Trekking in Morocco - Hikes including Toubkal Summit - REDISCOVER THE WORLD - MOROCCO


THE MOROCCAN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS RANGES

Toubkal Summit Climb

Duration: 3 days / 2 nights - ref. *ITCTTM03m*

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE TWO - WALKING MOSTLY ON UPPER FOOTHILL MULE TRACKS, SOMETIMES ROCKY, SELDOM FLAT, FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS EACH DAY. GOOD BOOTS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE SUMMIT CLIMB AND DESCENT. FOR ANYONE WHO LEADS A REASONABLY ACTIVE LIFE. HIKING ALWAYS INVOLVES SOME EFFORT. FULL SUPPORT TEAM.

NB: The months from December through to mid-April could possibly preclude the Toubkal summit climb due to sudden, heavy snowfalls. We shall advise you of adverse climatic conditions and alternate nearby peak climb - Jbel Aguelzim (3547m) prior to your setting out from Marrakech.

Departure by car from Marrakech around 9 in the morning for exhilarating 2hour drive south up over gorges and high passes to the Berber town of Imlil (1740m), known as Morocco's 'Little Chamonix', set in the upper level foothills of the Western High Atlas mountains, a main trailhead with mule paths branching out in all directions. Here we shall leave our vehicle to take a welcome glass of mint tea in our gîte d'étape prior to setting out towards the south up to the Berber villages of Aroumd (Aremd) (1843m) Taourirt, Targa, and Imoula, up and down the stark slopes, the magnificent Western High Atlas peaks of the Toubkal Massif immediately before us. We shall stop at Aroumd to visit this rather singular village in the Assif Aït Mizane Valley, built seemingly house upon house on a large moraine spur, overlooking ancient irrigated terraced fields of fruit trees and vegetables. We thence carry on to the equally-quaint village of Sidi Chamharouch, a Berber village set beside a waterfall and small stream, again with its pisé homes seemingly built somewhat chaotically one into another. This village is a place of pilgrimage for devout Moslems and it is where there is a marabout shrine - forbidden to non-Moslems and said to be a relic of a pre-Islamic religious cult. We take a break for a picnic, within full view of mighty Jbel Toubkal, at 4167m the highest peak in the Maghreb, prior to setting off up to the Toubkal Refuge for our dinner, bivouac or overnight accommodation in the Refuge.

DAY 2: TOUBKAL REFUGE - JBEL TOUBKAL SUMMIT - TIZI N'OUNOUMS - TOUBKAL REFUGE.

A very early breakfast to set out at around 5 in the morning to attain, after a 3hour steep climb, the highest peak in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from the summit is simply stunning. This remarkable climb and view is really worth the effort. The first recorded climb of this peak (in 1923) was made by the French mountaineers V. Berger, M. Doubleau and the intrepid Marquis de Segonzae. Whenever you are ready, we shall descend via the Ikkhibi Sud - or South Circuit - for a straightforward (with your guide) 2 to 3 hour descent back to the Refuge and our picnic. This afternoon, we shall take a gentle hike south-eastwards up for a couple of hours to the head of the Assif Aït Mizane Valley and Tizi n'Ounoums (3664m) which, from this high point, gives us a tremendous view of the trail we've covered and of the distant cobalt green outline of Lake Ifni. When ready, we return to the area of the Toubkal Refuge for our welcome dinner, bivouac or overnight accommodation in the Refuge.

Breakfasted and ready we shall now set off back towards the north along steeply descending, zigzagging trails of the higher slopes of the Valley of the Assif n'Isouhouanem n'Ouagounss towards the Berber village of Sidi Chamharouch. On leaving the village, we shall notice a tree, sacred to the local Berbers, where they hang strips of coloured cloth and pile up stones as we descend high above the valley of the Assif Aït Mizane, down zigzagging trails around granite and basalt grey rocks to Aroumd (Aremd) (1843m), built on a spur of moraine rock commanding one of the more fertile valleys of the High Atlas mountains with terraced, irrigated plots and fields of maize, onions and fruit trees on all sides. Here we shall stop for our picnic prior to continuing on along the floor of the valley, thence up a well-defined mule track zigzagging above the oued to arrive, finally, at the Berber village of Imlil (1740m), to enjoy a glass of mint tea - or two - at our Gîte d'étape prior to rejoining our vehicle to take us back to Marrakech.

Cost for this tour:

- please call or email for a full quote - all our holidays are tailor-made and the cost of each trek is based upon the following:

* the number of people in your group (some hikes available for single travellers, one person FREE for groups of 10 or more);

* where you are starting from and to where you wish to travel at the end the hike;

* whether you are including any additional accommodation (e.g. in Imlil or Marrakech)

* extras such as WC tent or refuge accommodation, etc.

Experienced bi-lingual licensed mountain guide throughout. Support team, cook and equipment; all meals and accommodation as detailed, tents and undermats if required; mules and muleteers. Private round trip transportation Marrakech-Imlil-Marrakech

Please ensure, at time of reservation, you advise us of your choice between bivouac, Refuge or Berber house accommodation in those areas where you are given a choice. * Should you not wish to bring a sleeping bag all this way, we can provide extra blankets for the fairly cold overnight in the Toubkal Refuge. Please advise at time of reservation.

Personal medical or accident insurance. Any expenditure of a personal nature. Bottled or gaseous water (bottled water is available to buy in most villages), nor anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary, such as laundry, drinks, telephone calls and such like.

Stout walking boots; sleeping bag (3 seasons); waterproofs and fleece/duvet jackets, hats, balaclavas or ear muffs; gloves; rambler or ski pole; personal toiletries; small First Aid kit, thermal underwear (Dec-May); day pack; filled water bottle(s) and purifying tablets/drops (iodine usually); torch and batteries (LED head torches are excellent), penknife (remember not to pack in hand baggage for flight); towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, hygienic 'wipes', nibbles and/or dried fruit. Drinking chocolate if preferred to tea and coffee, camping mug (otherwise it is small Moroccan tea glasses for everything), energy sweets and toilet rolls could come in handy!

** If staying in a Berber House or gite d'etap you may wish to bring some biros or other suitable gifts for the children of the house.


	Meals are normally:

	Breakfast - tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam, cheese plus porridge in the winter and cereal in summer. Picnic lunch - fresh Moroccan salad, cheese, slicing sausage, tinned tuna fish and sardines*, bread, fruit, mint tea.

	Dinner - Tajine (chicken or mutton* with vegetables), spaghetti, cous cous (main courses rotate depending on duration of trek), bread, coffee, tea, cake, fruit. * Those vegetarians or vegans amongst us need to pre-advise at time of reservation.

NB: all our prices are for land arrangements only (starting and finishing in Marrakech), please contact us to arrange accommodation in Marrakech hotels or riads as well as flights from your preferred airport if required.