Atlas Vertical

Fantastic trip. Local guide Atlas Vertical ( Hussain) went beyond expectations. Great guides, accommodation and food. Would highly recommend. 

Hi, Houssain looked after us like family. The  climb itself was fine, if you have done national three peaks in 24 hours, that is harder in my view so if you are fit and healthy you can do this. I personally preferred the climb than to the Sahara part but having coming all that way I wanted to see the Sahara too. 

Had the best time in Imlil/Toubkal and the Sahara dessert out of my 3.5 weeks of travelling in Morocco. Local host from Atlas Vertical was absolutely brilliant, from the moment I got in touch, I was very well taken care of, every guide I had was very friendly and professional, all of us made it to the top of Toubkal despite the challenging weather thanks to their guidance. Food and accommodation was on point, the guesthouse in Imlil was my favourite stay, big windows with stunning view of the mountains. What a highlight to my trip ! Highly recommended!

Hike North Africa's Tallest Mountain and sleep under the stars of the Sahara Desert - 6 Days.

Toubkal Trek & Sahara Desert 

Basic accommodation includes: Hotel Ali, Riad Omar, Hotel Imilchil 

Luxury accommodation includes: Riad Africa, Riad Anya   

Hotel Ali

Riad Omar

Hotel Imilchil

Riad Africa

Riad Anya<span>&nbsp;</span>

Winter can be quite cold on Mt Toubkal, with temperatures on the summit going as low as -20 °C. March starts to warm up with a higher chance of rain.

Temperatures at lower altitudes can reach 26°C, with little chance of rain. The summit can still go as low as -10°C with wind chill.

June has a higher chance of rain, but still stays warm. July to Sept are the hottest months with temperatures at the lowest altitudes reaching 30 °C. The summit of Toubkal can be as low as -10°C with wind chill. 

The guides will provide you with 1.5L of water each day. Water is also available from natural springs and at various village stores along the way. You may want to consider taking purification tablets with you for any spring water.  

Accommodation in Imlil & Toubkal refuge. 

The currency used in Morocco is Moroccan Dirham (MAD).

You can take out cash at ATMs in the airport, as well as various locations on the trip. Please check with your bank that your card is accepted in Morocco before travel, and we highly recommend bringing two cards in case you have any issues. 

Please note: your bank may charge transaction fees when you use your card in Morocco. 

You can see the latest NHS advice at https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/africa/morocco. 

https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/africa/morocco

The local guides use mules to carry your main bag, so that you can just carry a small bag with water, sun cream and waterproofs whilst trekking. 

Start: Your guide will meet you at Hotel Ali Café (Jemaa el-Fnaa) at 18h30 pm, or 19h00 if you are at the airport. we recommend you spend a few hours exploring Marrakech city if you arrive early morning. 

End: For return flights, you will be dropped back at the main square of the city or at your hôtel in marrakech. 

End trip around 19h00  in marrakech famous square

You stay in a hostel in Imlil and Ouarzazate camp in the desert, and a mountain hut on the mountain. The lodge will offer twin shared rooms, with intermittent internet and warm showers.

The mountain refuge is very basic, and showers do not always offer warm water, with basic style toilets. The mountain hut does sell snacks. It is worth taking small denominations of cash, as they sometimes do not have change available. 

You'll camp in the desert with very basic facilities.

• 2-3 base-layer t-shirts (e.g. running t-shirts)

• Insulated jacket for warmth, if possible (from e.g. Rab, Alpkit, Mountain Equipment)

• Bathroom items including travel towel

• Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor (French plug style), phone & charger

• Book/mp3 player (optional) • Walking poles (optional -Available to rent for €3) 

Absolutely! We get lots of solo travellers on the trips. Once you sign up you'll also be added to a private Facebook group, where you can meet all the other people before you go.  

Wifi is available in the hostels, however it can be unreliable given the remote location. There is no internet available in the mountain refuge, and phone signal can be poor.

The summit day on Toubkal can be 9-12 hours (with lots of breaks) so you do need a good level of fitness. We recommend training with jogging or sport 1-2 times a week, in the run-up to your trip. 

The minimum age for this trek is 18, or 16 with a parent/guardian. 

You will follow a sensible acclimatisation plan that works well for most participants. This includes regular breaks and a gradual increase in the altitude at which you sleep.

Altitude affects everyone in different ways. However, the key is to mention if you are experiencing any symptoms to your guide (headache/nausea) as soon as you feel them. 

You will be picked up at 8 pm from Marrakech Airport, or 7:30 pm in the city center, and then driven to the mountain village of Imlil. Here you can enjoy your welcome dinner, and take in the panoramic views of the High Atlas mountains. All food, accommodation and transfers are included on this trip.

Marrakech to Imlil (1,740m)

In the morning you’ll give your main bag to the muleteers, and then hike for 3 hours to the tiny settlement of Sidi Chamharouch. Here your cooks will serve up lunch, and you can also get fresh orange juice from one of the local stools. Afterwards, you continue for another 3 hours to Refuge de Toubkal, where you’ll stay for the night.

 Hike to Refuge de Toubkal (3,207m)

You start at around 5am, with a slow and steady pace upwards. After 2-3 hours you’ll aim to reach the summit of Mt Toubkal (4,167m) at sunrise! From here you can look down from the snowy summit, to the green Anti-Atlas mountains, and then finally the vast Sahara desert! After taking some time to enjoy the views, we’ll then head downhill for 6 hours to Imlil.

Crampons (spikes for your boots) are provided if needed, and you'll be given training on how to use them if you've never done it before.

 Summit Toubkal (4,167m)

After breakfast, you'll be collected by your driver, and head to Ait Marrakech to Benhaddou Kasbah - a UNESCO world heritage site. You will take the 'highway of 1000 Kasbahs', before arriving at one of the most striking ancient cities in Morocco - Ouarzazate. You may recognise the city from Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia!



Trip to the sahara 

Today you'll make your way to the Sahara Desert, for a hike across the dunes of Merzouga. In the late afternoon, you'll arrive at your traditional Berber camp in the desert, and sleep under the stars. 

Dades valley to the Erg Chebbi Dunes

After a once in a lifetime evening spent in the Sahara Desert, you'll head back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower. Then you'll drive back to Marrakech, where you'll be able to stay and explore the city, or head back to the airport. 