Trek the Atlas

Purity of light, beauty of landscapes, from the desert to the Atlantic coast, from fertile valleys to snow covered mountains, architectural richness, and the legendary hospitality of the Berber people: an authentic country which offers a complete change of surroundings.
A "hot" place for adventure travel where one always comes back!

Ideal for outlining the Moroccan mountains: alpine relief, stone villages and terrace fields fixed on the side of narrow valleys, traditional way of life.
With Toubkal as an objective, culminating point in North Africa at 13,474 feet, glimmering all of the way from Marrakech.
Then on to discover Essaouira, the white and blue city on the Atlantic coast.

• Day 1/  Arrival in Marrakech
• Day 2/  Setti Fatma – Timichchi, Gite-Homestead
• Day 3/  Tizi Ouhattar – Oukaïmeden (10,171 feet), Gite-Homestead
• Day 4/  Tizi n'Addi - Aït Souka (Gite-Homestead)
• Day 5/  Toubkal refuge (10,531 feet)
• Day 6/  Toubkal (13,474 feet), Aït Souka, Gite-Homestead
• Day 7/  To Essaouira
• Day 8/  Essaouira (option Water therapy treatment)
• Day 9/  Essaouira - Marrakech
• Day 10/  Marrakech, visit
• Day 11/ Depart from Marrakech.

The highlight of this trek in altitude: climbing the J'bel Toubkal (13,474 feet) and from the summit, the sightseeing reward onto the Moroccan Atlas mountain chain, to the North, the Marrakech plain and to the South, the Saharan desert blurred by the haze of the heat.
But the original route of this excursion also proposes to us, the discovery of terrace cultivation in the Moroccan Atlas high valleys and the hospitality of the Berber people is no legend. The Berbers attach their heart and soul to their ground which makes the Atlas a very "alive" mountain. 100 miles west of Marrakech, the Essaouira rock peninsula shelters a beautiful beach. But this multi faceted small city also offers strolls in the dunes or forests with superb vegetation. In the well known, Sofitel Mogador, you will be able to enjoy one day of spa and relaxation... And in the evening after an excellent traditional meal, we will stroll around the harbor and in the animated streets of the Medina (old city). 

Day 1/ Arrival Marrakech
Arrival in Marrakech. Settle in a charming Riyadh (the Slitine Riyadh, or similar) in the middle of the Medina (old city). According to your flight's arrival time, possibility to get an early start enjoying the Medina (old city).

Day 2/ Marrakech - Setti Fatma - Timichchi
We reach the village of Setti Fatma, after a short transfer by minibus through the green valley of Ourika.
After having entrusted your luggage to a muleteer, and having enjoyed lunch, we begin our trek with a small stage discovering the ingeniousness of the Berber mountain dwellers: their irrigation canals, terrace cultivation, mills... and villages perched on the sides of the valley... all designed not to lose even a single yard of fertile ground.
Night in Timichchi Gite-Homestead.
3. 30 H walk - Ascent = 1,800 feet.

Day 3/ Timichchi - Tizi Ouhattar - Oukaïmeden
Leaving the culture behind us, we approach the high Moroccan mountain fields by way of the Tizi Ouhattar pass (10,312 feet); the "azibs" (high country sheep barns) testimony to the activity in the pastures and you will enjoy answering to "Salam Aleikum", the Shepherd's salutation.
At the end of the day, when the sun is lower on the horizon, the shaving light highlights Neolithic rock engravings at the site.; It is here where you will discover them.
Night at Oukaïmeden hut.
6 H walk - Ascent = 4,300 feet

Day 4/ Oukaïmeden - Tizi n'Addi - Tizi Tamatert - Aït Souka
What an impression to be at the end of the world.... And, all at the same time, to see villages that well inhabited in such remote areas, the tiny fields are well cultivated... between Tizi Addi and Tizi Tamatert, the Imenane valley continues to follow its peaceful course far from tourist agitation, as in the beginning of time.
Night in Gite-Homestead at Aït Souka.
Ait Souka Gite-Homestead: run by Ahmed Aït Hammou, one of our Mountain World Travel guides; Ahmed as his family as well, are charming and of excellent company. Large very clean collective rooms inside and outside. Generous, varied and excellent meals. "Top-of-the-range" lodging, with a superb view.
6 H walk - Ascent = 1,540 feet - Descent = 4,100 feet.

Day 5/ Aït Souka - Toubkal Hut
The ascent to the hut begins while following the canals which irrigate the terrace cultivation fields.
After the lunch-pause in the Sidi Chamarouch small village in its marabout (typical tent), the mountain becomes more arid and one can hear the sheep and goat that are kept by the young shepherds.
Night in Toubkal hut (refuge Neltner -10,531 feet).
5. 30 H walk - Ascent = 3,900 feet.

Day 6/ Toubkal Hut - Summit of Toubkal (13,474 feet) - Aït Souka
The ascent to the top is complete without major difficulty. The path goes up a small deep valley which emerges at a pass. Then a broad peak leads us to the top. Here the view is seizing, we dominate most of the Atlas and the Haouz plains in the north and Ouarzazate...
The descent is carried out on the same pathway and, from the hut after our picnic, we arrive back at Ait Souka.
Night in Ait Souka Gite-Homestead.
8/9 H walk - Ascent = 3,450 feet - Descent = 7,450 feet.

Day 7/ Aït Souka - Essaouira
Short descent to Imlil (30 mn approximately). The minibus waits at the village to bring us back down to the plains. Road for Essaouira.
Settle in for two nights at the Sofitel Mogador, 5 star hotel. In the evening, after an excellent traditional meal in the old city, it feels good to stroll around the harbor and in the animated streets of the Medina.
30 minute walk - Descent = 500 feet.

Day 8/ Essaouira
Your choice, and as an option: traditional hammam, spa, bathe (hotel swimming pools, beaches...).The Sofitel Mogador hotel is the most famous one of the country for its water treatments, massage, and spas, etc.
For those who wish: discover the coast in the south of Essaouira with a guide. Alternation of beautiful wild beaches, rocky capes and small lost villages.
1 to 2 H walk.

Day 9/ Essaouira - Marrakech
Visit the splendid town of Essaouira, old Mogador (Amegdoul is the Berber name for this small island facing the harbor), which means "difficult place to reach", but when the Portuguese arrived, Amegdoul became Mogador): labyrinth of white and blue houses, fortress, Medina... This fishing harbor was created by the Portuguese then conquered by the French.
Road for Marrakech, where we arrive in the evening; possibility of visiting an argan oil (from the Argania Spinosa almond tree) co-operative. Settle in for two nights in the charming Riyadh (Riyadh Slitine or similar) in the Medina.

Day 10/ Marrakech
Guided tour of the principal monuments of the city (Majorelle gardens, Médersa, Saadiens tombs, Bahia palace).
In the evening, it we will have some time to enjoy the charms of the red city, and the famous square Djemaa el Fna, always enthralling

Day 11/ Back home
Transfer to the airport and flight home.

- The walking time schedules are given only as an estimate.
- For different reasons involving trip organization, daily schedules and planned altitude gains (ascent or descent) may be modified without any prior notice.

Back pack needed for the half day pack with basic essentials, protective clothing, camera, water, etc...

The guide
- an English, French, Arab and Berber speaking professional Moroccan Mountain World Travel guide. He will introduce you to the Berber world, because he is the best representative for his culture.
The local team
- a driver.

Private air conditioned mini bus for ground transportation inside the country.

All lodgings in the cities is charming.
Hotels: 4 or 5 stars
Riyadh (with swimming pool in general, heated in winter): the Riyadh's are old palaces, usually located inside the Medina, restored and arranged with good taste. Personalized, genuine welcome.
In villages, night's lodging in the homes of locals: simpler than hotels, but very welcoming and our only option in remote areas.
In general, the gites are composed of several rooms with mattresses, pillows, carpets, available to the group with toilet and shower. You often have the option of taking a "hamman" (steam room) in the village (variable rate, from 20 to 50 dirham).
Whenever it is compatible with our tour schedule, we will stay at the Gites-Homesteads. Most often, the Gites-Homesteads are run by the families of our guides. Our choosing to stay in the Gites-Homesteads has two advantages: it enables us to meet and interact with the locals and it promotes a soft touristic development in the village. Our stays bring in a little money to the families and help the families to live and maintain their lifestyle in the mountains.

The names of accommodations (hotels, lodges, etc...) when they are indicated, are only indicative.
Depending on availability, accommodations (hotels/Lodges, etc...) may be replaced by another equivalent type.
It is possible that accommodations may change without prior notice due to a number of factors.

• Downtown and during the transfers: restaurant (sometimes picnic during the transfers)
• During hikes: picnic
• Mineral water, and tea provided

Mint tea is served at all meals.
You can, in addition, taste the rosy boulaouane, the red cabernet and the muscatel, which are excellent local wines.
You will be able to indulge yourselves in: salads, tajine (a kind of beef, poultry or fish stew with tasty vegetables), couscous, pastilla (succulent cake of puff pastry filled with pigeon and lightly sweetened), skewers, soups (harira), sweet desserts. Moroccan cuisine is regarded as one of the best in the world! It should be noted that the Moroccans, Muslims, do not eat pork.

Although we are an experienced adventure travel company doing our best to respect the itinerary schedule as presented on this detailed itinerary, there is always the possibility that we may need to modify it for different reasons beyond our control.
Please read the Registration Conditions: Terms and Booking conditions - Limitations of Liability.

• International flights in/out Morocco
• All services mentioned in Services +/extensions/options
• Personal medical & Travel Insurance
• All items not expressively mentioned in "What's included"

• Drinks (except mineral water - tea)
• Personal expenses.
• Tips for guide and local team
• All items not expressively mentioned in "What's included"

As airfare is NOT included in our adventures, please check if your trip is "a guaranteed departure" before confirming your own airline travel arrangements. You can check your trip status at the Mountain World Travel website or contact the Mountain World Travel office at 1-970-544-WALK (1-970-544-9255) or at 1 888-MWT-TREK (698-8735).

Our preferred airlines to fly to Marrakech:

• Royal Air Maroc operates daily flights to Marrakech from New York through Casablanca
• Skyteam (Delta, Northwest, Continental, Air France - KLM), operates daily flights from anywhere in the States to Marrakech, through Paris or Amsterdam

Formalities for US, Canada, Australia, NZ passport travelers: a passport valid 6 months after the supposed return day of your journey; no visa needed for a stay up to 90 days.
For US citizens, please check with US Government Travel Entry Exit Requirements
For other nationalities, please contact the Moroccan embassy of your country.

Health and First Aid (it does regroup Health and Individual Medical Requirements)
Vaccines: No vaccine is obligatory. We advise you, however, to be up to date with the traditional vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, typhoid fever. Vaccination against hepatitis A recommended.
For more information visit the website of the  US Department of Health.

Dentist and doctor
Physical Examination prior to your departure is recommended.

Acclimatization and preventive treatment against altitude sickness
For all the trips with summits, we conceive our routes by respecting the best possible "stages of altitude acclimatization", however the make-up of the country can require an abrupt climb. A hyper baric chamber is provided during committed treks in very high altitude, for emergency treatment of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). And so, it is preferable to consider, with your doctor, a preventive treatment against altitude sickness and to check your capacity to evolve in altitude (specific tests may be considered).
For more information visit the website of the  US Department of Health - Altitude Illness.

LEVEL 4
3 months prior:  Hike 10 to 12 miles every weekend or on two consecutive days OR if you are regularly committed, on an annual basis, to another sports activity that develops stamina (jogging, cycling or swimming) for a cumulative duration of 2 to 3 hours per week (without excessive shortness of breath or exceptional fatigue), you should be up to speed.  

 

Basic equipment
- A warm fleece hat
- A cap or a hat to protect from the sun
- Sun glasses (minimum index 3 or 4 for high mountain)
- Thermal top and bottom, short and long) underwear (fast drying).
- Fleece turtle neck top
- A warm fleece jacket (light weight/well insulated).
- A waterproof/breathable shell jacket (Gore-Tex).
- A pair of gloves
- A rain poncho
- Hiking shorts
- Lightweight hiking long pants
- A Camelback or a water bottle.

Shoes and technical material
- Hiking socks
- Waterproof ankle hiking boots and a sole offering good traction.
- Head lamp
- A pair of telescopic walking poles

Luggage
- A back pack equipped with broad straps, with an adjustable anatomical back reinforcement, and a capacity of 7 to 9 gallons, for your daily belongings
- A soft travel bag, which can hold between 18 to 23 gallons that will be transported by the porter team or by vehicle during the day.

Miscellaneous
- A change of clothes.
- A pair of replacement shoe laces
- A dop-kit and a bath towel.
- Toilet paper.
- A pocket knife (not in carry on luggage).
- Some plastic bags to protect your belongings.
- Duct tape
- A bathing suit.
- A small pocket anti-theft protection device, to always keep on yourself, along with your identity papers, money, certificate of insurance.

Some advice
During your flight your back pack should contain fragile and useful items that you might need while on the plane (camera, memory cards, jacket, books, magazines, medication, dop-kit etc).

Morocco offers a complete change of surroundings to you, in the purity of its light and the beauty of its landscapes: from the Sahara to the Atlantic, from the Mediterranean to Mauritania, sands of the desert to snows of the mountains, we take you along to discover authentic Morocco.
In sync with the rhythm of the excursion, Morocco is an enchantment for your eyes where tender greens of irrigated terraces mix with the reds of the clay slopes, ochre and oranges of the Kasbahs and the fairness of the barley fields.....all under the blue azure skies.  the glance where mix the tender green of  irrigated terraces, the red of the argillaceous slopes, the ochre and  orange of the Kasbahs, the fair one of the barley fields... the whole under a blue azure sky.
Let the Atlantic shores guide you while encountering fishermen, or submerge yourself in the sublime landscapes colored by the Atlas mountain range.The legendary hospitality of the Berber people who live in these mountains, their devotion and even their conception of society can only hypnotize you.
Traverse these wild grounds, favorable to meeting, alongside these proud and interesting men, and share our passion for this country of contrasts!

• Specialists in walking trips: more than twenty years of experience, always innovative, professional well trained guides.
• Guarantee of a highly reliable organization and team, thanks to our own attentive and effective agency in Marrakech, to better serve you!
• A constant desire to continue to improve our voyages: all of our circuits are the fruit of our own exploration and are created in collaboration with our local guides. These trips make you discover authentic Morocco, and allow you access to privileged encounters with the inhabitants.
• An exceptional price/quality ratio, with very high quality services, in particular for lodging and logistics.
• Guaranteed departures with 4 participants.

Mediterranean climate in the North, Atlantic coast climate in the West, Saharan in the South, Continental inside the territory; the climate presents violent contrasts according to the area. Morocco is either very hot or very cold or very wet or very dry. Only the coastal areas have a moderate climate.
Because of the rough winters in the Atlas, the best season for hiking in the mountains of Morocco is from spring to autumn (April to November), with pleasant temperatures and the possibility of refreshing yourself in the water points. In altitude (area of Toubkal or at the foot of Mount Goun), it happens that it can freeze during the night, even in summer. However, the sun can also be very hot!

Average temperatures in Marrakech 1,566 feet high (maximum/minimum in Fahrenheit degrees):

Jan	March	May	July	Sept	Nov
63/43	72/50	79/55	97/68	90/64	72/52

For spring time departures: you will enjoy the greenery, the flowers.....in brief, the re-emergence of life !
For fall departures: the occasion to admire the beautiful colors, the great lights, and the transparency of the air.

Population	33 millions habitant
Surface	172,414  squares miles
Capital	Rabat
Main Cities	regarding our circuits : Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Essaouira, Agadir
Peaks	Toubkal (13,671 feet) - M'goun (13,323 feet)
Official Language	Classical Arabic (official language)
Local Language	Dialectal Arab, Berber, Spanish, French is commonly spoken
Religion	Islam  (99 % of Muslims originally  Berber, Arab or Sudanese)
Head of the state	Its Majesty, the King Mohammed VI
Political Status	Constitutional Monarchy
Time Shift	http://www.worldtimezone.com/utc/utc.html

The national currency is the Dirham (MAD)
Exchange rate in 2008: 1$ = 8,5 MAD
Take dollars, preferably, in small increments ($50 maximum). You will be able to exchange them upon arrival at the airport or in the big hotels and banks. Credit cards are accepted and there are many ATM machines.

As an organizer of worldwide trips, Mountain World Travel is concerned for our guest’s safety and security. We always keep ourselves up to date with current travel warnings and always consider the government safety advices, while organizing and preparing our different trips. Please double check on the official government website regarding each country’s warnings.
US Government Travel Advices

The spirit of Mountain World Travel voyages was born in the Moroccan Atlas!
It is under the impulse of Mike Vibert, French mountain guide, that the Morocco destination is measured: the first Morocco booklet is born in 1995. Mike caught passion for the country and the richness of its human contacts, and decides to create a reception agency in Marrakech.
Mike Vibert then meets Xavier, serious traveler impassioned by Africa, who agreees to leave his luggage in Marrakech. Today, with the help of Hassan, a Berber mountain guide, "responsible for the mountain and desert activities", the three men share and communicate their ‘entrepreneur' passion, their faith in the job of guiding and their know-how organization to the entire team on the terrain.
Here, a true partnership was born with the team and the guides.
The rich personalities of each of these men insures them a place of choice within Mountain World Travel and with their guidance, we promise you the opportunity to experience an unforgettable experience in Morocco! Exchange, shared trips, reciprocal discoveries, all contributed to our forming a relationship full of loyalty and confidence.
Our Moroccan team, proud to work with us and truly representative of the spirit of Mountain World Travel, is composed of experienced guides and a local reception agency; professionals who guarantee your safety under any circumstance. Impassioned by their country, these men, so rich in personality, will share enthusiastically their culture with you.  
In addition, this Moroccan team is particularly attentive to respecting the environment and respecting the people of the country. Our guides are regularly involved in local projects, and we support them from the framework of our philosophy for responsible tourism.

Mountain World Travel has been involved for a long time in a responsible and sustainable approach to tourism in Morocco.
Here are some of our actions in this country:
- In 1999: drilling of a well for the nomads in Aït Atta country. Thereafter, we have regularly taken an active part in the maintenance and consolidation of this well.
- In 2005: collection of schoolbooks organized by our teams to supplement the very recent collection at the library of the Tabant college, in the valley of Aït Bougmez.
In 2005, we organized, with the assistance of our guides, mule driver and Moroccan cooks the first cleaning operation to be organized around the Toubkal camp. The objective was to limit the pollution of the river, the source of water supplying the villages downstream, and of the high meadows, pastures for the herds. Ten Mountain World Travel trekkers, Moroccan guides and the villagers of Imlil joined our team. The result: more than two tons of collected waste (then transported to the Marrakech recycling center).

- Assif: river
- Douar: hamlet
- Agadir: collective agricultural storage
- Irhil: the "arm", lengthened peak
- Akka: deep canyons
- Jbel (Arab word): mountain
- Arhbalou: source
- Kasbah: strengthened house
- Azib: animal barn
- Wadi (Arab word): river
- Luck: state of grace
- Souk (Arab word): market
- Bled (Arab word): village in the countryside
- Tizi: pass

You can ask your guide how to pronounce these key words; your voyage will only be richer by your attempting to speak the local language. 

Our proposed trips take you along to encounter the Berber people, particularly captivating population due to the organization of their society. Descendants of the Paleolithic population on one hand and the Proto Mediterranean's on the other, the Berbers were converted to Islam by Arabic in the VII century A-D. However, they preserved their own societies' structure: families, villages, clans, tribes and confederations. The Berbers are monogamists, and the woman holds an important place in the family, where she is paid great respect. She does not veil herself; her face is tattooed with her tribe or her clan marks and signs to keep away the evil eye. Berbers are tolerant people. Divorced women do not have a hard time finding another husband, and sexuality is much freer than in the Arab society. You will often see, during your stops close to the villages, mischievous and laughing women coming to observe you and trying to communicate with you.

Which (S) language (S) does one speak in Morocco?
The use of French is extremely widespread.
The official language is classical Arabic, or literary Arabic, the only one which is printed, which is written; it is the language of the Koran, but also one of the media, law and sciences. The Arabic dialectal one or "vulgar" Arabic is the only language spoken by Arabic-speaking people from the cities and the campaigns countryside.
Berber is the rural language. It is only oral and spoken in family. It includes many dialects. A growing number of Berber people are, nonetheless, Bi or trilingual.

How to visit Marrakech peacefully?
Marrakech is a superb city. The medina (old city), with its Souk and the square Djemaa El F' Na, will project you into the past. Mountain World Travel guides, are not authorized to guide a visit of the city. If you want to get the most out of your visit without being misled by fake guides, there are approved tourist guides holding specific diplomas which, for a modest sum, will guide you and guarantee your peace!

How does the Moroccan economy function?
Three important sectors are distinguished: agriculture employs 40% of the working population (barley, corn, wheat, groundnut, cotton, beets, sugar, citrus fruits, etc); tourism, in constant progression, is the second influx of money, after taking into account, the income from Moroccan immigrants who send back part of their wages earned in Europe, industry employs 20%.of the working population (phosphate transformed into artificial fertilizer, money, coal, copper, lead and salt.). There is no oil, but natural gas.

Gifts and tips
They are not necessary, however, they are always appreciated, but must be given correctly, as a thank you for work well done.

What are some interesting souvenirs to buy?
In the Souks of Marrakech and along the voyage in the villages, you will find typical objects: carpets of different styles according to the areas' sources, Tuya tree wood craft, pottery, objects of tender stone, copper plates, Damascus weapons.

Advice from Mike Vibert, head of our Moroccan trips:
In a small corner of Africa, Morocco marks the transition between two civilizations and two cultures. It is a particularly sensitive country, where two worlds co-inhabit. His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the government endeavor to offer to the outside, an image of a dynamic and modern population resolutely turned towards Europe.. But the Moroccans, a very young population, (60% are less than 20 years old) and rather rural, sometimes have difficulty following his lead. The difference in culture is particularly marked between the rural areas and cities.

What are the rules of bargaining in Morocco?
To not bargain is to not respect the salesman. Don't hesitate to go really low on the price and then to gradually go back up. In general, we advise you to divide the price by three. The best price is the one which satisfies everyone! Arm yourself with patience and

Electrical plugs
US electrical devices are not compatible with Morroccan electrical plugs.
We recommend that you carry an adapter, because the plugs are 220/230 volts.

The Atlas lion can only survive now in a zoo (even if the question of reintroducing it in the Middle Atlas is pending). The mottled fawn-colored panther and the hyena are threatened by extinction. The big horn sheep is quite present in certain protected sectors of Toubkal. The most numerous bird species are the most numerous (black Milans, warblers of the Atlas, partridge, gambra, falcons of Cruelty, etc). With luck chance, and depending upon the circuit, you will be able to see bands of Magot monkeys running in the trees.
In Morocco, the flora is very varied, because of the diversity of the natural environment: oaks, cedars, eucalyptus in the North, argans, almond trees and date palms in the South. The forests, distant from each other, occupy approximately 12 millions of acres..
We count on you to leave the natural spaces that you cross as clean as possible, including your camping sites.
Michel, Hassan and Xavier, founders of our Moroccan agency, advise you:
- To respect all of the trees and the new plantations (wood is rare and expensive in Morocco), particularly the fruit trees (orange trees, walnut trees, almond trees, argans, apple trees, olive-trees, junipers), which are protected.
- To pay great attention to water.
- To remain, as much as possible on the paths, because around you, all of the fields are cultivated.

At the Western end of North Africa, Morocco is the most predominant Maghreb country (name of the geographical area, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) characterized by people of the Mediterranean world, the Oceanic world, the Saharan world and the Eastern world. Its 446,768 square miles (if the Western Sahara is included) shelters a large variety of landscapes. A sea country with nearly 18,645 miles of coastline, Morocco is also a country of mountains.
The broad outline of the reliefs is rather apparent so that one can distinguish various zones:
- Rif, in the North, succession of littoral sea front mountains range.
- The long mountain range of the Atlas from south-west to North-East, in which one distinguishes: the High-Atlas in the north of Marrakech, the Middle Atlas even further north and the Anti-Atlas stretching all the way to the Atlantic. Thanks to the climate of the mountains, Morocco has a hydrographic network more pronounced than Algeria and Tunisia combined.
- The Western area between Atlas and the Atlantic is a zone of plateaus;
- The East and South extreme grounds are the dune fields.
Morocco shares borders with Algeria, Mauritania and Spain.