Tinmel Mosque: the Almohad day trip into the High Atlas from Marrakech

Updated on October 8, 2026

About 100 km south-west of Marrakech, at the foot of the High Atlas and near the Tizi n'Test pass road, the Tinmel (Tin Mal) mosque is one of the oldest Almohad monuments in Morocco. It was built in 1156 in memory of Ibn Tumart, founder of the Almohad movement, in the village that was the cradle of the dynasty. The earthquake of 8 September 2023 badly damaged the building: the minaret and part of the prayer hall collapsed, and a restoration project is under way. Check the state of access before you set out.

Highlights

The minaret and façade

The square red-stone minaret, with its very sober lines, towers over the village. It is a model of the Almohad style, whose influence can be seen in the Koutoubia in Marrakech.

The prayer hall and its arches

Before the earthquake, the aisled prayer hall offered a forest of multifoil arches, a carved mihrab and a stucco dome. The mosque was one of the few in the country open to non-Muslims; the interior is now closed to visitors.

The road and the landscapes

The journey via Asni and Ouirgane crosses Berber villages and valleys planted with walnut and fruit trees, with the High Atlas peaks as a backdrop.

Practical info

Tips

No official price is published. Before the earthquake, the caretaker would open the door in return for a tip of a few dirhams; with the interior now closed, you only get the view from outside, sometimes at a distance from the scaffolding. Reports from 2024 and 2025 say reconstruction is continuing (a new contractor was chosen in spring 2025), with no confirmed reopening date: ask your hotel or a local driver. Allow about an hour on site, plus lunch in the valley. Follow the instructions of the site staff and keep away from closed areas.

How to get there

About 100 km from Marrakech along the R203 and then the Tizi n'Test road, via Tahannaout, Asni and Ouirgane, which is 1 h 30 to 2 h of mountain driving. There is no practical public transport: choose a private driver, a taxi for the day or an organised excursion, which often combines Tinmel with Ouirgane or Asni. For other outing ideas, see our guide to the High Atlas from Marrakech.