ATLAS PANORAMA

8 days from GBP639 to GBP829 including flights
Tripcode: TMP

Countries Visited: Morocco

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 29 reviews.

Valerie Scaresbrook

ATLAS PANORAMA
Written December 2009
This holiday was a great introduction to a new country for us and we will definitely return to discover other mountains and villages.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Plenty of memorable Moorish moments, but above all the natural friendliness of the locals made the greatest impression, along with the mountain scenery.
What did you think of your group leader?
Hassan was a quietly assertive character with a good sense of humour who also had excellent leadership and mountain walking skills and a vast fund of knowledge to answer everyone's questions about the local area. He really did make the trip special.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Trip notes are outdated.
The gite provides a pillow, blanket, thin quilt and sheet.
We were pleasantly surprised at the small dormitories (having envisaged a vast Alpine hut style bunkroom).
You need a Northern Europe 2-pin plug adaptor.
Treated drinking water was not provided - there was bottled water to buy instead.
You need cash to take up to the mountains with you - apart from the lunch and tea stops there and back, you need cash for tips for village staff and for bottled water, Kit-Kats, biscuits, toilet paper etc.
The tracks and paths in the mountains are very dusty. This swirls around when disturbed by walkers/mules or the wind, and it's nearly always windy. So a scarf is useful to cover your face.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
The holiday provided a cash boost to a largely cashless, self-sufficient society, so villagers can pay for water, children's education and other expenses. The Exodus projects have also provided an impetus for locals to initiate their own improvements.
But there was the inevitable impact of our visit. The village has no good way of collecting/disposing of their own or our rubbish, which is eventually burned (including plastic that produces toxic smoke) but much rubbish blows away first. We disliked buying bottled water and would have preferred to pay for and then treat refills of our own bottles from the tap (villagers have to pay for this water too).
Also uneasy about the use of precious spring water to provide showers and flushing toilets. The waste went into the ground, so a way of directing the shower water to flush loos, and some sort of cess pit would be better - or compost toilets?
Loo paper goes in a basket to be burned later - not pleasant for the person with this job - perhaps we should be encouraged/taught to adopt the alternative to paper?
Nandita Nelson

ATLAS PANORAMA
Written November 2009
A perfect week, weather wonderful, great walks, exhilarating.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the dawn over the Atlas mountains, watching a flock of goldfinches by the river, lying on the terrace in the darkness and looking at the stars
What did you think of your group leader?
Lovely person, but not the most informative. Wished he volunteered a bit more, but probably just shy and a little unaware of the sort of things we needed to know. Could have given us advice on where not to eat in Marrakech, some people on the trip ate in the square and suffered consequently.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a TORCH! Especially on the village visit, as it is PITCH dark walking back on a rough path. Using the camera flash from your mobile is a poor solution.
The souk in Marrakech is pricey, some things are ridiculously priced, be careful! You would not pay that at home. There are some very nice shops with the same sort of stuff a mere 10mins walk from the hotel in the Gueliz area, rather than the 40min trek to the centre.
Change money at the airport, you can change it back again on the way back.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The walks were long and some in our group did not do them all. Personally, for me they were an absolute highlight. There is not much to do if you don't like walking (unless you sit in the gite and read). The scenery was awesome, really quite different with the stark red mountains and very blue sky. The food was OK, if you are a real foodie you might be disappointed, maybe plan some good restaurants in Marrakech.
The gite was much better than expected. There were 16 of us and plenty of rooms, so we had 2 to a room (and 3 in 2 rooms). The mattresses were thick and comfortable. In fact pillows were provided. The communal washing facilities were OK, 2 flushing toilets, and showers were hot (but cost 10dh a time). Amenities basic, though, but that is what it says in the trip notes. You can buy water, drinks and Mars bars at the gite, as the village shop is a way away and not really accessible. If you have a sense of adventure, like walking, are reasonably fit (that means a little more than walking the dog on Sunday morning), and want to experience some North African culture, this is the trip for you.
Rebecca Oxenbould

ATLAS PANORAMA
Written July 2009
This was a great break and a fantastic way to see the Atlas mountains and get a real taste of the Berber life. I loved it!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The second day's walk was the shortest and the steepest, and the one that really offers you the Atlas Panorama. I'm an average level of fitness so was slightly apprehensive about it and sense of satisfaction at the top of the mountain, coupled with the tremendous panoramic views was breathtaking (what little of my breath was left after the ascent!). My favourite bit was the stop on the way down, above a village around a stream just really taking in the scenery and the peacefulness of the mountain life.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was reactive rather than proactive. He'd very happily answer questions and stop to explain things when asked. He was always good natured, even when displaying (justified) frustrations with a member of our team who was ill-equipped and not drinking the right amount of water etc.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
There's not much to do in the Gite at the end of the day's walk and plenty of time to sit and reflect. I came equipped with cards, travel scrabble, my journal and a good book and appreciated having those things to occupy myself through those afternoons.
The Gite offers a few choccy bars to buy to take on the hike with you and it was good to have those, however if you would prefer not to eat chocolate bars, it would be worth bringing some nut and seed bars or some other energy bar with you instead.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I was a bit unsure whether to invest in hiking boots or not prior to the trip, but I did and I appreciated them about twenty times every day we walked. The paths are really very rocky with lots and lots of loose stones and a pair of even the best runners will not suffice. One very able-bodied member of our team didn't have proper shoes and he slipped and slided down some very precarious hills.
Lorna Marsh

ATLAS PANORAMA
Written November 2008
Lovely group, great holiday and superb tour guide. Overall, very relaxing and enjoyable.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking in the mountains and spending time in the Madina at Marrakech.
What did you think of your group leader?
Exceptional knowledge on Morocco and the Atlas Mountains. Had wonderful conversations finding out about the local culture, history and the people.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The flights were disappointing and you have to pay for terrible food – make sure you buy beforehand! Also, if you like a beer or two after a day's walking, you need to purchase it before you leave Marrakech as you won't find a shop in the mountains.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Will definitely book with Exodus again.
Katarzyna Ray

ATLAS PANORAMA
Written July 2008
I had a great time and met some lovely people
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Difficult to say...
What did you think of your group leader?
Very experienced and knowledgable about the area.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a good camera ,lots of suncream and good boots.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Generally speaking a very, very enjoyable holiday. The gite was better than expected, people were v. nice.
I will definitely recommend it.
Peter Gillett

ATLAS PANORAMA
Written July 2008
Some energy sapping walks which were always worth the effort, combined with the pulsating madness of Marrakech. A relaxing week in the mountains meeting some great people and getting to know a little about the Berber way of life.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
With a few days walking building up to the longest and hardest trek, to finally reach Lake Tamda after 5 hours of heat and dust was just a perfect sight. If that had turned out to be a mirage I don't know how I would have reacted. All the walks were inspirational in their own way but meeting Nomadic families, taking mint tea with the mountain shepherds and playing Frisbee by the lake at the end of it all was the highlight for me. Then we had to walk 5 hours back to the gite!!
Another unexpected evening was had with the locals who invited our group to a wedding. Initillay feeling like gate-crashers we ended at 2am feeling like honoured guests as we were fed cakes and mint tea! I can still hear that mesmerising drumming.
What did you think of your group leader?
Mustapha was excellent. Extremely capable of organising the group, very knowlegable about his country and its customs and the landscape, and all done with grace, patience and a sense of humour. He was assisted by the equally chilled Yassin who I personally have to thank for guiding us to the Lake. Not to forget the gite owner and general miracle worker (transporting food by mule and conjuring amazing meals in the middle of nowhere)... we named him Mr Busy and that should tell you all you need to know.
I would insist on being guided by these three again if I were to go back to the Atlas Mountains.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
As always, have good walking boots and sandals. Maybe lighter footwear for the gite. There were facilities to wash things, so travel lighter by only taking 2 or 3 t-shirts and wash them in rotation. In summer they dried in minutes. I was constantly carrying large bottles of water so will be investing in a hydration pack to fit my ruck sack for future trips. If you go on the Lake trek maybe the shepherds (if you meet them) would appreciate something to catch fish with: fishing line, hooks suitable for trout etc. Even a new pair of socks!! And maybe take something for the local school children that you feel might be useful.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I'm not particularly sporty or fit and although we did this in July in 35C and upwards, I found it strenuous in part but not impossible, and was always left with a feeling of great pride in our achievements.
Harjit Mahl

ATLAS PANORAMA
Written April 2008
Had a fantastic time and met some great and lovely people!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I especially enjoyed the walk on the last day of our stay in the Atlas Mountains, it was challenging and I really felt I had achieved something. The landscape was beautiful and the people warm. I wish I had booked a longer vacation there!
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent guide, made us feel looked after and he (Mustapha) was very enthusiastic and helpful.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Will definitely go on another trip with Exodus!