Family Trekking Tour In Morocco

Marrakech is the spiritual heart of Morocco, the cultural melting pot of the mountain Berbers and the desert peoples of the south, whose eclectic mix of ideals and traditions has resulted in a fascinating clash of colour, noise and visual delights that is straight out of the ‘Arabian Nights’. There may be time on arrival for a brief orientation walk of this fascinating city.

Overnight Standard Hotel Swimming available

Leaving the city behind we drive south today, towards the craggy peaks and plunging valleys of the Toubkal Massif. Crossing the Haouz Plain we pass through the tiny town of Asni, from where our road begins to climb towards the foothills of the Massif. The towering peaks of the High Atlas are North Africa’s greatest range of mountains, a wild region, culturally removed from the rest of Morocco, and a barrier between the northern plains and the pre-Sahara. This is the land of the fiercely independent Berbers, the “Lords of the Atlas”, whose traditions and ways still hold sway up here in their mountain strongholds far away from the cities below. The Berbers present us with a unique view of a way of life lost to the rest of North Africa, where music and dance, even language and religion, are far removed from their Arab neighbours. We reach our trek start point in the berber hamlet of Ouirgane and set out with our mountain guide and team of mules’ heading along the Azzaden valley and Takherkhourte reserve pausing for a picnic lunch at Azefssane. This afternoon we reach our gite at Tiziane (1600m). Approx 4hrs walking.

Overnight Basic Village House Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continuing through the valley we pass through the remote berber villages of Tizi Zguaghen, Id Aissa and Tizi n'Oussem to Azib Tamsoulte. As the Toubkal massif draws nearer this afternoon we walk through juniper forest to Azib Tzikert and our camp at Aguelzim (2460m). Approx 6hrs walking.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we climb to the high pass of Tizi n'Aguelzim (3520 m) following a mule track zig-zagging its way up to an initial pass with stunning views to Tizi Oussem, Asni and the plain of Haouz. From the highest point of today’s trek we see Toubkal itself in all it’s majestic glory before descending to our base camp for our attempt on Toubkal at Neltner. Approx 6-7hrs walking.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early this morning we make our attempt on the summit of Jebel Toukbal, the highest peak in Northern Africa. Our route takes us up the south cirque, crossing the stream above the refuge and then heading across one of the mountains numerous scree fields, where we will have to negotiate a seemingly endless carpet of boulders and rocks. The walking is relatively straightforward, but the scree and the altitude will make the going quite difficult in parts, however, the views along the way make the journey more than worthwhile. Cresting the ridgeline we find ourselves on the plateau, from where it is a short walk to the summit and the vistas out across the surrounding landscape are quite breathtaking. From here there are unrestricted views in every direction, from the Marrakech Plain to the High Atlas in the north and as far south as the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara. Pliny, the great Roman scholar, once described the High Atlas Mountains as "the most fabulous mountains in all of Africa” and from our vantage point high above the valley it is easy to understand why. Retracing our steps we return down the mountain to our camp at Neltner. Approx 5hrs walking.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our final walk this morning takes us down to the small village of Imlil (1740m) where we are met for our return drive back to Marrakech. (Approx 4-5 hrs walking) There will be time this afternoon to relax after our trek and perhaps sample the nightly entertainment on the celebrated Djemma El Fna Square. A feast for the senses, the area is a chaotic confusion of noise and colour, where you will find the streets alive with storytellers and letterwriters, musicians, jugglers and water-sellers.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning you may like to take and optional walking tour around the souks with a local guide, also visiting the museum and the elegant Koutoubia mosque and tower, reputed to be the most perfect Islamic monument in North Africa. Marrakech is divided into two distinct parts, the Gueliz (or modern French-built city) and the Medina (the Old City) and you may like to spend your final afternoon independently exploring its maze of narrow streets, filled with the sounds, colours and smells of the exotic, perhaps haggling for some last minute presents, or just sitting in a café and watching the street tableaux unfold before you.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

The tour ends today in Marrakech. Depending on the schedule of your flights, you may be able to spend some additional time exploring "The Red City" independently and buy the last souvenirs.

Included meals: Breakfast