The walk from the base of the hill to the mosque at the summit is the essential experience of Chenini. The path climbs steeply through the old village, passing the cave dwellings on one side and the ksar on the other, until it reaches the crest with its sudden, vertiginous view over the desert plain. On a clear day you can see for fifty kilometres or more — a flat, ochre expanse fading into haze in the direction of the Sahara.
The ascent takes about 20 minutes at a steady pace, more if you stop to look inside the abandoned ghorfas or peer into the darker cave openings. The surface is rough stone and loose gravel; wear shoes with grip. Early morning is the best time — the light is soft on the pale rock, the heat is still manageable, and the tour buses from Tataouine have not yet arrived. By midday in summer the ridge is fierce; bring water and a hat. The path is not signed but is hard to lose, and the mosque at the top is always visible from below.