Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking towards and reaching the summit was my most inspirational moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was amazingly supportive and knowledgeable. The whole trip he managed the group through every situation with absolute calm. I would recommend him as a leader to anyone.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The route can be quite steep and rocky so hiking poles would be essential. You get the opportunity to gain some additional altitude the day before the summit, I strongly recommend taking this so your body has a better chance of acclimatising before the summit day.

Most Inspirational Moment

Summiting in glorious sunshine and looking out over the mountain rage - incredible view

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good. He got involved in the group and looked after us all very well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take full range of clothes ( summer to winter gear) it is very warm during the day ( first week in June) but cold at night. Summit day was very windy so a good windproof top is highly recommended. There is bottled water available throughout the trip so you dont need purufication tablets. Price is about 10-15 dirhams a bottle. I strongly recommend walking poles (specifically for the summit day) there is a lot of loose scree and they do help with balance.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to top and back to bottom (going down was tougher!)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good knowledgable guide Friendly and tried to accommodate all views Helpful to those that required assistance

Most Inspirational Moment

Looking out over the Sahara from the peak of Mt Toubkal - knowing its vastness as it receded into the distance was special

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very attentive to the welfare of the group, which was important given the wide variety of abilities though light on contextual information about the history of the area, etc., which would have been welcome if available

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do the optional climb on the day after the Mt Toubkal ascent - it will be your last opportunity to trek somewhere spectacular on the trip and, while your inclination will be to relax, fight it as the experience will be far more memorable than the relaxation you gave up for it. Take ear plugs even if you are a deep sleeper, as you never know how intensely someone you may be sharing a room with snores (also, the wind blowing against the tent at a couple of camps disturbed some).

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through the Berber villages and seeing how people live within the mountains.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was inspirational; he was knowledgeable and took great care to make sure each one of us was enjoying our trek. He was incredibly sensitive to everyone’s ability levels and took great care to make sure we stuck together as a group. He truly made the experience even more amazing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trek can be pretty tricky in places, single file walking along a rocky and haphazard pass. Walking poles also a must on the summit!

Most Inspirational Moment

Summiting Mt Toubkal Being invited to the home of the cook for tea Rugged scenery

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hassan was knowledgeable, when asked, with excellent language skills and fully fluent in English. His pace-setting was for the range of levels of fitness of a large group was very good. I felt safe throughout the walking sections of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I'm sorry but Marrakech airport is a terrible experience with extremely slow immigration on both arrival and departure, lack of air conditioning, and interminable check-in with boarding cards having to be hand-written. Despite the delay while queueing, if you arrive on a late flight its worth changing money at the airport - Bank of England notes only. Take a range of walking clothing as it was very cold and windy on the upper section of Mt Toubkal Be prepared for an upset stomach

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the views but unfortunately never had a moment of euphoria

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader wasn't particularly focused on the group. When people needed to stop for whatever reason he didn't tend to notice. However other members of the group do notice, so it's nothing to worry about but I would have expected more from the leader. However his local knowledge was excellent and I enjoyed the times he stopped to tell us about the Burbers and the villages.

Most Inspirational Moment

The scramble to the summit of Mt Ouanakrim.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good and extremely personable especially as the trip was during Ramadan

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go!

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of Jebel Toubkal (perhaps predictably)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very impressive - knew the walk like the back of his hand, informative, helpful, excellent organiser and a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for quite a span of temperatures. Be aware that the terrain, although not dangerous, is rough, steep and rocky.

Most Inspirational Moment

I was in tears when I got to the summit - it was a hard struggle but I made it, the view was fantastic, the weather was perfect and I felt immensely proud. No wonder people climb mountains - you just want to do it again to experience that wonderful hit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Patient, kind, witty, well informed, very calm when my husband got altitude sickness - he prophesied he'd be fine in the morning - the morning of the big climb - and indeed he was! He also helped a leader of another party who'd fallen and broken his collar bone on the descent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do some training - we did quite a bit in the weeks before eg coastal walking with lots of ups and downs, walking regularly and fast (not because you have to walk fast on the trip but just to develop fitness) walking up escalators, walking up stairs rather than taking the lift. It helps to have done fell climbing on rough terrain but you do not need to have had previous altitude experience. I hadn't and was totally surprised I wasn't affected. Nothing to do with fitness but everything to do with drinking regularly and taking it slowly. If you don't like heat do it in April/May. Trekking poles are a great help on the descent.