Day 1 London / Marrakech
We fly to Marrakech and are transferred to our Riad within the walls of this ancient and beautiful city.
Marrakech is a vibrant and busy place, at its heart is the UNESCO world heritage market square, Djemaa al- Fna. Here we can watch as Southern tribesmen and Beber villagers bring their goods to buy and sell. Just off the square a maze of alleyways lead into the traditional Beber souks and stalls piled high with goods. We may have time to explore before dinner and our first taste of authentic Moroccan cuisine.
As we navigate the narrow alleys and lanes, the 800-year old Koutoubia Minaret- the most perfect Islamic monument in North Africa- towers above us and in the far distance the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains are just visible.
Day 2 Drive to Imlil (1,740m)
Today we leave behind the lively city of Marrakech and drive into the High Atlas Mountains; our destination is the small Berber village of Imlil. Standing 1,740m above sea level, the village sits at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains and boasts spectacular views of the surrounding peaks.
After lunch we begin our acclimatisation with a gentle trek to explore the local area. We trek towards Tizi n’Tamatert where we will get striking views of the two valleys: Imnan and Ait Mizan. This evening we retire to our traditional Moroccan Gite for the night.
Day 3 Acclimatisation trek to Tizi Mzik (2,480m)
Today our acclimatisation continues as we trek west of Imlil towards Tizi Mzik through almond, walnut and apple groves. As we trek, we experience beautiful panoramic mountain views. We climb higher to a mountain pass at 2,480m; here we are can see above the Azzanden and Imlil Valleys. There may be ice and snow patches at this altitude which will give us an idea of what to expect as we trek higher over the coming days. We return to Imlil and our Gite after a day of trekking.
This evening we will have a kit talk and prepare our bags for the next few days, making sure that we have everything necessary for our summit attempt of Mount Toubkal.
Day 4 Trek to Toubkal Base Camp (3,207m)
After breakfast we begin our 7 hour trek to the Toubkal Refuge. On our route we may pass through age-old traditional Berber stone and adobe villages which blend almost seamlessly into the mountainside.
As we travel we will get a real feel for life in the Atlas Mountains. The Berber people are very friendly, so do remember to say ‘Salam Aleykum’ which is a friendly ‘hello’.
Later we climb higher into the mountains and head over steep mountain passes where we are rewarded with fabulous views across the Atlas Mountains.
We descend on routes which can be rocky and steep. We continue through the fields and irrigation channels of the local Berber communities.
Day 5 Winter Skills Training Day
This morning we begin our winter training and after a briefing with our experienced leader to discuss our skills and aspirations, we set out on a trek to explore our alpine surroundings.
We may have to cut a trail through the snow as we trek and, under the watchful eye of our leader, we can learn some vital winter skills and survival techniques.
Beginning with the safe use of crampons, we will learn how to walk effectively on different winter terrain including ice and snow. We can practice both ascending and descending in a controlled environment, learning from our qualified leader and Moroccan Mountain Guides.
We will cover essential ice-axe skills, such as an arrest, where we will learn how to stop ourselves sliding on a snowy slope using our axes. Perfecting the art of walking with axes (and carrying them safely) will make our summit attempt tomorrow much easier.
Once we have mastered some basic winter skills, our leader will brief us on safety procedures; we will learn how to choose the best route and about avalanche awareness. Although the trek to Mount Toubkal’s summit isn’t technical, this is a great opportunity to learn more about winter mountaineering and start building some fundamental mountaineering skills.
After an exciting day out on the mountain, we can relax at the refuge and prepare for our summit of North Africa’s highest peak tomorrow.
Day 6 Ascent of Toubkal (4,167m)
We set off early this morning, leaving the refuge just after first light; we can see the route we will follow from the refuge with its steady ascent and switchbacks.
The climb up to the summit will take several hours and it is a steady, steep trek made more challenging by the snow cover, giving us a great opportunity to put our new crampon and axe skills to the test.
Following the trail up to the high passes, our route is dictated by the landscape as we enter the cwm between Toubkal West (4,030m) and Toubkal main summit (4,167m). Although this is a non-technical climb we may have to do some scrambling on some snowy slopes.
Once we reach our goal- the summit of the highest peak in North Africa- we will be rewarded with views that stretch from Jebel Sirwa in the south to Jebel Sahro in the east and the plains of Marrakech to the north.
Conditions will dictate how long we spend on the summit before starting our ascent back to the refuge. We spend our final night in the mountains celebrating our achievements.
Day 7 Trek to Imlil
This morning is another early start as we trek from the Toubkal Refuge to the village of Imlil where we will meet our driver and return to Marrakech.
On arrival we transfer to our Riad in Marrakech, after which we are free to explore. There may be a another chance to visit the amazing souks (markets), selling beautiful Moroccan, African and Asian crafts and clothes. We can try our bartering skills for family presents and souvenirs as we wander around.
Day 8 Return to London
After an adventure to last a lifetime, we return home with wonderful memories.
Winter Skills and Equipment
The use of crampons and an ice axe is required during this expedition. This equipment will be provided in country. Time will be spent practicing your winter skills before summit day. This expedition is a non-technical winter climb. Some winter walking experience is recommended before joining this expedition but not essential.