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2012 Active: Climb Mt Toubkal (DCCT)
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Countries Visited: Morocco
Trip Style: Active - Challenging physical adventure meets fully immersive exploration-our Active trips are made for outdoor enthusiasts. From trekking and biking to whitewater rafting and kayaking, work up a sweat as you venture off the beaten path.
Service Level: Basic - this is grassroots travel at its most interesting
Physical Demands Rating: 4 - Possibly includes high altitude hiking of up to eight hours per day or activities of a similar nature. Requires an elevated level of fitness.
Group Size: Min 7, Max 15
Meals Included: 6 breakfasts, 5 picnic lunches, 4 dinners
Accommodations: Hotel (2 nts), mountain gites (2 nts) camping in 2-man tents (2 nts)
Highlights
Walking in spectacular mountain scenery, tasting delicious local cuisine, camping in the great outdoors.
Description
Jebel Toubkal, Morocco's 4,167m-tall peak, has captivated mountaineers for centuries. Our ascent up the rocky giant of North Africa-the tallest in the region-is no picnic, but is accessible to anyone in good shape and hungry for a thrilling high-altitude adventure. Traditional Berber communities line the route on this trip, and you'll have plenty of time to learn their customs through village visits and overnight camping with hearty home-cooked meals. The views on the way up are spectacular, but nothing compares to what you'll see (and feel) at the top.
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| Details | | G Adventures | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Marrakech | Day 1 Marrakech
You are welcome to arrive in Marrakech at any time, as today is a designated arrival day with no planned activities. Please note that there will be an important welcome meeting this evening at our joining hotel. Please check the hotel notice board for more information on the location of this meeting or ask at reception. Please bring your passport and travel insurance documents to this meeting, as you will be required to fill out some important pre-tour administration documents. After learning more about our tour and plans for the following day, you are welcome to join our leader and your travelling companions for an optional dinner in a nearby local restaurant.
Overnight in Marrakech. | | Day 2 | Azzadene Valley | Day 2 Imi Oughlad, Azzadene Valley ( B,L,D)
After an early breakfast we depart by minibus. Leaving the plains around Marrakech we wind our way through the Moulay Brahim Gorge and the foothills of the western High Atlas Mountains. We pass via the village of Asni to Imi Oughlad, where we'll meet our mules and muleteers to begin our trekking adventure.
Our trekking mules will carry your larger bags as well as tents and equipment. Luggage is limited to 12kg per person for the trek and bags must be soft duffle bags or frameless backpacks.
You will carry only your own daypack when trekking - for water, camera, jacket, sunscreen, etc.
It can be that sometimes the mules take a slightly different track at some points, or go faster than we walk. As you may not see them for long stretches, you should be prepared to carry the things you need with you while walking between stops.
We wind our way up past cornfields and woods of juniper and pine to the Tizi 'n Tacht pass (2000m), where we have views back down to Imlil and the Ait Oussaden valley. We descend to the Azzadene Valley, passing red clay terraced villages to reach the village of Tizi Oussem (1720m) where we stay in a mountain gite for the night.
Gites are accommodation in family homes,or mountain huts, usually in mountain villages and are very, very simple. If you have this expectation in mind we are sure you will be pleasantly surprised. Sleeping arrangements are multi-share. Simple bedding is provided. You will need to have your own sleeping bag and sleeping sheet, and bath towel. Bathroom facilities are unisex and shared. You will enjoy delicious homemade dinners of local produce, dining in a traditional manner, often sitting on the floor in a cozy salon.
2 hours driving from Marrakech to Imi Oughlad by private vehicle.
6 hours walking. Ascent: 843m, Descent:300m. | | Day 3 | Walk through Berber villages. Descend to Aremd | Day 3 Walk through Berber villages. Descend to Aremd. (B,L,D)
A full day walking that takes us through the villages of this grand valley to high passes with stunning views. Our walk takes us over the Tizi 'n Tizikert pass (2930m) where we are rewarded with magnificent views over the Toubkal summit, the Tazaghart Pass and the pic of Taddat (3800m).
We then descend to Aremd (1900m) we stay in another village gite for the night, enjoying another local dinner cooked by our trek team.
7 hours walking. Ascent: 1200m, descent: 1000m | | Day 4 | Mizane Valley, Toubkal base camp | Day 4 Mizane Valley, Toubkal base camp (B,L,D)
Today we ascend the beautiful Mizane Valley via the pilgrimage hamlet of Sidi Chamharouch, with the shrine of a marabout (only muslims can cross the bridge to visit the shrine). From here our trail continues to zigzag steadily upwards to reach the Toubkal base camp. We can either enjoy a 2 hour optional climb to the summit of Ouanoums (3650m) or simply relax at our base for the night. Tonight we camp in two person tents near the busy Toubkal refuge, which sits at an altitude of 3207m.
Foam mattresses are provided for you to sleep on during our camping. If you would like more comfort please bring along a light weight self inflating mattress such as a thermarest. Pillows are not provided so you may also wish to bring along an inflatable pillow. You will need to bring a sleeping bags and we recommend a lightweight sleeping sheet as well (for extra warmth or for when hot).
Bathroom facilities are "au naturelle" We will hide our "hole in the ground" toilet with a tent, and ask that all toilet paper is burnt. You can also make use of the toilets and showers at the Toubkel refuge, but you will be asked to pay and sometimes the camp is a bit of distance from the refuge.
6 hours walking. Ascend: 1303m, Descend: 0m | | Day 5 | SummitMt Toubkal | Day 5 SummitMt Toubkal (B,L,D)
An early start today for the challenging trek to the summit of Mt. Toubkal, at 4167 metres the highest mountain in North Africa. After enjoying the magnificent views in all directions, we descend back to our base camp.
Tonight we return to our tents, camping for the evening.
7 Hours walking. Ascend: 960m, descend: 960m | | Day 6 | Descend to the village of Imlil | Day 6 Descend to the village of Imlil (1740m), Marrakech (B,L)
A long descent leads us back via Sidi Chamharouch and Aremd to reach Imlil. After a quick lunch we bid farewell to out muleteers and transfer back to Marrakech.
We have the early evening to explore this wonderful city - perhaps for some serious bargaining for souvenirs. Djemaa el Fna, the open-air market place around which the traditional life of Marrakech revolves, has always been an exciting place to visit. The name literally means 'place of death' as it was the place where the Sultans used to display the heads of their enemies. Now, with the food-stalls, snake-charmers, water-sellers, travelling musicians and acrobats, the square is a place of entertainment for both Moroccan and overseas visitors. The modern shopping centres and boulevards of the French-built new town are also only a short walk away.
We spend this evening in a Marrakesh hotel
Approx 5 hours walking. Descent 1470m.
1.5 hours driving from Imlil to Marrakech. | | Day 7 | Marrakech | Day 7 Marrakech (B)
You are free to depart at anytime today. We are able to organise post tour accommodation if you would like to spend a little more time exploring Marrakech. Please ask at time of booking. |
| | Dossier Disclaimer: The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer: While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances. |
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