Jebel Toubkal (4167m) Atlas Mountain Trek

Day 1

Logistics Meeting at the airport by Pure Outdoor Instructor or in-country agent. Imlil is a village in the mountains at the foot of Jebel Toubkal. It is approximately 1.5 hours drive from Marrakech Menara airport and we will be using a local taxi service. Begin your acclimatisation here with a night at 1750m above sea level.

Day 2

Trekking Day 1 Breakfast in Café du Soleil Trek though the villages of Imlil and Aremd to Sidi Chamarouch where we will stop for some local Berber tea (sweet green tea) and a rest in the sun. In the afternoon we will carry on our trek up to the Toubkal Refuge c.2650m. The air is a lot thinner up here and you may start to feel the altitude. This day should take us between 5 and 7 hours.

Evening Accommodation: Basic Mountain Refuge in dormitory accommodation. Dining: Refuge Full Board

Day 3

Trekking Day 2 We will start the day early to maximise the chances of success. A lot of height gain and a hike up to the summit of Jebel Toubkal 4162m. Photographs and a celebration on the summit after trekking North Africa’s highest peak. A quick break and we then descend the summit screes to a col followed by a trek back to the refuge for more celebratory tea. Depending on fitness levels and how you feel with the altitude this day should take between 5 and 8 hours.

Evening Accommodation: Basic Mountain Refuge or to a Hotel further down the valley. Dining: Refuge Full Board

Day 4

Trekking Day 3 Trek back out to Imlil 4-5 hours max. Poor Weather Alternative If we experience a bad weather day on previous day this can be used to summit Jebel Toubkal and then descend to the valley the same day. A whopper of a day but it is an option! Lunch: Café du Soleil (Imlil) Imlil to Marrakesh Taxi > 1pm.

Evening Meal: Go out as a group and enjoy a final meal out in Marrakech (Not included in price - split between group) Evening Accommodation: Riad/Hotel (Marrakesh) Evening entertainment: The only chance on the trip for a drink, we will go down the road to the local licensed bar.

Day 5

Trip ends. No directed activities. A great opportunity to go sight seeing in Marrakech, or grab a traditional Hammam (massage/sauna) to relax the weary legs before flying home or continuing your onward travel. Taxi transfers are included and are arranged upon request to correspond with all flights.

Food

Food and Drink is included in the cost of the course within reasonable limits. Bottled drinking water is provided on trekking days, other drinks at meal times extra where they can be purchased. The breakdown of included meals are outlined above. Please outline any dietary requirements on the Health Questionnaire. Sample Moroccan Meals: Breakfast: Expect Coffee, Fresh Orange Juice, Boiled Eggs, Croissants, Toast, Bread, Butter, Cheese, Jams, Fruit, Potato Scones. Breakfast in the refuge is very basic but sufficient to get enough energy for a day in the mountains. Lunch: We will not be stopping for large meals. Instead we will have packed lunches and snack stops during the course. Expect flatbread, cheese, fruit, muesli bars. Dinner: Traditional Moroccan cuisine such as cous cous, lamb, chicken or veg tagine, skewered kebabs, fish, potatoes, eggs, flat bread. Sometimes the huts offer other dishes such as Spaghetti or Pasta. Considering the location they generally do very well with their catering.

Health

The Pure Outdoor Medical & Participation form must be completed prior to the trip. For this trip you will also be required to complete a further health check questionnaire, which will be sent to you via email prior to the trip commencing. Participants on this trek must have a good level of fitness. Accommodation Morocco has a huge range of accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes. On this expedition we will be staying in comfortable and clean mid-range accommodation in twin/triple rooms. We have carefully chosen the accommodation to prioritise location, cleanliness, security and friendly staff. This is however still a trekking expedition and the nature of the week does not lend itself to luxury hotels! When in the mountains we will be staying in a mountain refuge (the only option!) Mountain Refuges are historic buildings offering a full board service. The accommodation is always in a dormitory style room with other trekkers. Blankets are available but a reasonable sleeping bag is important. Bring earplugs.

Weather, Environment and Altitude

You can trek in Morocco year round. The summer season is from May to early October and the snow tends to arrive from late November through to March. In October expect temperatures of mid to high 20’s (Celsius) in the valley and places such as Marrakech. In the mountains the temperature could drop down to around 10 degrees and it can be quite cold at night. We generally find trekking in a base layer with a soft-shell jacket or fleece appropriate. Extra layers are essential for when you go higher. Snow and poor weather can scupper the plan of any trekking expedition. Your guide will be keeping a close eye on the weather forecast prior to and during the trip. If it looks like there will be snow on the route basic walking crampons, ice axes and professional guidance on how to use them will be included in the course.

The trekking starts in a small village and the journey winds its way up valleys with dramatic landscapes. You will be sharing the track with locals, trekkers, mules and donkeys. The path is generally quite dusty and rocky. Muleteers will be taking your bags from the valley to the refuge and back down. Jebel Toubkal is at 4162m above sea level. That is over 4 x the size of England’s ‘Scafell Pike’. Fortunately we get to drive up to around 1500m to start us off. People feel the effects of altitude from anything around 2500m. Your guide will brief you on signs and symptoms of altitude sickness on the first evening of the trip. It is essential to keep your guide up to date with how you are feeling during the trek. A good level of fitness prior to the trip does not necessarily help you acclimatise but it will help in making you feel more prepared for the trek.