Western and Local Berber Guide to Take You Trekking in the High Atlas
Take Advantage of Cheaper Low Cost and Mid-week Flights
High Octane Ascent of North Africa's
Highest Peak
While our two week tour of Mount Toubkal is a classic in its own right, we
appreciate that some people don’t have quite as much time on their
hands. Our ‘Express’ tour is the perfect antidote for those who want
to combine big peaks with shorter holidays.
This is a very compact itinerary which takes you high quickly and includes
the ascent of Mount Oukaimeden 3273m, as an acclimatization peak. Next you
walk over a couple of high passes and their intervening valleys, where you
will stay in the dramatic traditional Berber village of Tacheddirt. You
come into the main river valley, the ‘Assif-n-Ighighayene,’ and the
tiered village of Aremd, seemingly growing out of the rocks of a terminal
moraine. Aremd is the start of the trek up to the Toubkal Hut, also known
as The Neltner Hut, after the first known summiteer back in 1923. The
ascent route is the normal route up to the South Cwm and then along the
North East Ridge. The route is steep but non technical. It takes about 3.5
hours to reach the summit 4167m from where you can look out over extensive
areas of the Atlas: Jebel Sirowa, Jebel Mgoun and you will be able to
recognise the peak of Oukaimeden where you were earlier. Returning via
Aremd once again, you will have at least half a day to explore Marrakech
on your return. Enough time to get tired of haggling in the souks etc.
7
nights/8 days - Day 1 Arrive Marrakech. Transfer to central
hotel, perhaps spending the evening in the square: the unforgettable
Djemal e’fna. Stay in moderate standard town hotel. 2 After
breakfast transfer to the wintertime ski resort of Oukaimeden situated in
its interesting mountain shelf, under the peaks of Angour and Oukaimeden.
Stay at Club Alpine Francais hut, Dormitory accommodation. 3 Ascend
Oukaimeden peak 3273m, descend and then ascend to the Tizi-n-Eddi pass
2928m and then down steeply, contouring the valley to the village of
Tacheddirt. Stay in rooms in the newly reconstructed Kasbah or in the
local gite if the Kasbah is not finished. 4 Walk down the valley
and over the Tizi-n- Tamatert 2279m and descend to the extensive walnut
forests around Imlil and Aremd. In Aremd you stay at a simple but pleasant
hotel with multi bedrooms. It can be nice to sleep out on the verandah
under the stars. 5 Ascend the valley to the formidable
fortifications of the newly rebuilt Toubkal Refuge, under the bastions of
North Africa’s biggest peak. You ascend via the islamic shrine of Sidi
Chamharouch with its huge white washed boulder. Dormitory accommodation. 6
Sunrise (or just after) ascent of Toubkal. return to Aremd and perhaps a
celebratory tagine! 7 Morning departure to Marrakech, rest of
day free. 8 Depart Marrakech.
Sherpa
Notes
Max
Altitude
4167m
Support
Leader from UK. Local berber guide and cook.
Accommodation
and Meals
There is no camping on the trek, you will instead be staying in a mixture of refuges and small basic hotels.
You should however bring a 2-3 season sleeping bag for any terrace sleeping and for bunks (woollen blankets can be itchy). Single rooms are not available. All food included except Marrakech where you will be staying on a bed and breakfast basis.
Trekking
in Morocco
A
Sherpa trek in Morocco is a fully self-contained affair with a team
of mules and their drivers accompanying the group through the
mountains. Tents, cooking equipment, food and personal baggage are carried by the mules, leaving you to carry only a rucksack with whatever you need for the day. Berber muleteers are willing assistants helping with setting up camp and various chores. Each trek has its own Sherpa leader and a local Berber guide who speaks French, sometimes some English. Accommodation on trek is usually in spacious two-person tents; if however, bad weather strikes there is usually the option of staying in village houses or alpine huts. Morocco is one of the very few areas of the world where warm temperatures combine with an absence of insects to allow you to sleep outside. Nothing can compare with a night under the brilliant starlit skies of North Africa.
While our two week tour of Mount Toubkal is a classic in its own right, we
appreciate that some people don’t have quite as much time on their
hands. Our ‘Express’ tour is the perfect antidote for those who want
to combine big peaks with shorter holidays.