Imlil and Berber Villages

Departure by car from Marrakech around 8:30 the morning for 2 to 3 hour drive south up the Moulay Brahim Gorges, Asni weekly market every saturday then to Imlil (1740m), set in the upper level foothills of the Western High Atlas mountains, a main trailhead with streams and paths branching out in all directions. Here we shall leave our vehicle to take the mules for about 15 minutes to our lunch wish will be served among a berber familly, a welcome glass of mint tea in the village.

After Lunch we meet the local guide prior to setting out for some 4km excursion. towards the south to the Berber village of Aroumd (Aremd) (1843m), passing the hamlets of ait souka, Targa, and Imoula, up and down the stark slopes, the jagged Western High Atlas peaks of the Toubkal Massif before us - Jbels Aguelzim (3547m), Aksouâl (3847m) and the Adrar Adj (3122m) watching us all the way. We shall stop at Aroumd to visit this rather singular village in the Assif Aït Mizane Valley, built seemingly house upon house on a large moraine spur, overlooking ancient irrigated terraced fields of barley, corn and vegetables and always surrounded by almond and walnut trees. We thence carry on for another Half an Hour to get in the village of Achayn prior to setting off back down the other side of the valley back to Imlil and our return trip to Marrakech.