DAY 1:   MARRAKECH - IMI OURHLAD - IMSKER - ARG. 

Early morning departure from Marrakech for a pleasant drive way up into the foothills of the Western High Atlas ranges to arrive at our trailhead in the Berber village of Imi Ourhlad (1430m) from whence we shall start today's 5 hour hike. We meet up with our mules and Berber muleteer crew - always a fun part of our hikes in the Western High Atlas. With paths branching out all around us we set out up along a trail across the Assif Imlil to cross the Tizi n'Imsker (1708m). Once over the hump we shall picnic around midday on the banks of the Assif Imenane near the Berber village of Imsker. Our afternoon's hike takes us up and along the river's side until we reach the remarkable terraced village of Arg (1780m) - where Sir Winston Churchill loved to paint - to set up camp, or stopover in a Berber family's home - the choice is yours. Whilst dinner is being prepared, you might like to take a stroll around this delightful village and surrounding countryside.

DAY 2:   ARG - OUSSERTEK - OUKAÏMEDEN PLATEAU.

After breakfast we strike out for today's 6½-hour hike up between nut trees and through several Berber hamlet and villages, including those of Tidili and Gueliz until we reach the village of Oussertek (2406m), where we shall stop for a break and our picnic in a private garden in the village centre. Our afternoon hike takes us up through the Tizi n'Oukaïmeden (2668m) and thence on down to our campsite and dinner for the night. The option exists for you to stay in the Refuge on this high plateau.

DAY 3:   OUKAÏMEDEN PLATEAU - AGOUNSA - TIMICHI - TIVIRDIVI.

Once breakfasted we're now off on our 7 hours' hike along a piste and up along an adjoining winding mule trail through the Tizi n'Ouâttar (2994m). From here we have a long winding descent through the rocks until we reach the village of Agounsa where we stop for a welcome picnic. The afternoon is spent in gradual descent along the Assif Timichi, passing through the Berber village of Tamgisste and Timichi until we reach our campsite and dinner for the night outside the village of Tivirdivi (2006m). Again, there's the option of overnighting in a Berber family's house.

DAY 4:   TIVIRDIVI - TIZI N'TAMATERT - ASSAKA.

Breakfast, and another 7 hours await us as we hike down to the river and on through the villages of Anfli and Tadrarte, thence up the trail taking us through the Tizi n'Tamatert (2508m) to the village of Tamatert where we shall stop for a picnic. The afternoon's 2 hour hike takes us up to Assaka and down through the forest where we shall set up camp, (1900m) or stay in a Berber family's home and dinner.

DAY 5:   ASSAKA - TIZI N'OUMCHICHKA - ÂAZIB N'OUADOUZ.

We set out for an 8 hours' hike through the village of Amenzal and along the river to arrive, after 2 hours, at the upper foothills of the Tizi n'Oumchichka (2520m) where we'll stop to picnic near a spring. The afternoon is spent hiking down along rocky trails trodden in by mule caravans for a couple of hours and thence down along winding mule trails to the Âazib n'Ouadouz (1980m), where we'll have dinner and camp for the night.

DAY 6:   ÄAZIB N'OUADOUZ - TIZI TAGOROUAD - TIZI N'OURIE - TAGNITE - AMSOUZERT.

From the Âazib we start up to the Tizi Tagorouad (2927m) and directly on to the Tizi n'Ourie (3109m) where we'll stop for our picnic surrounded by peaks and valleys. This afternoon we slowly descend along zigzagging paths into the Ighir n'Tagnite until we arrive at the Berber village of Tagnite in the Tafnoute Valley. A brief stop before hiking down further until we reach the village of Amsouzert (1740m) where we'll have dinner in a Berber family's home.

DAY 7:   AMSOUZERT - IMHILENE - LAKE IFNI.

After breakfast, today's hike is shorter than the previous days', for tomorrow and the day after are reasonably tough going. We strike out south up the valley of the Assif Izli, through the villages of Abtraoui, Takaterte and Imhilene until we arrive at Lake Ifni, (2295m) after some 4 hours where we'll stop for our picnic in the midst of quiet waters and steep slopes of the looming mountains. Here we set up camp whilst you stroll around the lakeshore or, according to the season, take a welcome swim whilst our evening's meal is being prepared.

DAY 8:   LAKE IFNI - TIZI N'OUNOUMS - TOUBKAL REFUGE.

Breakfasted and refreshed, we set out towards the north west up to the difficult col of the Tizi n'Ounoums (2841m). Once through the pass we stop for a picnic amongst awesome surroundings of the Toubkal Massif. From here we'll continue directly to the Toubkal (ex-Neltner) Refuge (3207m) where we can either bivouac on the surrounding slopes or overnight in the Refuge. The Refuge establishes the spring snow level. Whilst tonight's dinner is being prepared, there'll be ample opportunity to stroll around the area and look at tomorrow's challenge - the summit of the highest Jbel in the Maghreb.

DAY 9:   TOUKAL SUMMIT.

A very early breakfast to set out at around 5 in the morning to attain, after a three-hour steep climb, the highest peak in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from here is simply stunning. The remarkable climb and view is what you have really come so far for. The first recorded climb of the peak, in 1923) was made by the French mountaineers V. Berger, M. Doubleau and the Marquis de Segonzae; many serious hikers since then have made the highly rewardable effort. Whenever you are ready, we shall take the Ikkhibi Sud - or South Circuit - for a straightforward (with your guide) 2 to 3 hour descent back to the Refuge and our picnic and a stroll around the surrounding slopes until dinner is ready and either bivvy or Refuge for the night.

DAY 10:   TOUBKAL REFUGE - TIZI N'AGUELZIM - AZIB TAMSOULT.

Breakfasted, we're off on our 7-hour hike towards Tamsoult. Up westwards towards the Tizi n'Aguelzim (3560m) and a magnificent view of the Arzedene Valley whilst we stop for a picnic. Then it's on down for some 3 to 4 hours down some 72 hairpin tracks - only recently opened - passing by the Tamsoult Cascade, also known as the Irhoulidene Cascade (2204m) down to our bivvy site and dinner for the night at the Âazib Tamsoult (2145m).

DAY 11:   ÂAZIB TAMSOULT - TIZI M'ZIK - IMLIL.

With Jbel Toubkal at our backs, we set off for 2 hours up northwards to the Tizi M'zik (2664m) where we'll stop for a picnic near the Berber village of M'zik and an awesome panorama of the Imlil Valley and of the Adrars Algouli and El Hajj. From Mzik we strike out eastwards for 3 hours down long, winding mule tracks to the trailhead village of Imlil (1740m) and our awaiting transport to take us back to Marrakech by around 3pm.