Mt Toubkal - 4167m

We use local guides – therefore supporting the local economy

Groups will also be accompanied by a UK leader

Small group sizes

Superior accommodation in Marrakesh

Tailored itinerary

Option to join pre trip UK training weekend (additional charge)

Day 1 – Arrive in Marrakesh and transfer to our Riad in the heart of the city for a relaxing evening, here you will meet the rest of the group you will be trekking with.

Day 2 – After breakfast we are picked up and driven to Imlil in the Atlas mountains and start our trek into the High Atlas heading through pine and juniper trees to our first mountain refuge/camp.

Day 3 – An early start today as we begin our ascent over the ridge line and down into the valley from where we will tackle Toubkal the following day. We take in stunning waterfalls and magnificent views across the plains of Morocco before tackling the 72 hairpin bends of the final steep ascent to the ridge line. From here it is downhill all the way to the Toubkal Refuge (3207m).

Day 4 – Once again it’s an early start as we make our Toubkal summit bid.  We begin walking steeply out of the refuge heading up to the back of a hanging valley before making the ridge line that will take us to the Toubkal summit at 4167m. We descend back to the refuge for some lunch and some well earned Moroccan mint tea before making our way back down the valley to Imlil for the night.

Day 5 – After breakfast we are transferred back to Marrakaesh were you will have the rest of the day to explore this magnificent  ancient city and immerse yourself into the history and culture.

Day 6 – Finally it’s time to say goodbye to new friends and transfer back to the airport for your flight home.

Experienced UK Expedition Leader

Transportation between Marrakesh and Imlil including airport transfers in Morocco

2 nights accommodation in Marrakesh (shared rooms), single supplement available at an additional cost.

Accommodation in Refuges/Riads on trek (shared rooms) or camping (unfortunately no single supplement available on the trek)

All meals whilst on trek 

National Park trekking fees and permits

Local guides, cooks and porters

Crampons, ice axe and helmets (if required)

International flights and taxes

Travel Insurance

Visas (if needed)

Personal Equipment

Tips for local staff (we can advise on amounts, usually around £45)

Meals in addition to those already listed as included

Alcoholic or soft drinks not supplied during meals

Personal spending

Single room supplements 

Sightseeing costs in Marrakesh 

Mules will be used on the trek to carry your luggage.  A duffle bag (preferably waterproof) is ideal, please ensure it has a shoulder strap.  For the welfare of the mules we ask that you keep the weight in your duffle bag to a maximum of 15kg.

You will need a day rucksack to carry spare layers, waterproofs, food and drink, and personal items such as cameras etc.  A 35l rucksack is a good size.

You will also need;

Walking boots
Crampons – (Generally winter only, we can supply if required)
Walking axe – (Generally winter only, we can supply if required)
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Insulated jacket
Warm hat and gloves
Sun hat and sunglasses
Trekking or soft shell trousers
Shirts/T-shirts
Fleece tops
Underwear
Walking socks
Slippers/clean trainers/flip flops/sandals to wear in the huts
Sleeping bag/Sleeping bag liner
Head-torch and spare batteries
Water bottles – 2 x 1l is best, or 1 bottle and a water bladder
Snacks – trek bars etc.
Sun cream/SPF lip balm
Toilet roll
Antibacterial hand gel
Wash kit (limited shower facilities)
Towel

Personal medical kit – we recommend this includes (but is not limited to); ibuprofen, paracetamol, antihistamines, diarrhoea treatment, re-hydration sachets, latex gloves, antiseptic wipes, plasters, throat lozenges.

Optional

Camera
MP3
Power pack (some huts have sockets for charging, some don’t)
Travel adapter plug – in Morocco they use the French two pin sockets
Playing cards
Ear plugs
Walking poles

Please get in touch if you want to discuss any of the above.

This is a physically challenging trek therefore it is important that you arrive with a good level of fitness. We can provide you with a training plan if required. You will be walking for between 5 and 7 hours a day.  Consequently your training should include some multi day hill walking to ensure that you have the right level of fitness and stamina to complete this trek.

This trek takes you to a height above 2500m at which point there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness more commonly known as Altitude sickness.

Symptoms of being at altitude can include the following; headaches, tiredness, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and nausea. Altitude sickness affects everybody differently and whilst generally the fitter you are the better you will cope, being super-fit is still no guarantee of feeling fewer effects.

All of our leaders have experience of trekking at altitude and are medically trained. The leader will assess your progress as you trek and they will make a decision to send you down to a lower altitude if they believe your health and safety are being compromised by the effects of altitude.

Morocco is a world where the hectic meets the tranquil, Marrakesh is extremely busy and lively and does not appear to sleep. The further you head into the mountains of the high Atlas the more traditional and quiet it becomes.

The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham, the Dirham is a closed currency and cannot be traded outside of Morocco. See the Moroccan Dirham section below for more information.

Marrakesh Airport can be a little overwhelming on arrival, depending upon what time you land you could find yourself in a long immigration queue, while it might take a while the queue is constantly moving and there are a large number of officials working, it just takes time to process each person. Once through you will need to collect your baggage (and any local currency if needed) and proceed to the exit where your bags will be scanned as you leave. From here, you make your way out of the building to the taxi rank where your pick up driver will be waiting.

Once again when leaving Marrakesh it pays to be earlier at the airport than the UK, bags are scanned entering the airport. You then need to proceed to the check in/bag drop off, even if you don’t have any hold baggage, your boarding pass will need to be validated and stamped by the staff, only then can you proceed to go through to immigration. Once again the depending upon the time of day, queues at immigration can be long, but they do move just give yourself plenty of time.

When arriving in the heart of Marrakesh depending upon which Riad you are staying at you may need a local barrow boy to transport your bags and take you the Riad, this service will cost around 50Dirham per journey. If there is more than one of you the cost can be shared amongst yourselves.

Tipping is not compulsory in Morocco, however if you feel that you have received a good level of service then tips should be given. It is always difficult when deciding how much to tip the trekking staff but as a guide;

• 100DH to 150DH for the guide
• 50DH to 100DH for cook, muleteer

or so per day is something that would be very welcome.

The Moroccan Dirham

The official currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham, however, Euros are often widely accepted in a large number of shops, hotels and restaurants, particularly in Marrakesh. If you want to spend your Euro whilst in Morocco, then be aware that you need to know the current exchange rate between the Euro and Dirham. You can check the rate by looking in on the currency exchange rate counters dotted around the city.

When you arrive in Morocco, you will need some Moroccan Dirham almost instantly, most likely for taxis or tips. You can pick up some local currency in the airport and in fairness the rate is usually very reasonable. When you arrive on a flight at Marrakech Airport, you’ll first go through immigration (passport control) and then you will collect your luggage. In the luggage collection area, there are a couple of money exchange counters.

The Moroccan Dirham is classed as a closed currency. This means that it cannot (or rather, should not) be traded outside of Morocco. You’ll find some foreign currency counters in the UK which sell Moroccan Dirham. This is particularly so at UK Airports. It is best to not buy Moroccan Dirham from an agent in the UK because you will most usually get a bad exchange rate. It is most usually best to wait until you arrive into Morocco and then buy your Moroccan Dirham.

At the end of your trip to Morocco, you may have some left over Moroccan Dirham. If you don’t want to hang on to the Dirham, then you will need to exchange them back into Pounds before you leave Morocco.

When you arrive into Morocco and exchange Pounds for Dirham, you will be given a yellow or white transaction receipt. You really must keep this receipt safe because you will need it when you want to exchange the Dirham back into Pounds.

Be aware! that if you withdraw Moroccan Dirham from an ATM in Morocco, and you then want to exchange it back into your currency, the currency exchange counter can refuse to exchange the Dirham – Even if you have the receipt from the ATM. So, plan carefully with your British pounds and your Moroccan Dirham when you visit Morocco.

There is no problem to just take the Moroccan Dirham out of Morocco instead of exchanging it back into British Pounds. However, there is a limit. The current limit for taking Moroccan Dirham out of Morocco is up to 10,000 Moroccan Dirham.