Author’s tour of Morocco with climbing Toubkal

We offer you to go trekking to the most mysterious country of the African continent — Morocco!

Trekking awaits us in the Atlas Mountains, which represent a stunning and sometimes harsh barrier between the arid Sahara and the milder coastal climate of Morocco. This mountain range, starting near the Atlantic Ocean in the city of Agadir and stretching in an uneven line to the northeast across the country, includes many unique places, the heritage of ancient civilizations and beautiful hiking trails.

Our journey will begin in the imperial city of Marrakech, ascend Tubkal — the soaring peak of the Atlas Mountains, get acquainted with the original inhabitants of these vast territories, visit ancient cities and stop overnight in the boundless sands of the Sahara with real Berbers, and after that we will go to the incredible beaches of Lezgira, washed by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, with bizarre natural arches that amaze the imagination even the most experienced traveler!

Day 1. Arrival in Marrakech. Welcome to Morocco! Our representative will meet you at the airport. Check-in at the hotel. Welcome dinner in the evening. A short briefing from our guide, organizational issues and safety rules. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2. In the morning we leave Marrakech and set off on our three-hour hike through walnut groves, corn and barley fields. High in the sky are the mountain peaks of Atlas, which, even in the warmer months, are decorated with a snow cover. Dusty roads and narrow footpaths run through the untouched landscape. In the green and moist valleys we will see herds of goats, wild grasses and small remote Berber villages, as well as the traditional landscape of this area — women and children collecting herbs in heavy 20-kilogram bundles. After a while, in the shade of juniper trees at the spring, we will stop for a picnic. We will approach a small river at the beginning of the Assif-n-Ait-Usaden valley and from here to the village of Tizi Ussem (1850 m), then to the summer village of Tamsult, where we will stop for the night. Overnight in tents.
Day 3. After breakfast, we will head east on a moderately challenging hike along winding mule trails to Tizi Agelzim (3550 m). Stunted pines and lacy cedars, painted in reddish-brown tones, grow from the slopes surrounding us. After walking another 3 hours to the southeast, we will reach the Tubkal shelter, the location of which marks the spring snow line at an altitude of 3207 m. Overnight in a shelter/tents.
Day 4. Today is going to be a busy day. Very early breakfast to get on the route already around 6 am. After a three-hour steep climb, we will reach the highest point of the Maghreb (which means the countries to the west of Egypt are Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) — the peaks of Toubkal! On a windswept mountain, you will be rewarded with endless views of cliffs and valleys receding back to the distant misty horizon. The panorama from here is simply amazing! After a little rest, we will go to Ikhibi Court for a direct descent back to the picnic shelter. After lunch, we will head north along steeply descending zigzag trails along the higher slopes of the valley of Assif-n’isuhuanem-n’Uaguns to the shrine of Sidi Shamkharush. Next to the waterfall is the Marabout pilgrimage shrine, probably a remnant of pre-Islamic culture, but forbidden to non-Muslims. Another 2 hours of descent will allow you to reach the village of Imlil, from where most of the hikes begin, before taking the transfer back to Marrakech. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5. Marrakech is unusual and unique. He is called the soul of the Moroccan East. The Old Town, surrounded by a multi-kilometer wall, is a huge open-air museum. An interesting tour will take you through the mysterious Marrakech and introduce you to its main attractions: the French-style Majorelle Garden, the exquisite Bahia Palace, the lively Jamaa el Fna Square and the mysterious quarters of the oldest part of the city of Medina. We will tell you about the traditions and cultural features of Morocco, as well as about its history and main cities. And perhaps during the tour you will learn to understand the mentality of the locals and all the charm of this amazing country! Lunch at a local restaurant with a traditional menu, after which we will go to meet the Berbers in one of the most beautiful deserts in the world! We are waiting for luxurious tents with all amenities, a delicious dinner and the opportunity to admire the night sky over the desert. And the lucky ones will be able to make a wish on a shooting star! Overnight in luxury tents.
Day 6. Today we have a long drive to the pearl of the Moroccan coast — the beaches of Lezgira, which are included in the list of the most beautiful beaches in the world! The sandy strip on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean impresses with its unique natural arches made of stone — bright red arched arches going into the azure waters of the ocean. One of the arches was destroyed not so long ago by the current, but the rest survived. We will go to them, waiting for the tide to ebb! Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7. Today we will go to Essoeira — a city where stories about pirates and adventurers come to life around every corner. Here you can hear amazing stories about guile and nobility, about irreconcilable love and about amazing adventures that capture the imagination. Essueira is a magnet for musicians and artists from all over the world. Great music always sounds in its alleys and squares, acrobats perform incredible tricks, and in the evenings residents arrange exciting concerts with dancing on the beach to the roar of the ocean. Essueira is a fishing port with a colorful market where you can see sea reptiles of all stripes. This port is noisy and lively, smelling of salt water and fish. The atmosphere of the present reigns here, and unrefined tourist history. Essueira is a favorite place of cinematographers, shots from the films “Game of Thrones”, “Othello”, “Phaedra” and “Kingdom of Heaven” were shot here. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8. Today we move to Casablanca — a city on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. We are waiting for a lot of amazing discoveries. Here you can feel the authentic Moroccan mood, feel the influence of French culture and see the magnificent mosque with the highest minaret in the world. You will walk through the ancient Medina, taste the national culinary delights and, of course, take wonderful photos to keep these unforgettable moments in memory. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9. Departure home. Transfer to the airport. Or transfer to Chefchaouen via Rabat, for those who decided to continue their journey with us on a cultural tour program in Morocco.

• Guide-leader. In groups of 3 or more people — Russian-speaking.
• Cook services in the track.
• Hotel, accommodation in 2-bed rooms. The number of nights according to the program.
• Accommodation in a mountain shelter/tents. The number of nights according to the program.
• All transfers according to the program, comfortable. From the airport (train station) to the airport.
• Three meals a day in trekking. Outside of trekking — only breakfast.
• All necessary permissions and registrations.
• Group equipment
• First aid kit

• International air travel
• Visa
• Travel insurance (with coverage up to 4000m)
• Single occupancy
• Lunches and dinners in cities
• Personal equipment
• Any deviations from the program
• Any costs associated with changes to the program
• Tips

Documents:

• International passport
• Plane tickets (and return!!!)
• Medical insurance

Personal equipment:

•  Backpack 20-40L
• Sleeping bag, comfort temperature from 0C
• Trekking poles

Clothing and shoes:

• Trekking boots
• Sneakers (for cities)
• Waterproof layer – Jacket+Trousers Industry offers a range of products from simple 5000/5000 membranes to products from <a href=”https://www.gore-tex.ru/ru-ru/tekhnologii/verhnej-odezhdy/izdelija-gore-tex “Gore-Tex</a
• Fleece Suit
• Thermal underwear top+bottom
• Puff
• Thick gloves
• Thin gloves
• Bandana (in addition to sun protection in the valley, it can be used to insulate the throat or face in the cold)
• Hat
• Warm trekking socks for climbing day
• Cap/hat

Various:

• A diode flashlight on the head
• Sunglasses
• Thermos – 1L Preferably without a button in the lid
• Reusable bottle
• Windproof mask on the lower part of the face (with some success, you can replace it with a scarf)
• Leggings
• Sun cream, hygienic lipstick
• Chemical hot water bottles (optional, but may be useful)
• Personal first aid kit
• Elastic bandage and/or supportive bandage