Atlas Mountains Adventure: Discover the Berber valleys

We take a very early breakfast and begin the ascent around 5 AM, climbing steadily for about three hours to stand atop Jbel Toubkal (4167 m)—the highest point in the Maghreb. The panoramic views from the summit are extraordinary and well worth the effort. The first documented ascent was made in 1923 by the French alpinists V. Berger, M. Doubleau, and the Marquis de Segonzae.

When ready, we descend via the Ikkhibi Sud (South Circuit) back to the refuge in approximately 2–3 hours, where our picnic waits. In the afternoon, we make a gentler hike further southeast toward the head of the Aït Mizane Valley, climbing to Tizi n’Ounoums (3664 m). From this high saddle, we can look back across the terrain we covered earlier and spot the deep green outline of Lake Ifni in the distance. Afterward, we return to the refuge for dinner and another night in the mountains.

After breakfast, we set out northwest along rugged slopes and winding mule tracks toward Tizi n’Aguelzim (3560 m), which offers another dramatic panorama of jagged summits and lush valleys. From the pass, we descend for roughly three hours through more than seventy tight zigzags until we reach Âazib Tamsoult (2145 m). Here we enjoy lunch by a stream, then continue to the Tamsoult (Irhoulidene) Waterfall (2200 m). By evening we arrive at our guesthouse in Tissi Oussem (1800 m) for dinner and overnight stay.

With breakfast finished and Toubkal rising behind us, we head north on mule paths etched into the mountainsides, gradually climbing toward Tizi M’Zik (2664 m). After crossing the pass, we take a picnic near the Berber hamlet of M’Zik, surrounded by the beauty of the Imlil Valley and nearby peaks such as Adrar Algouli and Adrar El Hajj.

From here, the journey continues eastward for about three hours along winding trails until we reach Imlil (1740 m) once again, where mint tea welcomes us back. Our transport awaits to drive us to Marrakech, typically arriving around 3 PM.