Morrocco, Imlil - A Climb Up Jebel Toubkal
Published: 16.7.2022
Imlil is a relatively small mountain village located in the western part of the Atlas Mountains, roughly in the central part of Morocco. In fact, it is not so interesting in itself, but still welcomes thousands of visitors every year. You ask why? This is the place where alpine tourism enthusiasts go to the highest mountain in North Africa, Jebel Toubkal.
The road to Imlil leads through a nice valley, which was created by the natural flow of the Tissilt River. However, the closer we are to the village, the worse the road we can expect. At times, it is quite problematic with a larger car to drive through dusty and unpaved roads along a relatively steep cliff. The whole village is built on a hill in a unified Moroccan style and leads through it one main road.
There are several restaurants in the village that serve traditional couscous as well as tajin, mostly with chicken, lamb or minced meat. A local version of harira soup is also recommended. There are also many shops with climbing and hiking equipment, so there is no problem to retrofit before climbing. Most of the goods on offer, however, look quite old and in many cases already used, which gives a somewhat untrustworthy impression. However, the local merchants are very nice and will gladly secure the requested goods even with the neighboring salesman if they are not in their assortment.
The climb to Jebel Toubkal itself is a relatively difficult trek, suitable for more experienced pedestrians, but climbing equipment is not needed. If you leave Imlil, the first day you will have a roughly 5 to 8 hours long journey to the cozy at 3206 m above sea level, where you can sleep. On the way up you will meet souvenir and orange juice vendors, which is quite typical of treks in Morocco. However, the higher you get, the fewer such vendors you meet, because few people want to rush to the highest mountain far and wide every morning.
The next day early morning is high time to climb the mountain itself. The path leads past the creek above the cozy and then through a stone field from which you can shortly get to the plateau leading to the summit itself, which rises to an impressive height of 4165 meters above sea level. You can observe the city of Marrakesh The trip can be taken in two days, but it is generally recommended to spend at least a day longer in the mountains to acclimatize.
GPS: 31°08'09.9"N 7°55'11.5"W
Text and photos: Barbara Nováková
Related Articles
Published: 3.5.2023
The original Arab name of the Algerian capital means Islands. It refers to four islands by the Algerian shore, which later became part of mainland.
Published: 27.8.2022
If you are going to the desert while traveling across Morocco, do not miss the relatively large provincial town of Tinghir and its annexed Palmeria on your way to Merzouga. It is actually an oasis, the last nice place to live before entering the plains leading into the desert. There are over 40,000 inhabitants in the city, most of whom are Berber ethnic. It is one of the poorest regions in the country and you will probably encounter begging children who are accustomed to regular income from the pockets of tourists while staying in the area.
Published: 20.8.2022
If you want to move to a quieter but equally interesting area of Marrakesh for a moment, the coastal city of Essaouira (formerly known as Mogador) is the right choice. Located on the west coast of Morocco, this pleasant city is soaked in the Atlantic Ocean and the way to it is through endless argan fields.
Published: 6.8.2022
raveling to see movie backdrop is more popular every year, so it's no wonder that the Ouarzazate Moroccan Valley is a sought-after and, most of all, a cheap destination for movie enthusiasts from around the world. Everyone is eager to see and touch the scenery that has played a major role in many series and movies. In the valley you can see real shooting places, such as the historic Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. Above all, there are large Atlas studios built on the dusty plains of the eastern foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
Published: 30.7.2022
Undoubtedly, Morocco is one of the most diverse countries, mainly because of its size. The nature of the landscape changes significantly with kilometers traveled, so in a few days in one country you can get from the Atlantic coast through the Atlas Mountains to the vast palms, gorges and also the desert.
Published: 3.9.2022
In relation to Morocco, everyone will surely recall, besides local colored ceramics, clay architecture, tajines (long swaths) and long caftans, the orange-colored Moroccan part of the Sahara. It is an element so typical for this country that it is almost unbelievable that desert dunes only spread to a small percentage of otherwise vast land. The largest and most famous dune is undoubtedly Erg Chebbi.
Published: 21.12.2018
You have already had a chance to see Morocco, specifically Rabat, with us. Today, however, we dive deep into this interesting city and escape the winter that prevails with us.
Published: 9.7.2022
Before we go together to explore other Casablanca monuments, we will introduce you to urban culture.
Published: 2.7.2022
The sun barely rises above the horizon, and Casablanca is awake. Red taxi cabs drive in the streets lined with modern buildings. You feel an incredible amount of energy around you, which, of course, overflows with you. It just lives in Casablanca.
Published: 28.12.2018
In the previous article on Rabat we told you about the history and architectural heritage of this city. Today we will be interested in local culture.
Published: 4.11.2017
We spend this day in Marakesh. In the morning, we enter Agdal, gardens founded by the Berber dynasty of Almohad in the 12th century. They constructed here a network of water reservoirs and canals. This is the most advanced water reservoir in Maghreb. Thanks to this reservoir, there is a large olive tree garden around it. We approach the large reservoir filled with water. In the background, we see the High Atlas with its snow caped mountains. High palmas around us only add to this incredible place.
Published: 28.10.2017
In the second part of Fez, we take a look at the Blue Gate which is green from the other side for it is the color of Islam and blue is the color of Fez. There is a lots of vegetables, nuts, dates, and chickens around.
Published: 21.10.2017
When traveling from Fez, we travel across Meknen plain dubbed the Garden of Morocco. All you can think of grow here – melons, bananas, oranges, lemons, almonds, and grain.
Related Photogallery
Would you love some romantic adventure? Visit Morocco with beautiful beaches, ancient Atlas mount...
Information and warnings on travelling abroad is to be found HERE.
