
Atlas Mountains
A challenging hike into the rugged Atlas Mountains.
Late Availability 16th – 30th May- £869 including flights.
Into the Atlas – Leaving colourful Marrakech you drive to the mountains and, where the road ends, continue on foot. You’ll feel like you have entered another world and from the small foothill village of Aremd, you’ll adjust to your new surroundings by enjoying some short warm up walks. The anticipation builds and the adventure really begins as you trek through the High Atlas, travelling from one small Berber village to another.
Jebel Toubkal summit – Skirting the east side of Toubkal you enter the southern Atlas and traverse a desolate wilderness of huge boulders to reach the once- glacial Lac d’Ifni. Then you’ll make a base at Neltner before tackling the final steep walk to the summit of Jebel Toubkal (4167m). You will be exhilarated by your sense of achievement as you stand on top of the highest peak in North Africa!
Day 1: Fly to Marrakech
After your flight you transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. Hotel – 1 night The hotel is located just outside the city walls around the old Medina. It is about a 25 minute walk to the main square Djemaa el Fna but close to local shops and restaurants
Day 2: Aremd; drive to Atlas mountains
After breakfast and an introductory briefing from your Group Leader you have some time to change money and purchase any last minute supplies. There is no opportunity to do this in the mountains. As you will have time to explore the city on your return, you’ll head straight to the mountains to allow yourselves the best chance of acclimatising to conditions at higher altitudes.
Leaving the heat of the plains behind, you drive into the High Atlas Mountains to your base at the village of Aremd (2000m). Gite (multi-share refuge) – 2 nights (BD)
Day 3: Aremd; acclimatisation walk
Considerable experience in this area has taught us that to try to adhere to a rigid itinerary is not the best way of approaching the Atlas! Instead, we keep our itinerary very flexible, so that we can respond to the interests and abilities of your group, the local conditions and the movements of other trekking parties in the area.
You use the village of Aremd as a base for your first hikes. Since you are now at an altitude of around 2000m and have recently ascended from sea-level, your first explorations serve mainly to help you acclimatise. In order to do this you’ll make a half-day’s trek from the village, a moderate walk with a steady increase in altitude to about 2500m. In the afternoon you return to base. (Approx. 4 hours walking). (BD)
Day 4-12: On Trek
The next nine days are spent exploring the High Atlas range; from valley to ridge, summer pasture to village, river to high peak. Due to a number of factors including weather conditions, the exact trek route may vary from one departure date to another however our intention remains the same – to explore the more remote areas of the mountains.
The following itinerary is one of several trek routes we may follow and is given as an example only:
DAY 4: Trek to the small settlement of Amsekrou, following a steep-sided river valley with a steady incline, to the dramatic pass of Tizi ‘n’ Tamatert. Descend to the valley floor for lunch by a river, before a leisurely afternoon walk to the village. (Approx. 6 hours walking). Camp (in 2-person tents) – 1 night (BLD)
DAY 5: A long, steep ascent along the side of a scree basin and over some spectacular hills brings you to the winter ski-resort of Oukaimeden. Spend the afternoon walking around the ridges and peaks of this area. (Approx. 5 hours walking). Camp – 1 night (BLD)
DAY 6: Your first peak awaits! As you make your way to the summit of Jebel Oukaimeden (3262m) it is possible to view the route you will follow over the next few days. A steep descent brings you to some high meadows where you’ll have lunch, before crossing the pass or ‘Tizi’ n’Addi and descending to the village of Tachedirt. (Approx. 8 hours walking). Camp – 1 night (BLD)
DAY 7: A hard day, heading south to the Tizi Likemt (3555m) – a steep ascent of about 4 hours before descending to the Azib Likemt (approx. 2600m), an area of permanent pasture. (Approx. 6 hours walking). Camp – 1 night (BLD)
DAY 8: Aside from one sharp 400m ascent to the col, this day involves a long, gentle descent from the high barren crags to the green, wooded valleys of Amsouzerte at around 1800m. (Approx. 7 hours walking). Gite – 1 night (BLD)
DAY 9: A relatively short walk. You ascend westward from the lush valley into the spectacular moraine of the glacial Lac D’Ifni. Here, at around 2300m, you’ll spend the afternoon walking in the vicinity of this mysterious lake. (Approx. 4 hours walking). Camp – 1 night (BLD)
DAY 10: A steep climb takes you into a narrow canyon in the lee of Mt. Toubkal. You emerge onto open, high ground on the western side of the mountain, and descend to the mountain refuge at Neltner. (Approx. 7 hours walking). Camp – 1 night (BLD)
DAY 11: Today you ascend North Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Toubkal (4167m). This is a steep walk involving some scrambling, but the effort is rewarded by superb views of the entire range from the summit. On a clear day it is possible to make out the hazy outline of the Atlantic coast to the west, and the sands of the Sahara Desert to the east. After the ascent, you make your way back to Neltner for a second night. (Approx. 7 hours walking). Camp – 1 night (BLD)
DAY 12: Today (for those still feeling energetic) you can ascend Jebel Ouanakrim (4088m), the region’s second highest peak. After an early lunch you make your way back to your base at Aremd. (Approx 8 hours walking, including the optional ascent of Ouanakrim). Gite – 1 night (BD)
Day 13: Drive To Marrakech
Reluctantly you leave the mountains behind, and head down to the plains for sightseeing and souvenir hunting in Marrakech. Hotel – 2 nights (B)
Day 14: Explore Marrakech; free to explore
The whole day is free for you to explore Marrakech. A good starting points is the Djemma el-Fna. Marrakech’s justly famous main square is a focal point of activity, with its myriad of food stalls, entertainers and traders of all descriptions. From here you can easily wander into the enormous maze-like souk to see what’s on offer there. Textiles, pottery, carpets, wood-craft and jewellery are among the countless items on sale; souvenir-hunters will be spoilt for choice! (B)
Day 15: Fly Home
The trip ends for Land Only clients. Those with our onward flights transfer to the airport and fly home. (B)
Telephone the Adventure Company now on 0845 609 0837
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