Mt Toubkal Climb

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of Mount Toubkal was very special. The views and sense of achievement were amazing. Another highlight was climbing an optional peak and running down the scree. Very exhilarating!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Omar was an excellent leader. He went out of his way to make sure that everyone was enjoying the trip. He was very informative about local geography and culture. Abdul, assistant leader was also very friendly and helpful. We felt so well looked after. I can't praise them enough!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Highly recommended- a fantastic trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a petite lady in our group turn up at 5am for the climb, after the previous day spent recuperating in bed dealing with an unexpected illness… and then leaving me in her dust!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Youssef was a star. Though young, he had a calm about him that inspired confidence – you always felt looked after, and every contingency prepared for. Once he realised my mischievous sense of humour he also displayed a deft ability for dead-pan wind-ups. He also displayed supreme patience – which sadly was needed more times than should have been the case due to one member of the group who turned up woefully out of shape and IMO should never have been on the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Exodus category for this trip is ‘Challenging’. I would not disagree with that. I’m early 50s, a little too fond of real ale, and only an occasional hiker (partly due to problems with mechanics of one foot, but I won’t bore you on that…). I booked this trip with 2 months to go, and started to do some prep – each weekend going on hike for couple of hours, maybe 6-8 miles over rocky ground. I also started some cardio (jogging to the pub) and weights (deadlift) – but of course it’s impossible to prep for a 4000m mountain in the UK – my main motivation being “I don’t want to be that person holding everyone up at the back”. In the end I did ok, almost always being in the middle of ‘the pack’, only close to the summit starting to find breathing difficult. In comparison: one person turned up with no prep, but he’d been there before, works as a farmer, and got the nickname ‘Terminator’ – he took it all in his stride. Another turned up hugely overweight, and poorly conditioned… every day he held us up again and again... until Youssef was resourceful enough to allocate the cook (!) as his personal baby-sitter! In conclusion: be realistic with yourself about your fitness levels. Don’t be that person, that as one of our members wittily said: “let himself down, let the group down, and let the mountain down”!

Suggestions

I didn’t take poles – they seemed really useful, as opposed to me skipping from one scree boulder to another. Similarly fluid bladders with those tubes you can just sip from as needed. Youssef’s mother makes chocolate cakes from heaven – she should be on MasterChef. There are lots of cats on the trail… make friends with them and they will help you.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing other people out of their comfort zones thriving in a new environment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Capable and held it together so well. Absolute gentleman too

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ensure you are fit and train for it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing group members all helping eachother reach the summit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lhoucine Oumahjoub, our guide was incredible. We couldn't have asked for a more experienced, competent guide. He was also very kind and helpful with excellent English so communication was never an issue.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the heat if travelling in late September.

Suggestions

We had an amazing trip. Thank you Exodus!

Most Inspirational Moment

The climb up Toubkal was an experience and it was great to have that highlight on day 5.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Moha was group leader and really did an amazing job. From the moment we landed until we got on the airport shuttle he we on everything. He have some insights to Morrocan life that we’re valuable and definitely added to the experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

An extra bed mat for “50s frame” was nice. Sterilised water was provided and there was no need to stress about purification etc. We went in 1st half September and the nighttime temp was -2 approx so warm sleep-stuff and clothing is a must

Suggestions

My first experience of such an expedition and one I hope to repeat soon.

Most Inspirational Moment

Completing the optional extra peaks

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good

Most Inspirational Moment

Our guides were the most inspirational part of the trip for me - two very different characters who complemented each others skills and personalities and really made the trip the great success it was. You wouldn't have known it was their first trip together. Of course going to the summit of Mt Toubkal was a challenge achieved, and doing the trip with my son was great. One lovely memorable moment was an exchange a couple of us had with some children who were selling buttermilk/kefir on the path into Imlil on our last day of walking. Rashid chatted with them in such a genuine, open way that we were all quickly smiling and laughing and left with a delicious drink!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Outsanding

Advice for Potential Travellers

If, like me, you're too old to like sleeping on hard ground, get a portable camp cot. Folds down well into your kit bag. Mine is FE Active branded, (other makes are available, no recommendation implied or paid for!) and is light and sturdy enough for a 90kg man. It made sleeping a pleasure. We took a couple of extra days in Marrakesh after our trip, which I would recommend, but probably not in July or August! The daytime heat forced us to spend our days by the hotel pool, so we only went out in the early morning and evenings.

Most Inspirational Moment

Although getting to the top is a moment i'll never forget, the optional climbs were amazing, even the walks just to get to our next destination were awesome and it was great to take in the surroundings.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lachen and Rashid were our guides and they went above and beyond their duties. Keeping everyone safe, making sure those who were struggling made it to the top and generally making sure everyone was happy and as comfortable as we could be.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is a challenge, but doable with a good amount of fitness. I would make sure you have a bit of experience with hiking before taking this one up.

Most Inspirational Moment

The cloud inversion and breathtaking views from Mt Toukbal and the optional summitting of Ouanakrim on our summer solstice with its isolation and equally jaw dropping panorama while watching the incredible dawn track us on our ascent.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lahcen our leader was incredible. He was there for absolutely everyone on the trip, the novice to the experienced mountaineer. To watch him enable the least confident to flourish and for all to reach way beyond their own personal goals was humbling. His pacing was spot on, slowing the potential 'bolters' from burning out and thereby encouraging us all to acclimatise slowly so that no one felt excluded from the chance of getting to the top. People made their own decisions on summitting Ouanakrim, two 4000m peaks in 24 hours with 03:30 am starts or similar is not for all but Lahcen ensured the decision was our own. His local knowledge was incredible and we felt safe at all times with his skills and acute perception of any struggling. A true leader and mountaineer.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some basic camping and toilet facilities. The heat and destination meant some of us needed the odd emergency stop by a boulder (shrubs are very scarce at altitude) so forget the shyness. Take some hand sanitiser. The fitter you are the easier it will be. You will be 'carrying' yourself upwards in heat and at altitude and despite any pacing 'extra baggage' is 'extra baggage' ! Embrace the wilderness ,the cameraderie of working as a group and remember everyone of the group wants to have the chance to get to the top . We found our filter water bottles extremely useful, we were guided on which streams to use, plastic disposal is a big problem for any country.

Suggestions

The camp meals were pretty amazing ! Always plenty of it and lots of vegetables. Vegetarian and Coeliac requirements were catered for. Bring your own snacks if you like . Phone signal is very limited, a great way to escape . The mules are part of the team and great entertainment! Marakesh is a full on sensory experience after the wilderness. Not showering was not a problem. For me.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of Toubkal was more emotional than I expected, but so worth the effort

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of wet wipes, you will go a few days with out proper washing facilities. Take plenty of layers , temperature in Marrakesh was in the mid 30, and we camped on zero degrees. Don t forget sun hat and a warm hat and gloves. You can leave some clean clothes in the start hotel so you have some clean clothes when you get back to Marrakesh Keep a pen handy to fill out forms at the airport.

Suggestions

The only negative was the camping at the refuge , there was a lot of rubbish lying around, the staff there need to make an effort to clean the area up. Appreciate this not in direct control of Exodus but as a repeat customer they may be able to put pressure on them to take more responsibility for the environment at the site.