5
5 540
Depending on your arrival time, there may be time to independently explore this wonderfully colourful city.* * Hotel Gomassine or similar
After breakfast, we leave Marrakech and drive to Imlil. Continuing on foot from here to Arroumd which is a short walk of approximately one hour. After lunch, we follow winding mule tracks for another 5 hours. This is a stunning walk through the breathtaking mountain scenery of the valley of Ait Mizan. We may stop for a visit to the Marabout of Sidi Chamharouch before continuing on to Toubkal Base Camp (3207m) for dinner. *Les Muflons Refuge or similar*
Distance in Km: 11
Distance in Miles: 6.8
Activity Hours: 6
Altitude Gain: 1470
We start very early for our Toubkal ascent (4am), walking over rocky paths as there is less vegetation at this altitude. There are long sections of scree, where the climb becomes challenging due to the loose rock. Once we pass the 4000m point, we can appreciate the magnificent panoramic views across the tranquil valleys and lower summits of the High Atlas Range. The achievement of standing on the summit is unforgettable and the views from the summit are simply magnificent. To the north we can see the fertile plains of the Magreb and Marrakech, and to the south, the wild rugged landscape of the pre-Sahara. All around us are the many jagged peaks of the High Atlas stretching into the distance. We descend to the refuge for lunch, then continue our descent to Arroumd and our gite for the night. This is a long but extremely rewarding day of walking. *Hotel Aremd or similar*
Distance in Km: 20.9
Distance in Miles: 13
Activity Hours: 10
Altitude Gain: 960
Altitude Loss: 2260
The short walk down to Imlil is followed by the drive back towards Marrakech, where we have a guided tour. Taking in the main sites we learn about the history, culture and architecture of this wonderful city. We then have free time to explore the Djemaa el Fna and the souk, a must for some serious bargaining for souvenirs. Please note in 2020, the guided tour will no longer be included. The day in Marrakech after the return will be free. *Hotel Gomassine or similar*
Distance in Km: 3.21
Distance in Miles: 2
Activity Hours: 1
Altitude Loss: 170
For those on group flights, these depart in the morning and will arrive in the UK the same day. **
* 2 nights 3-star hotel with en suite rooms, 1 night gite and 1 night refuge
with basic shared facilities
* 3 days point-to-point walking with full porterage
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
* Free transfers to meet any flight
* Altitude maximum 4167m, average 2600m
* Travel by private minibus
* Crampons may be needed for April and October departures
All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners included.
Breakfasts usually consist of porridge, bread and jam with coffee or tea.
When eating out, meals are reasonably priced - kebab and bread cost only
about £4 (approx. US$6.50). In main towns it is possible to find very good
French and Moroccan restaurants where a meal with wine will cost anything
from £20 (approx. US$30) upwards. Generally dinner is likely to cost between
£5-10 (approx. US$8-15) depending on what you drink. £15 (approx. US$25) a
day for food should be sufficient. Local beers, wines and soft drinks are
available at very reasonable prices but you can pay UK prices or more for
imported alcohol. Your leader can help recommend restaurants each evening.
Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of cous
cous and tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more
rural or trekking sections of the trip. Please note that if you have any
special dietary requirements you should inform the Exodus Office prior to the
trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (i.e. coeliac or vegan) you
may find it helpful to bring some items of food with you from home.
If you are travelling from UK we advise you buy your own water purification
tablets in the UK and take them with you. Bottled water can be purchased
throughout the trip. Please note recycling is not fully established in
Morocco so plastic bottles are an increasing waste problem.
We encourage you to bring water bottles and a means of purifying, filtering
or sterilising water (see packing section) in order to be able to drink cool
water from mountain streams. Bottles of water are available but we strongly
discourage buying these as it contributes to plastic waste.
* 2 nights 3-star hotel with en suite rooms, 1 night gite and 1 night refuge
with basic shared facilities
* 3 days point-to-point walking with full porterage
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
* Free transfers to meet any flight
* Altitude maximum 4167m, average 2600m
* Travel by private minibus
* Crampons may be needed for April and October departures
This is a short but challenging trek to an area of outstanding scenic and
cultural interest. Although not technically difficult, you should be an
experienced walker, as trails can be very stony. Most routes follow mule
trails but there are some rough paths that involve walking on scree. All 3
days walking include full porterage and you should be prepared for a long day
of walking on summit day (8-9 hours). The temperature at a particular time of
year can make a difference to how tough this trek feels.
Please note that 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 heat. Be prepared as well for some stormy weather during
the summer. There can be snow patches in late April/early May and from the
end of September so crampons may be needed for these departures. We will
advise no more than two weeks before departure if extra equipment (such as
crampons) is necessary.
*Altitude Warning -* This trip goes to high altitudes where there is a risk
of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Please refer to the Altitude
Warning below for further information. One night is spent over 3000m in the
most basic mountain refuge throughout the trip, which is understandable given
its remote location.
Our hotel in Marrakech is of a good standard and has a swimming pool to help
relax after a challenging trek. If you would like more time to acclimatise,
then please see our week-long itinerary - Mt Toubkal Climb (trip code: TMM).
Alternatively, for a more strenuous trek including an introduction of how to
use crampons and ice axe, try our Mt Toubkal Winter Climb (trip code: TMW).
*Please note Ramadan runs from 23 April to evening of 22 May 2020 (evening of
13 April to evening of 12 May 2021) - *During Ramadan, our local guides and
drivers choose to work and so we continue to run trips in this period.
However, the energy levels of our staff and some local guides may be a bit
lower and some restaurants may be closed during the day. Ramadan is a
special time to visit a Muslim country - each evening the streets empty for
an hour while everyone breaks their fast, and there's a feeling of festivity
in the air at sundown.
* *
Hotels, Gite & Refuge
In Marrakech we will spend 2 nights in a 3 star hotel with en suite rooms,
and a small swimming pool. We enjoy one night in a cosy family run gite,
with good sized room and shared facilities and a large roof terrace with
views up to Toubkal. At Basecamp, you will stay in large mixed sex
dormitory-style rooms with basic facilities, but there is hot running water
and showers and a small shop selling soft drinks and snacks.
There will be a local leader, driver and local muleteers/guides throughout. A
second leader will join the group for all walking days on groups of 11 or
more.
On the Winter Departures the group size will usually be between 5 and 10.
*Winter Departures Only:* Please be aware that although our guides help you
to become accustomed to the techniques of crampons and ice axes, they are not
instructors and will not be able to provide a comprehensive instruction
course. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have read these Trip
Notes carefully and understand the terrain and level of competence required
to attend.
All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners included.
Breakfasts usually consist of porridge, bread and jam with coffee or tea.
When eating out, meals are reasonably priced - kebab and bread cost only
about £4 (approx. US$6.50). In main towns it is possible to find very good
French and Moroccan restaurants where a meal with wine will cost anything
from £20 (approx. US$30) upwards. Generally dinner is likely to cost between
£5-10 (approx. US$8-15) depending on what you drink. £15 (approx. US$25) a
day for food should be sufficient. Local beers, wines and soft drinks are
available at very reasonable prices but you can pay UK prices or more for
imported alcohol. Your leader can help recommend restaurants each evening.
Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of cous
cous and tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more
rural or trekking sections of the trip. Please note that if you have any
special dietary requirements you should inform the Exodus Office prior to the
trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (i.e. coeliac or vegan) you
may find it helpful to bring some items of food with you from home.
If you are travelling from UK we advise you buy your own water purification
tablets in the UK and take them with you. Bottled water can be purchased
throughout the trip. Please note recycling is not fully established in
Morocco so plastic bottles are an increasing waste problem.
We encourage you to bring water bottles and a means of purifying, filtering
or sterilising water (see packing section) in order to be able to drink cool
water from mountain streams. Bottles of water are available but we strongly
discourage buying these as it contributes to plastic waste.
For this trip we use a private bus, the size of which will depend on the
group size, with a local driver. Roads in Morocco are reasonably good, and
driving conditions in towns and on the plains are good. On mountain roads,
the pace will be slower. Although the buses normally have air-conditioning
and heating, this is not up to European standards.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 5 days*
We normally use the scheduled services of EasyJet or Royal Air Maroc
(depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly
we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to
confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later
date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure.
*Travelling land only: 5 days starting and ending in Marrakech*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Marrakech in the evening of
Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided
in the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before
departure.
*The airport in Marrakech is famously inefficient, and transit through it can
be a lengthy process. Upon arrival, you can expect at 2 hours to be spent in
getting through immigration, security and baggage reclaim. You should have a
pen with you to complete the arrivals form and have the details of your
accommodation to hand also for this purpose. Operators are not allowed to
wait inside the terminal building for clients, so please find your Exodus
representative outside the main doors.*
*Upon departure from Marrakech, we always suggest allowing 3 hours to
navigate the airport as checking in, bag drop, immigration and security can
take even longer on exit for Marocco. The airport doesn't accept mobile
boarding passes, so we suggest having a printed boarding pass to avoid
subjecting yourself to further delays.*
In Spring and Autumn, Marrakech is warm to hot (maximum daytime temperatures
around 25 - 30degC) with pleasantly cool nights. In the High Atlas the sun is
strong but the air is cool and the nights can be cold. Mornings are clear but
cloud in the afternoon is usual, often bringing showers and occasional
storms.
In Spring and Autumn, Marrakech is warm to hot (maximum daytime temperatures
around 25 - 30ºC) with pleasantly cool nights. In the High Atlas the sun is
strong but the air is cool and the nights can be cold. Mornings are clear but
cloud in the afternoon is usual, often bringing showers and occasional
storms. During the summer months, Marrakech is very hot (33 - 42ºC), as are
some of the lower valleys of the High Atlas. At medium altitudes the days
will be hot and the nights warm. Only at 3000m+, when it will be cold, will
you require warm clothing. During the summer, the sky should be clear but as
in all mountain areas the weather can be unpredictable and late
August/September and October can have some stormy weather and be very wet and
cold at times. Rain can be experienced on all treks, usually showers but
sometimes storms. In April/May and occasionally in October there may be a
little snow lying at the higher altitudes. Please note this chart denotes the
average temperatures in Marrakech.
Winter Departures Only
Marrakech is likely to be warm (rather than hot) during the day, and a little
chilly at night. In the mountains expect temperatures to vary from 10 or so
degrees in the sun during the day, to below freezing out of the sun and at
night. Any warmth provided by the sun soon goes after the sun disappears
behind the mountains in the late afternoon. Heavy snowfall, rain and storms
can be expected in the mountains during winter, but they are normally
reasonably short-lived. Although it would be unusual to experience more than
two days in a row of bad weather, you should be prepared for all conditions.
If there is a stable high pressure over the mountains in winter, which is
common, we will enjoy clear, cold crisp days, and nights with temperatures
dropping well below freezing. The first snows often come in late October or
early November, but some years can see little snow cover up to December.
* Waterproof jacket
* Fleece jacket or equivalent
* 3 season sleeping bag
* Gloves and hat (for summit days)
* Waterbottle
* Water purification tablets
* Sunhat
* Sunglasses
* Sunscreen
* Daysack
* Strong walking boots with good ankle support and tread
* Wetwipes
* Travel towel
* Soap
* Toilet paper
* Head torch
* Earplugs if you have trouble sleeping
*Winter Departures Only (TMYW)*
* Full mountain waterproofs: jacket, trousers and gaiters
* Warm fleeces or down jacket
* 3/4 season walking boots (with rigid or semi-rigid soles and good ankle
support – see below)
* Trainers or approach shoes for wearing at the gite/refuge.
* Warm hat and sunhat
* Gloves (both a thin and thicker pair recommended)
* Backpack (min size 30 litres and preferable with side straps or ice-axe
loop)
* Trekking poles
* 3/4 seasons sleeping bag
As Morocco is a strict Muslim country, we ask that men, women and children
wear suitable clothing, i.e. over the knee skirts/shorts/trousers and with
shoulders covered. Additionally, women should avoid wearing close-fitting or
revealing clothes.
We believe in reducing our negative environmental impacts wherever possible,
this goes for when you need to spend a penny in the great outdoors! If no
facilities are available there may come a time when you need to go to the loo
behind a tree/bush/rock. To avoid leaving toilet paper behind we recommend
taking biodegradable dog poo/sandwich bags with you. Once you have done your
business you can pop the used toilet roll in here and take it off the
mountain or trail at the end of the day and dispose of it when there are
appropriate facilities available.
Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet
widely available; they often end up in landfill sites or get burnt, both
processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our
impact here. In an effort to reduce waste from single-use plastic bottles we
strongly encourage you to bring a means of purifying or filtering water which
can be collected from streams. This can be done via water purification
tablets, water bottles with a built in filter, portable filtration pumps or
the use of sterilisation tools such as steripens. Steripens use UV light in
order to kill viruses and bacteria as do purification tablets whilst
filtration systems or bottles, obviously, filter these out. There are
numerous brands available such as ‘Water-to-Go’, ‘Grayl’ and others,
similarly there are numerous water filter pumps such as ‘Lifesaver
Liberty’ and others. These are just suggestions of possible brands but you
may want to research into which is most suitable for you. It is possible to
buy bottles of water at various points but we discourage this as it
contributes to plastic waste.
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. When changing your money, ensure that you keep hold of your exchange
receipt as you may need to show it at the airport bank at the end of your
holiday where it's normally possible to change any unspent Dirham notes back
into Euros or Sterling.
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus and
tipping is at your discretion for both the leader and the local staff.
However we would like to advise that tipping is part of the local culture and
generally expected. If you do wish to tip, we have found it useful for the
group to have a kitty for tipping – about 100 dirhams per person, this can
ease confusion and embarrassment of not knowing how much or how little to tip
local staff (such as drivers, cooks and guides). If you do not wish to join
in on the group kitty, do not feel pressured. Many clients also wish to tip
their leaders at the end of the trip, we suggest 30 dirhams per person per
day. This is completely at your own discretion and to be used as a guideline
only.
* Travel insurance
* Visa's and Vaccinations
* Single supplement
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.