🕌 Tinmel Mosque – A 12th Century Almohad Treasure
⚠️ The Tinmel Mosque was indeed badly damaged by the September 2023 earthquake and remains closed to visitors while restoration works are planned.
During your journey through the High Atlas, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Tinmel Mosque, an architectural gem built in the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty. This historic mosque is deeply symbolic, as Tinmel was the spiritual capital of the Almohads and the birthplace of their powerful empire.
Though no longer active for worship, the mosque stands as a remarkable example of Almohad architecture, with its elegant arches, finely carved stucco, and peaceful setting in the mountains. Walking inside, you can admire the beautiful mihrab and harmonious symmetry that inspired later masterpieces such as the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech and the Giralda in Seville, Spain.
Nestled in a tranquil valley, the Tinmel Mosque offers not only a journey into Morocco’s past but also a serene moment of reflection surrounded by history and nature. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors, making it a truly special highlight of the trip.
ITINERARY
Marrakech - Tinmel mosque
today after breakfast from Marrakech your guide and private transportation will meet you at the hotel at 09:00 in the morning to start driving. You will visit Ouirgane village, after 1.5hrs of driving, and the new dam to snap some photos. Following this stop, by car you will continue to the n’Fiss Gorges and Tagadirt n’Lbour, Moldikht, Imgdal, Igr n’Kouris, Ijoukak, and Talat n’Yakoub which has a weekly market on Tuesday. In the Oued n’Fis valley, you will find some Juniper, Barbary fig, apricot, cherry, almond and walnut trees. From here, you start to walk to Ait Berihi, Imawnan, and to Tinmel villages, followed by a visit to the 12th century mosque, Tinmel Mosque. We may enter the mosque, built by Abd el Moumen between 1153-1154, Afterward; we will go back to Ijoukak for lunch in a local Berber family’s home. After lunch, you will be taken back to the n’Fis Valley and Gorges by car and finally returning back to the hotel. Today’s walking time will be about 2 hours. Driving will be four hrs in total
Including:
• Private transportation
• English speaking guide
• Picnic Lunch in The Nature
Excluding:
• Flights, visas, airport taxes
• Tips, drinks, laundry, souvenirs and other personal expenditure
• Personal travel insurance