September 17, 2002 –
Marrakech – Imlil
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After a late wake up, I will do som shopping for the
next days. I intend to stay 3-4 days in the mountains but I am not really sure.
I have my breakfast on Djemaa El Fna that is to say a few orange juice
glasses.
I pack my bag to walk to the Grand Taxi station for
Asni located near Bab er Rob where I ask a policemen more information. It is only
10am and I will have to wait one hour to fill the taxi. 30 minutes later we are in Asni and I don’t have the
time to leave the cab that 6 people are around me to propose me trips, treks…
but I decided to take time and I reach the main square where I ask people for
the next departure for Imlil. One guy shows me a truck and I am the first one
so I leave my bag in it and have a look to the village. Then we push the
truck as a starter, we are now 10 waiting for the departure but we are still
waiting for more people.
One mean of transportation in the mountains Just after 2pm, we are ready to quit the village
when I notice two backpackers walking towards us, here are Isabelle and
Kevin, they made it earlier in the afternoon. At this moment we don’t know we
will spend the next week together…
Sunrise in Imlil In
Imlil (1720m), we go to the Club Alpin Français refuge where with my
guidebook we obtain 50% off the price. We put down the bags in the dormitory
and we go outside where Lahcen, an official guide, gives us details on how we
can organize a trek there in High Atlas. Isabelle and Kevin thought of a 6
days trip and they brought all the equipment for this trek (food, tent…)
whereas I am here for a few days. Lahcen propose us to rent a mule to wear our
bags but we have to discuss a bout it and I don’t want to bother them. But
there is no problem and they are happy we can make the trek together so we
bargain for an experienced muleteer who knows the region and the mountains.
Kevin has a great guidebook which describes very well the paths of the trek
(Trekking in the Moroccan Atlas de Richard Knight Ed. Trailblazer). Finally
we agreed on the price with Lahcen. The muleteer will go with us at the top
of Djebel Toubkal and he knows French and the path for the 6 days trip.
Lahcen will rent me a tent with a mattress and he will also rent us a small
gaz bottle for the mint tea.
Then we go do some shopping because it will be hard
to find something during the whole week. After this shopping we asked Lahcen
to meet the muleteer and what a surprise, our guide will be Mohammed a
Moroccan we met in the truck this afternoon. Together we buy some mint for
the tea we will drink after many hours of walking. Before going to sleep we go to the terrace of a
restaurant to eat a Tajine fro Kev and Isabelle and an omelette berbère for
me. Delicious!!! Main expenses of the day : Food for the trek (Marrakesh): 30 DH Grand Taxi Marrakesh – Asni: 15 DH Truck Asni – Imlil: 20 DH Trek 6 days: 500 DH (including a tent and a mattress
for 100 DH) so for 3 people 1200 DH (experienced muleteer) Food for the trek (Imlil): 90 DH Club Alpin Français refuge: 25 DH (50% off otherwise
50 DH) Drinks (water, soft drinks, tea…) + evening
meal : 25 DH |
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Other travels (Syria,
Jordan, Egypt, USA...) (Hotels, Transportation
timetables…) D1 :
Luxembourg – Paris – Casablanca D4 :
Meknes – Volubilis – Meknes D9 :
Tinehrir – Ouarzazate – Marrakesh D13 :
Refuge – 4167m –Tizi Ouanoums D14 :
Tizi Ouanoums – Amsouzert D16 :
Azib Likemt – Tacheddirt D17 :
Tacheddirt – Imlil – Marrakesh D19 :
Essaouira – El Jadida – Tangier D22 :
Chefchaouen – Casablanca D23 :
Casablanca – Paris – Luxembourg |
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Last update : January
2003
Contact : pindavid@hotmail.com
