Morocco High Atlas Mountains Trek

Fitness level

Perfect for those who want to push themselves physically and mentally. You will be walking long distances over uneven and rough terrain and you may experience some harsh weather conditions.

Mountaineering skills

One of the huge benefits of the Morocco High Atlas challenge is that you do not need any specialist mountaineering skills, experience or equipment to reach the summit.

This non-technical climb will be a real test of your mental and physical resilience - but it does not require you to be a seasoned mountain climber.

Accommodation

• 1 night in a comfortable hostel or traditional riad in Imlil and Marrakech
• 1 night in multi share accommodation such as a mountain bunkhouse
• The majority of nights will be spent in tented accommodation which will all be set up and ready for your arrival each day - views included

Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

Meeting point

Marrakesh Menara Airport
Marrakech
40000
Morocco

Itinerary

• Day 1 | Travel

  Departing from a London based airport, you will be met by a representative at your accommodation in Imlil, set deep in the Atlas mountains. You will have the opportunity to explore Imlil before a team dinner and your challenge briefing.

• Day 2 | Imlil to Tacheddirt

  After breakfast, the trek begins! You will walk along the valley to Tacheddirt, roughly 8km away from Imlil. The trail begins to steepen as you ascend to the pass at Tizi n’ Tamatert (2279m). You will then descend into the village of Ouaneskra (2200m) and continue trekking until you reach Tacheddirt (2300m) where you will camp for the night.

• Day 3 | Tizi Likemt, Azib Likemt

  Today you will trek towards Tizi Likemt, a slow and gradual climb to heights of 3555m. As you reach the top, you will be welcomed by a fantastic view of the Toubkal Massif before a long descent to the village of Azib Likemt (2200m) where you will spend the night.

• Day 4 | Tizi n’ Ououraine, Amsouzert

  This is a long and challenging day, passing through a number of different landscapes. You will trek towards Tizi n’ Ououraine (3120m), enjoying further views of the Toubkal Massif as well as the Ifni Dome (3876m). The trail will then lead you onwards and downwards to Amsouzert (1700m), one of the region’s most striking villages, where you will spend the night.

• Day 5 | Ifni Lake

  You will head West of Amsouzert, passing several small villages as you make your way to Ifni Lake (2300m). The only lake in the Massif, Ifni Lake is deep and surrounded by rocky mountains. You will spend some time relaxing at its shores before spending the night in a nearby campsite.

• Day 6 | Tizi n’ Ouanoums, Neltner Refuge

  By now you should feel well acclimatised and be ready to tackle the hardest day of the challenge. You will trek up a steep path until you reach the pass at Tizi n’ Ouanoums (3664m), a narrow ledge between two shafts of rock. From here you will zig-zag your way down to the Neltner Refuge (3200m).

• Day 7 | Mount Toubkal summit

  Today you will leave before dawn and follow the well-worn route to the summit of Mount Toubkal (4167m). If conditions are good, this should take approximately 2-3 hours. At the summit, you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the entire Atlas range and the Marrakech plains beyond. A rapid descent will take you back to base camp, on to the villages of Sidi Chamharouch and Aremd and, finally, along the Mizane River back to Imlil. You will then transfer back to your accommodation in Marrakech where you will have a chance to rest before heading out for a celebratory team meal. Multi share accommodation.

• Day 8 | Travel or Edge of the Sahara Trip begins

  If you’ve chosen to come home early you will depart for the UK on a flight back from Marrakech. Those on the ‘without flights’ travel option are free to continue on your own itinerary after breakfast. If you’ll be joining us on the Edge of the Sahara extension trip, you will depart on your extended itinerary today!

Included

• Accommodation
• Meals - breakfasts, lunches and dinners
• All National Park fees, entrance fees, taxes, and permits
• English-speaking professional guides
• Safe drinking water during the trek
• Communal camping equipment 
• Porter service on the trek
• Comprehensive pre-departure support and advice
• 24-hour emergency line for use during your trip

Not Included

• Flights to Marrakech (roughly £150 return)
• Airport transfers
• Tips and gratuities
• Visas
• Travel insurance
• Medical expenses in case of emergency on your trip
• Any necessary vaccinations or medications 
• Additional food and drink
• Optional excursions
• Personal camping equipment and clothing
• Other items of a personal nature

Carbon offsetting

This challenge follows a carbon offsetting programme in partnership with WeForest, a European non-profit organisation who work tirelessly with local people and projects around the globe to fight climate change by planting trees across the world.

A proportion of your trip costs go towards a tree-planting project in Zambia, where WeForest works with hundreds of small-scale farmers to plant trees to sequester the carbon emissions that your trip produces.

The project also assists the local community by providing these farmers with training and tools to diversify their sources of income while they plant and protect local forests. As a result, they receive a higher income, diversify their economic activities and learn new skills. This allows the local farmers to become self-sufficient.

A responsible challenge

This challenge is operated in a sustainable, ethical and transparent manner - from the initial booking, to your return home, there is a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices in all areas.

• Local impact and welfare

  This challenge is locally led, made up of local people with expert local knowledge and a genuine passion for the sites and communities in which they are based. All guides and support staff are paid a fair wage.

• Integrity and transparency

  This challenge is operated with members of multiple accreditation agencies and the organisers are always working towards new schemes to ensure they remain the most informed, transparent, sustainable, safe and inspiring travel company around. Currently members of multiple standards agencies, including ABTA and ATOL, and accredited by Travellers Against Plastic (TAP) and Tourism Concern as an Ethical Tour Operator.

  Commercial partners are granted access to risk assessments, as well as all up-to-date licences and certificates, providing reassurance that they are collaborating with a professional tour operator.

• Single-use plastics

  The Travellers Against Plastic (TAP) pledge was established in 2018 to help fight the harmful consumption of single-use plastics through challenge operations. In all destinations, water is purified from local sources for challenge participants.

  In remote areas where this is not possible, the team prioritise large, decantable cooler bottles which are later recycled. Where the provision of safe drinking water is not possible, teams adhere to a ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra.

• Animal welfare

  Animal welfare is taken extremely seriously, so itineraries which facilitate or encourage the mistreatment of animals are not produced or promoted. Animal welfare policies are strongly influenced by industry-standard ABTA guidelines on the treatment of animals. When sourcing ground agents, there would be no partnership with non-compliant agents and the opportunity is taken to help to educate non-compliant agents in best practice.

  As an active member of ABTA’s Animal Welfare Working Group, the organisers are up to date with all animal welfare issues the world over.

You will be required to pay the registration fee at the time of booking and the final balance 10 weeks before departure.

Once your final balance has been settled at or before 10 weeks prior to departure, your place on the trip will be confirmed and you'll be ready to take on the challenge of a lifetime!

Costs

Taking on the High Atlas Mountains Trek was something completely new for me and not like anything I’ve ever experienced before. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable, the location is fantastic and the itinerary was great. This has definitely made me open to taking on another challenge in the future. Laura