Hotels near Imlil and the High Atlas

Imlil is a Berber village at about 1,740 metres at the edge of Toubkal National Park, the base for climbs of Jebel Toubkal, at 4,167 metres the highest peak in North Africa. For a day trip, walnut orchards, terraced fields and mud-brick villages give easy half-day walks with a local guide, often ending with lunch and mint tea in a family home.

October is one of the best months for the Atlas: clear skies, comfortable walking temperatures by day, and walnut trees turning gold. The region was hit hard by the September 2023 earthquake, and many villages are still rebuilding; visiting with local guides and eating in village homes puts money directly into recovery. The Ourika Valley, closer to Marrakech, is an easier alternative with riverside restaurants and waterfalls at Setti Fatma.

Mountain weather changes fast, and temperatures drop sharply once the sun goes behind the ridges.

Pro Tip: Leave Marrakech by 08:00, hire a licensed mountain guide in Imlil, and bring a warm fleece and sturdy shoes. Be back on the road by mid-afternoon to avoid driving the mountain road in the dark.