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


THE MOROCCAN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS RANGES

Mount Toubkal Summit Climb

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights - ref. *ITCTTM05m*

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE TWO to THREE - Between moderate and strenuous. Good boots essential. We recommend that you be confident of your fitness and endurance levels; preferably having had previous experience of trekking at altitude and in variations of climate. 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.

Early morning departure from your hotel in Marrakech for a pleasantly exhilarating 2hour drive south up through the Tizi n'Techt and the Berber trailhead village of Imlil (1740m), known as Morocco's 'Little Chamonix', with streams and 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 along the Aït Mizane Valley and the stark mountain slopes to the Berber villages of Aroumd (Aremd) (1843m), whose pisé terraced housing perch on a moraine spur, through Taourirt, Targa and Imoula to the equally-quaint sacred village of Sidi Chamharouch, set beside a waterfall and small stream with its terraced pisé homes seemingly built chaotically one on top of another. Here we shall stop for our welcome picnic, prior to setting out up steep mule tracks to the Toubkal (ex Neltner) Refuge (3207m) which incidentally sets the spring snow level. This has been a hard day's hike and, whilst dinner is being prepared and accommodation set up in the Refuge, you might just like to stroll around the surrounding slopes in anticipation of tomorrow's hard climb.

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 Toubkal refuge for our welcome dinner and overnight accommodation in the Refuge.

An early breakfast and we set off towards the north-west up, down and along the stark slopes via winding mule tracks to the Tizi n'Aguelzim (3560m) affording us yet another spectacular view of jagged peaks and verdant valleys. From here we trek down for some 3 hours via some 72 hairpin, zigzagging tracks to the Âazib Tamsoult (2145m), where we shall picnic by a stream prior to visiting the Tamsoult (also known as Irhoulidene) Cascade (2200m) and on to our dinner and accommodation this night in a gîte d'étape (1800m).

After breakfast, and with the remarkable Jbel Toubkal at our backs, we set off northwards along winding mule tracks worn into the stark slopes up to the Tizi M'Zik (2664m). Once through the col, we shall stop for our picnic near the Berber village of M'Zik with the beautiful Imlil Valley and the Adrars Algouli and El Hajj around us. From M'Zik, we strike out towards the east for some 3 hours along winding mule tracks to the trailhead village of Imlil (1740m), a welcome glass of mint tea awaiting us prior to our rejoining our transport to take us back to Marrakech by around 3pm.

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.