Author’s tour of Morocco with climbing Toubkal

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

We will be trekking in the Atlas Mountains, which represent a stunning and sometimes harsh barrier between the arid Sahara and the milder coastal climate of Morocco. Starting near the Atlantic Ocean in the city of Agadir and stretching in an irregular line northeastwards across the country, this mountain range includes many unique sites, the legacy of ancient civilisations and beautiful hiking trails.

Our journey will start in the imperial city of Marrakech, climb the Toubkal, the soaring peak of the Atlas Mountains, meet the original inhabitants of these vast territories, visit ancient cities and stay overnight in the vast sands of the Sahara with real Berbers, and then head to the incredible beaches of Lezgira, washed by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, with bizarre natural arches, striking the imagination of even the most experienced traveller!

Day 1. Arrival in Marrakech. Welcome to Morocco! You will be met at the airport by our representative. Check-in at the hotel. Welcome dinner in the evening. Short briefing from our guide, organisational matters and safety rules. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2. Leave Marrakech in the morning and set off on our three hour trek through walnut groves, fields of maize and barley. High in the sky are the Atlas mountain peaks, which even in the warmer months, are adorned with a blanket of snow. Dusty roads and narrow footpaths wind through the unspoilt landscape. In the green and humid valleys we will see herds of goats, wild grasses and small remote Berber villages, as well as the traditional landscape of the area – women and children gathering herbs in heavy 20kg bunches. After a while, we will stop for a picnic in the shade of juniper trees near a spring. We will come to a small river at the beginning of the valley Assif-n-Ait Usaden and from here to the village Tizi Ussem (1850 m), then to the summer village Tamsult, where we will stop for overnight. Overnight in tents.
Day 3. After breakfast we will head east for a moderately challenging trek on winding mule trails to Tizi Agelzim (3550m). The slopes surrounding us are lined with stunted pines and lacy cedars coloured in reddish-brown tones. Travelling another 3 hours south-east, we reach Toubkal shelter, the location of which marks the spring snow line at 3207m. Overnight in the shelter/tents.
Day 4. A busy day ahead today. A very early breakfast to get on the route as early as around 6am. After three hours steep ascent we will reach the highest point of Maghreb (which means the countries to the west of Egypt – Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) – Mt Toubkal! On the 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 stunning! After a little rest, we will head to Ikhibi Sud for a direct descent back to the picnic shelter. After lunch, we will head north on steeply descending zigzag trails along the higher slopes of the Assif-n’Isuhuanem-n’Ouaguns valley to the Sidi Shamharoush shrine. Near the waterfall is the pilgrimage shrine of Marabout, probably a remnant of pre-Islamic culture but forbidden to non-Muslims. A further 2 hours descent will bring you to the village of Imlil, from where most hikes start, before transferring back to Marrakech. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5. Marrakech is unusual and unique. It has been called the soul of the Moroccan East. The old city, surrounded by a multi-kilometre wall, is a huge open-air museum. An interesting excursion will take you around the mysterious Marrakech and introduce you to its main sights: 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 Medina. We will tell you about traditions and cultural peculiarities of Morocco, as well as 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 in a local restaurant with a traditional menu, after which we will go to meet the Berbers in one of the most beautiful deserts of the world! Luxurious tents with all amenities, a delicious dinner and the opportunity to admire the night sky over the desert await us. 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 jewel of the Moroccan coast – the beaches of Lezgira, which are on the list of the most beautiful beaches in the world! The sandy strip on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, strikes with its unique natural arches of stone – bright red arched vaults going into the azure waters of the ocean. One of the arches was destroyed not so long ago by the current, but the rest have survived. We will go to them after waiting for low tide! Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7. Today we will travel to Essaouira, a city where stories of pirates and adventurers come alive around every corner. Here you can hear amazing tales of guile and nobility, implacable love and amazing adventures that capture the imagination. Essaouira is a magnet for musicians and artists from all over the world. Its alleys and squares are always filled with great music, acrobats perform incredible stunts, and in the evenings, residents put on spectacular concerts with dancing on the beach to the sound of the ocean. Essaouira is a fishing port with a colourful market where you can see sea creatures of all stripes. This port is bustling and lively, smelling of salt water and fish. There is an atmosphere of the real thing here, rather than unrefined tourist history. Essaouira is a favourite destination for filmmakers, with footage from Game of Thrones, Othello, Phaedra and Kingdom of Heaven filmed here. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8. Today transfer to Casablanca, a city on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Many amazing discoveries await us. Here you will experience the authentic Moroccan spirit, feel the influence of French culture and see the magnificent mosque with the highest minaret in the world. You will stroll through the ancient medina, taste the national culinary delights and, of course, take beautiful photographs to preserve these unforgettable moments in your memory. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9. Departure home. (Please note, departure from Casablanca airport!) Transfer to the airport. Or transfer to Chefchaouen via Rabat, for those who choose to continue their journey with us on our Morocco Cultural Tour program.

Optional (booking and payment separately):

Day 10. In the morning depart to Rabat. A short tour of the capital of Morocco. We will visit one secret cafe, which is famous all over the country for Moroccan tea, almond biscuits and beautiful view from the huge terrace. Afterwards we head to Tangier, a city on the coast of Gibraltar. The most important attraction of Tangier is the Grottoes of Hercules, which are located in caves in the Cape Spartel area. According to legend, Hercules slept in this cave before performing one of his feats. The main attraction for tourists is the hole in the wall, which has the shape of Africa and through which you can see the Atlantic Ocean and in the evening the sunset. One of the longest beach lines in the world (47 kilometres) stretches from Cape Spartel. Tangier is the only city in the world where you can enjoy the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and an hour later swim in the Atlantic. Overnight in a hotel on the ocean shore.
Day 11. In the morning we leave for Fez. On the way we will stop at Chefchaouen – the famous blue city. It is one of the oldest in Morocco. The inhabitants honour the traditions of their ancestors, so the town has maintained an unchanged look to this day – women paint the lower part of the buildings in deep blue, men paint the middle part of all the walls blue, while the upper part remains white. Every house, doorstep, doorways and even flower pots are strikingly coloured an extraordinary azure. For lunch we suggest going to one of the famous restaurants – Tissemlal o Casa Hassan and Molin’arté, where you can taste traditional cuisine. We will dedicate the end of the day to transfer to Fes, where an atmospheric riad will be waiting for us in the very centre of the medina.
Day 12. Fes is the historic capital and centre of Islamic culture, which is the heart of the Moroccan world. The city immerses you in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages from the first seconds. Majestic historical monuments are combined with luxurious hotels and exquisite restaurants. Travellers come to Fes to see the oldest medina in the world, where there are more than 800 mosques, each of which is a true work of art. We will see leather craftsmen who dress and dye skins exactly as they did a hundred years ago. We will definitely try the traditional Moroccan dish – tajine. They say that it is the most correct one here. At the end of the day we will walk along the streets where the cult TV series “Clone” was filmed. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13. Today we will transfer to Casablanca. In the evening – free time to walk around the old Medina, buy souvenirs, taste legendary ice-cream in Oliveri on the seafront, and have dinner in the most luxurious restaurant in Morocco with live music Dar Dada, pack your bags and prepare for your flight home.
Day 14. Transfer to Casablanca airport. Departure home.

*Additional cost from $900, please contact us for booking.

• Guide-leader. In groups of 3 people or more – Russian-speaking.
• Chef’s services in the trek.
• Hotel, accommodation in 2-bed rooms. Number of nights according to the program.
• Accommodation in mountain shelter/tents. Number of nights according to the program.
• All transfers according to the program, comfortable. From the airport (railway station) to the airport.
• Three meals a day during trekking. Outside the trekking – only breakfasts.
• All necessary permits and registrations.
• Group equipment and first aid kit
• Mules for luggage

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

Documents:

• Passport
• Plane tickets (and return tickets!!!)
• Medical insurance

Personal equipment:

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

Clothing and footwear:

• Trekking boots
• Trainers (for cities)
• Waterproof layer – Jacket+pants
• Fleece suit
• Thermal underwear top+bottom
• Down jacket
• Thick gloves
• Thin gloves
• Bandana (besides protection from the sun in the valley, you can use it to insulate your throat or face in the cold)
• hat
• Warm trekking socks for the day of climbing
• Cap/hat

Miscellaneous:

• Diode head torch
• Sunglasses
• Thermos – 1 litre Preferably without a button in the lid
• Reusable bottle
• Windproof mask for the lower part of the face (with some success can be replaced by a scarf).
• leggings
• Sun cream, lipstick.
• Chemical warmers (not essential, but may be useful)
• Personal first aid kit
• Elastic bandage and/or support bandage