Mount Toubkal and Sahara Desert Trek

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~~$697~~

$666

Mount Toubkal and Sahara Desert Trek

5 Days Starting and ending in Marrakesh, Morocco

Visiting: Marrakesh, Imlil, Mount Toubkal, Dadès Gorges, Todra River, Merzouga

Tour operator:

The Natural Adventure

Tour code:

136

Group Type:

Private

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 20

Physical rating:

Medium, High, Moderate to Strenuous

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

From:

$697

$666 Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$31

NB: Prices correct on 20-May-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Our Mount Toubkal and Sahara Desert Trek walking and discovery holiday in Morocco combines the challenge of summitting Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak (4,167 m), with some light trekking in the High Atlas Mountains and camel riding in the Sahara Desert (the dunes of Erg Chebbi). This is a privately guided holiday, you will not be part of a group and your party will be accompanied by a personal guide, a cook and a muleteer.

Highlights

The High Atlas Mountains
Sahara Desert camel ride
Mount Toubkal
Toubkal National Park
Berber villages
The dunes of Erg Chebbi

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Marrakech – Imlil (1,740M) To Mt Toubkal Base Camp (3,207M) | 6-7H

Location: Marrakesh, Imlil, Mount Toubkal

Accommodation Name: Refuge LeMouflons (dormitory; optional upgrade to a private room)

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Morning private transfer from Marrakech to the village of Imlil (90km / 2h). There you will leave the vehicle and, in the company of your mountain guide, begin your trek, heading along the Mizane Valley, first towards the village of Aremd and then onto the shrine of Sidi Chamarouch.

Built on a moraine spur overlooking the valley floor, Aremd is the largest village in the valley. It provides an exciting mix of traditional terraced farming and streets that seem to be permanently gridlocked by goats and cattle. Continuing east and crossing the floodplain, your route takes you along mule tracks and up into the high rocky cliffs above the valley.

Crossing the river, you eventually come to the pastoral shrine of Sidi Chamarouch, which attracts tourists and pilgrims alike (although only Muslims are allowed to cross the stone bridge to visit the shrine itself). From here, the trail continues to ascend steadily, snaking and zigzagging its way up to the snowline and the Mouflons Toubkal Refuge (3,207m), your stop for the night.

Walking distance: 6-7h

Day 2 : Base Camp (3,207M) To Mount Toubkal (4,167M) | 9-11H

Location: Mount Toubkal, Imlil

Accommodation Name: A traditional riad (Dar Adrar, Jnane Imlil or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning, you will make your attempt on the summit of Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in Northern Africa. The route takes you up the south cirque, crossing the stream above the refuge and then heading across one of the numerous scree fields, where you will have to negotiate a seemingly endless carpet of boulders and rocks. The walking is relatively straightforward, but the scree and the altitude will make it difficult, however, the views along the way make the walk more than worthwhile.

Cresting the ridgeline, you will reach the plateau, from where it is a short walk to the summit, and the vistas are quite breathtaking. From the peak, there are unrestricted views in every direction, from the Marrakesh Plain to the High Atlas in the north and as far south as the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara.

Retracing your steps, you then return down the mountain and head back towards Imlil, where you will spend the night.

Walking distance: 9-11h

Day 3 : Imlil – Dades Valley | 2-4 Hrs

Location: Imlil, Dadès Gorges

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel in Dades (Babylon or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

You will be picked up from your accommodation in Imlil at 9.00 am and head through the Atlas Mountains, driving over the stunning Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass. You’ll pass through lots of Berber villages, and once you’re in the desert, you’ll see riverside oases and barren hillsides dotted with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house families and their livestock).

Along the way, you will have the option to take a break and visit the Ouarzazate Film Studios. Measured by acreage, it is the world’s largest film studio. Many sets from filming various movies and TV series, including Gladiator and Game of Thrones, remain in place. Because of this, the studio also operates with guided tours and has become a popular tourist destination.

A side trip is also possible to Ait Benhaddou. This is an ancient fortified city containing countless kasbahs and has been filmed in numerous Hollywood movies (The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander, Lawrence of Arabia). You will have the chance to walk around the buildings and explore with your guide. Once you reach Dades Gorge, you have the option of going for a short hike, or relaxing at your hotel. Overnight in Dades.

Walking distance: 2-4h; Driving time: 6h

Day 4 : Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga | 1.5-2H

Location: Dadès Gorges, Todra River, Merzouga

Accommodation Name: Tent camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the Dades Valley to Todra Gorge – a massive fault dividing the High Atlas mountains, rising up 300m in a narrow valley with palmeries and Berber villages. Here, you can go for a hike to explore the palmery, a green oasis full of large date palms.

After lunch, you’ll head further into the desert to the desert gateway town of Merzouga to pick up supplies for your desert trip. You will then drive on to a kasbah to pick up your camel.

At sunset, you’ll trek for about one hour by camel to a Berber camp where you will enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner and sleep under the stars or in tents at a desert camp.

Walking distance: 1.5-2h (camel ride)

Day 5 : Merzouga – Marrakech | 3-4H

Location: Merzouga, Marrakesh

Meals Included: Breakfast

Wake up early and enjoy a camel ride at sunrise to explore the area further. After the camel ride (one hour), we will head back to Merzouga on our camels. When we reach Merzouga, you will have breakfast and the opportunity to have a shower. Then we begin our journey through the stony desert and over the Atlas mountains, with plenty of stops for photos, exploring and lunch as we return to Marrakech. The usual arrival time in Marrakech is between 5 and 6 pm (approx. 9h drive).

Vibrant Marrakech is a fascinating city, home to numerous mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with mazelike alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewellery. A symbol of the city, and visible for miles, is the Moorish minaret of the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque.

Walking distance: 3-4h (camel riding)

What's Included

Accommodation

1 night in a comfortable 3-star grade hotel 1 night in a basic riad in the mountains 1 night in a mountain refuge (lodge), dormitory 1 night in a desert tent camp
Meals

4 breakfasts 2 dinners 2 packed lunches
Bag transfers of one bag of up to 20kg per person between accommodations
Services of a qualified mountain guide, a muleteer and a cook as appropriate in the mountains
Detailed holiday information pack
24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative

What's Not Included

Insurance
Airfare and airport transfers
Meals not listed in itinerary
Personal expenses
Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
Any items not explicitly listed as included

Check out our Q&As

Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

Yes
Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

As detailed in the itinerary
Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

No they aren't
When to go?

This trip is available throughout the year. A supplement is possible during the Christmas and New Year periods. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season. July is the hottest month in the Atlas Mountains with an average temperature of 29C and the coldest is January at 13c with the most daily sunshine hours at 11 in July. Some walks are above the snow line year-round. Please note that during Ramadan and Eid Al Adha’s festival times, many restaurants and shops will be closed, which may affect your trip experience. Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr change yearly. Ramadan 2023 will begin 22 March and ends 20 April. Eid al-Adha 2023 will begin 28 June and ends 2 July.
Are airport transfers included in this tour?

No they aren't

What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

This trip requires excellent physical condition and some trekking experience. No mountaineering or climbing experience required. There are some longer (strenuous) walks on Days 1 and 2, especially the climb to Mt Toubkal, which is non-technical but demanding. The terrain varies, and the trails are often exposed to the sun. In the mountains, the route follows ancient Berber tracks, which can be high, steep, narrow, uneven and rough underfoot (read more about difficulty grades). Parts of the walks are above the snow line. We will provide crampons if needed, which might be the case if doing the trip in winter months. Due to the lack of signposted trails, you will be supported by a local qualified mountain guide. This is a very remote area. You should be in very good shape and have a good level of walking fitness to get the most from this walk.
Are flights included in this tour?

No they aren't
Are all entrance fees included in the price?

No they aren't
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

The Natural Adventure was founded by people who love hiking and cycling in wild and wonderful places. Places that we want to keep that way. Responsible tourism has, therefore, been at the heart of what we do since the get go.
Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

In April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, we launched the Support Local Communities Initiative. We have enabled an option when booking a tour for customers to make a donation to support our local partners. 100% of the donations go directly to our local suppliers.
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

Whether you’re travelling on your own, as a couple, a group of friends, or a family, our self-guided holidays allow you the freedom to choose your own holiday companions.
What documents will I receive before I travel?

Our self guided walking and cycling holidays typically include: Accommodation, Breakfasts, Luggage transfers, Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps, 24/7 phone assistance by our local representative and/or our central office
What policies are in place for Covid-19?

We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.
Can I join the tour once it has departed?

Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

Accommodations in double or twin rooms (solo travellers are usually accommodated in single rooms at an extra cost; we never mix and match)
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

If possible, and entirely at the discretion of the Tour Operator, a change of the dates may be possible without charging an amendment fee, provided that it is requested at least 30 days before the departure date. In some cases, we will still have to pass to you any non-refundable charges imposed by our suppliers. In all other cases, change of dates will normally be treated as a cancellation.
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

All places have been carefully checked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have selected accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
How long has the tour company been trading?

The Natural Adventure was founded in the UK in 2009, by Peter Duncan, former UK Chief Scout and BBC Blue Peter presenter, and Alex Pazderski, an avid hiker and acclaimed expedition kayaker. Both natural adventurers and keen explorers of wild places and trails, remote communities and responsible tourism partners, Peter and Alex founded our company inspired by the responsible travel values t

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Lisa

Mount Toubkal and Sahara Desert Trek

12-Sep-2022

Just came back from a fabulous trip to Morocco where we Trekked Mount Toubkal and then spent the night in the Sahara desert .. cant thank The Natural Adventure company enough from start to finish they were fantastic Mohamed and Omar in Morroco were supberb. have travelled with other expedition companies but The Natural adventure company has beaten them all. Well done and Thank you

Liam and Charl

A fantastic trip and would choose to book with TNA again

10-Nov-2022

This was an amazing trip with breathtaking experiences throughout. Muhammed, the trip co-ordinater was helpful and friendly throughout. Also a special mention to Hussain, the mountain guide, and Muhammed, our mountain cook, who consistently provided us with warmth, support, education, and a friendly manner throughout our mountain trek, which made the trip as enjoyable as it could be for us. Another mention to our driver Hussain, who was also friendly and accommodating throughout long driving periods, allowing for photo stops and toilet breaks whenever we needed, to allow us to enjoy the experience that much more.

Steeve C

Mount Toubkal and Sahara Desert Trek

14-Sep-2022

This was our first walking holiday with The Natural Adventure and I can highly recommend them. The local guide and cook were amazing, very professional and friendly. Mohamed who organises all the logistics was just perfect.

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Saturday - Wednesday

May 25, 2024 - May 29, 2024

~~$697~~ $666