Challenging
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Spend a long weekend trekking through the spectacular Atlas Mountains and climb Mt Toubkal 4167m. The highest peak in North Africa. This is a tough ascent of Mount Toubkal, taking place over four epic days in Morocco. You will trek along the Berber Mountain Trails and experience the fantastic hospitality of the Berber people as you climb through the Atlas mountains to the 'Roof of the North' Mt Toubkal at 4167 meters. The four day itinerary starting on a Friday is designed to maximize your weekend and your annual leave. What an awesome way to spend four days.
As with all of our trips, your itinerary has been designed to give you the 'Full' experience of Morocco and the Atlas Mountains. As on all of our high altitude adventures, the itinerary is designed to ensure proper acclimatisation for a safe ascent of Mt Toubkal.
Over the challenging Mt Toubkal - Roof of the North weekender 4 day trek(Winter & Summer), you will hike the Berber mountain trails and experience the hospitality of the Berber people at the same time as soaking in the awesome views of the Atlas Mountains. You will reach a maximum altitude of 4167 meters and stand on the summit of the highest peak in North Africa - Mt Toubkal. The Roof of the North.
Welcome to Morocco!
Upon arrival in Marrakech, a member of the EverTrek team will be there to welcome you at the start of your adventure and drive you to our lodge in the Berber village of Imlil 1740m where you will spend your first night in the Atlas mountains. The journey takes around 1 1/2 hours to reach Imlil where you will have some spare time to explore the village and the surrounding area depending on what time of day you arrive.
Today we wake up early and hike the Berber tails up through the Mizane Valley to the holy shrine of Sidi Chamarouch.
Here we can take some time to appreciate this special place which is a site of pilgrimage for many Moroccans. After a short rest, we then start to gain some real altitude as the trail slowly takes us up towards 3206 meters and our ultimate goal of the day, the Toubkal Refuge. This is the main base for everyone heading to the summit of Mt Toubkal and is an exciting hub of energy as fellow trekkers all rest and watch the sunset before the excitement of summit day.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner
Summit Day! There is nothing quite like waking up on summit day! You'll leave the refuge still under the cover of darkness, head torches leading the way. The trail immediately steepens as you ascend a scree slope and the thin air makes the climb a little tough but hugely rewarding. After some steady climbing, you come to a wide pass which will offer some stunning views and a small break before you turn towards the summit ridge and the final push. As you ascend the summit ridge and step foot on the 'Roof of the North' reaching an altitude of 4167 meters, you will be hit by the massive sense of achievement that you are standing on the summit of the highest peak in North Africa!
The metal tetrapod which marks the summit is a great photo opportunity and the views are incredible. On a clear day you will be able to see all the way back to Marrakech and take in how far you have come, both physically and mentally. The descent takes you down the same route, treading carefully through the snow as you retrace your steps back to the Toubkal refuge and then back to Imlil where we will then get picked up and transferred down to Marrakech where you will spend your final night. Mission accomplished.
This a tough old day with around 8-10 hours of walking so you will definitely sleep tonight.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Your time in Morocco has come to end and your transfer is waiting to take you back to the airport. If you have some time, you can explore the local Markets (Souks) for a few hours before you start your homeward journey, reflecting on the amazing achievement of reaching the summit of Mt Toubkal.
Included meals: Breakfast
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Experience Required
The summit of Mt Toubkal is suitable for keen walkers/trekkers who are fit and able to walk for 4 – 5 hours in a day with a light rucksack. Ideally, you will be able to walk for consecutive days for this length of time. The altitude is manageable and not that great so this can be an amazing first venture to the high peaks before heading on other treks like Everest Base Camp or Kilimanjaro. If you choose to trek during winter, any previous winter walking experience is ideal although you will learn all you need on the trip itself.
Equipment
Over the years, we have gained an incredible amount of experience and expertise in outdoor equipment and clothing. We have applied this to each trip that we offer and recommend what we believe to be the most suitable items for your trip. We have also teamed up with outdoor equipment experts Cotswold Outdoor and as an EverTrekker, you can receive 15% off all equipment in-store and online.
We can forward a detailed equipment list upon booking. However, you can also view our Recommended Equipment for this trip »
If you are looking to climb Mt Toubkal from October to the end of April, then this is a rundown of what gear you'll need for this EPIC trek!
We usually recommended 20-30 litre day packs. Your daypack will carry your essentials for the day, water, suncream, waterproofs etc. Try to prevent buying a day pack that is too big as it makes it easy to overpack. You can check out an article HERE to check out all our favourite packs.
A couple of recommendations which come to mind would be the infamous Meindl Bhutan or the Mammut Trovats. Essentially you need a study winter hiking boot which will provide you plenty of grip and support for the wintery terrain and conditions you can expect on Mt Toubkal this time of year. Please note, B1 boots are sufficient for this trip, this means they are compatible with C1 crampons which will fit on your boot to provide you extra grip in the slippery terrain.
During winter, the ground is steep and covered in snow and ice so it's crucial to have a pair of crampons to provide additional grip. Whilst you can hire crampons from our team, I would always recommend bringing your own to ensure quality, plus it means you can get used to them beforehand. .
For some more information about crampons, check out Dave’s guide HERE!
We recommend an 80ltr duffel bag to carry the bulk of your equipment. This will be carried by a mule so be mindful to only bring your essentials. Your travel bag or suitcase will be kept safely for you in Imlil lodge whilst you are off adventuring!
We would recommend 1 short sleeve base layer and 2 long sleeve thermal base layers. It's crucial that these are not cotton and are made of breathable fabric which will be quick drying, such as merino wool, smart wool or bamboo.
A midlayer fleece for added insulation when the temperature start to drop. Some brands we like are Rab, Craghoppers, Columbia and North Face.
We recommend one winter pair and one lighter weight pair. The winter lined trousers are a lifesaver on cold summit days and the lighter ones are perfect for the approach to Refuge.
Walking trousers can vary in price quite a lot. From the likes of Mammut and Fjallraven, Rab and Montane to more budget brands like Peter Storm or Decathlon.
Ensure you are looking at materials and the product's technology (are they breathable, flexible, water and wind resistant?)
I would recommend something like the Mountain Equipment’s Lightline down jacket, its a firm favourite amongst us Yetis at HQ.
Essentially, you need to be looking at something with a 700 fill.
A light waterproof is key and perfect to have to hand in your day pack in case of a shower. There shouldn’t be much rain at the time of year but you never know! I personally like The Rab Firewall waterproof.
The Painted Yeti recommends his trusted Montane prism gloves / mitt with a pair of liners. If you are prone to suffering from cold hands, the Titan Gore-Tex Snowboard/Ski Mitts may be best for you.
I used the Vulcan Heated cycling/Ski Gloves when I did Mt Toubkal, they are great gloves alone but the cool thing about these gloves is they use infrared technology to heat up the gloves too!
You can check out my full review of the kit I tried from Vulcan Sportswear HERE. The kit would be ideal for a trip like this, remember, as an EverTrek customer you get 15% off, the code is in your members area!
Please be cautious that water bladders are prone to freezing in the cold weather conditions. We recommend bringing 2-3 water bottles (total 2-3 litres) instead which you can store wrapped in your day pack away from the direct cold.
Bottled water is available to buy at the refuge, you will need to replenish your supply at this point. Bottles and snacks at the refuge are inexpensive, you will need to have cash.
If you run cold, it's always a good idea to bring a sleeping bag liner with you as they can have a big impact on keeping you cosy!
TOILET PAPER! The refuge is very basic so you must remember to bring your own toilet roll.
Disposable wet wipes,
Hand sanitiser
Ear plugs (the refuge is can also be pretty noisy!)
Diarrhea kit
Hydration tables (We personally like the SiS ones)
3-4 pairs of walking socks
Head torch is essential (remember to pack spare batteries)
Power bank
Warm hat
Neck buff
Toiletries
Small quick drying towel
Sunglasses
Flip flops or casual shoes for around camp
Pack of cards or something to keep you entertained in the refuge in the evenings as there is little signal
Dry bags
Plastic zip lock bag to store rubbish until you are off the mountain
Lip balm
Sleeping Bag - 5 Euro per day
Down Jacket - 10 Euro per day
Crampons - 5 Euro per day
Ice Axe - 5 Euro per day
Helmet - Free
Duffel bag -5 Euro per day
This can be paid directly to the team in Morocco after you arrive.
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