Mount Toubkal trekking holiday in Morocco
| country: | Morocco |
| location: | Atlas Mountains, Mount Toubkal |
| trip type: | Strenuous, guided walking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 28 May, 5 Jun, 11 Sep |
| price: | From £570 (8 days) excluding flights. Price includes full board accommodation |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Summit Toubkal and savour Berber country away from the crowds of Imlil and the Mizane valley.
This superb week allows you to enjoy the pleasures of Morocco away from the madding crowds. For sure the break starts in the pink city of Marrakech, for many a mythical place thanks to its “hippy trail” reputation in the 70s. It remains a vibrant city with a strong European, mainly French of course, feel. The Casbah remains hectic and other worldly, and a perfect immersion into Moroccan city culture.
The following day you are whisked into the glorious hills of the High Atlas, which rise like a wall from the Marrakech plain. The route takes in the four main valleys that surround Jebel Toubkal at 4167m, and crosses over three high passes before dropping down at the end of day four to the plain surround the Neltner refuge. The contrast between the valley bottoms with their lush green fields of wheat, and the high ridges is a vision that will stay with you for ever.
The walking can be quite demanding, and a reasonable level of fitness is recommended, however the time spent crossing the passes ensures a good amount of time to acclimatise before the summit day - and of course to take in the wonderful country and culture all around.
Arriving on the plain by the Neltner refuge is fun, as trekkers' tales can be exchanged whilst lounging in the late afternoon sun spotting Lammergeier vultures circling above. The summit day is always an early start to enjoy the early morning sun at altitude. The ascent is pure pleasure as it permits you to reach the highest point in North Africa without the need for any technical skills.
As you reach the well known triangular trig point at 4167m you are treated to the vast expanse of the Sahara to the South and the Marrakech plain to the North. The return journey takes you south into the Ouarzane Valley and down to Imi Oughlad and a last river side lunch before a transfer back to Marrakech.
You'll stay in comfortable four star hotel accommodation in Marrakech on the first and last nights of your stay, and throughout the trek in tented accommodation in delightful situations. You'll need to carry just your day sack with lunch and water, and waterproofs, whilst all the equipment and meal preparation is organised by our team.
This superb week allows you to enjoy the pleasures of Morocco away from the madding crowds. For sure the break starts in the pink city of Marrakech, for many a mythical place thanks to its “hippy trail” reputation in the 70s. It remains a vibrant city with a strong European, mainly French of course, feel. The Casbah remains hectic and other worldly, and a perfect immersion into Moroccan city culture.
The following day you are whisked into the glorious hills of the High Atlas, which rise like a wall from the Marrakech plain. The route takes in the four main valleys that surround Jebel Toubkal at 4167m, and crosses over three high passes before dropping down at the end of day four to the plain surround the Neltner refuge. The contrast between the valley bottoms with their lush green fields of wheat, and the high ridges is a vision that will stay with you for ever.
The walking can be quite demanding, and a reasonable level of fitness is recommended, however the time spent crossing the passes ensures a good amount of time to acclimatise before the summit day - and of course to take in the wonderful country and culture all around.
Arriving on the plain by the Neltner refuge is fun, as trekkers' tales can be exchanged whilst lounging in the late afternoon sun spotting Lammergeier vultures circling above. The summit day is always an early start to enjoy the early morning sun at altitude. The ascent is pure pleasure as it permits you to reach the highest point in North Africa without the need for any technical skills.
As you reach the well known triangular trig point at 4167m you are treated to the vast expanse of the Sahara to the South and the Marrakech plain to the North. The return journey takes you south into the Ouarzane Valley and down to Imi Oughlad and a last river side lunch before a transfer back to Marrakech.
You'll stay in comfortable four star hotel accommodation in Marrakech on the first and last nights of your stay, and throughout the trek in tented accommodation in delightful situations. You'll need to carry just your day sack with lunch and water, and waterproofs, whilst all the equipment and meal preparation is organised by our team.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Marrakech, pick up from airport and transfer to hotel, dinner in Marrakech restaurant. |
| Day 2: | Leave Marrakech 9 a.m. and drive up to the Tachdirte valley. We start the trek at the village of Tachdirte, and climb up over Tizi n Likemt, and then down via Azib Likemt to our first bivouac site near Ourai. |
| Day 3: | Climb up and over Tizi n Ourai and down to the village of Ait Igrane to lunch with Belaid. After lunch, we climb up the valley to Lac Ifni to our second bivouac by the lake, where we can bathe if we're brave enough. |
| Day 4: | From the lake, we climb steeply up via impressive gorges and over Tizi n Ouanoums, after which we descend down to our third bivouac at the foot of Mount Toubkal. |
| Day 5: | Early morning start for the ascent to the summit of Toubkal, we should be back at camp by early afternoon after which we can rest for the remainder of the day - bivouac same spot. |
| Day 6: | We descend the Mizane valley for an hour and then leave it on the west side to climb gently over a little known path to descend into the adjacent valley of Ouarzane to bivouac at a delightful riverside plain just above Azib Tamsoult. |
| Day 7: | Descend down the valley through several Berber villages in the morning before a final gentle climb over Tiz n Techt and then down to Imi Oughlad. Pick up and transfer back to Marrakech hotel. Dinner in Marrakech restaurant. |
| Day 8: | Transfers back to Marrakech airport. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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Community
This trip is organized using a Marrakech based partner which is actively involved in social programmes in the Atlas Mountains. This Association is Targa Imoula Development. Its aim is to develop the Imlil and Ait Mizane area, bringing back life to the countryside and offering new employment opportunities for local young people. Apprenticeships in practical skills such as carpentry, stone masonry, sewing and handicraft skills are created. In addition more efficient usage of land and water management is encouraged, as well as increasing awareness of responsible tourism in the area. Five per cent of the revenue of company is given to this project. Guides, cooks and muletiers are locals, supported by a European Mountain Leader. Food sourced from local villages where possible, and monies spent in local stores. Guests are welcome to visit the Association and to chat to residents in the villages concerned. Environment Information is provided to our guests to enable them to enjoy the area to the maximum while showing the utmost respect for the environment. We only use local, qualified guides who are passionate about the area that they live in. They are paid a living wage for their excellent services. The team fulfil their role as qualified guides to ensure that the environment remains unchanged when guests are in the countryside. Litter is always packed out, no flora is picked and the natural habitat of wildlife is respected. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |