). 100–150 dirhams for the full taxi, 25 if shared. The road ends in Imlil — from here, everything is on foot or mule. **Toubkal in 2 days** (the standard ascent): - **Day 1**: Imlil (1 740 m) → Sidi Chamharouch (small Berber shrine village) → Toubkal Refuge (3 207 m). 4–6 hours, mostly uphill but on a clear path. Mules can carry your bag. Dinner and a dormitory bed in the refuge. - **Day 2**: Refuge → summit (4 167 m) → Refuge → Imlil. Start summit push at 5am with headlamp. Snow possible Oct–May; in winter you need crampons and ice axe (guides provide). Top by 9–10am, back in Imlil by 4pm. **Guide required by law since 2018** (after a tragic incident with two Scandinavian hikers). Use the official Bureau des Guides in Imlil — 80–100 EUR per day per group of up to 6. Worth it: they speak Berber, know the weather windows, carry first aid. **Easier Atlas hikes** (no high-altitude push): - **Imlil → Aroumd → Sidi Chamharouch**: 3 hours each way, gentle valley walk with apple orchards and Berber villages. Doable as a day trip from Imlil. - **Imlil → Tizi n'Mzik pass**: 4 hours round trip to a pass with views into the next valley. - **Asni → Tafza → traditional argan oil cooperative**: half-day cultural walk, learn about argan oil from women's cooperatives. - **Ouirgane Lake**: rented kayaks, lakeside lunch, easy. - **Ait Bouguemez (the Happy Valley)**: 6 hours east of Imlil, requires its own trip. Most authentic of all Atlas valleys, almost no tourism, traditional Berber life. **When to go**: - **April–May**: snowmelt, wildflowers, river crossings can be dramatic - **June–September**: dry, hot in the valleys, ideal for summits - **October–November**: best photographic light, first snow on peaks - **December–March**: serious winter mountaineering, only with guide, crampons obligatory **What to pack** (summit attempt): - Layered clothing (it's 20°C in Imlil and -5°C on the summit in summer) - Decent hiking boots (broken in!) - Headlamp, sunscreen, sunglasses (UV reflects off snow), 2 L water - Cash (no ATMs above Imlil) - 100-dirham notes for tips (guide, muleteer) **Where to stay in Imlil**: - **Dar Adrar** — friendly Berber-run guesthouse, 25 EUR - **Kasbah du Toubkal** — luxury fortress, 200 EUR+, charity-funded village development - **Riad Atlas Toubkal** — mid-range, hammam, great food **Don't miss** in Imlil itself: the Saturday souk, the village hammam (men one day, women another), tea on any rooftop at sunset with the western face of Toubkal turning pink. **Risks** (be honest): - Altitude sickness is real above 3 500 m. Hydrate, walk slowly. - Weather changes fast. A summit attempt in marginal weather is how people die here. - Late spring snowstorms catch unprepared trekkers every year. - The walk down is harder than the walk up (your knees will tell you). **For non-hikers**: even half a day in Imlil — tea with a Berber family, walk to the waterfall above town — gives you a sense of mountain Morocco that Marrakech can't.