In the winter season, under a blanket of ice the High Atlas mountains are a marvelous area for a few great winter trekking. High passes and the peaks that were stunning in summer are more enticing as they glisten with ice and also the promise of crisp, chilly mountain air on windswept summit ridges. If you’ve a craving to pick up the crunch of ice under the boot of yours and also the sensation of your crampons biting in the soil when you kick steps upwards to attain a distant peak, you need to try a Toubkal winter climb.
On this particular adventure we are going to climb Ouanoukrim (4088m), the next highest peak in Toubkal and Morocco (4167m) probably the highest peak in north Africa. You’ll be accompanied by expert mountain guides each phase of the path and all of your specialized gear is supplied.
Journey highlights
Experience the stunning High Atlas in winter conditions
Climb 2 mountains more than 4000m like the top peak in north Africa
Explore vibrant Marrakesh
Itinerary
Morning one
ARRIVAL IN MARRAKESH
Arrive in Marrakesh and transport to your hotel. transfer to the hotel of yours. We offer transfers at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. After clearing immigration and gathering the suitcase of yours, exit the arrivals building as well as check for only one of the staff of ours.
Morning two
MARRAKESH – IMLIL
This morning we are going to take a guided tour of the old city and also souks accompanied by lunch in a nearby restaurant. The souks of Marrakesh are famous as probably the most unusual marketplaces in the community.
In the evening we are going to transfer to the village of Imlil, passing through the Moulay Brahim Gorge. Imlil is an attractive High Atlas village at an altitude of 1800m where we’ll be remaining in a nearby cottage for the following 2 nights.
Transport: Private transfer
Accomodation: Local cottage
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch or Dinner
Morning three
TIZI N’MZIK
Now is going to be a warm up getting us ready for the climb ahead. From the village we are going to climb up the valley to some col named Tizi n’Mzik at 2500m.
The monitor is snow, rocky, and steep covered therefore it is going to provide an excellent opinion of what we’ll encounter in the upcoming days. This is a great chance to try your crampons provided the circumstances are ideal. We get back to Imlil in the evening.
Hiking time: four – five hours
Ascent: 800 m
Descent: 800 m
Accomodation: Local cottage
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch or Dinner
Morning four
IMLIL – NELTER REFUGE
Leaving Imlil, using mules to haul the luggage of ours, we stick to a simple track from the village passing irrigation channels as well as cultivated terraces frequently under the shade of walnut trees. The trail carries us through the village of Aremd and carries on up the left hand side of the valley to Sidi Chamarouch exactly where we are going to stop for lunch. From here the trail is much more demanding as the track gets rocky and steep and also we cross the snowline. Based on the quantity of ice at this time, we might have to make our mules behind and just take porters to move the luggage of ours.
At Sidi Chamarouch, we cross the river as well as continue up the best hand side of the valley until we achieve the Nelter Refuge at 3210m. The refuge rests at the feet of Mount Ouanoukrim and Toubkal and also features a living room, dormitories, toilets and a fire place. This can be the base of ours for the following 3 nights.
Hiking time: six – seven hours
Ascent: 1400 m
Accomodation: Refuge
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch or Dinner
Morning five
OUANOUKRIM
Leaving the refuge between 4am and 5am, we head out up the Ait Mizane valley on a mild slope which gets steeper as we achieve Tizi n’Ouagane at 3750m. After we’ve come to the col the majority of the effort is behind us which is going to be about two more time before we achieve the 4088m peak.
At roughly 3850m, there’s a rocky segment that is going to require a little scrambling to make improvement. After this particular rock band a high snow slope results in a ridge that we are going to follow on the very first summit, Timeguida n’Ouaoukrim. There’s the choice of continuing to the next summit, Ras Ouanoukrim (4083m), that is going to require many more scrambling.
From the best we’ve stunning views of the High Atlas, the Anti Atlas as well as the summit of Toubkal. Do not forget to carry the camera of yours! After a while to rest on the summit we go back to the Nelter refuge for a well earned rest
Hiking time: six – seven hours
Ascent: 1100 m
Descent: 1100 m
Accomodation: Refuge
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch or Dinner
Morning six
TOUBKAL
Leaving the refuge before 5am again, we begin climbing with head torches up the rocky and steep west flank of Toubkal. The trail zigzags as we steadily get level before hitting the big depression referred to as the South Cwm in which the perspective eases off a bit.
We continue further up on easy angled snow slopes before the path once again gets steeper on the method of the south col. At the col, the mountain drops away down the east face and we have a rest before transforming north to stay within the ridge on the summit. The last portion of the route feels much more exposed and care is required over the high ground.
We’re currently standing on the top good in north Africa at 4167m. On a very clear day the views extend as much as Marrakesh on only one side and also the huge Sahara Desert on the other person. The feeling of accomplishment because you gaze down over the surrounding icy peaks is enormous. After a while to take in the success of ours we carefully retrace the steps of ours back down the mountain on the refuge.
Hiking time: six – seven hours
Ascent: 960 m
Descent: 960 m
Accomodation: Refuge
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch or Dinner
Morning seven
NELTER REFUGE – MARRAKESH
Now we head back down the valley, passing through Aremd and sidi Chamarouch before turning up back in Imlil. At Imlil we are going to stop for lunch before transferring to Marrakesh and checking into the resort of ours.
Hiking time: four – five hours
Descent: 1400 m
Accomodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Morning eight
DEPARTURE FROM MARRAKESH
Transfer to the airport and flight home.
Transport: Private transfer (0.3 hour, eight km)
Meals included: Breakfast
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Kindly note
The details in this particular programme are updated regularly but unpredictable and unforeseeable circumstances may lead to inaccuracies. To provide the adventure that is best suited to the demands of yours, the climate and also the functional problems, changes on the itinerary might be made.
For security motives, we reserve the rights to disrupt the participation of yours at all time in case the complex degree of yours or maybe health is deemed unsuitable or maybe in case you’re viewed as a risk to yourself or even to all those around you. Under no conditions would this give rise to your money back and compensation.
Journey info
Difficulty
Daily hiking time: maximum seven hours
Daily ascent: maximum 1400m
An ascent of Toubkal calls for you being in excellent physical state and also have a little adventure of walking for as much as six hours one day for a few days in a row. The trail is going to vary from simple trails at lower altitudes, to really high and rocky surfaces covered in ice and ice. There’ll be modifications of altitude because you ascend to 4000m and above, along with a great deal of stamina is required.
It’s crucial the personal products you bring along with you is ideal for the conditions. Your clothing must protect you from extremely chilly temperatures and winds. An excellent quality sleeping bag is important in addition to shelter for your skin and eyes. Please refer to the gear section below for more info.
Although a few prior experience of trekking in cold weather problems will be helpful, it’s not needed. The guide of yours is going to provide lessons in the correct utilization of crampons and also ice axe. If you’ve any questions about the suitability of yours or the way to get ready for this trip please don’t wait to contact us.