General Tour Information:

Style: Traveller
Maximum group size: 15
Staffing: Fully escorted by Imaginative Traveller leader, services of qualified local mountain guide, porters and cook.
Transport: Minibus for transfers to/from High Atlas.
Accommodation: 3 nights simple hotel in Marrakech, 6 nights camping or village houses in High Atlas.
Activities: Extensive trekking (Trek Grade: C - Strenuous).
Meals: As per itinerary (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner). Please allow US$10-20 per day for additional meals.
Entrance fees: Included for all sites listed as part of the itinerary.
Tipping: To avoid embarrassment and save you money all tours operate a tipping kitty. Please allow US$20-30 per week of the tour for this. This does not include a tip for the tour leader which is entirely at your own discretion.

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 or Moroccan Dirhams on day 1 of the tour. Your tour leader will advise you of the latest rate of exchange.

A note about Country dossiers & pre-departure information:
This Trip Dossier is designed to be read in conjunction with our Morocco Country Dossier and Pre-Departure Information. It is ESSENTIAL that you read this dossier and the Country Dossier and the Pre-Departure Information in full before you travel. For comparability, all prices in this dossier are quoted in one currency. 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. See your Country Dossier for details of exchange rates.

Hotel Meeting Point:
UK travellers & those booking over the Internet: Details of the meeting point hotel will be printed on the tour vouchers you will receive one month prior to departure.�Overseas travellers: your local agent will provide vouchers with details of your meeting point hotel.

As meeting point hotels may be subject to change we recommend you check the details online four weeks before your tour starts. This is particularly important if your vouchers were issued more than a month before departure as the hotel may well have changed. Please note: A complete list of all meeting point hotels can also be found on our website at http://www.imtravdossiers.com/#meetingpoints.

Visas: You will need to obtain the following visas for this tour. Contact your travel agent for current prices.

Available on Arrival
Morocco single entry (Most nationalities can obtain a free Moroccan visa valid for up to 90 days on arrival.)
If the visa application form requires a contact address in the destination, please give either your meeting point hotel or the address of our local contact (which you will find in the Country Dossier). For the latest information for your nationality you should contact your local Moroccan Embassy or Consulate.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas for your holiday and onward travel. The Imaginative Traveller cannot accept responsibility for anyone who is refused entry to a country because they lack the correct documentation.

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.

Trek Grades: Our treks have been graded A, B or C depending on their difficulty. (More difficult treks are possible, but we would tend to categorise them as expeditions). We have listed a definition for each category below so that you can see how your trek compares with others that we feature in the brochure. This trek is graded C - Strenuous.

A - Easy: These trips can be enjoyed by anyone who leads a reasonably active life. The walking part of the trip is fairly easy, usually between 5 and 6 hours a day. Note: Even on an easy grade trek there will be tough uphill sections on some days.

B - Moderate: You will be walking 5-7 hours a day and will encounter some steep uphill and downhill sections. Some days may be at altitude. You should be fit before considering taking a B grade trek.

C - Strenuous: A combination of moderate and strenuous walks, with some very steep uphill and downhill sections, often at altitude. You will generally be walking 6-8 hours a day. You should be fit and should prepare physically before taking a strenuous trek.

Please note that the grading system is not a straightforward measure of how far you are walking. Rather it is an overall indication of how tough it will be and it takes into account the number of hours trekking, altitude gain/loss and trail conditions (rough track, steep uphill etc.) and usual temperatures. So even though a trek is graded A - Easy it does not mean you will never feel tired. Similarly inexperienced trekkers need not necessarily avoid treks graded C - Strenuous.

Transport: Private Vehicles - we use privately chartered minibuses or jeeps for the transfers to and from Marrakech for the trek. We have a no smoking policy on all our tour vehicles. The only exception to this rule is the driver. This usually proves no hardship as driving times between places are short and there are opportunities for breaks. Major roads in Morocco are generally good, enabling our buses to cover distances in reasonable time. Even so, 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)
Sandals / lightweight shoes for camp
Small 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
Wet wipes / tissues
Lighter / matches
Hat and sunglasses
Sunblock
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 12kg per person. 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 from 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: Our accommodation will be a combination of village gites (local houses converted for use by trekkers) and camping. In each case basic equipment such as tents and foam sleeping mats will be provided, but you will need to bring your own sleep-sheet and sleeping bag. If you would prefer a little more comfort, you may also like top bring your own camping mat.

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 'au naturelle' - 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. You will need to carry 2-3 litres of water a day, so ensure your daypack has sufficient space and is strong enough to carry them in comfort. The rest of the luggage is carried on mules which may take a different route during the day but will meet up with you again at night, so anything you will need in the day time you need to carry yourself. 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 your travel agent 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 t-shirts; 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.

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Marrakech - Arrive and check in to your hotel. (No meals) Details of arrival transfers to be advised or making your own way to the tour meeting point. Arrival transfers are included for all clients arriving in Marrakech on day 1 or before day 1 if extra accommodation is booked with us. If you have booked your flights separately from your tour please ensure that you inform your tour booking agent of your flight details at least one month before departure to avoid payment of an administration fee. Your tour leader will leave a notice in the hotel reception with times for a welcome meeting on day 1 (usually in the afternoon or early evening). 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 tour leader can obtain important details that are essential to the running of the tour. Once all the members of your group have arrived your tour leader will organise an introductory tour briefing (usually after breakfast on day 2). This meeting will give you an overview of 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 - Free day to explore the city. (B)

Day 3 - Marrakech - High Atlas Trek - Journey to Tassa Ouirgane (1,500m) in the Ouirgane Valley, where we begin our trek. Passing through the Tassa National Park and along the Azzadene Valley we trek to Tiziane (1,800m) for the night. Overnight in gite. (BLD) Approx. 2 hrs driving, 4-5 hrs trekking.

Berber People - There is no better way to experience traditional Moroccan life than to get out amongst the mountain people. The Berber people were completely isolated until the early 1900s, 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 wild surroundings, 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 graded C - Strenuous and consists of a combination of moderate and strenuous walks, usually between 4 to 7 hours per day. Hill walking experience is desirable. 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. Everyone can walk at his/her own pace, and though there is physical exertion, it is sustainable. Ascents average 800 metres per day, with the maximum being 1,300m on day 7. The maximum altitude reached is the summit of Mt Toubkal at 4,167m (you can opt out of the summit climb if you wish). Adequate time is allowed for altitude acclimatisation. Nevertheless it is important that if you feel unwell that you report it to the guide/tour leader immediately. For the most part we walk along established tracks used by local people as trade routes. The mountains and valleys of the High Atlas offer spectacular scenery, clear air and interesting villages. Even so, some paths can be rough with stretches of loose scree. At times the ascents and descents are steep and therefore you require a good level of fitness. 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. The trek is led throughout by a qualified English-speaking mountain guide. Our trek team also includes a cook and muleteers. Mules carry all camping equipment and personal luggage, leaving you with only a small daypack to carry containing things you require while walking. Please see the Supplementary Tour Information for further details and hints on preparing for your trek.

Day 4 - Trek to Tizgui - Leaving Tiziane and passing through Tizi 'n Touati (2,400m) we cross the Tasaka Plateau with beautiful views. Overnight camping near Tizgui at Azib Assoul (2,300m). (BLD) Approx. 6-7 hrs trekking.

Day 5 - Trek to Tizi Oussem - Crossing over Tizi 'n Tagoudalte (2,700m) we descend to Tizi Oussem (1,800m). Free afternoon to relax or explore the village. Overnight in a gite. (BLD) Approx. 5 hrs trekking.

Day 6 - Trek to Aremd - We trek to a small waterfall at Azib Tamsoulte (2,250m) and return to cross the Tizi 'n Mzik pass (2,500m) and join the main Toubkal Valley at Aremd (1,900m) where we spend the night in a village gite. (BLD) Approx. 6 hrs trekking.

Day 7 - Trek to Toubkal Refuge - Today we gradually ascend the Toubkal Valley, via the pilgrimage hamlet of Sidi Chamarouch to the Toubkal Refuge (3,200m). We camp at the foot of Mt Toubkal. (BLD) Approx. 5 hrs trekking.

Day 8 - Summit Mt Toubkal - An early start today for the challenging trek to the summit of Mt Toubkal (4,167m) - the highest point in North Africa. We return to our base camp near the Refuge for the night. (BLD) Approx. 6-7 hrs return trek.

Day 9 - Trek to Imlil - Marrakech - Our trek ends with an easy descent through the village of Sidi Chamarouch to Imlil. We bid our guide and muleteers a fond farewell and drive to Marrakech, where the remainder of the day is free. (BL) Approx. 4 hrs trekking, 2 hrs driving.

Day 10 - Marrakech - Tour ends after breakfast. (B)