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
Jonnie, an ex Marine, is a full-time International Mountain Leader.
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
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
Your adventure begins when you arrive in Marrakech
Upon landing, prepare for a warm and enthusiastic welcome from our Moroccan team at the airport! You'll be whisked away to your charming Riad for the night. Depending on your arrival time, there may be a chance to explore the vibrant souks before meeting for our first team dinner. After we've eaten, our Tribal Tracks leader will provide an in-depth briefing, giving you an exciting overview of the adventures that await in the days ahead.
Accommodation and Meals
Overnight in 3* Riad, Marrakech. Dinner
After breakfast, we depart from Marrakech and head to Imlil. As the main trailhead in the High Atlas for trekkers, Imlil is a lively and bustling market town. It's not unusual to see mules carrying hiking gear, followed by others laden with olives and lemons!
On arrival into the mountains, we meet our mule team, cooks, and mountain guides, and after we have had lunch, and once all our gear is loaded, we begin walking along the valley towards Tacheddirt, some 8kms beyond Imlil. The trail soon begins to rise as we climb up to the pass at Tizi n'Tamatert (2,279m). From the top, the scenery changes immediately, leaving bustling Imlil far behind, we see a valley that time has forgotten. Strung out along its steep sides are the villages of Tacheddirt, Ouaneskra and Tamguist. Descending on a wide graveled road and well-worn goat paths, reach the pretty village of Ouaneskra and continue, for a further half-hour or so, to Tacheddirt (2,300m), where we camp. Tacheddirt has a commanding position at the head of the Tacheddirt valley, and the scenery is something to behold.
Tonight, we have our first introduction to wild camping. We have comfortable, good-quality tents with mattresses for sleeping. We also have a large dining tent, where food is served and is the social hub at the end of the day. An open fire to sit around completes the picture, and it is an ideal place to swap stories while looking up at the huge North African skies.
Distance: 13km, ascent 2684ft, descent 538ft.
Accommodation and Meals
Wild Camping, full board.
After breakfast, we cross the valley and we begin a long, slow ascent to the pass at Tizi Likemt (3,555m).
The terrain is challenging, with a significant amount of loose scree underfoot. However, reaching the top rewards us with our first stunning view of the Toubkal massif. Afterward, we make a long downhill descent to the village of Azib Likemt, where we will camp for the night.
Distance: 10km, ascent 3698ft, descent 3251ft.
Accommodation and Meals
Wild Camping, full board.
This long, but relatively easier day takes us through a variety of contrasting landscapes.
From Tizi n’Ououraine (3,120m) we enjoy further views of the Toubkal massif, including the summit, the east face and the Ifni Dome (3,876m). The trail leads on towards Amsouzert, one of the most striking villages in the region, where we take a break from camping to spend the night – dormitory-style - in a simple but welcoming village Gite.
Distance: 18km, ascent 1811ft, descent 4416ft
Accommodation and Meals
Gite, full Board.
West of Amsouzert are several small villages, which we explore as we make our way towards Ifni Lake. Expect to be invited into people’s houses and tempted with mint tea offers!
Ifni Lake is the only lake in the Toubkal Massif. It is a memorable sight, deep blue in colour, surrounded by rocky mountains and giant heaps of glacial rubble, and is unusually deep. We expect to arrive by late lunchtime and spend the afternoon relaxing and swimming at the shore, galvanising our bodies for two long days ahead. The scenery here is almost indescribable; camping in the base of the high glacial valley, looking up towards the pass we will summit the next day, is just spectacular. It is a beautiful and very special place.
Distance: 10km, ascent 2329ft, descent 758ft
Accommodation and Meals
Wild camping, full board.
Rested and rejuvenated, we are ready to tackle the two hard days that remain.
We make our way along a steep path that leads up scree slope, heading towards the pass at Tizi n'Ouanoums (3,664m). As we climb, the valley gets ever narrower and the scenery even more spectacular. We finally reach the pass, which is a narrow ledge between two shafts of rock. From here it is then a long zigzag descent to Nelter Hut, or the 'Toubkal Refuge', a large mountain refuge where we camp before a very early start the next day, to summit Jebel Toubkal before dawn.
Distance: 10km, ascent 5164ft, descent 2379ft.
Accommodation and Meals
Wild camping, full board.
This is a big day, but it is what we have trained for!
We leave before dawn, following a well-worn route to the Toubkal summit (4167m). If conditions are good, it should take around 3-4 hours to reach the summit, arriving in time for sunrise, where we enjoy expansive views of the entire Atlas range and the Marrakech plains beyond. Seeing the Sahara rolling away into the distance is truly one of the highlights of the trip.
Returning by the same path, we take the traditional approach track to Imlil, finishing at the small village of Around. You then transfer back to Imlil for a well-deserved celebration.
Distance: 20km, ascent 3192ft, descent 7894ft
Accommodation and Meals
Full Board. Overnight in Gite Imlil.
Today we will meet the team from Education for All and visit one of the girls boarding houses based in Asni.
We will have the opportunity to meet the wonderful housemothers and staff that run the boarding house in Asni. The team can join the staff and girls for lunch. We then transfer to Marrakech for our final night, if time allows we can visit the Souks.
Accommodation and Meals
Overnight in 3* Riad, Marrakech. Full board.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home or do some last minute shopping in the souk (flight time dependent).
Accommodation and Meals
Breakfast.
Trip Details
Trip Details
This is what you will need to buy/source yourself.
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:
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
Trip Details
The trek is a challenge. We will be walking for a long time over sometimes challenging terrain with steep ascents and descents.
The best way to build endurance fitness is to start with some gentle walks and gradually build up both the distance and duration over the next few months. In the last 2 months, we would recommend to go out and do long days, ideally in the hills, to build up the strength in your legs. About a week before the trek, limit any training to short walks – you want to have fresh legs at the start!
For the trek you should be comfortable trekking between 6 - 8 hours per day, but remember we have all day to achieve the distances and will not be going at racing snake pace. It may sound obvious, but make sure that you are walking properly, hitting the ground with your heel first, then rolling onto your toe, which pushes you onto the next step (this will help reduce the risk of shin splints and tendon pulls). Walk with your head up, eyes forward and shoulders level.
It is a good idea to develop a level of cardiovascular fitness (exercising and strengthening your heart and lungs). This comes from running, cycling or swimming for between 20 minutes and an hour, and will really help develop your endurance fitness. Three sessions a week is normally advised, increasing time and distance over time.
Replicate conditions in training i.e., use all the kit you will be using and try your walking poles if you want to use them.
It is important to pack so that you know where everything is. Separating kit into different packing cubes, or even plastic bags can really help with this. You can pack by item (eg socks and pants in one cube, tops in another etc) or by day, putting your entire outfit for that day together in one place. Taking an extra bag or cube to separate dirty kit is a great idea.
You will have two bags on the trip - your main bag and your back pack.
You should operate on the basis that you will not have access to your main bag during the day and while you are trekking. This means that it is important to have everything you need in your back pack. Waterproofs should go in the bottom, together with an extra layer, sunscreen and sunglasses, plus hat and gloves (if you are in a colder climate). You should also have your water bottles, and any specific snacks, medicines or first aid items you want to take, such as zinc tape and blister plasters. Baby wipes/toilet roll and nappy sacks are also essential for going to the toilet while you are trekking - we will explain more in the pre-departure briefing!
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:
We will brief you in the pre-departure briefing as to the catering specifically for your trip. However, as a guide, each morning you will be provided with a very filling local breakfast, usually accompanied by tea or coffee. Lunch will be during your trek and will be prepared by the team of cooks or we will utilise local restaurants or teahouses. Food will always be ample and tasty. If wild camping, dinner will be in the dining tent and will be traditional, freshly prepared food. If you are staying in a hotel or teahouse, dinner will be served there. Water, tea and coffee will be served and alcohol will usually not be available, although there will be some exceptions. We will provide 4 litres of drinking water per person per day. You will need to fill up 2 litres at breakfast and another 2 litres at lunchtime.
Please ensure that you have notified us before departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies as we can cater for most.
Please inform us of any dietary requirements or allergies before you travel, and preferably at the time of booking. We can cater for almost all diets, so please just let us know. We can't cater for you if we don't know what you need!
You will sleep in shared tents (unless a single supplement has been requested). Mattresses are provided, which makes it much more comfortable! There will be a central dining tent available with rugs and lights where the group can get together in the evening, share stories and enjoy meals. There will also be an open fire wherever it is possible.
Sleeping bags are designed to work by trapping your body heat in the down surrounding you. If you wear lots of layers, your body heat will not be able to escape as effectively, and you will be cold. Wearing a thin thermal layer is ideal. It does sound counter intuitive, but we promise that it works!
Putting your clothes for the next day in the bottom of your sleeping bag will also help with warmth, as it will fill up any spare space around your feet, and it will mean your clothes are nicely warmed up in the morning.
If you find it difficult to sleep without a pillow, we recommend that you take a travel pillow and a regular pillowcase with you. Put your pillow in the pillow case, and use your down jacket/layers to fill out the pillowcase, you will end up with a pretty decent pillow!
And as for stuff or roll when it comes to packing your bag away? We are very much in the stuff camp!
There will be early morning starts, typically around 0600 - 0700hrs, so that the team can set off on the trek in good time. It is important that you pack up your kit before breakfast and leave your bag outside your tent or accommodation so that the crew can load them onto the jeeps and/or mules. There will be a freshly cooked lunch provided on your trek route. The aim is to get into camp before sunset if possible, when you can enjoy a hot drink and snacks. It is important that you change into your thermals and put layers on when you get into camp as the temperatures can drop sharply and you need to keep warm.
In the morning, the Tribal Tracks leader will wake up the group. When you hear the call, please begin to get ready, and pack all your kit away in your 'main bag' before breakfast. Put this bag outside your tent or accommodation as the crew can then begin to break down the tents/load the luggage. Ensure that you have all that you need in your backpack for the day, as you will not have access to your main bag until the next camp (see 'What do I put in my backpack?).
When you arrive into camp, it is important to get changed into different clothes, usually the ones that you will be wearing the next day. Even if you have had dry weather, you will have been sweating, and your clothes will be damp. As the sun sets and the air cools, you will quickly feel cold. Before this, you will want to freshen up and we recommend the 'baby wipe bath'. As there are no showers while on the trek, having a freshen up with a baby wipe will help keep you clean and will make you feel much better, before you put your clean clothes on. Unpack your sleeping bag and get everything out that you need for nighttime, such as your warm hat, jacket, head torch and book. Sort out your back pack for the next day by removing rubbish and replenishing snacks etc.
Doing this before dinner will mean you can get into your sleeping bag quickly, when it is likely to feel cold.
There will be a toilet tent and water supplied for washing in the morning where we can. There are no shower facilities provided during the trek and there will be no toilets either, but there will be a toilet tent in camp in the evenings and mornings. In the pre-departure briefing, we will tell you all that you need to know about how to deal with this.
For up-to-date vaccinations information please visit the NHS website ‘Fit for Travel’ at: http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. The Tribal Tracks team are travel professionals, but we are not medical experts, and we would encourage you to visit your GP or travel nurse to discuss vaccination requirements. Please remember to take your itinerary with you so that they can see where you will be travelling. You should make an appointment at least 3-4 months before you travel.
In addition, please note that information on vaccinations can change at short notice; we recommend that you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for the most up to date information.
We recommend that you bring a multi-region adapter plug with you. There will be no facility to recharge electrical items on the trek, so we recommend you bring a power bank to top up the charge. We also recommend putting your phone on Airplane mode during the day to save on power.
Using your mobile overseas can sometimes attract unwelcome, very high tariffs. We recommend that you check with your network provider before you travel, but if in doubt, keep your phone switched to Airplane mode and use it only when there is WiFi. Reception can also be patchy, and unreliable, particularly in remote areas, which is why we carry a satellite phone with us. Please let your nearest and dearest know about this, and warn them that you may not be able to be in regular contact.
We ask that your luggage is kept to the absolute minimum. We will tell you the weights that you should not exceed, but usually, your main bag should not exceed 23kgs in weight.
It is important that you wear, or take your trekking boots with you in your hand luggage on the flight, as they are vital for the trek and cannot be replaced in the event of lost luggage.
We recommend leaving behind items such as high value jewellery, watches etc. Your passport and money should be always kept on you.
Trekking at high altitude (generally above 2500 metres) involves additional risk not normally associated with lower level treks. This is not something that should prevent you from undertaking a trek to our higher destinations, but it makes sense to learn about the dangers inherent in trekking at high altitude and also the ‘golden rules' to prevent Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
For each of our trips, you can find the maximum altitudes listed on the web site and in the itineraries. You should read the itinerary carefully and use your own judgement to gauge whether your chosen trip is suitable for your level of experience. If you have any doubts at all you should contact us and we are happy to discuss the trip with you.
You can acclimatise to altitude by the process known as acclimatisation. The most important rule is to gain height slowly and it is generally accepted that the maximum safe altitude gain in any one day is 500 metres once above 2500 metres. Where this is not possible, then it is important to have a rest or acclimatisation day at the new altitude before gaining further height. All our itineraries follow this rule. In general the maxim ‘climb high and sleep low' applies. It is perfectly acceptable (and even beneficial to your acclimatisation) to climb higher than 500 metres above your last camp (for example when crossing a high pass) as long as the increase in sleeping altitude remains within the above rule. All of our itineraries are carefully designed to build in optimum acclimatisation.
There is a link between daily fluid intake and successful acclimatisation and you must pay particular attention to hydration during trekking at high altitudes. On treks to 3000 metres and above most people will need to drink between 5 and 6 litres each day to achieve suitable hydration levels and you must adopt a responsible approach to achieving this target. It goes without saying that as alcohol is a diuretic, it is not recommended that you drink alcohol while at altitude.
Before embarking on a trek to high altitude it is important that you familiarise yourself with the signs and symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and that you report any illness to your tip leader straight away. See the links at the bottom of this page for further reading on AMS.
There are a number of untested herbal remedies which claim to prevent mountain sickness. However, only one drug is currently known to have a useful role in preventing AMS and to be safe for this purpose: acetazolamide (Diamox). We recommend that you carry Diamox in your first aid kit for treks where you spend an extended period above 4000m. Diamox can only be obtained from a medical professional on prescription and it is important that you first consult your own doctor so that you know there are no contra indications with other medicines you may be taking and that you do not have an allergy to acetazolamide. Diamox commonly causes some minor side effects, such as tingling fingers and toes, or a metallic taste in the mouth, but more severe reactions are rare. On trek, the decision whether or not and when, you should take Diamox as with any drug, will rest solely with you. If you intend to take Diamox, you must familiarise yourself with the appropriate dosage and regime prior to coming on the trip. The links at the bottom of this page will provide further information on the use of Diamox as an aid to acclimatisation.
Travelling to high altitudes is not something you need to be scared of. Every year thousands of people enjoy the most amazing experiences in the world's greatest mountain ranges. Altitude sickness is entirely preventable if you follow the very simple rules and procedures detailed above. Please make sure you are aware of these before you travel. However, please be assured that we have emergency procedures in place in the event that someone does experience AMS.
For further reading on the above issues we recommend the following websites:
http://www.altitude.org/altitude_sickness.php
Trip Details
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.
Let’s get you on the right track!