DURATION 4 nights ANNUAL LEAVE
3 days off work GROUP SIZE
Up to 12 people ACCOMMODATION
2 nights in a riad and 2 nights in a mountain refuge |
LOCATION Marrakech, Morocco DATE
Thursday 27th November - Monday 1st December 2025 MEETING POINT
London Heathrow Airport |
£TBC*
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ACTIVITIES & CERTIFIED GUIDES
All itinerary activities with local, expert, English-speaking guides Transfers & Porterage
Airport transfers and everything in between; plus mules and muleteers to carry your overnight luggage on the trek Riad & Mountain Refuge
2 nights in a riad and 2 nights in a mountain refuge |
EQUIPMENT
Your crampons, ice axe and sleeping bag will be provided MEALS
All breakfasts, 3 packed lunches and 2 dinners. SMALL LIKE-MINDED GROUPS
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people |
Travel Insurance
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Visas where required (we will advise you)
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Tips
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Personal expenses
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ItineraryDAY 1 (Thurs 27th November)
Check out the sights and smells of Marrakech
Your host will meet you at the airport and drive you to your traditional riad accommodation in Marrakech historic medina. The day is yours to explore the city’s colourful souks, wander the UNESCO-listed Jemaa el-Fna square and indulge in some amazing Moroccan food. DAY 2 (Friday 28th November)
Travel to the Atlas Mountains and hike to your refuge at 3200m
Wake up early for the scenic drive through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to Imlil, where you'll meet your support crew. Begin your trek by gradually ascending the Toubkal Valley, passing Berber farming villages before stopping for lunch on the trail. In the afternoon, you’ll arrive at the refuge. Settle in, meet other hikers and refuel with a well-earned dinner cooked by your support crew. As night falls, wrap up warm, get in your sleeping bag and head to bed looking forward to the high-altitude winter days ahead. DAY 3 (Saturday 29th November)
Take a day to acclimatise
Wake up to incredible views of snow-covered mountains followed by a hot breakfast. After trying out your crampons and ice axe, set out on an acclimatisation hike to summit some of the lower peaks around the refuge in preparation for the ascent to Toubkal's summit tomorrow. You’ll be back at the refuge by late afternoon to eat, relax and dream about the views from the top. DAY 4 (Sunday 30th November)
Rise early to summit Toubkal
Rise when it's still dark, turn your head torch on and start climbing up and out of the valley. You’ll soon face steep, snowy slopes, ice and high winds as you make your way along the trail, but once you attain the ridge, your goal is in sight. Once you make it to the summit, soak in the view from the top, give yourself a pat on the back, then escape the whipping wind as you begin the long descent back to Imlil. From here, say farewell to the Atlas Mountains and drive back to your riad in Marrakech, where the night is yours to find a restaurant for couscous or a tasty tagine to celebrate, before collapsing into bed. DAY 5 (Monday 1st December)
Time to head back to reality
Get ready for an epic day as you head out to explore the sea around Madeira's eastern tip. Ponta de São Lourenço is a peninsula of volcanic origin, where a semi-arid climate and exposure to northern winds cause the vegetation to be unusually low and absent of trees – a stark contrast with the rest of the island. Join a local marine biologist aboard a high-speed boat, keeping your eyes peeled for the abundant marine life: sightings of common and bottlenose dolphins, as well as loggerhead turtles, are common, and sometimes sperm whales. After lunch, you'll hike along the coastal trails of this incredible nature reserve, stopping for a swim along the way. Back in Machico, enjoy a final meal with your fellow adventurers and guide, then get some rest ahead of an early rise for your final day of adventure tomorrow. |
Food and AccommodationWHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?
Moroccan food has a unique blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Local specialities include tajine (a stew cooked in an earthenware pot), couscous, and pastilles (flaky pastries stuffed with meat and dusted with cinnamon and sugar). Food is often spiced with cumin, turmeric and ginger. Meals on the trek are cooked by the Berber muleteers. For breakfast, you'll be served a selection of jams, bread, cookies and fruit with juice, coffee and tea. Lunches and dinners will be fresh and healthy, including dishes such as soup, salads, vegetable dishes, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, classic Moroccan tagine, couscous, olives, nuts and fruit. Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for – please just request this on your passenger info form. WHAT IS THE ACCOMMODATION LIKE?
Marrakech
In Marrakech, you'll stay in a beautiful riad - traditional Moroccan houses with an interior garden or courtyard. The exact riad you stay in will be confirmed nearer the time based on availability and group size. All are chosen for their excellent reputation, location, beautiful decor and welcoming service. Mount ToubkalDuring the trek, you'll stay in either the Mouflon or Neltner mountain refuge depending on availability and group size. The rooms are basic shared dorms with bunk beds. There’s a common area to relax in the evening and chat with other climbers from around the world. KITLIST
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
INCLUDED MEALS
DIFFICULTY RATING
This trip has been rated as Tough This trek requires a very good level of fitness. As this trip takes place during the winter, you must be capable of hiking all day up paths of moderate difficulty and be prepared to face rain, snow and high winds. During the lower parts of this trek, the walking is relatively straightforward, but the loose footing and high altitude will make the going quite difficult in parts. You should pack enough personal food and snacks to power you through 3 full days of hiking at altitude. Towards the summit, you will encounter steep snowy sections where crampons and ice axes will be required; Your guides will give you a full safety briefing on how to use these. However difficult it gets, the views along the way make the journey more than worthwhile. On any winter hike in a high mountain environment, you will potentially encounter high winds, rain, snow, ice and steep slopes. The Atlas Mountains are no different and you should be experienced and prepared to face these conditions. For the higher parts of the trek, you will use crampons and have an ice axe to hand. What will I need to carry?Mules will carry your main overnight luggage during the trek and you will need to carry your daypack with your daytime essentials (extra layer, snacks, water etc.). For the welfare of the mules, please ensure your main overnight luggage is in a soft-sided bag and weighs no more than 15kg. |
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