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


THE MOROCCAN WESTERN HIGH ATLAS RANGES

Mount Toubkal, Valleys & Berber Villages

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights or 4 days / 3 nights - ref. ITCTTM06m */ ITCTTM04m*

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: GRADE TWO - 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.
You may wish to consider splitting day 4 into two days walking by camping a little distance below the refuge for this night followed by the remainder of the descent to Imlil on day 5 - price will be as per 06m.

Early morning departure from Marrakech for a pleasant drive south way up through the Tizi n'Techt to arrive at the higher foothills of the Western High Atlas mountains at our trailhead of Imi Ourhlad. Here we alight from our vehicle and meet up with our Berber muleteer crew, always a fun part of any of our treks. We set off up in a northwesterly direction for a 2hour acclimatisation hike up switchback mule tracks to the Tizi n'Tacht (2000m), where we shall stop for a picnic and admire the surrounding valleys and peaks. Thence a slow hike for about 3 hours southwest down along mule tracks to the red clay village of Tizziane (1700m) for our dinner and bivouac for the night.

After breakfast we now set off on an interesting 3hour hike up along the Assif n'Ouissedene Valley, passing through almond groves and several Berber villages, through the Tizi n'Oussem, on to the hamlet of Tissi Oussem (1800m) and the Âazib Tamsoult (2250m), where we'll stop for our picnic. From here we hike for a further 2 hours to the Tamsoult Cascade (2204m), thence back down for another hour to the Âazib for dinner and overnight bivouac above the Assif n'Ouarzane Valley.

After breakfast, we now set out eastwards on a moderately difficult hike up winding mule tracks to the Tizi Aguelzim (3104m) with our picnic taken en route, thence a further 3 hours south-east to the Toubkal (ex Neltner) Refuge which marks the spring snowline at 3207m, where we shall have our dinner, either in bivouac around the Refuge or take cover there for the night.

DAY 4: TOUBKAL REFUGE - SUMMIT JBEL TOUBKAL- SIDI CHAMHAROUCH - AREMD - IMLIL.

A very early breakfast to set out around 5am., to attain, after a three hour steep climb, the highest peak in the Maghreb (4167m). The panorama from here is simply stunning. This remarkable climb and view is what you have come so far for. The first recorded climb of this peak, in 1923, was made by the French mountaineers V. Berger, M. Doubleau and the Marquis de Segonzae; many serious trekkers since then have made the highly rewardable effort. Whenever you are ready, we shall take the Ikkhibi Sud or South Cirque for a straightforward - with your guide - 2 to 3 hour descent back to the Refuge for a picnic. Should there be intrepid hikers who prefer to "do" this peak in winter, morning fog and snow levels might preclude reaching the summit. In this event, we shall advise you, prior to setting out from Marrakech, of an alternative peak climb nearby.

We shall now set off 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. Set beside a waterfall, with its homes surprisingly built one into the other, it is yet another sight to be enjoyed. There is a pilgrimage 'marabout' shrine here, probably the remnant of a pre-Islamic culture, but forbidden to non-Muslims and, 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 Mizane, down zigzagging trails around granite and basalt grey rocks to the remarkable village of Around (Aremd) (1840m), built on a spur of 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 river to arrive, finally, at the Berber village of Imlil (1740m), with its paths and streams branching off in all directions, to enjoy a glass of mint tea - or two - at the gîte d'étape of our senior guide for dinner and overnight.

You may wish to consider splitting day 4 into two days walking by camping a little distance below the refuge for this night followed by the remainder of the descent to Imlil on day 5 - price will be as per 06m.

DAY 5: IMLIL - TIZI N'TAMATERT - AGUERSIOUÄL VALLEY - TACHEDDIRT - IMLIL - MARRAKECH.

After breakfast, we shall set out towards the east on a moderate level hike up to the Tizi n' Tamatert (2280m) and on down winding tracks to the Tacheddirt Valley and thence to the Assif Aguersiouâl Valley, where we'll take our picnic. Thence, a slow, easy hike up to the village of Tacheddirt (2400m), to circle back alongside the Jbel Oukaïmeden Range to arrive back at Imlil and our early evening transfer 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.

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.