Guide and local team

Every trekking tour is led by our experienced and well-reputed local trekking guide of Berber origin, who knows the trekking area very well. The guide is licensed and speaks English and French besides the local languages.

Our trekking guide is also in charge of the local team, which includes a cook and mule drivers with mules or dromedary drivers with dromedaries.

Participants and dates

All of the trekking tours can be arranged either for groups or for only one or two people.

There are no fixed dates for the trekking tours. You are free to choose the dates convenient for your party, then come to an agreement with Jebel Trekking about your starting date, a few weeks in advance.

Children are welcome to come along on the tours. For an additional fee you can order an extra mule which the child can ride on when needed, led by a mule driver. This also applies to dromedaries that can be added for any accompanying children, on the Sahara and Atlantic coast tours.

Trails, hours per day and level of difficulty

For the most part, we walk on paths opened up by the local people and animals who have used them, not on well-marked trails. At times the terrain can be slightly demanding, but the treks are not overly difficult. To get the most out of a trek you should be reasonably fit and accustomed to outdoor activities.

The quoted number of trekking hours per day, are for hikers who are not using the trek as a physical work-out. Instead it is for those who want to enjoy the local culture and the natural beauty around them, at a moderate pace. The number of hours is approximate, and specifies only actual walking time, excluding lunchtime and other rests along the way.

The trekking tours have not been graded according to difficulty. To get a idea about how easy or strenuous they are, please read the tour descriptions. Here you will find information on the number of trekking hours per day, changes in altitude and the character of the terrain.

Climate

Morocco is a year-round destination for hikers. In the European wintertime the Sahara and Saghro are wonderful experiences. In the middle of the summer the higher parts of High Atlas and M’Goun are quite cool and therefore perfect trekking destinations. Spring and autumn offer great trekking in many different parts of Morocco. Please see each trekking tour for more information about the best time to go.

Temperatures often vary greatly between day and night. A pleasantly warm day might become a cold evening as soon as the sun goes down. Even during the summer months, the nights on higher altitudes can be quite cold. Please bear this in mind when you pack for the trip.

For further information about local weather conditions, please check the Internet.

 

Accommodation

Camping is an outstanding way to experience the fantastic Moroccan nature, and often the only option when guest houses are few and far between. We camp out in the open and almost always in a new place every night. The tents provided are two-person dome tents. Jebel Trekking also provides matrasses. Bring your own sleeping bag or rent one from Jebel Trekking.

The camping sites chosen are usually situated close to a stream where you can wash and refresh yourself. But in dry places like the Sahara, where water has to be carried by the dromedaries, only a limited amount of water can be used for washing.

On some tours, we stay a night or two at a guest house or in a family house in a village along the way. During the tour “Valleys and villages in the heart of High Atlas” we stay exclusively at guest houses.

The local guest houses are welcoming and often beautifully situated with appealing views of the surroundings. Blankets and pillows are provided and showers with hot water are usually available. We stay in double rooms, family rooms or sometimes dormitories, depending on availability. The number of trekkers arriving at the guest houses varies from day to day, and therefore private rooms cannot be guaranteed.

Trekkers who are setting out from, or ending in Aremd, have the option of staying overnight in the pleasant and welcoming guest house Dar Toubkal, Jebel Trekking’s own guest house.

Meals

We usually eat our lunch out in the open in some beautiful setting with fine views. When camping, breakfast and dinner are generally served in a traditional Berber tent, which is a large, high tent. When we stay at a guest house, the meals are usually served a dining room.

All meals during the trek are made by an accompanying cook. The food is well-prepared, generous and not overly spicy. Allergies must be reported in connection with your booking.

 
 
 
 
 

Baggage transport

All you need to carry during the trek is a small backpack, a bottle of water, and the personal items you may need during the day. The rest of your baggage will be transported by our team.

In the Sahara and on the trek along the Atlantic coast the baggage is carried by dromedaries lead by dromedary drivers. In Tafraoute the baggage is transported by car. On the other tours, mules lead by mule drivers carry it.

Please pack the part of your baggage to be transported by mules or dromedaries in soft bags. Two smaller bags are preferable to one big bag.

Jebel Trekking always takes good care of their animals. The mules and dromedaries are never overloaded, and one mule never carries equipment for more than two people.

Transport to and from trekking areas

Although Marrakech is described as the pick-up point for most of the tours, Jebel Trekking can also pick you up from other places, on request. After finishing the tour, Jebel Trekking will take you to the send-off destination of your choice.

Personal equipment

Sturdy, well-fitting trekking boots with thick soles and support for your ankles are recommended for all trekking tours in mountainous regions. In the Sahara and along the Atlantic coast however, only sturdy, well-fitting shoes are necessary. In order to avoid blisters it is important that your boots and shoes are comfortable and well broken-in. Good socks and blister-prevention taping also helps in avoiding sore feet.

Take clothes suitable for the geographic area you are visiting, the time of the year and the altitude for the trek and the campsites. During the same trek the days can be warm, but the evenings and nights very cold. Temperatures can also vary greatly during the same day.

Take a small backpack for the personal items you need during the day, including a large bottle of water. You might for instance need a wind and rain-proof jacket and during lunches out in the open, a warm fleece jacket might come in handy.

For Moroccan dress-code, please also read “Local customs” below.

Remember to protect yourself from the North African sun, especially during the summer months and when hiking at higher altitudes. A hat with a broad brim and a scarf can be useful, and a long-sleeved shirt. Sunglasses and sunscreen lotion are required equipment.

Walking poles and, if needed, knee-supports are recommended for steep passages.

Binoculars can be enjoyable to have, as there can be opportunities to see birds and animals on the tours.

Take your own sleeping bag with you or rent one from Jebel Trekking when camping.

When climbing Mount Toubkal during the wintertime, crampons are compulsory and ice axes are recommended, but not necessary.

Local customs

Please respect local customs and dress properly. Avoid clothing that is considered to expose too much skin, like short shorts, sleeveless and low-cut T-shirts.

Please do not take photos of local people without first asking for permission.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Prices, booking and payment

The price of a Jebel Trekking tour depends on the number of participants and for some of the tours, the number of trekking days and the distance to the starting point of the tour. For prices, please send a request by filling in the form found under Contact and booking. Jebel Trekking will reply to your request as soon as possible. Our answer might be slightly delayed if we are out trekking.

If the ensuing mail conversation results in an agreement, a booking fee must be paid in advance according to instructions from Jebel Trekking.

The final payment is then to be paid in cash at the agreed pick-up point, before the start of the trekking tour. Jebel Trekking accepts final payment only in cash, and this payment must be made in Euro, USD or Moroccan dirham (MAD).

Remember to take out or exchange the Moroccan currency you need at the airport, in Marrakech, or in another larger city. Exchanging currency or making withdrawals in Moroccan dirham is difficult in other places.

Insurance

As a condition of booking your tour arrangement with Jebel Trekking, you are fully responsible to arrange appropriate travel insurance for the entire duration of the tour. Please ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake during the trip, including all optional activities. In the event of illness or injury your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency transport.

Your guide has training in first aid but does not supply with first aid kit or medicines. Please take with you what may be needed in case of illness or accident.