Mount Toubkal Winter Trek

• Orientation Meeting: 6pm
• Accommodation: Hotel 

Say hello, or Salaam Aleikum, to Morocco. Your trip with Intrepid starts here with an orientation meeting at 6pm in your hotel lobby where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travelers. If you’d like to grab some yummy and unique street food this evening, you’ll have the option of taking a stroll with your group leader to Djemaa el-Fna, the square in the center of the Medina. The scene here will be busy and bustling, as it is every night, as people gather to see singers, drummers, fortune tellers, dancers, and other street performers in this lively square.

Please be sure to attend the orientation meeting this evening as you will need to provide insurance and emergency contact information at this time. Your guide will also need to double check your gear to make sure it is appropriate for winter conditions. If you are going to be late, please let an Intrepid representative, your travel agent, or the hotel know. If you journey out to Djemaa el-Fna this evening, you are likely to encounter ‘snake charmers.’ Intrepid does not support this practices and encourages travelers not to support this industry. If you would like more information, please visit Intrepid’s page concerning animal welfare: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/animal-welfare

• Travel: Drive to Imlil Village (1.5 hours)
• Activities Included: Imlil to Aroumd Guided Trek
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner 
• Hiking Distance: Approximately 2MI / 3.2KM
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 855ft
• Accommodation: Mountain Gite

Rise with the sun early this morning for a second group meeting where your guide will brief you on everything you need to know for your trekking adventure. Then, set out for the mountains for your first hike. Drive away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech and across plains and open country to arrive at Imlil village, with a stop at Tahanaoute along the way, an ancient marketplace that boasts stunning views of valleys and the Atlas Mountains. From Imlil village (which is 5709 ft above sea level), take about an hour hike to your first mountain base in Aroumd (sitting at 6561 ft above sea level). As you trek along the side of the hills, keep your eye out for views of the Atlas Mountains; Mount Toubkal itself can be seen on a clear day. Upon arrival, your guide will take you on a leisurely tour of this town built on a hill before retiring to your accommodation for the night. Your group will be staying in a traditional village house called a gite. The rooms are furnished in traditional Amazigh (Berber) fashion with the low couches that serve as beds, many cushions and carpets, and tables.

• Activities Included: Aroumd to Jebel Toubkal Basecamp Guided Trek
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
• Hiking Distance: Approximately 5.5MI / 9KM 
• Accommodation: Mountain Refuge

Today your group will begin the climb to the summit of Mount Toubkal, the tallest mountain in North Africa. Pack up your gear on mules this morning and leave Aroumd, crossing the floodplain of Ait Mizane Valley. The mules carrying your gear and luggage are an essential part of Amazigh (Berber) culture and way of life as they are used to plough fields and carry burdens. Your trail will have a series of switchbacks up the mountainside and you’ll pass the site of pilgrimage of Sidi Chamarouch which houses the tomb of the local Muslim holy man or marabout. There is a shrine made of large white stones at this location, but only Muslims are permitted to cross the bridge and approach this place. As you trek on, you’ll likely encounter snow and begin hiking through powder on the way up the mountain. Don’t worry if you don’t have experience using crampons for extra traction on your boots; your guide will show you the ropes and give you tips on how you can make your hike easier. You’ll soon arrive at Neltner where the Toubkal base camp is located (10,522 ft above sea level). Because your accommodations tonight are at such high elevation, make extra sure you are drinking plenty of water and are watching for the symptoms of altitude sickness. Your accommodation tonight is simple but clean and in line with the local atmosphere. Dining rooms and facilities are shared and the rooms will be shared with other trekkers and have bunk bed-type platforms. Eat up at your included dinner tonight and call it an early night before journeying up the mountain tomorrow. 

• Activities Included: Mount Toubkal Guided Summit Trek
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
• Hiking Distance: Approximately 5MI / 8KM
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 3000 ft
• Accommodation: Mountain Refuge

Today is a very early start as you gear up for your summit trek. The terrain that leads up to the top of this over 13,000 foot mountain will be snowy this time of year and perhaps icy, so make sure you known how to make the most of your crampons. You’ll also be beginning far before sunrise, and you’ll need your headlamp and extra batteries. Once you make it to the col (a low depression in the mountain range), the steepness of the climb will subside. Make sure to pack a hardshell jacket though because the winds often pick up in this area of the trek. Soon, you’ll reach the summit. Truly the roof of North Africa, take your time to enjoy and take in the silence of the morning at the peak. On clear days, you will be able to see the whole Atlas Mountain Range, the coast of the Atlantic to the west and the Sahara Desert to the east. Once you’ve had your fill of the gorgeous vies, trek back down to Basecamp. 

Please note that today’s hike may take 8 hours or more depending on conditions. Your group leader will have the final say on whether the group will summit. If weather conditions are too averse to do so, your group may have to turn around at the col. 

• Activities Included: Variable, High Atlas Guided Hike
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
• Hiking Distance: Variable
• Accommodation: Mountain Gite

Today’s activities will depend on the weather conditions and what your guide decides is best suitable to the day. If your group was not able to summit Mount Toubkal yesterday because of weather, today might be a great day to try again! If you already made it to the roof of North Africa, your leader may choose another hike to Tizi n’ Ouagane and Ras Ouanoukrim, which is the third tallest mountain in North Africa. Whatever your guide choses, you’ll have a hearty lunch at basecamp afterward before making the trek back to Aroumd. Your local host will be waiting for you there with a delicious dinner spread to celebrate your accomplishments in the mountains. 

The hiking distance today will depend on which trek your guide chooses. The Ras Ouanoukrim climb via Tizi n’ Ouagane trek including the hike back to Aroumd will take around 8 to 9 hours and is 10MI / 16KM with 900M / 3000ft of elevation gain. If you would rather not do such a long and strenuous hike, you can opt for a relaxing morning at basecamp before joining the group again to trek back to Aroumd. 

• Activities Included: Medina Walking Tour, Palais Bahia
• Meals Included: Breakfast 
• Accommodation: Hotel 

Take in one last look at the valley and Atlas Mountains in the distance this morning before heading back to Imlil and then driving to Marrakech. After checking in to your hotel, your group will set out on a walking tour of the Medina led by your guide where you will walk through many old marketplaces, called souqs, that sell various items such as pottery, woodwork, carpets, and spices. You will then visit the Bahia Palace, built in the 1800s with stunning architecture. Once you’ve had your fill of the palace, the rest of the day is your’s to explore this fascinating city. There are many options for visiting a hammam (your guide can recommend one) where you can enjoy a traditional Moroccan bath and massage. If you’d like to experience more of the food of this unique location, you can join the Taste of Marrakech Urban Adventure tour for a guided experience focusing on the local cuisine. 

• Meals Included: Breakfast

Your adventure with Intrepid ends this morning after your group enjoys one last breakfast together. If you’d like to stay longer in Marrakech, Intrepid would be happy to book additional accommodations for you if availability allows. There are many other fantastic opportunities and experiences here to enjoy, so don’t miss out on this amazing destination.