Tipping: To avoid embarrassment and save you money all tours operate a tipping kitty. Please allow US$25-35 per week of the tour for this. We use the US Dollar since that is familiar to most. However, once on tour you will need to pay for all goods and services in the local currency (with the exception of the local payment which must be paid in US Dollars). See your Country Dossier for details of exchange rates.
Local Payment: There is a local payment of US$135 on this tour. This must be paid to the Tour Leader in cash in US Dollars cash only on Day 1 of the tour.

Supplementary Tour Information:

Berber People:
What better way to experience traditional Moroccan life, than to get out amongst the mountain people. The Berber people were completely isolated until the early 1900's, and in some villages they still live the way they have for centuries. They have their own separate language, customs and traditions, and even their own interpretation of Islam. They build their flat-roofed earthen houses clinging to the sides of the mountains. In the valleys below they cultivate beautifully terraced gardens, fruit groves and fields of wheat, barley and vegetables amongst the rocky ground. The region is wild and harsh and the mountains are criss-crossed by mule paths that are the only access ways between villages. The Berber people have made these mountains their home for centuries, and although their life is simple and rustic, they are incredibly hospitable and only too eager to invite you in for a mint tea. Despite the often harsh landscape, the Berbers will always offer you a winning smile as you pass shepherds tending their flocks and locals travelling between villages.

You can get a feel for the Berber way of life by visiting the local hammam (steam bath) - it's also a fabulous way to unwind at the end of a hot and dusty day! You may also be able to visit a weekly souq (market), where the local farmers all gather, bringing their wares to trade and haggle. Riding into town on their donkeys, and trading everything from tomatoes to turkeys, carpets to corn. And of course you'll get to sample authentic Moroccan cuisine, delicious tagines and couscous, prepared by your cook and muleteers, who always seem to have a song at hand.

Trekking:
The trek included in this trip is Grade A/B - easy to moderate and consists of a mixture of long and short walks, ranging from 4 to 7 hours walking per day. Walking times are noted in the itinerary. They are approximate only and may vary depending on the fitness of the group and local conditions. These times do not include rest breaks.

This tour treks through lower reaches of the High Atlas Mountains and the highest elevation reached is approx. 2000m. Problems of altitude sickness are normally only experienced when reaching altitudes above 3,000m where the air becomes thinner. For the most part you walk along established tracks used by local people as trade routes. Even so, some paths can be rough with stretches of scree. We recommend you bring hiking boots with ankle support as footing can be treacherous.

Everyone can walk at his or her own pace and there will be plenty of rest stops during the day. There are some steep ascents and descents, which can be tough on your legs, therefore you require a good level of fitness and hill walking experience is desirable. Please note that this trek must not be used as a way of getting fit - you must be fit before starting this trip.

The trek is lead throughout by an English-speaking local mountain guide. Pack mules carry your food, equipment and main baggage. All you need to carry is a small daypack with things you require during the walks, such as water bottle, camera, jumper, etc. You stay in Berber villages throughout the trek and have the chance to experience the wonderful hospitality of the local people. You'll see a side of life in Morocco that few travellers know exists.


Border Taxes:
There are no entry or exit taxes payable when entering or leaving Morocco by air or by land.

Entrance Fees:
Entrance fees are not applicable on this tour. Marrakech has a wealth of historical sights and museums, which you may wish to visit. If you intend visiting a wide range of different sights, you should allow up to approx. US$20.

Fitness:
This trip requires a good level of fitness and hill walking experience is desirable. We recommend that you do some physical preparation before your trip. The more physically fit you are, the more easily your body will adapt to hiking in the High Atlas. Please note that this trek must not be used as a way of getting fit - you must be fit before starting this trip.

Transport:
Private Vehicles: Privately chartered mini-buses or jeeps are used for the transfers to and from Marrakech for the trek. A NO SMOKING policy on all tour vehicles. The only exception to this rule is the driver. This usually proves no hardship as there are plenty of opportunities for breaks. Major roads in Morocco are generally good, enabling our buses to cover distances in reasonable time. Even so, the country is large and many areas are mountainous requiring slower progress. Delays can also occur and we ask for your patience and understanding in these matters.

Special Luggage Requirements: The Pre-Departure Information includes an extensive luggage checklist. However there are some special requirements for this tour:

Sleeping bag and sleeping sheet (3 season sleeping bag recommended)
Hiking boots with ankle support (Boots should be well broken-in)
Towel
Torch & spare batteries
Fleece/sweater
Waterproof jacket
Long trousers for trekking (Applies to both men & women)
Daypack
Water bottle & carrier
Personal first aid/medical kit, including blister kit, plasters, required medicines, oral rehydration salts and water purification tablets
Disinfectant for hands (e.g. anti-bacterial gel)
Durable soft luggage/backpack lined with a bin bag to protect against water/dust (Framed rucksacks/hard suitcases are unsuitable for loading on mules)
Please note: Luggage to be carried during the trek should be limited to 12-13kg. Any luggage not required on the trek can be left in storage at the hotel in Marrakech. (Please come prepared with an extra bag for this.)

Climate:
The High Atlas regions are generally cooler due to high altitudes. Snow falls on higher peaks Sept/October to March. Very occasionally snow can be seen at lower altitudes, but it does not lie for long. Days are cool and clear, but with clouds descending in the afternoon. From April to October days are warm with strong sun, but nights very cold. May-June is a pleasant time for spring flowers. The hottest months are June to September when daytime temperatures can reach 30�C or more, but nights may still be cool.

Staffing:
The trek is lead throughout by an English-speaking, qualified local mountain guide. You will also be accompanied by muleteers and a cook. Your guide, cook and muleteers will take care of necessary tasks, such as preparation of meals and loading of the mules. But a helping hand from group members is always welcome! Please note that on treks with smaller numbers cooking may be undertaken by the guide and muleteers.

Accommodation & Facilities:
Your accommodation will be on a multi-share basis in local village houses or dwellings known as 'gite' (simple mountain huts). Basic bedding and mattresses will be provided, but you should bring your own sleep-sheet and sleeping bag. As power in the villages may be limited you will need your own torch (and spare batteries).

You are trekking through some of Morocco's most remote regions, so please be prepared for very basic washing and toilet facilities. Most often only cold water is available. Sometimes there is no running water, but there may be a stream nearby. Toilets will either be squat toilets or 'aunaturelle' - that is, using the local sheep pen or behind a nice rock! At Imi'n Tala, where you stay for two nights, there may be the chance to take a hammam (traditional steam bath) for a small charge as a contribution to the firewood. Due to water shortages in the High Atlas, a small charge may also be made for showers where these are available. You should make sure you carry an amount of small change in Moroccan Dirhams for this.

You will need to bring your own towel, and should carry your own supply of toilet paper (available locally). Other useful items to bring include wet-wipes and disinfectant for hands. Toilet paper should be used sparingly, and should be burned safely and buried, or collected and taken out of the area for disposal. You should also bring matches/lighter and some resealable plastic bags. Although dwellings and facilities may be basic, if you leave behind your western ideals, you'll appreciate these wonderful communities to their fullest extent!!

Food & Drinks:
All meals are provided during the trek. Food is bought locally, and the choice of food and availability of fresh items depends on the season. Breakfast is usually a simple affair of bread, jam, tea/ coffee. Lunches normally consist of salads, occasionally with eggs or tinned fish.

Dinners are normally traditional Berber-style meals of soup and tagine. Biscuits and trail-mix are supplied while walking, and of course plenty of mint tea! You may also like to bring your own snacks especially energy bars, chocolate, sweets and dried fruits.

Please note that meat is often the main feature of a meal and can be found in many dishes, even if only as stock. Therefore, if you are a strict vegetarian you may experience a distinct lack of variety in the food available. Whilst we will do our best to accommodate special requests, all food is bought locally and variety may be limited, so your patience and understanding is requested. If you have special dietary needs, you should come prepared with your own food/ snacks as supplements. Please advise at the time of booking if you have special dietary requirements.

Water and soft drinks are at your own expense, and are available to buy in many places during the trek (make sure you carry some small change in Moroccan Dirhams for this). Some bottled water should be purchased before the commencement of your trek (we suggest you start with 2-3 bottles for the first day) - excess supplies not required while trekking will be carried on the mules. You may like to bring your own water bottle and carrier (preferably insulated) for use during the trek. Water in streams along the trails should not be considered drinkable and should be treated with iodine or water purification tablets. You should bring your own supply as these are not available in Morocco.

Keeping Healthy While Trekking:
An emergency first aid kit is carried by the guide during the trek, however this kit DOES NOT include any kind of oral medications. You should bring personal medical supplies, including rehydration salts, blister kit, supply of plasters, aspirins, sunscreen, necessary medicines, etc. To help stay healthy during your trek you should ensure you drink plenty of water at all times; use high factor sunscreen and wear a hat to protect against the sun, even when overcast; when cold wear a head covering and gloves to reduce loss of body heat; always maintain personal hygiene and use disinfectant for your hands, especially after toilet and before eating. Should you encounter any problems, please make sure you let your trek guide know.

Responsible Trekking:
The High Atlas Mountains is a relatively sheltered domain. Its environment is fragile and the socio-cultural traditions of the people should be respected. We ask that you take note of the following guidelines:

Trekkers' clothing should be modest (covered shoulders, upper arms and legs) especially in or around villages. Buttoned shirts are preferable to tshirts; long trousers (as opposed to shorts) are essential for both men and women.
Cameras can cause offence to some people. Always ask permission before photographing local people and respect their wishes if they refuse.
Please do not distribute sweets, pens, money and other items to children as it encourages begging.
Please do not give medicines to local people without consulting your trek guide.
Water supplies are drawn from local streams. You should not use soaps, toothpaste or detergents directly in or near streams and water courses. Please limit the use of soaps and detergents and make sure you use those that are biodegradable/eco-friendly.
Where there is a toilet, please use it. Where there is none, keep away from water sources and make sure you bury your waste. Toilet paper should be used sparingly and should be burned and buried.
Refuse should be carried out of the area to an appropriate place for disposal (this includes water bottles, orange peel and cigarette butts!) Minimise the amount of waste you'll produce by limiting packaging.
Crops and plantations should be respected and only dead wood used for fires.
Please note that prices are subject to change due to any unforeseen circumstances.

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Marrakech - Arrive and check into your hotel. No meals. For details of arrival transfers or making your own way to the tour meeting point, please refer to the Morocco Country Dossier and your Pre Departure Information. Arrival transfers are included for all clients arriving in Marrakech on Day 1 or before Day 1 if extra accommodation is booked through us. If you have booked your flights separately from your tour please ensure that you inform your tour booking agent of your flight details as soon as possible. We have prepared a detailed file with information about things to do in Marrakech and some helpful hints on how to prepare for your trek. This file should be on display at the reception desk in your hotel but occasionally is put behind the reception desk. If it is not on view, please ask the receptionist to get this for you as it contains important details about timings and so on, that you need to be aware of. Your trekking guide will arrange a meeting time in the evening of Day 1 (see the file for a time & place). You will need to bring with you your passport, all tour vouchers and a copy of your insurance policy to this meeting so that your guide can obtain important details that are essential to the running of the tour. Your guide will give you an overview of your trek, all the exciting things you will be seeing during your tour and include lots of practical information on how to get the most out of your time in Morocco. Important Note: it is a condition of joining our tours that you are in possession of a comprehensive travel insurance policy. If you do not have a policy you will be required to purchase one from your tour leader in order to join the tour.

Day 2 - Marrakech - Ait Zitoun Trek - After breakfast, you depart Marrakech for the High Atlas Mountains. Should the opportunity arise, you'll visit a local market on the way. You'll stop for lunch and meet the muleteers, who'll be accompanying you throughout the trek. After lunch you begin the trek to Ait Zitoun (1050m), crossing river valleys and passing fields and olive groves. (BLD) Approx. 1 - 2 hrs driving; 4 hrs walking.

Day 3 - Trek to Tizgui & Ait Ahmed - Trek through idyllic forest landscapes to Tizgui (1700m) for magnificent views of the Haouz plain. You have some steep uphill sections today before descending towards Ait Ahmed (1300m) for the night. (BLD) Approx. 5-6 hrs walking. Note: On occasion local weather conditions may require the trekking route to be altered to ensure the safety of the group.

Day 4 - Trek to Ketto - We hike on trails and unpaved roads through the Angoul Valley, following the course of a river. We pass little Berber villages, shaded by huge walnut trees. (BLD)

Day 5 - Trek to Tniret - Ascend a 2,000m pass from where we have superb views of the Amizmiz mountain chain. Descending the other side, we pass through evergreen oaks and juniper woodland en route to Tniret village. In the afternoon there is the chance for a further optional hike into the mountains. (BLD)

Day 6 - Trek to Imin Tala - Passing through oak and pine forest we trek to Imin Tala. The afternoon is free to enjoy this picturesque village or explore the surrounding area with its abundance of natural springs. Later there is the chance to take a 'hammam' in our village guesthouse. (BLD)

Day 7 - Trek to Amizmiz - Follow the river to the village of Amizmiz passing many traditional villages along the way. After lunch we travel back to Marrakech. (B)

Day 8 - Marrakech - Tour ends after breakfast. (B)