Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

When the sun came up on summit day, the mountains behind us lit up as though they had been painted with gold leaf, the cold which had seeped into our bones was slowly removed by the warmth of the sun. Clearing the lip of the pass on the first day, the view was breathtaking The crispness of the sheets in the hotel on our last day, being able to stretch your legs out in the night without fear of kicking the person in the next bunk

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very informative, very patient and a good laugh - just the right mix

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the weather to potentially scupper your summit plans, don't get hung up on it being too risky, it is better to be alive and undamaged , it is more difficult than I anticipated due to the ice and deep snow, we were fortunate to have a break in the weather and good experienced guides.

Suggestions

Very good value, a cracking experience for anyone wanting to see how they fare at altitude.

Most Inspirational Moment

Oddly enough it was summiting Ouanakrim, and not Toubkal. It's fair to say that the group were by and large of the same opinion. More snow, better walk, better views, and a good scramble all added to the experiance.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hassan, local guide who knew and was known and respected by just about everyone. He first climbed Toubkal when he was just 9, which is a few years ago, but I'll not let on how many. Couldn't have asked for better.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it, but try and pick a winter with a bit more snow, something that was sadly lacking this year.

Suggestions

Take your time, enjoy Morocco, the mountains and all that Marrakech has to offer.

Most Inspirational Moment

Mt Ouanakrim - an exhilarating climb and great views in blazing sunshine from the summit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hasan has a great personality, always knowledgable and friendly and good looking too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It's freezing cold in the gite and in the refuge. Take a good sleeping back and a down jacket.Also cards or a book are good entertainment in the evening.  

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking down a steep snowy slope which we'd just climbed on crampons (my first time).The summit of Mt Toubkal.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Helpful, encouraging, felt very safe. Changed the schedule so that we did Mount Toubkal on the first day - a good call as a storm came in on the evening of the 2nd day and though we walked that day, the ridge to the 2nd peak was too windy for us to get to the summit.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Refuge is quite basic but is fine and a good location at the head of the valley. I had down booties which were great in the refuge to keep feet warm, especially when getting up for the loo in the middle of the night. If noise affects you take ear plugs for sleeping at night in the dorm. One of the accommodation had a very smoky lounge (from the stove which provided the only warmth in the room). If you have asthma I'd check with Exodus what the current situation is, as it might cause you problems.

Suggestions

It is a good trip if you want to try out walking on snow. I found it quite challenging - hauling myself out of snow when I broke the crust/soft snow and contouring round a steep slope. However, the guides were there to help and as walks are based from the refuge it is possible to return early.

Most Inspirational Moment

Toubkal summit in perfect winter conditions, crisp frozen snow, sunshine and a virtually empty summit

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, kept a good pace whilst looking our for everyone, changed the plans so we summited Toubkal on the first day to make the most of the great weather.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take warm clothes and be prepared for the the cold of the Gite. 

Suggestions

Miss out the cold Gite and walk straight to the refuge, would give more time on the mountain and extra time in Marrakesh

Most Inspirational Moment

Summitting Toubkal was obviously *the* main and satisfying goal.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We've not had a duff Exodus trip leader yet.  Mohammed was no exception to this - he was all round excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Layers, layers, layers (ambient temperature, wind and wind chill can vary enormously).Include fleece, windstopper / waterproofs for both top and bottom layers.Don't expect "western style" accomodation - staying at/above the stables at the refuge is pretty basic!

Suggestions

There is likely to be plenty of free time in Marrakesh ......For a little culinary oasis in the souk, head north west from Djemma El F'na, through the next small square Place Baba Fteuh, exit north west up Rue Mouassine to the junction with Rue Ksour, head up the stairs to the chique terrassed french restuarant that overlooks the souk and serves delicious drinks and bites at very reasonable prices.If you want another Marrakesh 'oasis', don't miss the splendid Marjorelle Gardens, 8:30am, before the crowds arrive, then explore their quaint but magnificent Berber museum.

Most Inspirational Moment

Daily treks out of the Neltner Refuge into stunning mountains. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both Hassan and Mohammed were excellent leaders and guides.  Very friendly, informative, helpful and supportive.  Very good at setting a pace appropriate for all members of the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have good quality boots that allow crampons to be fitted to them.  Boots with good ankle support is, I think, essential.  Remember to include clothing appropriate for a layer system as even though you may be in a cold environment intially, you will quickly warm up once trekking in the sunshine.  Carry some antibiotics in case of travellers diahrroea.  I was ill only for a day but was glad I had some Ciprofloxacin to hand!  Make sure you drink plenty of water each day - aim for your urine to be clear (this may sound rather crude but it's an easy way of seeing how well hydrated you are).  Wet-wipes / toilet roll are good to pack for when you are at the gite and at the refuge.  I found having two trekking poles to be very helpful on ascent and descent.  The Neltner refuge can get quite busy and crowded but there is not too much to do there so make sure you bring some music to listen to / DVDs to watch if you have a means of watching them / playing cards / travel games / good books etc.  If you smoke then buy cigarettes in Imlil or Marrakech as you can't buy them at the refuge or in Armoud.  On your last night in Marrakech, ask the guides about the excellent Berber restauraunt not far from Djemaa al-Fna.

Suggestions

Overall, a great trip.  I felt totally relaxed whilst trekking amongst stunning mountains.  I will return to the Atlas Mountains again in the future.

Most Inspirational Moment

It has to be ascending Toubkal.  The sense of achievement will last a long time.  But also something else.  When we got to the refuge in murky weather, suddenly the clouds parted and our route up Toubkal the following day was revealed.  I think it took all our breaths away.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was very friendly and communicated very well.  On the walk in, walk out, and the climbs both he and the other guide both worked well together, one at the front the other at the rear and took good care of us.  The cook produced really good meals in the Gite and the refuge.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Altogether the walk in, the climbs up Toubkal and Ouanoukrim and the walk out call for some stamina.  The guides keep the pace easy and you can do it.  The refuge at Toubkal was basic but no more so than I had expected with a wood stove providing warmth in the lounge area down stairs but with an unheated dorm upstairs.  Be prepared for some heavy breathing / snoring but be tolerant; everyone snores at times I don't care what sex you are.  It's part of using a refuge in the mountains. 

Suggestions

Regarding tips, the tour guide will work out how much to give to each of the muleteers, cook and second guide.  This worked out about £20 from each of us (8 of us on the trip) as per the trip notes but excludes the tip for the tour guide himself which our team worked out between us and came to about £10-£12 each.Lastly, watch out for the final group meal.  If you are taken to somewhere new, ask to see the menu straightaway or ask about prices beforehand.  We got stung for an expensive meal and everyone admitted afterwards to being too polite or embarrassed to say anything at the time.I'm still giving the trip 9/10 because it was brilliant.  

Most Inspirational Moment

The day after the Mt Toubkal ascent we couldn't climb the second highest peak due to very strong winds but we still had a great day trekking through the deep snow and sliding downhill on our bottoms!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mohammed was a fantastic leader, he was well organised, had the right amount of discipline to get us to where we needed to be at the right time, but was also flexible. His English was fantastic and he also had a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There are a couple of items on the optional kit list that I think should be mandatory - snow (ski) goggles and gaiters. I had both of these and was very thankful to have them given the amount of snow we experienced. Also lots of warm clothes - particularly items you can quickly put on when having a break whilst trekking (eg down jacket) to stop from getting too cold.Sunscreen needs to be added regularly - I (and some others) got a bit burnt back of the neck!!

Suggestions

If you are thinking this sounds a really hard trip, it wasn't. The pace going uphill was relatively slow and one of the local guides will trail-break (particularly good news if the snow is deep).

Most Inspirational Moment

On the way up to the refuge and the summit of the mountain, you don’t get to see a clear sight of the actual summit.  It’s not till you are quite close that you finally get to see the marker above you.  However, once you are finally there the view is stunning.  The panorama is breath taking, the snow capped flanks of Toubkal give way to the greens and browns of the foot hills and plains that stretch into the distance as far as you can see.  What better reward can you ask for after a morning’s mountain climbing?I also found the second day to be just as exciting, as the summit day.  We ascended the summit in clear weather with glorious sunshine, which made the views spectacular.  However the next day was in stark contrast, plenty of snow had fallen over night and was continuing to fall all day.  Visibility was dramatically reduced so we were unable to climb much higher than 3800m, but saying that we still managed to get to near the top of some adjacent peaks.  This truly felt like a winter climb as we made steady progress both up and down the mountain in the falling snow. You couldn’t see much, but was a great day out from the refuge with fun being had by all who went on it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Hassan was really friendly and fun.  He had a great sense of humour that ensured that we had a really good trip.  Mohammed the mountain guide was also great, although his English wasn’t as good as Hassan’s he still made sure that we had a good time up the mountain.  Both were really good and looked out for our safety, overcoming the changing weather and kit with a calm and professional demeanour.  The cook always managed to rustle up fantastic meals that were so welcoming after a day of fun in the snow. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

On arrival in Marrakech it is quite warm in the sun, so it’s a good idea to pack a few warm weather clothes.  However, for a good deal of the time up the mountain it will be cold, so pack warm clothes too.  As advertised the refuge is quite basic, so don’t expect too many mod cons.  Whilst there is a fire in the main lounge area it can still get quite cold inside, especially with the lack of internal doors on the ground level, so pack some warm clothes to wear around the refuge itself.  I took a down jacket with me that came in handy at various points on the trip.  Take a good book, and a pack of cards, that way you can have a peaceful moment to yourself or have a social game of cards with the rest of your group, guides and other residents of the refuge.  Definitely don’t forget to take some ear plugs, you will probably need them.When you arrive try to get a bunk bed away from the door and walls and if possible on the lower levels.  I had an upper bunk for the first night and got a bit damp from all of the condensation in the room at night.  Moisture also means that the floors in the refuge can get quite slippery, so take care, especially when going up and down the stairs.  There is also a shower, but be warned, there is not an endless supply of hot water and it can run out, leaving you to have a cold one, and that is really quite bracing!  Still, it is possible and well worth it if you want to clean up.  There were a couple of plug sockets so you can charge batteries and phones (though you will have to share with everyone else).  The refuge can also get quite busy, so despite not seeing may people on the way up to the refuge, it was surprising to see just how many people were staying there.  When it is busy it does mean that it’s not always possible to get a seat in the lounge, but there are other places to sit and have copious cups of sweet tea - not always mint!

Suggestions

This isn’t a technical climb, and slow and steady progress at your pace should see you to the top.  You don’t need to have all of your own kit, as you can hire equipment when you book.  Age should not be a problem, as we were passed by another group that consisted of members all over 60.  There is a possibility that you might suffer from some altitude problems, most of our team made it to the summit with just mild breathlessness.  The guides will go at the pace you need to go and there are plenty of chances to stop and rest if needed.Go on! Give it a go.  You'll be glad that you did.