Imlil is the gateway village for Toubkal and the main access point for trekking in the western High Atlas. At 1,740 metres, it sits in a valley of walnut orchards and terraced fields, connected to Marrakech by a winding mountain road about 60 kilometres long. The drive takes between 90 minutes and two hours depending on conditions.
The village itself is now largely organised around trekking infrastructure: guesthouses, mule hire, licensed mountain guides, equipment rental. The guesthouses range from basic family affairs to the upper-end Kasbah du Toubkal, which occupies a converted pasha's fortress above the village. Most trekkers arrive, hire a mule for their pack, and head up toward the Toubkal refuge on the same day.
Beyond Toubkal, Imlil is a starting point for longer traverses into less-visited parts of the Atlas: the Aït Mizane valley to the south, the Tizi Mzik pass leading toward the Azzaden valley, and multi-day routes to the Ourika valley. The surrounding villages of Aroumd and Achendir are worth exploring if you have time before or after your trek.