Following the classical route of the trek around the Jebel Toubkal, crowned with climbing the very top of the mount. In addition a road trip from Marrakech over the Atlas passes to Ait Benhaddou and towards Sahara — and a day and a night in Marrakech. April/May 2008.

It was a really enjoyable trip, having it all in one package… The philosophy of packing all you need for a week or more in the mountains at home and then transferring ourselves to some remote place just to start trekking at once worked well, save a few kilograms of food too much and the necessity to tank fuel (forbidden on airplanes!) for our stove on the way there. Transferred by a taxi directly from the Marrakech airport to Setti Fatma we have just walked up the Ourika Valley after balancing the load in our rucksacks. And yes, taking donkeys for our rucksacks the next day from Timchichi up the Tizi n’Tacheddirt was really welcome. But afterwards, acclimatised, we have done it the classical backpacking way: Tacheddirt, Tizi Likemt, Azib Likemt, Assif n’Tinzer Valley, Tizi n’Ououraine, Amsouzerte, Ait Igrane, Lake d’Ifni, the Assif n’Moursaine valley, Azib Imi n’Ouassif, Tizi n’Ouanoumss, the Toubkal Refuge. From there a very satisfying climb of the Jebel Toubkal itself, descending down the Assif n’Isougouane valley via S’Chamharouch to Armed above Imlil the same day.

And then we took a taxi down to Marrakech and changing clothes hired a car for a motorized trip behind the Atlas again and towards the mighty Sahara desert: up the pass of Tizi n’Tichka, the castle of Telouet, Tamadaght hotel, the kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, the Draa valley so far as Zagora and then back the same way. Everything crowned by a fancy day in Marrakech… Marrakech!

Around the Jebel Toubkal gallery on pastvoyages.jankowski.org.