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 Morocco is a North African country with a vibrant and colourful culture. The Atlas Mountains stretch across the country and are easily accessible from the city of Marrakech. On this trip you will visit the Mountains of the high Atlas and gradually ascend to Jebel Toubkal. This is the highest peak in North Africa and rises to 4,167m above sea level.
The high Atlas is one of the top trekking destinations in the World. The scenery is spectacular the food is good. During this trek you will visit sun scorched Berber villages and stay in local lodges and eat traditional Moroccan food cooked by our Berber hosts. This is a fully supported trek, your main bags will be carried by mules and a cook will travel along with us keeping you well fed.
With snow-capped peaks, lush valleys & traditional mud-built Berber villages, the Atlas Mountains offer superb trekking and a wonderful respite from the madness, heat and noise of Marrakech. The High Atlas Mountains are the most easily reached section of the Atlas Mountains and arguably the most spectacular, the High Atlas Mountains, are only a 2 hr drive from Marrakech centred around the trail head town of Imlil and peak of Toubkal.
Day 1 -
Arrive in Marrakech, Morocco, please be in Marrakech by 10pm. Transfer from Marrakech Airport directly to your riad.
Day 2 -
Early departure from Marrakech by minivan. Winding our way up through the Moulay Brahim Gorge and Upper Valleys to arrive at the foothills of the High Atlas mountains and our trailhead of Aguersiouâl (1530m) at around 10am. We set out from here on foot towards the East up winding mule tracks to the Tizi Aguersiouâl (1938m). Overlooking Jbel Oukaďmeden the beautiful undulating plateau stretches ahead of us. After a short break we set off down to the Assif Imenane Valley, passing through several Berber hamlets and thence down to Ikkis (2100m) where we stop for our lunch. After a shorter afternoon walk we enter the hamlet of Tinghourine where we overnight in a Berber house. (Total walking time approximately 4-5 hrs)
Day 3 -
From Tinghourine village with it's sweeping views of the Aksoual Massif we will follow the large sweeping zigzags of the dirt road, or the shorter, slightly steeper and rougher, but well graded mule tracks, eventually arriving at the col of Tizi Tamatert (2279 metres). From here you get fine views of the upper Imenane valley, and the mountains of Oukaimeden (3262 metres), Angour (3614 metres) and Iguenouane (3882 metres). After a short rest at the col we descend more steeply into the fertile Mizane Valley and the large village of Imlil. From here we go up the valley through small irrigated fields and pasture to the village of Aroumd and our house for the night. (Total walking time approximately 5-6 hrs)
Day 4 -
We set off today towards Tamsoult. Our track takes us through an amazing couloir of stunning red and bluish rocks until we reach the Tizi M’Zik (2664m) where we will get views of the Jbel Oukaďmeden range, the high plateau of Tazaghârt and of the beginning of the renowned Valley of the Assif Aďt n’Ouissedene with its numerous palmerias. After we reach this point and we now start our descent through woods of juniper and pine of the valley created by the Jbel Tasghimout (2664m) and the Adrar Adj (3729m). Eventually we reach the high summer pastures of Azib Tamsoult (2300m) where we will spend the night at Tamsoult lodge (Total walking time approximately 5-6 hrs.)
Day 5 -
After breakfast we set out for a 3˝ hour trek gradually ascending to arrive at Tizi Aghelzim (3560m), again giving us some awesome views of the jagged peaks and verdant valleys of the High Atlas. From here we set off downhill for a two hour trek towards the Mouflons Refuge where we will have our lunch. Dinner and accommodation in beautifully situated and well equipped Mouflons Refuge at 3207m. It is important to get plenty of rest today ready for our ascent of Toubkal in the morning.
Day 6 -
The climb to the summit of Toubkal takes around four hours from the Mouflons Refuge. Nowhere on the climb are there any technical difficulties, but it is a long and tiring ascent. The initial part of the climb is done in the very early hours of the morning when it will still be dark, but by the time we reach the Tizi-n-Toubkal col at 3941m the sun will have risen and we will be rewarded with sensational views across the entire Atlas chain. From the col the route ascends a ridge line towards the summit at 4167m from where we have views in all directions. To the north we can look down over 7000 feet to the village of Aremd, whilst to the south we can gaze over the line of rocky peaks stretching out across to the Sahara. After a long rest and numerous summit photographs we begin our 2 to 3 hour descent back to the Mouflons Refuge for lunch. After our lunch we follow a well-defined mule track zigzagging above the river to arrive, finally, at the Berber village of Imlil (1740m), where we rejoining our vehicle at around 1630h to take us back to Marrakech.
Day 7 -
A free day to explore the sights and sounds of Marrakech and get some last minute bargains in the Souks surrounding Jemaa el-Fnaa.
Day 8 -
Return home. A transfer back to Marrakech airport is included in the price.
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