High Up in the High Atlas

October 22, 2024

Francesca and I had been to the High Atlas mountains about 16 years previously - it was the trip when I proposed to her - and stayed for a week at the Kasbah du Toubkal in Imlil.  This time we only spent 5 days and we stayed about an hour outside of Imlil at a place called Ksar Sharma.  Ksar means "fortified village" in Arabic and although this resort did resemble a small village, it most decidely was not fortified.  After our long drive from the Sahara Desert and our taxing schedule there, we mostly just hung out at the Ksar and ate, swam, played ping pong and foosball. 

But we did take a day trip to Imlil where we hired a guide (you have to have one or they won't let you into the national park) and hiked up the first stage of JbelToubkal.  At 4,167 meters (13,671 ft), Toubkal is the highest peak in Morocco (and indeed the entire Arab world) and the 11th highest peak in Africa.  

Francesca, Ryan, Austen, Finley and me started out together with our guide Ahmed.  The first  portion was flat along the valley floor where the terrain was mostly rocks which make the going a bit tricky.  

Austen and Francesca bid goodbye to us at the entrance to the Toubkal National Park while Ryan, Finley and I continued on for a few more hours until we reached the Sancturay of Sidi Chamharouch and it's iconic huge white rock. 

We had a quick drink and then headed back down to rejoin Austen and Francesca.  We saw a lot of trekkers fully geared out appearing to be attempting a summit of Toubkal.  Definitely something I would have like to have done with Ryan (the recommended minimum age is 12 - fitness dependant) if we had had more time. 

Once back down we bid goodbye to Ahmed and strolled around Imlil, window shopping a little.  Honestly, there isn't much there save a few restaurants, convenience stores and shops selling trekking gear.  Then we headed back to Ksar Sharma and some well deserved pool time (and some studying).  The following day we would be heading back to Marrakesh for our final stop in Morocco.