Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The starting point is the village of
Imlil
, where you can stock up on supplies. There's
plenty of accommodation here - try
Café-Hotel Soleil
( tel/fax 0524 485622; d incl breakfast Dh220,
without bathroom Dh170, per person without/with bathroom & half board Dh170/220)
or
Dar Zaratoustra
(
0524
485601;
http://toubkal-maroc.voila.net/
; d with half board Dh350-500; Mar-Oct)
.
The first day's walk (10km; about five hours) winds steeply through the villages of
Aroumd and Sidi Chamharouch to the large
Toubkal Refuge
(
0664 071838; dm CAF member/HI
member/nonmember Dh46/69/92)
, at 2307m.
The ascent to the summit on the second day should take about four hours and the des-
cent about two. It can be bitterly cold at the summit, even in summer.
Frequent local buses (Dh15, 1½ hours) and
grands taxis
(Dh30, one hour) leave south
of Bab er-Rob in Marrakesh to Asni, where you change for the final 17km to Imlil (Dh15
to Dh20, one hour).
Other Hikes
In summer, it's quite possible to do an easy one- or two-day trek from the ski resort of
Oukaïmeden
, which also has a CAF refuge, southwest to Imlil or vice versa. You can get
here by
grand taxi
from Marrakesh.
From
Tacheddirt
there are numerous hiking options. One is a pleasant two-day walk
northeast to the village of
Setti Fatma
(also accessible from Marrakesh) via the village of
Timichi
, where there is a welcoming
gîte
. A longer circuit could take you south to
Am-
souzerte
and back towards Imlil via
Lac d'Ifni
, Toubkal,
Tazaghart
(also with a refuge and rock
climbing) and
Tizi Oussem
.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Aït Benhaddou
Aït Benhaddou, 32km from Ouarzazate, is one of the most exotic and best-preserved kas-
bahs in Morocco. It's regularly used as a film set, starring in everything from
Lawrence of
Arabia
and
Gladiator
to
Game of Thrones
.
From Ouarzazate, take the main road towards Marrakesh as far as the signposted turn-
off (22km); Aït Benhaddou is another 9km.
Grands taxis
run from outside Ouarzazate bus
station when full (Dh20 per person).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Drâa Valley
