| Self Guided Inn-to-Inn walking tours in Morocco |
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| JMO |
| The Atlas Mountains |
8 days,
easy-moderate
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Jan-Dec
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| Escorted walking tours in Morocco |
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| MJS |
| Jbel Sahro |
15 days,
easy-moderate
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Apr, Oct, Dec
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| MJT |
| Jbel Toubkal |
15 days,
moderate-challenging
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Jun-Jul, Sep
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  This
North African country actually has pretensions to join the European Union.
Despite having some modern, partially 'westernised' cities from its
period as a French Protectorate, it is however a vastly different
nation to any in Europe. Morocco is one of the last remaining monarchies
in Africa, it is a country of desert, semi desert, and green terraces,
walnut and Almond groves, Juniper and Eucalypt woodlands and date palms.
In other words it is perhaps the nearest place to mainland Europe
that could be described as Exotic: In the sense of its landscapes, people,
colours, smells, noises and flavours. A land of vibrant
market souks, mosques and minarets. There is a great tradition of
Islam although it is generally moderate. There has also been the
history of the independence of the Berber peoples of the Atlas Mountains,
famed for their civility, sense of humour and strength as a mountain
people.
If you are a 'foody,' there is some excellent cuisine to be
enjoyed from French inspired dishes, to famous Berber ones - such
as Tagine and Couscous. At their best they have influenced world
cooking. Then there is the inevitable Mint tea, or 'Whisky Berber' as the
locals like to joke!
The highland regions of the nation run
obliquely across the middle and form the chains of the fabled Atlas
mountains rising to high peaks such as Toubkal and Mgoun that are over
4000m high.
To the south the Atlas ripple into the lower Jebel Sahro which
eventually merges into the Sahara desert. Sherpa’s mountain treks to
these places commence from the red city of Marakech, a place that used to
be the hub of an empire stretching as far as Timbuktu in Mali. It is
an amazing place where in the central square, The Djema El Efna you
will find a mediaeval spectacle every evening featuring music, snake charmers,
acrobats, orange juice makers and kebab cooks. A unique place to experience African
night life. In
winter the snow-clad peaks of the High Atlas provide a backdrop to its
distinctive skyline of crenellated walls, palm trees and minarets. All of Sherpa’s tours
begin and end here and these include a self guided trek as well as the
traditional high peak escorted tours.
 Morocco does not immediately spring to mind when one
thinks of high mountains, but in fact, it provides some of the most
impressive mountain walking in the world. More than this, its population,
Berber and Arab, ensure a truly exotic experience and a thought-provoking
insight into an ancient culture very different from our own. Morocco is
also a country that offers a variety of microclimates. Even in summer you
can still find snow in the High Atlas, whilst in - mid winter the fringes
of the Sahara are ideal for walking.
The Berbers of the Atlas have long held the interest of ethnologists as
an example of an ancient mountain society. Our contact with them as
delightful trek staff is one of the charming aspects of walking in this region.
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