Morocco
Travel Offer: Trekking through the High Atlas
Description: We welcome you at the Airport of Marrakech and transfer you to your Hotel Riad in town. We stay overnight. Next morning we drive to Imlil via Asni. Imlil is the principal trailhead for walkers, and a busy market town. There is a constant movement of people coming down from the mountains, and an equal supply of activity from those about to embark on their adventure. We meet our mule team and once all our gear is loaded we begin walking along the valley towards Tacheddirt, some 8 kms beyond Imlil. Soon the trail begins to rise as we climb up to the pass at Tizi n’Tamatert (2.279 m). We then descend to the pretty village of Ouaneskra and continue, for a further half-hour or so, to Tacheddirt (3,000m), where we generally camp near the river.
On day 3 we begin a long, slow ascent to the pass at Tizi Likemt (3.555 m). The going is quite tough as there is a considerable amount of loose scree on the ground. At the top we enjoy our first fine view of the Toubkal massif before a long downhill descent to the village of Azib Likemt, where we camp for the night. The next day is long, but relatively easy, and it takes us through a variety of contrasting landscapes. From Tizi n’Ououraine (3. 120m) we enjoy further views of the Toubkal massif, including the summit, the east face and the Ifni Dome (3.876 m). The trail leads on towards Amsouzert, one of the most striking villages in the region, where we spend the night in a berber house.
On day 5, we explore several small villages west of Amsouzert, before we make our way towards Ifni Lake, the only lake in the massif. It is a memorable sight, surrounded by rocky mountains and giant heaps of rubble, and is unusually deep. We expect to arrive by lunchtime and spend the afternoon relaxing at the shore. We camp tonight in this area. Next morning, we should be finally acclimatised and ready to tackle the hardest day of the trek. We make our way along a steep path that leads up a seemingly endless scree slope. At length we reach the pass at Tizi n’Ouanoums (3.664 m), a narrow ledge between two shafts of rock. From here it is a long zigzag descent to Nelter Hut, a mountain refuge where we spend the night.
Day 7 is summit day: after a very early breakfast to set out around 6am we should arrive after a three hour steep climb at the summit of the highest peak in the Maghreb (4.167 m). The panorama from here is simply stunning. 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. After lunch 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 Shrine of Sidi Chamharouch. Set beside a waterfall, there is a pilgrimage ‘marabout’ shrine here, probably the remnant of a pre-Islamic culture, but forbidden to non-Muslims. Another 2 hours downhill will allow to get to the village of Imlil from where most of the treks start prior to take the transport back to Marrakech. On the next day, we bring you to your flight at the airport.
Length of the trip: 8 days
Costs: price per person is 495 € (group of two);
Included in the price are: all transports from Marrakech airport and back; all meals (lunch, dinner and breakfast except dinner in Marrakech) and the accomodation; porters and donkeys; the driver and the mountain guide (speaks english).
Offer valid: this tour is available during March to December 2018
Tour operator: our local partner in Marrakech, Morocco
Travel Offer: Toubkal Trek & Desert overnight
Description: We meet you at the Marrakech airport and transfer you to a Hotel Riad in town. We stay in Marrakech for the day and the night. Next morning, we leave the city and drive south today, towards the craggy peaks and plunging valleys of the Toubkal Massif. Crossing the Haouz Plain, we pass through the tiny town of Asni, from where our road begins to climb towards the foothills of the Massif. Below us the valley of the Oued Rhirhaia stretches out into the distance and small villages cling to the sides of the steep hills as we meander our way towards the village of Imlil. Here we leave our vehicle and, in the company of our mountain guide, begin our trek, heading along the Mizane Valley, first towards the village of Aremd and then onto the shrine of Sidi Chamarouch. Built on a moraine spur overlooking the valley floor, Aremd is the largest village in the valley and provides an interesting mix of traditional terraced farming, gites and streets that seem to be permanently gridlocked by goats and cattle. For generations the local Berber villagers have worked these lands, producing corn, potatoes and walnuts from the harsh landscape. Continuing east and crossing the flood plain our route takes us along mule tracks and up into the high rocky cliffs above the valley. Crossing the river we eventually come to the pastoral shrine of Sidi Chamarouch, which attracts tourists and pilgrims alike (although only Muslims are allowed to cross the stone bridge to visit the marabout shrine itself). The village sits besides a small waterfall, a jumbled cluster of houses that seem to melt together into an anarchic mass. From here the trail continues to climb steadily, snaking and zigzagging its way up to the Toukbal Refuge (3.206 m), our stop for the night.
Day 3:
Early in the morning we make our attempt on the summit of Jebel Toukbal, the highest peak in Northern Africa. Our route takes us up the south cirque, crossing the stream above the refuge. The walking is relatively straightforward, but the scree and the altitude will make the going quite difficult in parts. The views along the way make the journey more than worthwhile. From here you will have unrestricted views in every direction, from the Marrakesh Plain to the High Atlas in the north and as far south as the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara. We will retrace our steps when we return down the mountain where we will have lunch and continue walking back down via the same route to Imlil where we will spend the night.
Day 4: We drive through the High Atlas mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass towards Ait Benhaddou village, the fortified ksar with it’s beautiful Kasbahs. Once you reach Ait Benhaddou village, you take a short walk around this fortified kasbah. Afterwards, we drive to Ouarzazate for lunch and later on, we continue our journey to the south and cross the second pass which is Tizi N’Tnifift and Ait Saoun village, the former route of caravans for Sahara traders coming from “Tombouktou”, you will reach the first administrative centre called “Agdez Village” that marks the source of Draa Valley. You will continue through the lunar landscapes and the Pre-Sahara routes until you get to Zagora which is a small town. Here we will take a camel ride to the camp and enjoy a dinner and overnight in the nomadic tents.
Day 5: We get up early to see the sunrise over the dunes, followed by a brakfast and a camel ride back to meet your driver. We arrive later in Marrakech, where we check-in in the hotel. Next day, we transfer you to the airport of Marrakech.
Length of the trip: 6 days
Costs: price per person is 495 € (group of four);
Included in the price are: all transports from Marrakech airport and back; all meals (lunch, dinner and breakfast) and the accomodation; porters and donkeys; the mountain guide (speaks english) and a guided city tour in Marrakech as well as the camel ride.
Offer valid: this tour is available during March to December 2018
Tour operator: our local partner in Marrakech, Morocco
Travel Offer: Ski touring week at Toubkal
Description: We meet and greet you at the Marrakech Airport, from where we transfer by private car to Imlil, a valley and village at 1.740m altitude. We spend the night at a traditional guesthouse. Next morning we start our first ski tour, crossing the Tamatert Pass (2.300 m) before dropping down to the Imenane valley, ready for the ascent of Bouygunouane (3.800 m). We enjoy splendid views from the sumit before we descend 1400 m to our hut in Tachdirt village (2.400 m) where we spend the night. Next day, we ski back by climbing the Likemt Pass (3.600 m). The two hour descent is magnificent. We spend the night again in Ilmil.
On day 4, we climb through the narrow valley to our base camp below Toubkal. We will climb several mountain passes to reach Neltner Refuge where our cook is already waiting with a delicious dinner. Next day, we summit on our first 4.000 meter peak: Ouankrim (4.045 m), which includes a fantastic climb and stunning views of other Atlas peaks. Again, we stay at our base camp. Next morning, we start for the ascent of Toubkal, the highest mountain of Morroco (4.167 m). The tour is not too difficult but takes time. The descent in great corn conditions a joy. Day 7 is a reserve day and we will decide which peak we want to tackle before descending to Ilmil and transfering to our hotel in Marrakech. In the later afternoon, we enjoy a guided city tour of this beautiful town. Next day, we transfer you to your flight at the airport.
Length of the trip: 8 days
Costs: price per person is 650€ (group of six);
Included in the price are: all transports from Marrakech airport to the refuge and back; all meals (lunch, dinner and breakfast) and the accomodation; porters and donkeys; the mountain guide (speaks english) and a guided city tour in Marrakech.
Offer valid: this tour is available during March to April 2018
Tour operator: our local partner in Marrakech, Morocco
