We’ll depart from Marrakech early in the morning and embark on a pleasant drive southward. As we wind our way up through the Moulay Brahim Gorge and upper valleys, we’ll reach the higher foothills of the western High Atlas Mountains and our starting point, Imi Oughlad (1450m). The towering Jbel Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak at 4167m, along with Aglzim (3650m) and Aksoual (3884m), will loom before us.

After arriving, we’ll meet up with our Berber muleteer crew and begin a 2-hour acclimatization hike up switchback mule tracks in a northwesterly direction. Along the way, we’ll pass by cornfields, pine and juniper woods, and enjoy stunning views of the Imlil and Ait Oussaden valleys from the Tiz n’Tachete (2000m). We’ll take a break here before continuing for another half hour to Imi n’Ifri, where we’ll have our field picnic.

Then, we’ll embark on a slow hike for about 2 and a half hours in a southwestern direction, along a dirt track to the Assif n’Ait Oussaden and the red clay terraced village of Tiziane (1750m), where we’ll spend the night in our bivouac or gite.

On the second day of our trek, we’ll start after breakfast and begin our ascent up the Assif n’Ait Oussaden valley. The valley is known for its beautiful walnut groves that we’ll pass through, while admiring the stunning views of the surrounding mountains. We’ll continue hiking until we reach Tizi n’Taghrhourte (1995m), which offers a breathtaking view of the valley below.

After taking in the scenery, we’ll continue on a rare, almost flat stretch for about an hour until we reach the Assaka Spring. The spring is a tranquil oasis and a perfect spot for us to take a break and enjoy our field picnic. The silence here is awe-inspiring, making it a peaceful place to rest and recharge.

After lunch, we’ll begin our descent along the edges of the forest, which provides a pleasant contrast to the rocky terrain we encountered the previous day. We’ll hike for about three hours until we reach the Berber village of D’knt (1870m) or Agouns n’Assoul, where we’ll spend the night. The village is a traditional Berber settlement and a great opportunity to experience the local way of life. We’ll have dinner and spend the night in a bivouac or gite, which will provide us with basic but comfortable accommodation.

On the third day of our trek, we’ll begin with a three-hour hike through walnut tree groves, fields of corn and barley, and past many sheep and goatherders. We’ll make our way to the Tizi n’Tagdalte, which is a mountain pass that provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. From here, we’ll descend through juniper trees until we reach a small spring nestled amongst the trees. This is where we’ll stop for our picnic lunch and take a break.

After our break, we’ll continue on winding tracks along upper slopes for about three hours until we come to a small river at the beginning of the valley of Assif n’Ait Oussaden. From here, we’ll enter the village of Tizi Oussem (1850m) and continue up to the summer village of Tamsoult, where we’ll spend the night in a camp or hut.

The hike on this day is relatively easy, and we’ll have plenty of opportunities to admire the beautiful scenery. We’ll pass through small villages and fields, giving us a glimpse of the local way of life in the High Atlas Mountains. The day will end with a cozy campsite or hut, where we’ll have dinner and spend a peaceful night.

On the fourth day of our trek, we’ll start with breakfast and then set out on a moderately difficult hike eastwards. We’ll follow winding mule tracks that will take us up to the Tizi Aguelzim, which is at an altitude of 3550m. This part of the hike can be quite challenging, but the stunning views of the surrounding mountains make it all worthwhile.

From the Tizi Aguelzim, we’ll continue for another three hours towards the south-east until we reach the Toubkal Refuge. This marks the spring snowline at an altitude of 3207m. Here, we’ll have our dinner and spend the night in a bivouac around the Refuge.

This part of the trek is one of the most scenic, and we’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the High Atlas Mountains. The hike up to the Tizi Aguelzim can be a bit steep and rocky, so it’s important to wear appropriate footwear and take plenty of breaks to rest and take in the scenery. The Toubkal Refuge is a cozy spot to spend the night, and we’ll be able to enjoy a warm meal and some rest before our final ascent to the summit of Mount Toubkal.

On the fifth day, we start very early with breakfast around 6am and set out for a steep climb for about 3 hours to reach the summit of Jbel Toubkal (4167m), which is the highest peak in North Africa. The view from the summit is breathtakingly beautiful. Once we are ready, we will take the Ikkhibi Sud or South Cirque for a relatively easy 2 to 3 hour descent back to the Toubkal Refuge where we will have a picnic lunch.

After lunch, we will head northward, descending along steep zigzagging trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of the Assif n’Isouhouanem n’Ouagounss towards the Shrine of Sidi Chamharouch. The shrine is located next to a waterfall and is a pilgrimage site with a ‘marabout’ shrine, which is likely a remnant of pre-Islamic culture but is not accessible to non-Muslims. After another 2 hours of downhill hiking, we will reach the village of Imlil, which is where most treks begin, and from there, we will take a taxi back to Marrakech.

That’s a good note to add. It’s important to keep in mind that outdoor activities like hiking are subject to changes due to weather conditions, trail closures, and other unforeseen circumstances. It’s always best to have some flexibility and openness to adapt to the local conditions and make the most out of the experience.