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HIGH LEVEL TREKKING

PRIVATE TAILOR-MADE TRIPS

Photos of previous trips in this area on this link

Accommodation
See trip itinerary below. Within the trip cost, full board accommodation (1 night in Berber village house and 5 nights in CAF mountain refuges) is included. Sharing rooms with others in the group is the norm whilst staying in the CAF refuges and Berber house. There are sofa type mattresses provided to sleep on in the Berber house. In Lepiney the mattresses are thinner and on the floor but comfortable enough! Neltner/Toubkal refuge has bunk style beds. Sleeping bags are required throughout.

If you are not overly familiar with this area, click here for an outline map to open in a new window to help you.

Trip itinerary
Day 1 Meet in Marrakech early morning and transfer to the small Berber village of Imlil (about 1.5 hours drive south) which is the end of the road and at 1740m. A quick coffee, meet our muleteers, load our bags onto the mules and we're off! Trek over Tizi Mzik which at just over 2400m gives great views of Angour and the surrounding peaks of the High Atlas. Descend easily to the traditional Berber village of Tizi Oussem where we spend the night in a comfortable gite. Great views of tomorrows route as the sun sets.... (4-5 hours)
Day 2 After breakfast, trek up to CAF Lepiney (Tazaghart) refuge at 3000m altitude. Summer grazing settlements (azibs), waterfalls, high peaks and stunning scenery is the order of the day. A great day in the mountains and one which we will enjoy traditional Moroccan mint tea on our arrival at the refuge.... (4-5 hours)
Day 3 We are staying 2 nights total at this refuge so to-day is a day out and back from the refuge. We will decide the programme for the day the previous evening but rest assured there is a huge choice ranging from summitting high peaks to exploring some beautiful and remote hanging valleys. Whatever we do we will be acclimatising well for the next stage of our trip.
Day 4 Today we move on from the Lepiney refuge to the Neltner (or Toubkal) refuge situated at the base of the highest mountain in North Africa. To-day's route brings us over a pass of about 3500m with some great views of the Toubkal massif. Approaching the Neltner refuge this way ensures we do not cover the same ground twice at all during our entire trip and also we avoid the main "highway" from Imlil to Neltner except for returning at the very end of the trip. (5 hours)
Day 5 Yesterday we had a fantastic view up the valley towards the Ouanoukrim "twins" and today we're going to set about climbing them! Great views of Toubkal from the summits - the 2nd & 3rd highest peaks at over 4000m. Return to the Neltner refuge for the night. (6 hours)
Day 6 Up early to attempt Jebel Toubkal 4167m. Our choice of route will be governed by the group's energies and abilities and of course the weather but whatever we climb we should get some great clear views from the summit. The Neltner refuge is at 3207m so a climb of just over 950m to the top and back will take us about 7-8 hours round trip. On our return to the refuge a celebratory lunch, relax and savour the moment...
Day 7 After breakfast, trek down to Imlil stopping half-way at Sidi Chamarouch shrine for a mint-tea break. On arrival in Imlil, lunch and then drive back to Marrakech in time for late afternoon coffee. Goodbyes.

Kit List / Clothes / Weather etc
We will supply you with a suggested kit list on receipt of your booking / reservation. Basically normal walking equipment is all that is required. 
The weather should be warm during the day with cool evenings & nights. Walkers should realise however that weather in the high mountains is unpredictable and should be prepared for this.

Environmental / Health
All our guides are qualified in remote and wilderness first aid and always carry a fully equipped first aid kit for serious medical emergencies. However this is not a general dispensary (!) - walkers should bring their own supplies of plaster, blister prevention pads, paracetmol etc. and any medication they are on.
There are no compulsory vaccinations for Morocco but, as always, you should keep Hep A, Tetanus, Polio, Typhoid and possibly rabies up to date. Consult your GP or a vaccine specialist for professional advice. The most common complaint can be diarrhea which can be caused simply by a change of diet. Non spring bottled water should never be drunk without first sterilising with iodine tablets or by boiling.

Money Matters / Currency / Visas / Language
In addition to all our knowledge, resources, help and attention to detail before the trip starts, once we meet you in Marrakech, our prices include:-

• accommodation as described throughout trip

• all food throughout from the time we leave Marrakech until we get back there

• all transport costs associated with the official trip itinerary

• porters / mules to carry all our communal gear and food up to the refuge

• porterage of your overnight gear & spare clothes during the trip based on 1 kit bag for every 2 people

• professional guiding services for the duration of the trip

• extensive helpful equipment list 

Visas for entry into Morocco are not required by nationals of Ireland, the U.K, U.S.A, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most E.U countries.
The currency in Morocco is the dirham (dh). There are about 10.5 dh to the €. Impossible to get dirham outside of Morocco - therefore take € Euros (preferably) or US$ and exchange over there.
Language is Arabic / Berber but French is also understood / spoken widely. Little or no English spoken / understood.
Time difference = GMT all year.

Insurance
We ask you to effect individual holiday insurance against travel delays, loss of baggage and money, mountain rescue & medical expenses, personal accident and any cancellation costs. You should note that there are no official mountain rescue services in Morocco and that any evacuation in the event of a serious medical emergency to the nearest hospital will be by land as opposed to helicopter.  
We will require documentary evidence of your insurance prior to departure.  

Trip Ethos
A small group (8 persons maximum), personally led by one of our guides whose job it is to ensure that you have a quality trekking & mountaineering week summitting high 3000m & 4000m peaks in the High Atlas Mountains in good company - it’s that simple!