Winter Toubkal Trek - Exped AdventureDay 4 Setting of towards Toubkal, our trek takes us via the village of Aroumd and on to the small settlement and Muslim shrine at Sidi Chamharouch

Winter Toubkal Trek Country Morocco Max altitude 4167m Price £795 Duration 8 Days

Only a short flight away the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains provide a great opportunity to learn or revise winter walking skills whilst climbing three magnificent snow covered peaks, which mixed with the Moroccan culture, makes this trip truly unmissable and unforgettable. This adventure is an ideal "first big peak" trip, you will require no climbing or mountaineering experience, instruction will be given. This is a one week all inclusive on trek trip in a small group of 1:4 guide to client ratio with flexable plans to ensure the maximum chance of summit success. We include an extra day in and around the Imlil Valley to help with our acclimatisation. Following a careful program of acclimatisation we aim to make an ascent of Raz (4083m), Quanoukrim (4088m) before Jebel Toubkal (4167m), the highest mountain in North Africa. All around us are the jagged peaks of the High Atlas stretching as far as you can see in every direction and the start of the Sahara to the south. The Toubkal area is scattered with 4000m peaks and small mountain huts and refuges that provide us with our basic but homely accommodation during the week. Although this trip involves negotiating easy-angled snow slopes and ice-axe and crampons will be used, previous experience is useful but not essential. On our trip you get to experience everything Morocco has to offer, hustlers, markets, stunning mountains, great food and really friendly people make it a trip to be remembered for a long time.

4000m peaks including North Africa highest Excellent acclimatisation Low ratio 1:4 guiding with flexible plans (UIMLA) IML British leader

Exped Adventure Worldwide Ltd, 33 Fairfield Close, Staveley, Cumbria, LA8 9RA. [email protected], www.expedadventure.com, Registered company number - 8342816 © Copyright Exped Adventure Worldwide Ltd 2014

Participation Statement We recognise that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement. Accuracy of Itinerary While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, it may be necessary to make some changes as a result of flight schedules, climatic conditions, limitations of infrastructure or other operational factors. The itinerary is brief, due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. As a consequence, the order or location of overnight stops and the duration of the day may vary from those outlined. You should be aware that some events are beyond our control and we would ask for your patience. The itineray is a general guide to the trip and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered

Groups and Guides A fully qualified (UIMLA) International Mountain Leader will be your guide. He/she may be assisted by an experienced in country leader. Our leader to group ratios on this trip will never exceed 1:4 on this trek. Previous Experience/Fitness Previous winter walking experience is not essential, but a reasonable degree of fitness is. Most days involve around 5 - 7 hours walking plus plenty of rest stops. If you are used to regular multi day hill-walking in the UK you will have the right level of fitness to fully enjoy your time on this trek. Weather The weather should be pleasant during the day with cooler evenings and nights. The higher you are the cooler it will be. Weather in the high mountains is unpredictable and you should be prepared for this. It will be cold in the mornings and in the evenings at altitude. It will be extremely cold on the early starts and in the evenings at altitude, especially in the mid-winter months. What to Carry This trek is fully supported by a team of mules who will transport your main baggage. You will only need to carry a light daypack at the very most. A 35l rucksack is a useful size to comfortably fit in essential items such as water bottle, camera, wet-weather gear and extra layers etc. Please ensure that your rucksack has attachments for ice axe and crampons. Useful Tips Just in case your main luggage goes missing on route, it is a good idea to wear your boots on the plane, well worn-in boots cannot be replaced. Whilst trekking pack important items in strong plastic bags to keep them safe and dry. Equipment A detailed equipment list is provided on booking but normal winter walking equipment is all that is required. Baggage For your own comfort, travel light. Normally airlines restrict baggage to 20kg and on trek the weight for mules and porters should be kept to 15kg. Some items can be left at the hotel in Marrakech for your return. Health Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult your doctor for up-to-date medical information well before departure. All our (UIMLA) International Mountain Leaders hold first aid certificates and carry a fully equipped first aid kit for medical emergencies. We recommend that you carry a personal First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the information and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the trek rating for trip specific information. If you have any concerns, please contact us before booking. Exped Adventure Worldwide Ltd reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of your guide they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to yourself and/or the rest of the group. Tap or stream water should never be drunk without first sterilizing with chlorine dioxide tablets or by boiling. Insurance Insurance which covers mountain rescue, evacuation and medical expenses is essential. You should note there are no official mountain rescue services in Morocco and that any evacuation in the event of a serious medical emergency to the nearest hospital will be by land and only in serious situations by helicopter. We will require a copy of your insurance prior to departure. Please also ensure your insurance covers you for walking above 4000m (some will exclude this option).


Altitude If you are new to altitude you may have concerns about the effects. Don’t worry because our itineraries allow sufficient time to acclimatise, and altitude rarely causes anyone any problems on this trip. The best way to avoid such symptoms is to walk at a gentle steady pace and drink plenty of fluid. Visa and Permits Visas for entry into Morocco are not required by nationals of the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most EU countries. Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements. It is your responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. Local Costs All accommodation and most meals are included; please see the itinerary page for full details. Additional costs would include any drinks or snacks outside of mealtimes, showers when charged for, meals in Marrakech, transfers to and from airport (10 euros), tips for local staff. Currency The currency in Morocco is the dirham (MDH) but you cannot get dirham outside of Morocco, therefore take UK sterling, Euro or US$ and exchange on arrival. ATM’s and change bureaux are available in the arrivals hall at the airport. Tipping Tipping is an accepted part of life in Morocco. We generally tip our local staff as a whole and would recommend around £25 per person from the whole group. Catering Arrangements Food is included when on trek, only breakfast is included when in Marrakech. Our trek cooks pride themselves on their cooking, and ensure all food on the trek is freshly prepared using local ingredients and there is plenty for everyone. A typical menu on this trip would be: Breakfast: Porridge or cereal, fresh bread with cheese, jam, margarine, fried eggs, omelettes, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and hot milk. Lunch: A light lunch consisting of fresh salad, tinned fish or meat, bread, cheese, followed by fresh local fruit. Dinner: A hot meal is served every night consisting of soup, traditional Moroccan cuisine of Tajine or couscous with meat and vegetables or the occasional pasta meal, followed by fresh fruit and drinks. Please bring with you extra snack for during the day if required. Accommodation In Marrakech you will stay in a hostel with a pool with dormitory accommodation in a quiet part of town, just a short walk from the main square. Twin, double or single rooms are available at extra cost. In the mountains a mix of auberges and basic hotels are used where you should expect only basic facilities. Private rooms cannot be guaranteed. Two nights are in traditional mountain refuges which provide only dormitory accommodation. Flights and Joining Arrangements Flights are NOT included as part of this trip. Budget airlines offer flights to Marrakech from many regional UK airports, and sometimes very cheap deals can be found. A briefing with your leader will take place at 7.30pm on Day 1 at your hostel. Return flights can be booked for anytime on Day 8, or later if you wish to extend your stay in Morocco.


Winter Toubkal Trek Itinerary Day 1 Fly to Marrakech. Rendezvous with your leader at 7.30pm in the hostel. In the evening we enjoy a meal together then you may like to watch the antics in the main square, the Djemma El Fna. Day 2 Free morning in Marrakech, you have the opportunity to visit the souks, museums and the square. After lunch we drive for an hour and a half up into the mountains to Imlil, then a short walk up to Achiem to our gite for the night. You will have some free time to explore this “wild west” village. Day 3 Today we have an acclimatisation day in and around the Imlil Valley. One option is to head up to the Tizi Mzik pass at 2400m with an option to ascend a small peak. We return to spend a second night at our gite. 4 – 6 hours walking. Day 4 Setting of towards Toubkal, our trek takes us via the village of Aroumd and on to the small settlement and Muslim shrine at Sidi Chamharouch. Here, the valley steepens and we continue the ascent to reach the Neltner Refuge (3207m) which will be our accommodation for the next 3 nights. 5 - 7 hours walking. Day 5/6 We now have two big mountain days. Your guide will decide in which order we tackle the peaks. Toubkal is our main objective but if the weather is stable we may opt to first make an ascent of Ouanoukrim (4089m), a straightforward climb with a final scramble to reach the summit. 6 - 8 hours walking. Day 5/6 If we have opted to save North Africa's highest peak for today, we will make an early start for the steep ascent to the summit of Jebel Toubkal (4167m). After time to enjoy the panoramic views from the summit we return to the refuge by to celebrate with a glass of Berber whisky (mint tea). 6 - 8 hours walking. Day 7 After breakfast we make the descent of the Mizane valley, passing Sidi Chamarouch, a popular place of local pilgrims, and the waters here is reputed to have healing powers. We continue down the valley back to our lodge at Achiem to have lunch before driving to Marrakech. The late afternoon and evening are free for sightseeing, shopping and celebrating a successful trip. Day 8 Take a taxi to the airport to connect with your flight.

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Winter Toubkal Trek - Exped AdventureDay 4 Setting of towards Toubkal, our trek takes us via the village of Aroumd and on to the small settlement and Muslim shrine at Sidi Chamharouch