5 Day Mt Toubkal Ascent and Sahara Desert Combined Tour

5 Day Mt Toubkal Ascent and Sahara Desert

Perfect express Toubkal Ascent Trek and Erg Chebbi desert tour starting with a pick up from
Marrakech and rive to Imlil where you will meet the team.
After a 2 nights in the Mountains, you will then start an express desert tour which will take you
through very nice and scenic areas in the South of Morocco.
Enjoy a camel ride overnight in the dune then drive back to Marrakech.
This is quiet express tour with long distances to drive everyday but durable, for those with extra time, it will be possible to climb Toubkal over 3 days followed by 4 days desert tour.

5 Day Mt Toubkal Ascent and Sahara Desert

Itinerary

Day 1. Marrakech – Imlil – Base camp of Toubkal

Drive from Marrakech to Imlil and trek to Toubkal Refuge via Aremd & the Mizane Valley Leaving the city behind we drive south today, towards the craggy peaks and plunging valleys of the Toubkal Massif. Crossing the Haouz Plain we pass through the tiny town of Asni, from where our road begins to climb towards the foothills of the Massif.

Below us the valley of the Oued Rhirhaia stretches out into the distance and small villages cling to the sides of the steep hills as we meander our way towards the village of Imlil. Here we leave our vehicle and, in the company of our mountain guide, begin our 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 and provides an interesting mix of traditional terraced farming, gites and streets that seem to be permanently gridlocked by goats and cattle. For generations the local Berber villagers have worked these lands, producing corn, potatoes and walnuts from the harsh landscape.

Continuing east and crossing the flood plain our route takes us along mule tracks and up into the high rocky cliffs above the valley. Crossing the river we 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 marabout shrine itself).

The village sits besides a small waterfall, a jumbled cluster of houses that seem to melt together into an anarchic mass. From here the trail continues to climb steadily, snaking and zigzagging its way up to the snowline and the Toukbal Refuge (3206m), our stop for the night. Approx 5/6hrs walking.

5 Day Mt Toubkal Ascent and Sahara Desert

Day 2.Base camp – Toubkal Summit – Imlil

Trek to summit of Jebel Toubkal (4165m); return to Imlil Early this morning we make our attempt on the summit of Jebel Toukbal, the highest peak in Northern Africa. Our route takes us up the south cirque, crossing the stream above the refuge and then heading across one of the mountains numerous scree fields, where we will have to negotiable a seemingly endless carpet of boulders and rocks.

The walking is relatively straightforward, but the scree and the altitude will make the going quite difficult in parts, however, the views along the way make the journey more than worthwhile. Cresting the ridgeline we find ourselves on the plateau, from where it is a short walk to the summit and the vistas out across the surrounding landscape are quite breathtaking.

From here 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. Pliny, the great Roman scholar, once described the High Atlas Mountains as “the most fabulous mountains in all of Africa” and from our vantage point high above the valley it is easy to understand why. Retracing our steps we then return down the mountain and head back towards Imlil – overnight in geust hous (9 to 10hours walk total).

5 Day Mt Toubkal Ascent and Sahara Desert

Day3 : Imlil – Dades Valley

You will be picked up from your accommodation in Imlil at 9.00am and head out over 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 either to take a break and visit the Ouarzazate Film Studios . A side trip is possible to Ait Benhaddou. This is an ancient fortified city containing countless kasbahs and has been the atmospheric subject of 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 hike, or relaxing at your hotel. vernight in Dades. (Total driving time 7/8hours).

5 Day Mt Toubkal Ascent and Sahara Desert

Day4 : Dades Valley – Todra gorge – Merzouga

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the Dades Valley to Todra Gorge – a massive fault dividing
the High Atlas mountains, rising up 300 metres 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 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 an hour-and-a-half 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.(Total driving time 6hours).

5 Day Mt Toubkal Ascent and Sahara Desert

Day5 : Merzouga – Marrakech

Wake up early , just prior to sunrise, we have a 1h30 camel ride at sunrise to explore the area
further and we head back to Merzouga on our Camels.

When we reach Merzouga, have breakfast & have the opportunity to shower and 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 17:00hrs and 18:00hrs. (10h drive).

5 Day Mt Toubkal Ascent and Sahara Desert

NB : If you prefer to break the distance of the last day then we suggest to spend the night in the Kasbah of Ait benhaddou so take a 6days Tour.

The price for this combined trip is 800 €

INCLUDED IN THE PRICES

Includes :

• All transport
• 1 Overnight in Imlil (Dinner & breakfast)
• 1 overnight at Toubkal Refuge.
• English speaking guide, and cook (Mountain trek)
• Muleteers and mules for assistance (Mountain trek)
• Full board on trek + mineral water, coffee and tea (Mountain trek)
• 4×4 or Mini-bus during Desert tour
• 1 overnight in a hotel at Dades (Dinner & breakfast)
• 1overnight camping on Dunes of Erg chebbi (Dinner & breakfast)
• Camel Ride on Dunes

Does not include :

• Travel insurance.
• Soft/alcoholic drinks
• Tips and personal expanses
• Lunches during the desert tour.
• Entrance fee (Monuments visits)