High Atlas Sights

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1. Djebel Toubkal

You can unlock the adventurer inside by scaling this peak, the highest in North Africa. There are several ways to make the ascent, from hikes lasting several days to shorter options. The classic hike is a two- or three-day round-trip from Imlil. On Day 1, you hike to the foot of the mountain, which is an eight-hour walk, ascending at a moderate incline. There are two well-equipped refuges to spend the night that offer food and hot showers, as well as a campsite. On Day 2, you usually get up very early and leave in the dark to get to the first big pass for sunrise, and then push to the top. You can then can either return to the refuge for another night and trek back the next day, or walk straight out back down to Imlil. While anyone can hike Toubkal it is best if you have some training and are in physically good shape to make the journey. It is required by the government to have a licensed guide, and there are police checkpoints along the way. The road to Imlil is a left turn off the S501 (the Tizi-n-Test road that leads south from Marrakesh), just after Asni. The 17-km (11-mile) stretch is a spectacular expanse of scrub and cacti, which reaches out to the very foot of Ouanoukrim Massif.