Dates :

25/4/2025 - 03/05/2025

Area: High and Middle Atlas, Sahara

Difficulty

(see Grading of tours and self assess your level)

Description

A Moroccan experience to the summit of the highest mountain in North Africa including climbing, riding and trekking! Join us for a multi-dimensional experience from the High Atlas to the Sahara Desert.

• Climb Mt Toubkal (4167 metres)

• Experience a unique rural culture and the city of Marrakech

• Camel ride and bivouac under the stars in the Sahara Desert

• Trekking, climbing or via ferrata climbing in Todra Canyon

Planned tours:

• Jebel Toubkal 4167 m

• Todra Gorge (rock climbing)

• Todra Gorge (short trek)

• Sahara Bivouac

One of the most amazing things about visiting Morocco is that you can explore both the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert on the same trip. A trek of this kind can take you from the city of Marrakech, through the High Atlas Mountain range, the crags and rock walls of Todra Gorge before dropping down into the arid beauty of the Sahara Desert. Along the way you can explore the homelands of the Berber tribes. climb red limestone around Todra Gorge and ascend to the peak of the highest mountain in North Africa. You'll see local settlements, Berber culture and experience the flora and fauna (including riding camels into the desert) of Morocco and the vistas of the North African countryside.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Marrakech

Day 2: Day trek from Marrakech to the Jebel Toubkal hut

We’ll arrive to Marrakech in the morning and go to the village of Imlil, the starting point for mountaineers. This Berber village is surrounded with mountains and covered with nut trees. We’ll do all the necessary shopping, and after a late breakfast leave for the CAF hut at an altitude of 3200 m (4-5h).

Day 3: Climb to the top of Jebel Toubkal (4,167 m) and return to Imlil

We’ll head towards the highest peak of the Atlas early in the morning. We’ll ascend the summit of Jebel Toubkal in 2-3 hours. In case of snow, the climb can be delayed for an hour. At the top we’ll enjoy a beautiful view of the Sahara and the whole Atlas. Descent to the hut (1-2 hours). Another 3-4 hour walk back to Imlil, where we’ll spend the night (6-9 hours walking).

Day 4: Imlil – Marrakech

After breakfast, we’ll leave Imlil and return to Marrakech, where we’ll stay in the old town of Medina. This will be a rest day and we can visit the palaces and gardens of Marrakesh, along with the huge shopping bazaar.

Day 5: Marrakech – Todra Canyon

We’ll leave Marrakech and go over the picturesque mountain pass of Tizi N'Tichka (over 2.000m), to reach the east side of the Atlas in Ksar Ait Benhadou, the former stronghold of Almoravid. Recently, the village has been the site of many movies (Gladiator, Indiana Jones ...). From there, our path will continue to Ouarzazate, the Moroccan film industry centre. From there, the trail leads to the last city before the Todra canyon, Tinghir, where we’ll arrive in the evening and settle into a hotel.

Day 6: climbing /trekking /cycling at the Todra Canyon

In the morning we’ll go on a round trip above the Todra canyon, where we’ll meat real nomads - mountain Berbers (3-5 hours walking). In the afternoon, you can try climbing on the limestone walls. You’ll also be able to try biking or horseback riding.

Day 7: Climbing/trekking /cycling; Bivouac in the Sahara desert

Ater breakfast we’ll take a short hike, or go climbing/cycling. At noon we’ll leave the Todra canyon and go through the desert full of oases to Merzouga. Late in the afternoon we’ll go on a camel ride through the red dunes of the Sahara. We’ll have dinner and stay overnight at a Berber camp. You can bivouac under millions of stars or sleep in one of the Berber tents.

Day 8: Sahara – Marrakech

Early in the morning we’ll go under the stars to the top of the dunes above our camp, where we’ll wait for the first rays of the sun. We’ll enjoy the amazing colours painted all over the desert dunes. Breakfast will follow and then we’ll ride camels to the first settlements. This will be followed by a return to Marrakech, where we’ll arrive in the evening. The evening will be reserved for the final shopping in the bazaar.

Day 9: Marrakech – your destination

Return home.

Equipment

The basic equipment

• Sun glasses

• Sun cream and lipstick

• Water bottle or thermo bottle

• Toilletris

• Headlamp with spare battery

• Hiking socks

• Pocket knife

• ID and Alpine Club membership

• Money

• Silk sleeping bag

• Band aid

• Camera

• Map

• Backpack 30-40 l

Clothes

• A Suitable all weather pants

• A Suitable all weather jacket

• Warm and comfotable functional clothing

• Thermal underwear short/long

• Spare underwear

• Hiking socks

• Cap/headband

• Gloves

• Sun cap

Technical equipment for alpine and summit tours 

• Trekking or mountaineering boots

• Harness with HMS carabiner (we give)

• Mountaineering boots that can take the crampons

• Ice axe

• Extry ice axe for steeper ice

• Gaiters

• Climbing helmet

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Expertise - Safety

Our courses, trekkings and expeditions have been tried, tested, altered and perfected over decades. We, IFMGA mountain guides,  have gained experience in the Alps, Yosemite, on expeditions in the Andes, the Himalayas and the Karakorum. Our knowledge and experience have been transferred to all spheres of  our organization, from the first call to safe return home.

We are focusing on smaller groups of clients as we provide higher level of individual assistance. A very important part of our activity is to advise our clients on how to get a proper fitness condition and how to choose correct quality equipment for their safety. By doing so, we ensure the highest possible safety and comfort for our clients.

We put a lot of attention to making reliable relationships with local partners (Sherpas, porters) and we treat them as members of our Alpguide family. We always asses risks and follow safety procedures that ensure safety of our clients, partners and guides.