Trekking in Morocco | Treks with Morocco Explored

Praise for Trekking!
All our testimonials are genuine. Visit References for contacts.

Thanks for all of your help in putting together our trek, which was a fantastic experience. The muler crew in particular – Ahmed, Hussein and Hassan were hard working, great cooks, and good companions. Their sense of humor transcended the language barrier, and they really made us feel welcome and part of their culture. We particularly enjoyed the nightly serenade by Hussein with backup vocals from his two compatriots.

We were also very happy with the guide Lhassan whose good humor kept us going through the tough days of the trek. In particular his services were invaluable in negotiating the taxi rides, something that would have been very difficult on our own.

They (the guide and mulers) all gave us service above and beyond the call of duty... they showed endless patience and good spirits.
D Dobson and family, USA 2006

I hope that you are well in Marrakech. Sorry this has taken me so long to get back to you but I just wanted to say thanks for all of assistance you gave us with organising the trek in the High Atlas Mountains.

Steve and I had a fantastic time and Mohammed was amazing (he spoke 5 languages). He was professional, informative and a lot of fun. The meals were amazing and the trek took us through some amazing scenery that was different each day. It was the highlight of our trip to Morocco and we have recommended it to all of our friends. My only regret was that we thought that we had taken more cash with us on the trek as we intended on giving Mohammed a bigger tip as he really was brilliant.
H Deas, Australia 2007

We had a great trek! Everything was really well organised, the guide was very informed, friendly and we got on well with him.

The food was fantastic, so much fresh fruit and vegetables and everything was presented beautifully. Everybody that we met and the muleteers were extremely friendly and helpful. Best of all was the birthday candles and chocolates on Dannys 36th and also the bottle of wine and the phone call from your colleague who we met in Marrakech was such a nice touch.

We definately would choose your company again should we decide on future treks or tours in Morocco.
F Murphy, Switzerland 2007

You have been recommended by a friend who used your company recently and said you were fantastic! We definitely want to do a trek of some description and will book through you.
A future trekker! 2007

Greetings from the Pacific Northwest! The vehicle and the drivers on our trip were excellent, as was the food (although there was usually too much of it!). The guides were very good.

The High Atlas trekking ghites on the first two nights were nicer than I expected (the second night in particular), but I enjoyed the home-stay on the third night more because it gave us a chance to interact with a Berber family. For the same reason, the lunch we had with a family on the third day was a highlight of the trek.

The Saghro Trek felt like more of an adventure than the High Atlas trek, in part because there were so few tourists in the area. The ghites and campsites were great. I really enjoyed our trip and would recommend Morocco Explored to others.
T Hamerlinck, USA 2007

All our testimonials are genuine. Visit References for contacts.

PRICE
per person/per day 750 dirhams plus transportation costs.

Price Includes:

English speaking Berber guides,
Mule handlers and mules for luggage,
Cook and kitchen,
Tents and matresses (sleeping bags), refuge shelter or gite d'tape (small Berber inn)
Complete meals during the trek,
(vegetarians welcome),
Treks run with 2 or more trekkers,
Price does not include flights, personal insurance, purchases, and tips,
Transfer costs to and from the trailhead will be calculated according to distance and added onto total cost.

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High Atlas Treks

Imlil to Imi Ouglad: 4 or 5 days May to October.
Level Medium Easy
Little visited but close to Marrakech - western Toubkal high passes and plateaus, juniper forests, pretty valley villages and farms, ancient hazelnut groves. Choice of wild camping and Berber guest houses.

Valley of the Roses: 7 days March to October Level Easy
The otherworldly Rose Valley on the Sahara side of the High Atlas is a beautiful mountainous desert region, with technicolour soil, exposed rock formations, deep green river valleys and deep gorges. Trails wind through red kasbahs and cultivated gardens lined with roses in full bloom during the month of May, but these quiet and isolated valleys are beautiful any time of year.

Setti Fatma to Tigadwine: 4 or 5 days April to October.
Level Medium Easy
Near Marrakech, this lovely high traverse across the shoulders and valleys of the snowy High Atlas peaks, east to west, with stays in guest houses. Trails thorough juniper forests, upland passes and Berber villages, visit to ancient rock carvings.

Toubkal Region
5 or 7 days June to October
Level Medium to Challenging with a climb of Toubkal

This 5 day circuit is a High Atlas classic that takes you into the high remote valleys behind the summit, and can be made more challenging if you include a climb of Toubkal (7 days), North Africa's highest peak.

Day 1
Meet your guide, transfer to Imlil to meet the mules. Trek to Aremd (1,920m). Guesthouse.

Day 2
Trek to Neltner Refuge (3,100m).

Day 3
Trek to Toubkal summit (4,167m) and return to the refuge.

Day 4 - 6
Trek to Lac D'Ifini camp (2,310m), Tissalday camp (2,100m), Aremd guesthouse (1,920m).

Day 7
Trek to Imlil and depart for Marrakech.

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Trekking Details

What you need to know about trekking...
Because the High Atlas can involve some challenging elevation gains and losses over continuous passes (2000 m+), most High Atlas treks are rated medium, meaning you should have recent experience hill hiking, carrying a light day-pack, and a tolerance for climate changes. You will need light hiking style shoes or boots with a full-tread sole and good quality outdoor clothing. Spring and fall, snow remains on the high peaks. Nights might be cold and the days can be hot and sunny. We have a list of what you will need to bring below.

Fitness requirements You should be confident of your fitness and endurance levels. The main recommendation is a sense of adventure! There is no age limit providing that you are in reasonable physical shape and you are aware of the rigors of trekking in higher elevations and have proper travellers insurance. Please make a point of telling us (quietly if you wish) if you have any medical condition/allergies or are on any medication that you think we should be aware of. We are out there for a great time and we want you to feel comfortable in your environment.

Accommodation in villages inns called gites with kitchens, sleeping areas and showers, or dome tents or, since Morocco is one of the the few areas of the world where warm temperatures combine with an absence of insects, you can sleep under the stars. Nothing can compare with a night under the brilliant starlight of North Africa. Tents, mattresses, fully equipped kitchen, food and personal baggage are carried by mules. You carry only a day pack for your water, snacks, camera and clothing. We have a limited number of sleeping bags, so you might be required to bring your own. We'll do our best to help you out with this.

All Food is included on trek and is very healthy, including Couscous, Tagine, fresh eggs, fish, olives, nuts and fruit. Please let us know whether you are vegetarian. Apart from eggs and fish (Tuna and Sardine) often served at lunch time with vegetable salad, there is not a lot of meat and when meat is available, separate dishes such as vegetarian Tagine is prepared.

Bottled water is usually available, but you might need to use your own method to purify water. Occasional villages allow for purchasing good quality bottled water along the way.

Some people like to bring their own treats and food supplements if they have special dietary requirements. If you like to drink herbal teas, bring your own. Moroccan tea tends to be a real energy booster with Gunpowder green mixed with copious amounts of sugar (refreshing and delicious!). Sugarless tea can be requested but not necessarily understood! Make use of your duty free allowance to obtain your favourite tipple.

As we are trekking in high mountains, geological variations create a full range of climatic conditions, which means it can get cold, wet, and windy. Bring a warm fleece and light weight wind jacket and long pants. During the day temperatures are relatively warm or hot, and normal attire with t-shirts and shorts will be fine. On average you can expect daytime temperatures of 20–30+ degrees Celsius.

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What To Bring *denotes essential or highly recommended

Pack light and pack tight.
Sleeping bag*
Day-pack *
sunglasses *
water bottles (collapsible bladders pack flat!) *
towel (Moroccan hotels don't always have them) *
ziplock baggies *
toilet paper * (buy it in Morocco)
needle and thread / safety pins
camera, batteries, memory cards, or film – bring lots!
sealable bag for your Digital camera* (essential!! for sand/dust)

Clothing
sarong (can double as a towel, lightweight sheet or scarf)
cotton long sleeved shirt (for intense sun) *
light wind-proof jacket
a hat (sun) *
warm socks*
light weight gloves*
lightweight long pants *
2-3 T-shirts
woolen sweater/fleece *
cotton scarf (doubles as a wash cloth)
Hiking boots or hiking shoes*

First aid – make sure you use water proof labelling when re-packaging
disinfectant creme / gel (Polysporin)
bandaids
Ibufrofen (Advil or generic – for pain, swelling) *
Tylenol (colds and fever)
cold medication – Echanacia / zinc lozenges
tweezers
Visine
Aloe vera gel (for burns)
Anti-hystamine tablets
diahrrea medication (Immodium) *

Personal
sunblock *
sanitary supplies with ziplock baggies to carry out
moisturiser / lip balm with sunblock *
simple english books / magazines / music – (cassette tapes are common in Morocco and make great gifts.)
small torch / flash-light (small bicycle lights make good travelling torches)
nail clippers
wet-wipes
soap / shampoo / toothpaste / toothbrush etc *
prescriptions in original containers
ear plugs *

Finally . . . .
Please remember that things do change, prices go up and down, activities stop running or change format and weather can send the best laid plans out the door. We will do our best to provide what is described above but please take into consideration the nature of the journey that you are embarking on and the country that you are traveling in and understand that a certain degree of flexibility is necessary!

For practical everyday information and links click on About Morocco and Frequently Asked Questions.

We do not book flights: they are easily booked on the web. Royal Air Maroc, Atlas Blue, Easy Jet, Ryanair, British Airways and others fly to Marrakech. Royal Air Maroc flies directly from Montreal and New York to Casablanca, with connections to Marrakech.

For more information contact

info@moroccoexplored.com

Telephone Morocco:
GSM: +212 66 770 5212

Telephone inside Morocco:
GSM: 0 66 770 5212

Telephone Canada and voice mail:
+1 604 393 3715 (Pacific tiem)