Imlil

We drove into the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech to the town of Imlil, located at the base of Toubkal (the highest peak in North Africa). It was much cooler than Marrakech here (thank goodness) and felt great to be in a less chaotic place. Our first day we hiked up to a small peak located nearby and got some great views of the next valley over. The Atlas Mountains have loads of small towns and many footpaths connect them to one another, it’s pretty magical! The moon later that night was also beautiful as it was nearly full and rose from right behind a mountain peak. 

The town of Imlil. 

Views from the hike!

We had a candlelit dinner that night. 

The following day we went to some waterfalls and walked over another mountain to the true base of Toubkal and a flat valley.

 We rested at the valley before heading down for dinner but got totally sidetracked by some beautiful rugs for sale by Mohammed! He invited us in and we saw some gorgeous rugs handmade by Amazigh women. We learned that these rugs are woven to communicate between women. Mohammed knew some of the symbols but many he said he did not, they are only for the weavers to know. We each picked out a rug (or two ;)) to buy from him the next day. We later learned at our hotel that some of the men who worked there had sisters who made and sold rugs to Mohammed. 

After our rug excursion we ate dinner next to a waterfall under a boulder. There we had some of the best tagine of the trip!

Falls. 

Donkey! (Pretty sure this guy was used for mail delivery). 

Dinner under a boulder!

In the valley. 

Mohammed!

Us and our beautiful rugs. 

Sophia also found Duo cookies!!!!!! Her faves!

Chilling in the hotel.