Where?

Atlas Mountains Morocco

Who is the course for?
Ideally you will already have 3 season hill and mountain hiking experience. You will need a very good level of fitness for this course due to the altitude we will be at and the acclimatisation days.

Course Ratio’s

Maximum ratio’s during the week are 6 clients to 1 instructor

What kit do I need?

A full kit list will be emailed to you, you will however need full winter clothing and B3 rated winter boots, crampons and walking axe plus a good quality winter sleeping bag for use in the gite/refuge.

Day 1 Sunday
Group members arrive and meet in Marrakech, staying 1 night in 3* Hotel. 

Monday
An early morning drive to Im Ighoulad at 1357m (1 hour).  We then have a day acclimatisation hike to Azib n Tamsoult at 2600m (circa 5 hours trekking), staying overnight in a gite, with  breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Tuesday
Today we hike up to the Mouflon or Nelter Refuge at 3200m, situated at the base of the highest mountain in North Africa. Today is a steady hike uphill with breathtaking scenery and as we pass through the 2000m height we will probably be at the snow line.
Expect an 8 hour day. Staying overnight in the refuge, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Wednesday
Today is an important acclimatisation day where we can summit an extra peak and refresh some personal crampon and ice axe skills along the way. Then it will be an evening of stacking up on food and getting as hydrated as possible for an early start for the summit tomorrow.Staying overnight in the refuge,breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Thursday Summit Day
An early start for the summit of Jebel Toubkal. Generally we leave the refuge around 06.00 or possibly earlier depending on weather and snow conditions. Our route of choice on Toubkal itself, is the north-cwm route (which is by far the less frequented of the main routes starting at the refuges below). However we will only attempt this route if weather, snow conditions and group abilities allow – otherwise we will climb Toubkal by the West Ridge or South Cwm route.
Whichever route we do climb, you can be assured of a great day out! Expect a 7-8 hour energetic day before we get back to the refuge for late lunch. Then sit in the sun and savour the experience. Stay overnight in the refuge, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Friday
After breakfast at the refuge, we have circa 4hrs trek down to Imlil to arrive around mid-day. Then transfer back to Marrakech, circa 1.5hrs, aiming to arrive in Marrakech mid afternoon at our hotel accommodation in Marrakesh, then a chance to relax, change into fresh clothes. In the evening we will head out for a celebratory meal, soaking up the sights and sounds of central Marrakesh!

What’s Included

• Professional UK qualified guides during the trip – Guides will either be Winter Mountain Leaders, International Mountain leaders (IML) or UIAGM (International Mountain Guide).
• Transfers from and to the airport at the start and finish of the trip.
• Return transport from Marrakesh to the start of the trek.
• Accommodation for 4 nights in basic dormitories in a mountain gite/Mouflon/Nelter mountain refuge.
• 2 nights accommodation in 3* hotel in Marrakech.
• All food throughout the trek from the time we leave Marrakech until we get back there.
• English speaking local guide.
• Mules and muleteers.
• Boiled drinking water on trek.

Example food during the trip
Morocco has some of the finest cuisines in the world.The expedition cooks are superb and very proud of their cooking which is fantastic! and they ensure that all the food on the trek is freshly prepared using local ingredients and that there is plenty for everyone.

A typical menu on this trip would be:

Breakfast: Fresh bread with cheese, jam, margarine, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and hot milk.
Lunch: A light lunch consisting of fresh mixed salad, tinned fish or meat,bread and cheese, followed by fresh
local fruit.

Afternoon tea: Tea / coffee / hot chocolate with some dates, figs, nuts and biscuits.

Dinner: The evening meal is always a hot meal and is different every night – traditional Moroccan cuisine of Tajineor couscous with meat and vegetables or the occasional pasta meal. This is followed by fresh fruit and the famous mint tea.!

What’s not included
Tips for guides, meals in Marrakech, sightseeing entrance fees, bottled water, soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, international flights, travel insurance.

Currency / Visas / Language

Visas for entry into Morocco are not required by nationals of Ireland, the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand and most EU countries.
The currency in Morocco is the dirham (dh).It is impossible to get dirham outside Morocco – therefore take Euros, Sterling or US$ and exchange on arrival. Alternatively or in addition, there are plenty of ATM’s in the airport and Marrakech. Do not depend on using your credit card for purchases – this is a cash society in the main!
Language is Arabic/Berber, but French is also understood/spoken widely. Little or no English spoken /
understood outside of main tourist areas.
Time difference = GMT all year.

What you need to provide
The additional costs for you once we meet up would be just bottles of water, drinks outside of meals, any showers charged for separately by the accommodation providers and any additional snacks you may wish to purchase.

You obviously have to get to Marrakech (there are any number of cheap flights these days from UK / Europe with Easyjet, Ryanair, Atlas-Blue, Jet4You & BA).

If you want to explore Marrakesh before or after the trek, then why not tag an extra day or 2 on, there are plenty of options to suit all budgets.