At Kandoo, we love the variety of treasures that can be found in Morocco; from the golden crested waves of the desert dunes to the snow capped peaks of the High Atlas. Morocco is home to many a phenomenon including North Africa's tallest mountain. Toubkal is a gentle giant that feels accessible to most and yet provides enough challenge to give a huge sense of achievement once conquered. Although Africa isn't necessarily the first continent that springs to mind when it comes to winter trips, Toubkal also provides a great first ascent for those just starting out in their winter mountaineering careers. Journeying further inland, if desert heat is more your idea of a good time, then step into another world as the High Atlas gives way to the Ergs of the Sahara. Rolling dunes smattered across barren shrubbery to the steady plod of camels. This slower pace of life allows a gentler approach to Moroccan culture.
How to get to Morocco
On our Moroccan adventures you will need
to arrive in Menara Airport, Marrakesh on Day 1 of your trip. For UK travellers there are direct flights with BA, Easy Jet and Ryan
Air from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Manchester. With a short stop
in Europe, you can travel from virtually any major UK airport. The flight time from the UK is roughly four
hours.
There are no direct flights to Marrakesh
from the USA but, it is only necessary to have a short stop of less than 3 and
a half hours somewhere in Europe. Delta Airways operate convenient flights via
Paris from New York, Boston and Los Angles. TAP Air Portugal, American Airlines
and United provide further options.
Menara Airport is located 8km outside the
city of Marrakesh and the transfer to your Riad will take around 30
mins. Once
you have cleared immigration, collected your luggage and exchanged any money you need to, please exit the
arrivals doors and look out for a Kandoo team member holding a big sign reading
"KANDOO ADVENTURES".
Marrakesh
Trekking in Morocco
CLIMB MOUNT TOUBKAL | Summit North Africa's tallest mountain! Take a less trodden, scenic approach that arrives at the mountain from the east. Crossing several high passes along the way gives us time to acclimatise and experience more of the stunning High Atlas range. On route we meet the local nomadic Berber people, shepherding their livestock though the incredible scenery.
CLIMB MOUNT TOUBKAL IN WINTER | On this adventure we will climb Ouanoukrim (4088m), the second highest peak in Morocco and Toubkal (4167m) the highest peak in north Africa. You will be accompanied by expert mountain guides every step of the way and all your technical gear is provided.
When to trek
You can find detailed advice on when to trek in our Morocco Travel Guide.
Training for your trek in Morocco
The trekking in Morocco ranges from relatively gentle dunes to arduous snow slopes. Trek to the Sahara Desert is doable by anyone with some trekking experience and a good mindset, whereas climbing Toubkal in Winter requires a little more expertise and fitness. What makes trekking in Morocco extra challenging is the temperature fluctuations - you will be exposed to high temperatures whilst in Marrakesh and the desert, however you may also experience a morning dew and a chilly night up in the High Atlas, even in summer. Our Climb Toubkal route follows an average of 1000m of elevation per day, which can be taxing if you are not used to taking on this level of ascent on consecutive days. You will also reach altitude where the lessening of oxygen will begin to have effects on the body, the most obvious being breathlessness.
In order to avoid getting altitude sickness we adopt a slow, steady pace and cover a number of passes prior to our summit ascent to spend time acclimatising. This sometimes results in fairly big days prior to summit day and can be tiring if no training has been done prior to the trip. In terms of distance walked and the altitude climbed, a day's trekking in the High Atlas will be no more difficult than a typical day's hiking at home, however doing this for 6+ days consecutively can combine to make the trek a tough challenge. See our training guide for tips on how to prepare yourself for your arrival in Morocco.
Camping and other accommodation in Morocco
We provide a good quality 3 man tent. They are designed to sleep three people, but we only ever sleep 2 to a tent, to ensure you have plenty of space for you and your gear. Keep in mind, these are proper mountain tents, designed to cope with extreme conditions so don’t expect to be able to stand up and walk around inside! A foam mattress per person will also be provided. You will be required to assist with pitching your own tent at the end of each day.
A delicious home-cooked breakfast is served every day from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Toilets
The hotels in Morocco all have western, flushing toilets. Whilst on the trek the toilet situation will be a little less luxurious. At camp each evening we will set up a toilet
tent. This is a very basic facility that provides a little privacy. The toilet tent will simply cover a hole
in the ground. If you don't wish to use the toilet tent there is always the option to find somewhere hidden, away from camp or the path and go wild. We can guarantee it will be the most scenic toilet break you've ever had! Please remember to bring toilet roll and a lighter to burn it after use.
Food
During your trek your mule or camel drivers will prepare all of your meals.
At breakfast there is jam, bread, cookies, fruit, juice, butter, tea, coffee and sometimes a local speciality. Afternoon Tea is served at the
end of the days walking, once you get to camp. In addition to mint tea and
other hot drinks, there will be some biscuits or a light snack provided to help
restore some of the energy you’ve just burned off. A typical lunch will be a
salad with fresh vegetables, corn, boiled eggs, tuna and rice or pasta served alongside a traditional curried dish, such as lentil dahl or a tagine.
Evening meals will always be made up of delicious Moroccan cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients. There will normally be a soup starter
followed by a tagine or stew with salad, couscous or pasta and bread. We can provide vegetarian, vegan or gluten
free meals on request. If you have
special dietary requirements please let us know when booking your trip.
In Marrakesh, at the start and end of
your trip, you can purchase meals at the Riad or head out in to the city to
find a restaurant. The Riad is a 15-minute walk from Jamaâ el Fna Square where there are numerous restaurants with international options such as pizza and burgers, French and local cuisine, or if you are wanting something lighter then look for the roadside cafes offering the locals favourite, Omelette Khaali (lamb omelette) and Mint Tea.
Bottled water is included whilst on your trek, however you will need to source this yourself whilst in Marrakesh.There are plenty of market stalls and shops selling bottled water near to your Riad, hot drinks and bottled water is also available at the Riad.
Budget
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). For the most up to date exchange rate please visit www.xe.com.
Tips
Guide: 100-160 MAD ($10-15)
Mule/camel drivers: 160-210 MAD ($15-20) - amount per driver (depending on your group size you may have between 3-5 mules and drivers)
- Your guide will be with
you every day that you are in Morocco.
- Your mule/camel drivers will be with you while you are on the trek itself (you may have up to 5 mule drivers on your trek, depending on the number of participants. You will be provided with this information 3 weeks before departure)
- A driver will provide
your airport transfers and transfer you to
and from the trek.