PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

15 days from GBP839 to GBP949 including flights
Tripcode: TMT

Countries Visited: Morocco

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 11 reviews.

David Henderson

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS
Written September 2009
A fantastic trip trekking through the some real remote areas of Morocco experiencing Berber life first hand.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Very difficult to pick one individual moment, but a few of the highlights
Summitting two 4000m peaks
Having a wash in a great swimming hole after 4 days in-field
Finding out your Gite has a wood fired Hamman
Walking up a river gorge under a brilliant starry sky
What did you think of your group leader?
Fantastic guide who had a tremendous knowledge of Morocco the mountains and Berber life as well as a great sense of humour.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
We experienced a mix of weather, (early September) so don't forget plenty of warm clothes as well as the shorts and t- shirts. If your used to Munro bagging in Scotland you'll have no problems. A good sleeping bag will make night times much more comfortable
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Expect basic camping and you'll not be dissapointed.
Stefan Utsch

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS
Written July 2009
Really good trip. Had fantastic weather throughout and beautiful views from Mt Toubkal.
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What did you think of your group leader?
Well informed and dynamic group leader, providing massive amount of information about pretty much everything.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Serious boot testing terrain. Lots of scree and rocks. Not technical,though. Make sure you've got good boots!!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Do it and enjoy!
steve walsh

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS
Written July 2009
A great trip through some unspoiled landscape with a real insight into the lives or the Berber people
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Climbing out of the Ouanoums gorge and over the pass towards Toubkal base camp. The weather was deteriorating and it was a race against the rain, one that we lost.
What did you think of your group leader?
Mohammed has a great sense of humour which he must have learned from the British. He also showed us his knowledge of the plant and bird life of the region. One thing he didn't learn from the British was his love of getting up early in the morning :)
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take warm clothes and waterproof everything. It snow in June!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I'd love to go again.
Jonathan Dusheiko
PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS
Written July 2009
Fantastic trip off the beaten track, we did not see another hiker until Lac d'Ifni. Amazing variety of scenery from lush meadows full of flowers to volcanic moonscapes.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the dramatic summit of Toubkal in the distance for the first time as we went up Adrar n'Dern. Looking down on North Africa from Toubkal, then looking to the SE and realising that across miles of desert, savannah and rainforest was South Africa where I am from. Seeing huge Lammergeir vultures soaring near Toubkal.
What did you think of your group leader?
Lacen was very polite and cheerful. Although he was not afraid to speak up when he felt that people were not following his instructions. I thought it was great that we managed to follow the original itinerary even though we were told just before departure that this would not be possible due to unusually heavy snowfalls prior to the trip. Everyone appreciated the 'magic bag' of moroccan snack mix he brought along for the breaks.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I think May is the best time to go, the Springtime plants are fantastic
Try to get plenty of change before leaving Marrakech, it is hard to change high denominations in the mountains.
Be prepared for some tough ascents, for Adrar n'Dern we were on the go for 12 hours. Poles help a lot.
Go for plain leather boots rather than waterproof for cooler feet. There were a few snow patches and some mud but otherwise it was hot and dry. I'd recommend reasonable quality ones (three people's boots started to come apart) with good ankle support and also well cushioned socks for the tougher days, the terrain is rocky.
Take a trail seat cushion for rest stops
Most campsites had rivers nearby for washing or jumping in if you can stand the icy water! They could dry up later in the year though. Lac d'Ifni was great for a swim, not too cold.
Minimise rubbish by using the water provided (make sure you neutralise it with tablets though otherwise it tastes bad) and burn any used loo roll with a cigarette lighter
Definitely visit the Jardin Majorelle, Museum Dar Si Said and Palais La Bahia in Marrakech. Have a coffee in one of the terrace restaurants as the sun is setting. Buy a city map and take a compass, it is very easy to get lost in the maze of the derbs
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The food during the majority of the trip was great (we are talking mountains of freshly made cous cous and pancakes). However the amount we got at the gite in Aremd was a not really sufficient after a long day. I was not that impressed by the tour guide in Marrakech taking us to a pharmacy where the main idea was to sell us creams etc.
Paula Jackman

TOUBKAL & THE HIGH ATLAS
Written October 2008
An excellent walk through beautiful scenery with the challenge of climbing Toubkal and the vibrancy of Marrakech. The trip at the end of September/beginning of October is the last one of the season that Exodus run and the notes do say that the itinerary may change. This was certainly the case with us making our average altitude lower and the walking days a little shorter. However, we had several heavy downpours and could see that roads had been severely damaged because of them and the decision to change the route was made for good reasons. It was not, however, totally as advertised even though we did go through some very pictureseque countryside and villages.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching the summit of Toubkal where there were the most incredible views... and every other pass we went over where there were further reaching vistas of the pink, green and ochre landscape. Taking inspiration from the simple lives in the villages we went through.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader and the rest of the team made us feel really welcome. Mohammed's food was fantastic and our leader Yahya patiently answered innumerable questions on everything from plant life to polygamy to religion, made sure we knew where we were going and even dug out drainage ditches round our tents on the days it really rained. An excellent team.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you're prepared for rain with good waterproofs, as well as relaxed about wild camping (i.e. toilet facilities behind a bush, which are sometimes in scarce supply!) and washing in the rivers, you'll have a great time!
Most of the trek was at a pretty relaxed pace with generally just about 4-5 hours walk a day, except for the Toubkal day, which was around 12 hours walking in total, so quite a change of pace.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The day after we'd climbed Toubkal we could see the mountains covered in snow from Marrakech, so winter had come pretty much overnight. If we'd have been just a couple of days later we wouldn't have been able to go up, so I'd say careful timing is essential unless you're prepared for the whole winter experience.
For me, this was the perfect holiday to immediately take my mind off work: activity, being in the middle of nowhere and having to focus on the basics of survival, an amazingly beautiful country and lovely people. Only trouble is it's been difficult to mentally return to real life! Can't wait to go back.
Exodus Response
Although Mt Toubkal & High Atlas is similar to the current Peaks & Valleys of the Atlas trip, please note that the amount of nights wild camping and itinerary has changed. Please refer to the new trip notes for exact details.
- Exodus Staff
Helen Russell

TOUBKAL & THE HIGH ATLAS
Written July 2008
An amazing trek through stunning scenery with the challenge of very basic living conditions - definitely a break from the stresses of modern life.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching the summit of Mt Toubkal was great and also made me feel quite emotional, which was not how I had expected to react. By that stage of the trip most of the group had bonded well and all reaching the summit together was a fitting end to our trek.
I also enjoyed some of the more remote campsites where we truly felt that we were in the wilderness. Once you had got used to the very rudimentry toilet facilities and washing in mountain streams it was fantastic to be in the great outdoors away from other people. Eating freshly killed mountain goat was also a new one on me!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader, Hassan, was very professional and had a fantastic knowlege of the mountains - I have no idea how he knew where the paths were sometimes. He became more integrated with the group as the trip went on and it was interesting to hear about the Berber lifestyle from someone who was happy to answer all our questions.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I would advise people to take trekking poles. The trip notes do mention that you can take them if you want but I would say that they are a necessity. I had never used them before but was really glad that I had decided to take some along.
I would also suggest that you take some high energy snacks (dried fruit, nuts etc.) because although Hassan did hand some round, it was generally not until just before lunch and some of us were flagging a bit by then. When you have been up since 5.30 or 6.00am you need something to keep you going.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was my first proper trek through the mountains, and although the conditions were sometimes very basic, I had a great time with a nice bunch of people, laughed loads, and am looking forward to trying something new next year.
John Lister

TOUBKAL & THE HIGH ATLAS
Written July 2008
This trek explores some very remote areas with the bonus that you are unlikely to met any other trekkers for at least a week. However, there is a price for this - with the exception of the campsite at the Toubkal refuge, all the camps were "wild" ie no ablutions.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching the summit of Mount Toubkal was excellent but trekkers should be aware that altitude sickness can be a problem at 4,167m. Helping our porters to butcher a goat in a beautiful valley camp site was also an unusual experience!
What did you think of your group leader?
Hassan was excellent from start to finish. We travelled independently to Marrakech but Hassan still helped enormously in sorting out lost baggage and arranging taxis.
On trek he set a steady pace that enabled the group to stay together and there were plenty of rests. Also, he was very informative about the Berber way of life and arranged a tea making ceremony in his friend's village home.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The trip notes are misleading with respect to full serviced camping. This was defined as " ... two person tents sometimes in a private or public campsite that contains a communal ablutions block and other amenities and sometimes in a wild camp with toilet tents and mess tent or dining equipment provided." In fact, all the camps were wild with the exception of the final night on trek outside the Toubkal refuge where we had to pay for hot showers. Therefore, you should go equipped with plenty of wet wipes, toilet paper and quick drying clothes and be prepared for using the shelter of large boulders for WCs!. On most days we camped by or near a stream so it was possible to wash clothes and on the occasions when the stream was deep enough for bathing, this was good fun.
Time hangs a little heavy on half days - particularly if it is raining - so take plenty of reading material. During our August trek there was heavy rain late in the afternoon on most days including 3 violent hail storms. Good foul weather clothing is essential.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Trekking in isolation from other groups was a rare privilege particularly if you are more used to the Alps, Lake District or other popular areas. The absence of all motorised traffic with the exception of the odd vehicle was also excellent.
Marrakech was good fun and the souks were not as intimidating as folklure suggests. Beware of paying over the odds if you eat "on the square."