4 Best things to do in Imlil
In November 2022, we made a 16-day Road trip in Morocco going all around and driving over 2 500 km (in a Fiat 500! What an adventure).
Our trip started and ended in Fes, and we made a loop in order to visit this magnificent country. Our itinerary went through the main cities, the Sahara Desert, the seaside and the mountains of Morocco.
We personally rented a car at the airport and did the following: Fes, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, Marrakesh, Imlil, Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Merzouga, Ifrane. However, you don’t need to follow it by the dot, you can use it to make your own plan.
Imlil was our 7th stop in Morocco. We left Marrakech and drove 1h30min to Imlil. It isn’t far at all and quite easy to reach actually. For most of it the road was pretty good. There was only one portion really damage that was half a dirt road. We loved Imlil, especially the accommodation where we stayed and the view from it.
Imlil is a small village in the high Atlas Mountains. It is 1,800 metres above sea level. It is really layback village perfect to discover the high Atlas and do some hiking. Imlil is also the base to summit Mount Toubkal, the highest mountain of Morocco. Next to Imlil is located Aroumd, the last berber village before the Toubkal national park at 1900m above sea level.
In this article, we will tell our story going around all the best things to do in Imlil. So, if you too are planning a trip to Morocco and to Imlil, then let ‘s dive in these best things to do in Imlil.
Here is our complete video from this trip :
Mapping the day
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Getting there
Getting to Imlil can only be done by car or with a tour from Marrakech. The best way to get to Imlil is to get to Marrakech and then transfer.
We road tripped Morocco, so for us, we just drove there and then parked our car on the street for 20 dh per day. Only later, we realised that our accommodation had a private and free parking.
If you are not on a road trip you can get there with a tour : Imlil Village and Kik Plateau Day Trip or if you are more adventurous and want to summit : Mount Toubkal 2-day Trekking Tour
Moving Around
Those are super small villages, and everything can be walked to if you like hiking. To get to Toubkal national park, most of the accommodation can transfer you there by car for free.
When to Visit
You can visit Imlil all year round but be aware that temperature varies from the 25°C in summer to fresh -5°C in winter. Imlil has a maximum of 6 days a month of rain and it can snow in winter.
The touristic season runs from May until October usually, yet since covid-19, November is also more and more visited. That’s when we were there, and the weather was quite pleasant. In beginning of November, it was still warm to be in short and end of November was colder, especially at night.
The best time then to visit Imlil is then from May to June and then September to November.
Where to Stay
- (€): N/A
- (€€): Riad Atlas Toubkal
- (€€€): N/A
We stayed at Riad Atlas Toubkal and we super loved it. Not only the room was great, the food delicious, the view breath-taking but the staff was so honest and friendly.
What to Eat
Morocco has lots of traditional dishes and quite the tasteful cuisine. Our go-to dishes are:
- Tajine: Named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked. This dish is basically mixed vegetables cooked for 1h or more inside the tajine pot. It can be only vegetable or with meat.
- Couscous: Made with a base of steamed wheat semolina, topped with vegetables, chickpeas, dry fruits and sauce. Plus, in option meat.
- Harira: soup of tomato, lentils, and chickpeas
- Moroccan Salad: There are lots of recipes. But it mostly includes rice, tomatoes, carrots, green peas…
Those can be found anywhere. So, be ready to go for them for the whole trip 😊
Alcohol cannot be found easily in Morocco, and it can only be drunken in a licensed restaurant or bar (which isn’t many). But you will be able to enjoy the most traditional drink of all: Teas. Mostly Mint tea mixed with green tea. Moroccans drink it at any time and everywhere. It is even for some a real ritual.
We mostly took breakfast and dinner in our accommodations. This was the easiest especially that in November, night would come early.
Best things to do in Imlil
Introduction
Once our car parked, we checked-in with a mint tea and some biscuit. We then had lunch on the terrace with sandwiches as we had left over from the night before. We also booked dinner. Vegetarian couscous and tajine for 19h.
Loop Around Imlil
Later, we asked about a 2h to 3h hike around. After getting the road information, we left. But before that ask for a bottle of water. When I wanted to pay, they said that it was free.
We then went for our hike without guide. It was quite easy to follow, and we made a loop around the valley and its villages.
It was quite beautiful. There is way less people here than back in Marrakech. But we saw a few groups along the way going back to town.
Dinner in the mountain
After a hot shower, we chilled a bit and went for dinner.
Dinner was great and as we were earlier, we got to enjoy the fireplace and the view with some olives, breads. Then our dishes were quite good and fruits for dessert. It cost 90dh per person.
Toubkal National Park
Toubkal National Park was established in 1942, it covers an area of 380 km2. Jbel Toubkal is the highest peak of the park at 4,167 metres. But in order to access it, you must have a local guide. This has been so since 2018 when two young women, one from Denmark and the other from Norway—had been found dead (murdered by terrorist) on the trail leading up to Mount Toubkal, less than ten miles south of Imlil.
1-Day Hike Toubkal National Park
We had a nice start of the day with an amazing breakfast with a view from Riad Atlas Toubkal. Breakfast was amazing and as always, the service super good.
With a guide hired from the accommodation, we went for a day hike in the Toubkal National Park where a guide is mandatory. It cost 200dh for the day.
The hike was quite nice. We went until the restaurant area. The last shops before arriving to the mountain hut at the base camp of Toubkal. It took us 1h30. There we had tea for 10dh and walked back down which took us 1h or so.
While having tea, we met a group of people coming from Slovenia and Croatia. One of them spend most of her life in Bosnia, with Tina (from Serbia) all of Yugoslavia was represented. They were doing Mount Toubkal in 2 days.
Once arrived we gave our guide Mohamed 20dh tip.
Summit Toubkal
Mount Toubkal can be done in 2 days: Imlil to the refuge, refuge to summit to refuge to Imlil. Like this the second day starts at 4am or so.
In 3 days, the second day is refuge to summit to refuge and the third day back to Imlil. This way no need to wake up too early the second day.
If you want to hike Toubkal it is 500MAD per day.
If you need some equipment, it can be rented in Imlil directly.
2-day Imlil itinerary
Day 1:
- Arrive in Imlil
- Get to your accommodation
- Loop trail
Day 2:
- 1-Day Hike Toubkal National Park
- Option: Keep on until the Toubkal base camp
Day 3 : (Option)
- Summit Toubkal
- Return to Imlil
ضرب الحديد ماحدو سخون Strike the iron while it’s still hot. (Take advantage of the opportunity before it passes you by)
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Why pin one by one when you can get them all at once? With this map, you get all our pins, destinations, things to see, where to eat and sleep, and so much more in one time.
