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The High Atlas Circuit and Education for All Project

Our most extensive and comprehensive journey through the High Atlas Mountains, culminating in the ascent of Mount Toubkal (4,167 meters), the highest peak in North Africa. The adventure concludes with an insightful visit to one of the girls' boarding houses supported by Education for All.

Location

Morocco

Terrain

Mountain

Difficulty

Advanced

Accommodation and Meals

Riad, Wild Camping, Mountain Hut/Gite

Duration

Nine days

Meeting Point

Marrakech

Annual Leave

Five days

Group Size

Up to 20

Seasons

May to September

Walking Distance

70km

I can't recommend this trek highly enough.  It is challenging, very challenging at times, but it is hugely rewarding.  Camping next to Lac d'Ifni, in such a beautiful, remote valley is a once in a life time experience, and summiting Toubkal on the last day is the cherry on top. I can think of no better way to get to know the wild beauty of the High Atlas.
The High Atlas Circuit and Education for All Project
Jonnie

Jonnie, an ex Marine, is a full-time International Mountain Leader. 

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Life-changing, challenging, pushing my own boundaries...wouldn't have missed it for the world! It brought me so much and I was able to leave so much behind me at the summit.

Erik S

I can only speak highly of this expedition and the whole team that accompanied it. SUPER!

Peter W

Tribal Tracks is the human key between you and nature.

Patrick VM

Trip Highlights

This is our flagship High Atlas itinerary, which combines all our our favourite routes.

Summit Mount Toubkal, North Africa's highest mountain (4167m) and a real bucket list achievement. 

Camp next to the azure blue Lac d'Ifni, in a stunning and remote glacial valley.  You can even take a dip!

Accompanied by mules, you trek up and over four high passes, the most stunning ones the High Atlas has to offer.

An insightful project visit to Education for All girls boarding house in Asni

All the info you need

Trip Details

Trip Details

At a Glance

This exceptional circuit of the High Atlas Mountains has been specially crafted by Tribal Tracks in collaboration with our Moroccan mountain team. As leading experts in the High Atlas, the team has designed this outstanding 6-day journey, taking you well off the beaten paths to uncover the raw beauty of this region.

The Trek - Supported by mules, a Tribal Tracks leader and expert guides, we wild camp in spectacular locations throughout. As the sun sets over the surrounding mountains, we gather around the campfire under a sky filled with stars.

Along the way, we visit remote villages, gaining a unique insight into the lives of the Berber people. On the penultimate day, we summit North Africa's highest mountain, Mount Toubkal. With many high mountain passes, this challenging route is designed to maximize your experience in the High Atlas.

The Project Visit - After we have completed the trek, we will visit one of the girls' boarding houses, which is funded by Education for All (EFA). Despite the Moroccan Government’s support of education policy and women’s rights, half of the country is not literate, and in rural areas, up to 83% of women are illiterate. EFA was established to help provide the opportunity of secondary education for girls from the High Atlas mountain region. They build and run high-quality boarding houses for girls from 12–18 years.

They offer three nutritious meals a day, hot showers, cosy beds, access to computers, study support via an international volunteer programme and dedicated, local housemothers. The overall environment makes it easy for the girls to settle in and thrive in their studies. They have achieved an average of 90% pass rate across all years and now have 50 EFA girls enrolled at university!  

Trip Details

Itinerary

Trip Details

Dates & Prices

We run this trip regularly throughout the trekking season. Please get in touch with your preferred dates. Prices begin at £1795 including a deposit of £500, but can vary depending upon the accommodation you want in Marrakech, and how long you want to explore there after your trek.

Send Enquiry

Trip Details

General Notes

This is what you will need to buy/source yourself.

  • International flights from the UK (but we can arrange these for you at extra cost, which will be ATOL protected);
  • Personal travel insurance which should be valid and cover all activities in the itinerary;
  • UK international departure tax;
  • Immunisation costs;
  • Personal equipment and clothing on the kit list;
  • Tipping for local guides and drivers;
  • Single supplement (for sole occupancy of accommodation where available);
  • Expenses incurred due to unforeseen circumstances such as flight cancellation and delays;
  • Alcoholic drinks.
  • Visas (where applicable)

It is important that you read the itinerary carefully, and take account of the rating we have given it.  

Although our challenges are not technical, they do require a good degree of physical fitness. The conditions will require stamina and strength, which you should recognise and train for. This will be a much better experience if you are fit and prepared. You should feel comfortable walking 6-8 hours per day.

In setting the maximum size of our groups, we take a number of factors into account.

Altitude, degree of difficulty, the terrain, the climate and time of year, all determine the maximum group size.  Sometimes it will be 20, sometimes it will be 8-14, but safety is always our priority.

The minimum number to participate is 2. You will be accompanied by a Tribal Tracks UK Leader, Mountain Leader qualified, as well as supported by our local, in-country guides.

It is a requirement of Tribal Tracks booking terms and conditions that each supporter must hold their own travel insurance which covers the trip and the activities they are doing.

We advise you to put insurance in place as soon as possible. Your insurance must be valid and in date, covering the entire period that you are travelling for, including the return journey home.  It should cover medical and personal accident risks, and should include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services, where appropriate. We are happy to help you if you have any queries about this or have any difficulties. 

Tribal Tracks has 100% Financial Protection and has a trust account with the Protected Trust Service, member number 5566.

This means that all client monies paid to Tribal Tracks are held in our dedicated trust account, which is supervised by an independent trustee. This means that in the very unlikely event that Tribal Tracks ceases to trade, your money is safe. For more information, please visit this link. Any flights booked for you by Tribal Tracks will be ATOL protected under our own ATOL certificate.

Tribal Tracks considers the safety of all of its participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have thorough safety systems in place.

In the event of an injury, we have an evacuation plan in place for all elements of the trek route. We do ask that you look after yourself during the trek in the following way, as this will help avoid unnecessary problems:

  1. Trekking is a major challenge so make sure that you are well hydrated throughout.  You will be provided with plenty of water so please ensure that you fill up your water bottles with at least 2 litres at breakfast and again after lunch.
  2. Don't let a hot spot become a blister! The moment you feel any rubbing, stop and apply some zinc tape.  This will ensure that the tape gets rubbed, not your foot.  If you don't do this, you will get a blister.  While blister plasters are good, it is better not to have a blister in the first place.  Please also tell the Tribal Tracks leader as they are very good with feet and can help you!
  3. Hygiene. It is very important to wash your hands before eating and after going to the bathroom.  If you can't wash your hands, apply lots of anti-bacterial gel.  The 'gold standard' is hand washing, followed by gel.
  4. Communication.  If you are not feeling well, or have any sort of issue, please tell the Tribal Tracks leader.  They are there to help and are very discreet.

We know that the unexpected can happen.

While you are away, things can happen at home and people may need to get in contact with you.  This can be tricky when you are in remote areas.  So, shortly before departure, we provide you with an Emergency Procedure document to distribute to your nearest and dearest.  This sets out how to contact Tribal Tracks and the steps Tribal Tracks will then take to get in contact with you.

It is really important that you are well prepared for your physical challenge and that you are confident that you will be able to fully participate.

Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely partake in the trek, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to step out of the trek. Although this is a very rare occurrence, by booking this trip you agree to section 11 of our Booking Conditions which clearly states that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these circumstances, we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.

At Tribal Tracks, Responsible Travel is enormously important to us, and our commitment to responsible travel is evidenced in every itinerary that we prepare.

Core to our business is the belief that holidays can and should be enjoyable to the traveller but should be conducted in a socially, environmentally and economically responsible manner which brings benefit to local communities. This is implemented through a variety of measures which can be found in our Responsible Travel policy - http://www.tribaltracks.co.uk/responsible-travel-policy. We encourage you to read this and to play your own part in travelling responsibly.

Trip Details

Optional Extras

If you would like to extend your stay in the Imlil area, or in Marrakech itself, we can arrange this for you.  On the trek, if you would prefer to stagger the Toubkal ascent and the return to Imlil over two days, we can arrange this too.

Speak to Charlie or Gaynor - Tribal Tracks

Speak to Charlie or Gaynor

Let’s get you on the right track!

Call Charlie or Gaynor

01242 895272