The High Atlas is unusually accessible for a mountain range with a 4,167 m summit. Imlil is 90 minutes from Marrakech, and you can be walking on a proper mountain path an hour after leaving your riad.
That accessibility hides the altitude. Imlil sits at 1,740 m and the first pass on most treks is above 2,400 m. If you have come straight from sea level, the first hour will feel harder than it should. Walk slower than feels natural and it passes.
Mules carry the bags on almost every organised trek. Pack your day needs in a small pack — water, layer, sun cream, snacks — because you will not see the mule again until the gîte.
Gîte etiquette: shoes off at the door, the salon is a shared sleeping space, and dinner arrives on one large plate that everyone eats from. Take from the section in front of you.
Finally, tip the muleteer directly, not through the guide. 100 DH per day per group is normal and it is a meaningful amount of money in the valley.
