Accommodation
2 nights in a mid-range hotel in Marrakech ■ Mixture of 5 nights camping with village houses and gîtes d'étape in the High Atlas.
Spending a night in a Berber Village House
An often intimate experience with your fellow travellers ■ Possibly all sleep in one room, or females in one room, males in another ■ May be possible to sleep on the rooftop under the stars ■ Village houses usually have mattresses, a couple of toilets, cold water for washing and cooking ■ Minded by a local guardian ■ Expect simplicity and authenticity – if you prefer your home comforts, these may not be for you!
Transport
Minibus or 4WD transfers from Marrakech to trek start point at Imlil ■ Mules to transport luggage and equipment (usually 1 mule for each 2 to 3 trekkers) ■ On foot following mule paths, dirt tracks, stoney trails - often walking two abreast, sometimes scree on mountain paths
Meals
7 breakfasts ■ 5 lunches ■ 5 dinners
Staff
Experienced English-speaking Moroccan tour leader/mountain guide ■ Berber cook ■ Mules and muleteers
Age Restriction
Minimum age 14. No maximum - though an adequate level of fitness is essential
Optional Activities
An optional visit to a hammam can be organised at the end of the trek once back in Marrakech
What To Bring
A suggested full packing list is available on request but essential items include:
Well broken-in walking boots ■ Warm clothing including fleece jacket ■ Long trousers ■ Raincoat ■ Hat, sunglasses and long sleeved shirt for protection against the sun ■ Take a kit bag for ease of transportation of your luggage by mules ■ A daypack for every day items needed on trek ■ A water bottle and trek/walking poles ■ A 4-season sleeping bag ■ Foam mat
Group Size
Maximum 16
Other Information
A Typical Day on a ‘Rendez-vous Marocain’ Trek
Wake-up shortly after sunrise ■ Light breakfast ■ Pack luggage (not accessible for rest of day) and take down tents ■ Luggage loaded on to mules ■ Commence walking until lunch break ■ Regular photo stops en route ■ Dried fruit and nuts distributed by guide at regular intervals ■ Picnic or cooked lunch in the shade usually around noon ■ Continue walking until reaching our village or wilderness accommodation for the night – either camp, village house or perhaps a gite ■ Erect own tents, help local crew set-up camp or prepare food (speeds things up) ■ Dinner served around 19h00 – usually traditional Berber cuisine of couscous, tasty tagines, fresh fruit and mint tea ■ Perhaps a spot of star-gazing before turning in for the night.
This trek provides a great insight into typical Berber village life and is escorted by mule handlers from the local area. There is thus plenty of opportunity for interaction with the Berber people who live in this region.
As a responsible Moroccan company, a fair and reasonable price is paid for mules, mule handlers and local guides. By visiting the region that this trek operates in you make a direct contribution to the local economy.
Please attempt to minimize the amount of packaging and disposable items you take with you – much of this trek travels through rugged wilderness areas where waste disposal facilities are very limited.
Operator Remarks
This trek involves active to strenuous trekking (approx. 4 to 7 hours a day) usually at altitudes of around 2,000 to 3,000 metres. Most of the trek is along well-trodden but rough and stoney mule paths. Ascending Jebel Toubkal is non-technical and involves some scrambling and steep slopes, but well worth the effort for sensational views on a clear day and a great sense of achievement.
