5
Welcome to enchanting Marrakech, a cornucopia of heritage, faith and culture. Make sure you book a flight that arrives before 5 pm, so you have time to join the welcome meeting and meet your fellow climbers. Rest easy in the Boutique Bab hotel tonight, ready for tomorrow’s climb.
After breakfast, you’ll leave the city hubbub behind. Today you’ll venture into the Atlas Mountains and start to climb Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak. You’ll drive to Imlil first, a gathering point for mountaineers, before setting off on foot for around an hour to reach Arroumd for lunch. After some essential carb-loading, you’ll follow winding mule tracks for another five hours. As you climb, the scenery gets seriously impressive, and you’ll pass through Berber communities and learn about their way of life. There’s a short stop at the shrine of Marabout of Sidi Chamharouch for some cultural insight (and a well-deserved breather). Then you’ll continue to Toubkal Base Camp Refuge for some much-needed sustenance and as much sleep as you can manage at a lofty 3,207m.
You’ll start at 4 am this morning (early by anyone’s standards), clambering over rocky paths as vegetation thins out with the ever-increasing altitude. There are long sections of scree, and the climb becomes challenging because of the loose rock. Once you pass the 4,000m point, there are magnificent panoramic views across the valleys and lower summits of the High Atlas Range. The feeling of achievement you’ll get at the top is monumental. To the north, you’ll see the fertile plains of the Magreb and Marrakech, and to the south, the wild landscape of the pre-Sahara. After savouring that victorious feeling for a moment longer (and testing that panorama feature on your camera phone), it’s time for the descent. Eventually, you’ll be met by a transfer bus to whisk you to Gite Armed in Arroumd for a celebratory evening in this traditional guest house.
After a well-deserved lie-in and a leisurely breakfast, you’ll return to Marrakech for a genuine Moroccan experience: a hammam. It’s a traditional ritual in these parts, consisting of steaming and scrubbing the body to feel renewed. Just what the doctor ordered after that gruelling climb.The rest of the day is yours to explore the city at your own pace. Then you can choose to meet your group for a final rooftop dinner at Nomad, a restaurant that serves a wide range of fresh local produce.Tonight, you’ll rest your head back at Bab Hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, it’s a short transfer to the airport for your journey home.
Two nights boutique hotel, one night mountain refuge with shared facilities,
one traditional guest houseCountries visited: MoroccoThree days
point-to-point walking with full porterage, so your luggage is where it needs
to beFree transfers to meet any flight
All breakfasts, two lunches and 2 dinners included
Two nights boutique hotel, one night mountain refuge with shared facilities,
one traditional guest houseCountries visited: MoroccoThree days
point-to-point walking with full porterage, so your luggage is where it needs
to beFree transfers to meet any flight
Although not technically challenging, you should be an experienced walker, as
trails can be very stonyBe prepared for a long day of walking on summit day
(8-9 hours)Morocco can get very hot during the summer months of July and
August and departures during this time may not be suitable if you struggle
with the heatThere can be snow patches in late April/early May and from the
end of September so crampons may be needed for these departures. We’ll let
you know beforehand if that’s the case, and these will be providedThis trip
goes to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute
Mountain SicknessPlease note Ramadan runs from 2 April to 1 May
2022. Ramadan is a special time to visit Morocco as it is one of the most
important times on the Muslim calendar. Each evening the streets empty while
people return home to break the fast and then there is an air of festivity
every evening. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we
continue to run trips however please be aware their energy levels may be
slightly lower.
Hotels and Mountain RefugesMount Toubkal Mountain RefugeThe refuge is a functional pit stop halfway up
the mountain. It’s merely a place to rest up and have a quick wash. There
are bunk beds in shared dorms, and common areas to get to know your fellow
climbers better.Gite ArmedA simple gite (guest house) where we will rest
after our ascent.Bab Hotel - MarrakechA small, boutique hotel in the midst of
modern Marrakech with loft-style rooms, swimming pool and Sky bar on the
roof.
Bab Hotel
All breakfasts, two lunches and 2 dinners included
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers, will be sent to
you at least 2 weeks before departure. If you don’t receive them or need
them earlier, please contact our team who will be happy to
help. FlightsRemember, flights aren’t automatically included in your trip.
If you’d like the Exodus Edits team to help you find some good options,
give us a call on 020 8772 3837.
Exodus Edits provide airport arrival and departure transfers on any flight
for this trip. Unless specified otherwise, the transfer will be to the start
hotel and from the end hotel and will be on the dates the tour starts and
finishes.We know that the unexpected can happen. Your plane may get delayed,
or things just don’t go to plan. If you miss your tour departure, check
with the hotel to see if your tour leader has left you a message with details
of how to catch up with your group. If not, call our emergency number (you
will find it on the final joining instructions) and our team will help you.
Don’t forget that you are responsible for any extra travelling expenses
incurred if you miss your tour departure.
Waterproof jacketFleece jacket or equivalentThree-season sleeping bagGloves
and hat (for summit days)Water bottleWater purification tabletsToilet paper
and biodegradable bagsBackpackStrong walking boots with good ankle support
and treadTravel towelSoapHeadtorchEarplugs if you have trouble sleepingExodus
KitbagFor this trip, we provide a kitbag to pack your luggage in while you
head off on your adventure. Once you have booked, there’ll be instructions
on how to claim your free bag. Please note that if you book less than three
weeks before the departure date, we cannot guarantee that your kitbag will
arrive before your trip starts. If you’ve any questions, email
datateam@exodus.co.uk. For full T&Cs see www.exodus.co.uk/kitbags.
We recommend you change your money at the airport into the local currency, as
Morocco only allows 1000 dirhams to be imported or exported. There is no
limit on the amount of foreign currency you take provided it is declared on
arrival.
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus. If you
wish to tip your group leader in appreciation of their help and friendliness,
we recommend MAD30 per person per day. A group kitty is often set up to tip
local staff, such as drivers, cooks and guides. We recommend about MAD100 per
person.
Travel insuranceVisas and VaccinationsTips for leaders and staffFlights
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.