Mt Toubkal Climb

Enjoy an exhilarating one-week trek to the summit of the highest mountain in North Africa

Mount Toubkal stands 14,671ft (4,167m) above sea level and commands superb views of the High Atlas Mountains. Our trek passes through impressive landscapes on well-defined paths and is, surprisingly, not too strenuous. As we climb higher, the paths do become steeper but the gain in altitude awards dramatic views towards Marrakech and the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Passing through remote villages and terraced fields, we gain an insight into the life of the friendly Berber people and finish with free time in the imperial city of Marrakech.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• We buy supplies from small shops in the villages we pass through, which supports the local economy.
• There is interaction with local villagers and our group is sometimes asked to join them for Moroccan tea.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• The mules we use are from an association in Imlil that cares for their wellbeing.
• We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• There are four days of camping on this trip which reduces the carbon footprint.
• Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
• Our local partners have reached B Corp certification, which requires that they demonstrate high levels of social and environmental performance.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Visa

Morocco

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Morocco. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/morocco
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/morocco
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Morocco.html

Vaccination

Morocco

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. A polio vaccination certificate may be required for some travellers. Please confirm your needs and requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners included.

Moroccan food is excellent though not particularly varied.

Breakfasts usually consist of porridge, bread and jam, and coffee or tea. Main meals will often be tajines of meat and vegetables with a great mix of herbs and spices and light, fluffy cous cous. Salads will often comprise of both cooked and raw vegetables including tomatoes, smoked peppers and aubergine (eggplant).

When eating out, meals are reasonably priced –(approximates)

Lunches: 60 to 100 Dirham (US$6-10) Dinners: In cities 80 to 200 Dirham (US$8-19) and in small towns villages 60 – 100 Dirham (US$6-10)

Soft drinks in restaurants : 10 to 20 Dirham (US$1-1.90) Alcohol: Beer 30 to 50 Dirham (US$2.85-5)– Wine 150 Dirham (US$14) and more

Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian couscous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more rural sections of the trip. Please note that if you have any special dietary requirements you should inform the Exodus Office prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (e.g. coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some food with you from home.

If you have any special dietary requirements, you should inform your sales representative prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (ie coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some food items with you from home.

Weather

In spring and autumn, Marrakech is warm to hot (maximum daytime temperatures around 25C-30C/77F-86F) with pleasantly cool nights. In the High Atlas, the sun is strong, but the air is cool and the nights can be cold. Mornings are clear but cloud in the afternoon is usual, often bringing showers and occasional storms.

During summer, Marrakech is very hot (33C-42C), as are some of the lower valleys of the High Atlas. At medium altitudes, the days will be hot and the nights warm.

Only above 9,840ft (3,000m) will you require warm clothing. During the summer, the sky should be clear but, as in all mountain areas, the weather can be unpredictable and late August can have stormy weather. Rain can be experienced on all treks, usually showers but sometimes storms. In April/May and occasionally in October there may be a little snow lying at the higher altitudes.

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been rated Activity Level 5 (Challenging). For more information on gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines.

Difficulty

This is a challenging yet non-technical trek to an area of outstanding scenic and cultural interest. Although this trip is not technically difficult, you should be an experienced walker as trails can be very stony. Most routes follow mule trails but there are some rough paths that involve walking on scree. All five walking days include full porterage and you should be prepared for a couple of long days with some boulders and steep sections (maximum eight to nine hours). Jebel Ouanakrim requires a small amount of scrambling near the summit, but it is optional.

Weather

The temperature can alter the difficulty of the trek. Morocco can get very hot during July and August and departures during this time may not be suitable if you struggle with the heat. Also be prepared for some stormy weather, even during summer. There can be snow patches in April/early May and from the end of September, so crampons may be needed for April and October departures. We will advise no more than two weeks before departure if extra equipment/clothing is necessary. Free-to-use crampons and ice axes will be provided in these circumstances. From May to June, snow can occasionally block some passes in the mountains and force your leader to change the itinerary. As with any trek in mountainous/high altitude areas, safety is paramount and your leaders may amend the itinerary to ensure the group is safe.

Altitude warning

This trip goes to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Please refer to the Altitude Warning below for further information. To keep a circular itinerary, this holiday offers four nights’ camping, with two of these spent over 9,845ft (3,000m).

Accommodation

Two nights are spent in wild camps as official campsites do not exist in some areas we visit. On the treks we use mules to carry personal gear so only a light daypack is required, occasionally carrying a share of the picnic lunch. Our Marrakech hotel is of a good standard and has a swimming pool to help relax after a challenging trek.

Alternative trip

If you would like a more strenuous ascent of Mount Toubkal, using an ice axe and crampons, please see our winter itinerary – Mount Toubkal Winter Climb (trip reference: TMW).

Ramadan

Ramadan, one of the most important periods in the Muslim calendar, is a special time to visit Morocco and expected to run from 22 March 2023 to 21 April 2023 and 10 March 2024 to 10 April 2024. Each evening, the streets empty while people return home to break the fast and then there is an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, please be aware their energy levels may be slightly lower. Tourist sites are still open although closing times may be earlier than usual. Your leader will know how the timings for each day need to be adapted to still experience all the inclusions on this trip. Restaurants may close during the day and this is also accounted for in planning meal arrangements for your group. Shops are usually open though their hours may vary and they will definitely be closed during the breaking of the fast. To fully enjoy your holiday experience at this unique time of year we suggest patience and flexibility.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.