Internationale groepsreis Peaks & Valleys of the Atlas

Ed

Top reis. Peaks and Valleys had prachtige wandelingen. Voor mij zeker niet te zwaar, toch zaten er enkele uitdagingen in. En daar houd ik van. Ik vond het erg mooi dat we in dalen toch ook langs/door dorpen kwamen. We waren dus niet alleen in de 'middle of nowhere' . Ik houd erg van dit soort trekken. Kamperen, muildieren, dat geeft een caravaan-gevoel.

Well paced trek off the beaten track (except Toukbal)

An excellent trek. Well paced to build up to the altitude, early starts and big ascents and descents with more restful days following harder ones. Going to high peaks and high passes was followed by descent into valleys for the night. The first part of the trek was on less popular routes, the final few days around Toubkal were a bit busy. Toubkal summit is bit like Snowdon on a busy day, but hey, you have to do it. Enthusiastic and efficient support team of muleteers.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Probably ascent of Anoukrim, final 4000m peak. Some impressive early morning light and sunrises. Some very nice winding paths over steep terrain.

What did you think of your group leader?

Excellent. Friendly with a humorous attitude. Very good at pacing the day's walk and keeping the group interested. Good local knowledge and obviously enjoys being in the mountains. I had the impression he managed the support team of muleteers very well and obviously got on with them very well.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

This trek is quite physically demanding but should be within the abilities of anyone who is used to consecutive big days in UK. The main challenge is making a fairly big walk every day for 12 days. Altitude effect was perceptible but not debilitating and there were few if any problems with headaches etc, due to the well planned ascent profile. Excellent food considering the location and a very good support team.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

It seemed unnecessary to subject the trek leader to the final day in Marrakech. The walking tour was good but it had a different guide and I felt his presence was superfluous and I had the impression that so did he! His mountian skills and knowledge are wasted in a city. I did not enjoy being rushed through the souk and only stopping at one shop. I think it would have been better to explain that we were going to make a rapid transit of the souk as a familiarisation and leaving us to go back later

Peaks and Valleys of the Atlas

This amazing trip, my first out of Europe and something I had wanted to do for years, certainly did not disappoint. It had everything, excellent scenery, mostly excellent company, waking up to a different view every day and enough challenges to make for an exciting 12 day trek within the 15 day holiday.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

There were several..the volcanic landscape of the Aourai Pass, the blue waters of Lac d'Ifni, the amazing Ouanoums Gorge, the descent to Toubkal Base Camp, ascending Jebel Toubkal and Ouanakrim--the two highest summits in North Africa, the descent to Aremd, the Vibrant city of Marrakech...all unbelievable.

What did you think of your group leader?

Abdullah, what a guy !! Very knowledgeable and with a great manner which enabled all those who wanted to be included. he was so encouraging and ensured everything went smoothly. His team of muleteers were fantastic too. I am proud to know him, will never forget him and am proud to call him my friend.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Remember you are not in Europe so be prepared, and embrace, the change in culture. Ensure you are fit before departure as it will help you get maximum enjoyment from your holiday. Follow the advice you are given both before and during your holiday.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I can't wait to holiday with Exodus again..wish I had used the company before.

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

A excellent trip with an excellent leader and local staff.  The only shortcoming was the tents which were unable to withstand a stormy night.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The whole Moroccan, Berber and Atlas experience was a real revelation. I would certainly be prepared to return to Morocco and to travel with Exodus again.  My guidebook described Morocco as 'the nearest far away country' and it was certainly different.  The map does not do justice to the mountains and rock scenery and the ascent of Jebel Toubkal was the fulfilment of an aspiration I have held for a number of years.   Seeing a different culture, meeting the people and visiting the vibrant city of Marrakech will never be forgotten.

What did you think of your group leader?

Our leader, Mohamed Maachou, was excellent.  Everything he organised went to plan.  He was very friendly and knowledgeable  and made sure that everyone felt part of the group.  He set a steady pace and there were plenty of rests.  He was always looking out for trekkers who found some of the rock steps or descents awkward and always kept the group fairly close together. His assistant, the cook and the muleteers were also excellent. A great team. 

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Go on this trip but make sure that Exodus replace the Vango Tempest 300 tents with something better.  One collapsed on a stormy night and had to be abandoned.  The others let in water through the ground sheets which soaked the mattresses and wet our sleeping bags.  Exodus bags are also not waterproof.  Mine had standing water in the bottom.  The tent zips were also problematical.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Great food and plenty of it.  We were really well looked after.  And at the price excellent value for money too.

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

This was an excellent trip, spoilt mainly by the poor equipment. Tents that leak, zips that do not work and damp sleeping mats, as there were inadequate rain covers provided for them whilst in transit, all added up to unnecessary discomfort. Also, the anxiety of sometimes not having a back marker, and feeling rather vulnerable as a result.  I understand that these points will be resolved by next year, in which case, this would be great trip, into remote mountains with breathtaking scenery.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Camping by beautiful Lac d'Ifni, watching the moon rise, and then the sun come up the following morning. The fun of the Hamman - what an experience!  Just pausing, in the absolute silence, to look at the never-ending views. Magical.

What did you think of your group leader?

Hassan tried his best within what he understood to be the limit of his power of authority.  Whilst walking, I feel he should have checked on the progress of the slower members of the group, especially as we did not have a back marker for some of the time, and those at the rear felt rather vulnerable.  It was not his fault that the tents were inadequate, but I think that he should have shown a little more concern for those of us who had to sleep in them, and tried to help rectify some of the problems. Perhaps in future training for all leaders, and staff, it should be ensured that these types of problems (and the solutions) are dealt with in detail. Many of us had been to Nepal and agreed that training should be equal to that given there - where the staff are excellent!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Make sure you have water purifying tablets, wet wipes, toilet rolls,  anti bacterical gel  & tasty snack bars. No battery charging available so look after your battery - or buy spares

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This should have been a great trip, but was partly spoiled by inadequate equipment that couldn't cope with the wet weather.  Leaky tents, which appeared to be very old, broken zips, damp sleeping mats all added up to spoil our enjoyment. However, if these problems are rectified, and a back marker also employed, I would recommend the Peaks and Valleys of the Atlas as a great trip to go on. Just be sure you are fit;  it is, as stated, 'challenging'.  The food, incidently, was good and plentiful, both for the meat eaters and the vegetarians.

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

A tough trek, but spectacular rugged scenery.  Don't underestimate how challenging this trip is, as I thought I was a fairly strong walker, but really struggled.  I thought I would be able to manage all three peaks, but only managed to climb Mount Toubkal.  Of a group of 16, 13 made it up Toubkal (after 7 hour walk), 11 to Jebel Adrar n'Dern (after an 11 hour walk), and only 4 to Jebel Ouanakrim (after 9 hour walk).  However, I would definately recommend this trip over a trip to purely Mount Toubkal, as it was lovely to walk through the villages and get a feel for Berber life, and to camp at the lake (Lac d'Ifni).  A trip to climb only Mount Toubkal would be fairly dull, as it's just a long boring walk up to base camp, then 7 hour climb up and down Toubkal, and then back down the same long boring path to the village.  Toubkal base camp is also busy and dirty so you don't want to spend too long there either.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Climbing Mount Toubkal.Experiencing a hammam (Moroccan steam bath) with other naked female members of the group!

What did you think of your group leader?

Hassan was ok, although favoured the faster members of the group. A group of 16 walkers of mixed abilities was too large for only one guide, and we had no back-marker for much of the trip, and in my view sometimes this was dangerous on snowy and icy paths.  The group did not stick together, and there were too many gaps between the group, so on occasion people took the wrong path and got lost.We joked that Moroccan guides and muleteers need lessons from Nepalese sherpas.  They didn't go out of their way to be helpful!  For example, they didn't bring tea to tents in the morning, there were no wake-up call, and they didn't boil water for drinking water or for hot water bottles, as they usually do in Nepal or any other country where I have camped before. 

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Definately bring a thermorest, as the sleeping mats provided by Exodus are useless and made of foam covered in fabric material, so when wet, are very unpleasant to sleep on.  They are also transported on top of the equipment carried by the mules, so I dread to think of the ingrained dirty!Bring water purification tablets (tablets are better than drops).  You can't always buy bottled water, so have to drink water from the rivers and streams.  I would also recommend bringing orange tang or vitamin C tablets to make the water taste better.The food that Mohammed managed to cook while camping was great, although after a while vegetables and cous cous got a bit boring.  There wasn't much meat!  Perhaps bring things like nice tea bags, dried fruit to put on porridge, marmite, peanut butter, bovril drink etc to make things more exciting.Obviously bring plenty of wet wipes, alcohol hand gel, lots of chocolate and energy bars, travel pillow, and walking poles.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The tents were not fit for purpose and were very old.  The zips on ALL the tents kept breaking and jamming, and had to be constantly repaired by the muleteers.  A couple of nights we had to sleep with both the tent doors open (as zips broke) in high winds and downpours.  We experienced lots of rain, and the tents leaked and both the inner and outside tent was saturated with water, and sleeping bags and kit bags got wet and damp, which was miserable. For other travellers, I would not book this holiday until you can get a guarantee from Exodus that new tents and sleeping mats have been purchased.

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

Good walking through the rugged mountain scenery.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

-

What did you think of your group leader?

Hassan led the group well and provided insights into Berber life. If he had a fault it was to allow the group to become too spread out at times.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Ask about the tents. The ones used for this trip suffered non-working zips. We had rain early on leading to damp gear.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Food provided by our cook Mohammad was good (considering the conditions he had to prepare it under), if of limited variety.  On meat days vegetarians were provided with a good alternative. I felt the extra day in Marrakech was unnecessary (most people had 2 half days in the city anyway)    

So lucky with the weather.

Really good value trip. Abdullah our guide was superb. The food was delicious, never had a stomach problem once . My stomach can be very sensitive. We were very luckily with the weather, no rain and pretty warm except on the top of Toubkal.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Reach the top of all of the 4000 metre peaks.

What did you think of your group leader?

Abdullah was excellent. Kept a very steady pace so all could keep up. Made sure we were all aware of what was happening the next day. Had a very good sense of humour, always good.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Make sure you are fit as you can be. There are several long days. Terrain is also fun .

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Please keep you bags/backpacks to 10 kilos or pay for an extra mule. These mules aren't very big ! Also take water purification tablets, plenty of water available, saves on the plastic.

Trek high Atlas - fantastic

A fantastic trek walking though villages, valleys, the mountains and terric sceneries of the high Atlas - a quite challenging trek with the highlight being the 3 peaks. 12 days are spent in the mountains, nights are a spent mixed between camping and gites. Most of the walking happens in the morning (early wake up!) and afternoons are mostly spent recovering for the next day. Wonderful time and loads of laughters, great bunch of people, cheerful muleteers and cook (thanks to Houssine, Hamid and Abein).

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

It is really difficult to pick a moment - the highlight for me has been the achievement felt arriving on the top of the 3 peaks - with the first one definitely being the hardest - such a reward and breathtaking vues - all the laughter shared with the team, tripmates, muleteers, guide

What did you think of your group leader?

Hamid was a not only cheerful guide, with a great sense of humour but also possessed a very high professionalism in the mountains - he brought us up to 3 peaks above 4000m judging of our strengths, tiredness and adapting to any of our need (we were a multi national french/english group) while introducing us to his culture - Hamid had an immense knowledge on everything, knowing the name of the plants, the mountains, the villages, the animals in english, in french, in berber - i felt incredibly safe during this tour and extraordinary proud of my performance which I would never have manage to do without his help!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Get as fit as possible - this is a challenging trek! Do not give up - this is mental challenge, do all the peaks, Toubkal is the easiest of the 3 - you can do it! The reward at the top of the pass or mountain is just fantastic

Is there anything else you would like to add?

If you like challenges, mountains and breathtaking vues - do it!

Great little experience

This is a great trip for anyone who likes mountain walking and camping. The scenery is absolutely stunning and local people are really nice and polite. This trip is perfectly put together so you start off with the easier days and slowly day by day it gets a little harder so you have time to get used to the environment, distances and altitudes. Our guide was so nice, informative and funny. He always kept an eye on our group while walking and kept us company at lunches and tea breaks. I would highly recommend this adventure to anyone who likes mountainous outdoors.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Local culture and amazing views

What did you think of your group leader?

Super guy!!!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be prepared for massive temperature differences. I went in late September and days can be very hot and you gotta cover up from the sun while mornings and peaks can be freezing and very windy.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

GO!

Peaks & Valleys of the Atlas

Absolutely fantastic! Loved every second of it and couldn't of wished for better trip. The views were astonishing and the pride after completing the peaks is overwhelming, everyone should do this trip!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Reaching the top of all of the peaks is just amazing, especially to complete them with the new great friends you make on the trip. Swimming in the lake is unforgettable, with views to die for.

What did you think of your group leader?

The group leader was incredible, he was constantly checking up on each member of the group making sure everyone was safe and enjoying their time. He made the trip factual too and told us all about the places we visited during the walk and our time in the villages. He was just fantastic and made the trip unforgettable.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Don't waste your time thinking about booking the trip, book it now and be ready to make some incredible memories that you will never forget!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Absolutely Awesome !

Peaks & Valleys of the Atlas

The Peaks & Valleys of the Atlas holiday in Morocco as organised by Exodus was a wonderful trip. We used it as a private group of 12 and I cannot fault the organisation. The 12 day trip with three 4000 meter peaks was a tough walking trip but it was very doable and we were taken care of magnificently. Our guide Hassan was great, our Muleteers were enthusiastic and hard working, our cook was the best and provided us with great meals. The trip was well planned in that we gained lots of height slowly and descended often enough to let us get used to the high altitude. Because of this nobody suffered bad altitude illnesses and most of us completed all three 4000 meter peaks. There are many big descends involved but luckily most of our knees survived. It is recommended to take trekking poles. We camped half of the time and slept in gytes the other nights, and this variety was great.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Many inspirational moments were there on this trip. Off course to feel the achievement of going to the summits of the great peaks and having spectacular views. But also the interaction with the people of Morocco who were without exception all very welcoming and very friendly. The landscape is stunning. Special moments are also the brilliant night skies one has when camping in the middle of nowhere.

What did you think of your group leader?

Hassan our group leader is a great guy, leading our group onto every hill. He is enthusiastic and full of knowledge. We had many laughs with him. I can't fault him in any way.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

This is quite a tough trip, but if in general good health and used to lots of walking over tough terrain, this holiday is great. Because of the high ascents and descents (often 1000meter up or down) and some long walking days (max 11 hours) one has to be reasonably fit.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Make sure you do not bring too much luggage. It is not needed. Make sure you take dehydration tablrts as one sure way to enjoy this holiday is to drink plenty!. Also take tablets to clean drinking water as although bottled water is available, the environmental impact is too big to rely on these alone. Aldo keep good hygiene all the time, as a tummy bug is easily got, and would spoil the holiday.

Peaks and Valleys of the Atlas

A fantastic trip with much variety! Great team of locals making everything run very smoothly and making it as easy as possible for us.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

For me, it was the night that we spent camping up in the gorge beyond Lake d'Ifni. It was a spectacular campsite and was well away from other tourist groups.

What did you think of your group leader?

Abdullah was a fantastic group leader! He was very kind, knowledgable and easy-going. He also looked after and looked out for everyone in his care, and those who weren't - the other muleteers, the cook, other guides on the trek and of course, us!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take antibiotics with you, so that if you get sick, you aren't completely incapacitated!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I am a vegetarian and there was really no issue at all with this. The food that I was served was absolutely fantastic! There was plenty of it and it was always delicious! The cooks and the muleteers also went out of their way to ensure that everyone was happy with the food that they were given. They would often serve the people with dietary requirements separately and to their own personal likes and dislikes. If you are concerned about the food on this trip - don't be!

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

A excellent trip with an excellent leader and local staff.  The only shortcoming was the tents which were unable to withstand a stormy night.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The whole Moroccan, Berber and Atlas experience was a real revelation. I would certainly be prepared to return to Morocco and to travel with Exodus again.  My guidebook described Morocco as 'the nearest far away country' and it was certainly different.  The map does not do justice to the mountains and rock scenery and the ascent of Jebel Toubkal was the fulfilment of an aspiration I have held for a number of years.   Seeing a different culture, meeting the people and visiting the vibrant city of Marrakech will never be forgotten.

What did you think of your group leader?

Our leader, Mohamed Maachou, was excellent.  Everything he organised went to plan.  He was very friendly and knowledgeable  and made sure that everyone felt part of the group.  He set a steady pace and there were plenty of rests.  He was always looking out for trekkers who found some of the rock steps or descents awkward and always kept the group fairly close together. His assistant, the cook and the muleteers were also excellent. A great team. 

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Go on this trip but make sure that Exodus replace the Vango Tempest 300 tents with something better.  One collapsed on a stormy night and had to be abandoned.  The others let in water through the ground sheets which soaked the mattresses and wet our sleeping bags.  Exodus bags are also not waterproof.  Mine had standing water in the bottom.  The tent zips were also problematical.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Great food and plenty of it.  We were really well looked after.  And at the price excellent value for money too.

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

An excellent trip with 3 summit peaks of 4000m and numerous high passes, with great views and fantastic weather.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Climbing the 3 summits over 4000m

What did you think of your group leader?

Mohamed was a great guide with a great sense of humour. Excellent knowledge of the culture, people, plants and wildlife. Experienced with the mountains and trekked at a pace for all (Too many stops for me) Made time for everyone in the group and kept us together at all times. First class 

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Highly recommend that your fitness levels are good if you want to complete the whole trek with 3 summits of 4000m +. It is tough going and the ascents of the passes and summits can be as high as Ben Nevis. Only 5 out of 15 completed all the peaks.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Better guide for the Marrakech tour. Food from the chef was excellent but would have liked more meat dishes during the trek.    

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

A really great trek. More challenging than my previous trek in this category. The fitter you are, the more you can do in terms of ascents.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Mt Toubkal ascent. Quite a tough day but exhilarating to get to the top. The views are breath-taking and it feels  a real achievement.

What did you think of your group leader?

Mohamed Maachou has a real passion for what he does. He is knowledgeable, patient, very safety conscious and has impressive leadership skills. I never felt anxious as I knew he was watching out for each of us with our differing fitness levels and needs. I am not sure if and when he slept as he was always there making decisions and plans for us.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Just get as fit as you can before the trek.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The local team of cook and muleteers were multi-skilled and amazing. Having read reviews for 2012 in which the quality of tents and sleeping mats were criticised, I was re-assured by the Exodus teams that they were new for 2013. The tents we used were not fit for purpose - zips failed and tents leaked in the rain soaking the mats and sleeping bags. I would appreciate a response. Please for future trekkers, replace the city guide. With limited time to experience the richness of the city, the gentleman who guided us was difficult to comprehend and uninspiring.

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

A fantastic experience, memories of this trip and the lovely people I met will last forever

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Toubkal of course !    A long climb over difficult terrain , but OMG was it worth it.  Swimming in Lac d'lfni 2300m altitude, what a buzz.    Oh and must not forget sleeping on the terrace of our gite under the stars and seeing a shooting star, priceless.

What did you think of your group leader?

Our Tour leader was Mohamed  Maachou. As a first time solo female traveler I was very nervous but he put me at my ease straight away. His English was superb and  knowledge of the local flora and fauna was outstanding, I really learned a lot, and his great sense of humour meant a smile was never far from our lips. His first precedence was always our safety, he came to my rescue on more than one occasion once when I had a little encounter with a mule on a mountain path and the other on a rather scary mountain ledge.       A  Great Guy. I cannot go without  mentioning   Abbi  I think his name was - He brought up the rear on many occasions watching out for me and singing in Berber ;-)  and when I stumbled on rocks and  scree or needed to stop to catch my breath he would say "no rush, no rush" 

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Dont underestimate the activity level, I think it should be rated as challenging to tough. Make sure you take at least one walking pole as you will need it. A headtorch is essential for the early morning starts and  bring plenty of snacks - energy bars etc. You will need loads of wet wipes and keep out of the way of mules on mountain paths, they have right of way whether you like it or not.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

 A lot has been mentioned about the tents, we were extremely lucky as there was no rain, so there were no major problems in that department, but to be honest the zips were knackered .  Now then, the food !!  as a vegetarian I thought I might have a bit of trouble, how wrong I was , the food was superb. I now have some authentic Moroccan recipes added to my repertoire thank to Hassian Idblraid who was our very talented cook, how on earth he prepared and served the meals he did with just a few gas rings is beyond me.   Delicious lentils and beans plenty of scrumptious veg, pasta rice and salads always accompanied by copious amounts of bread, followed by mint or lemon verbena tea. If you think you might miss meat, there was lamb, beef chicken and goat, trust me you won’t go hungry. The only down comment I feel I ought to mention was the guided tour on the last day, the guide was alright - ish but I knew the places he took us to were pre arranged and just maybe he got a cut of our purchases.  I wanted to slow down and explore, there was  so much to see and enjoy  -  I felt rushed -  so I'd say don’t be frightened of exploring the Medina on your own, just dress  appropriately,  apart from getting lost which is almost a certainty and  the worst that can happen) Despite the warnings I never got hassled so bargain and enjoy.   My advice, If you think you are fit, get fitter, its tough.     Personally it ticked all the boxes for me.  I loved it.      Just go and do it, you will have no regrets  

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

What a trip! Fantastic scenery, great bunch of people, good food, a terrific guide, helped by the ever cheerful muleteers and a cook who took great pride in the preparation and presentation of our meals.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

 Too many highlights to pick just one. Reaching the summit of Mt. Toubkal Seeing remote Berber villages and their way of life Moroccan tea, bread and honey in a traditional village house. Experiencing a Moroccan Hamman. Seeing stunning mountain scenery every day. I could go on and on.......  

What did you think of your group leader?

Mohammed was quite simply outstanding, constantly watching out for us, not just on the trail, but any time at all he was happy to help in any way. Very competent as a guide, patient with our never ending questions, skilled at setting a pace to suit everyone, adept at solving any little problems which arose, all this carried out with a terrific sense of humour . Without doubt a huge asset to Exodus, he made a great  trip an unforgettable one.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Do not underestimate how tough this is, long days over difficult terrain, most of our party were experienced trekkers and all agreed that this was one of the hardest ones they had done.  

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Make sure you are fit and then go book it, One of the best experiences I have ever had, would go again tomorrow.

PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ATLAS

A wonderful experiance walking through villages, valleys and mountains.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Topping Toubkal was a brilliant.

What did you think of your group leader?

Mohamed was excellent and very knowledgeable about the torain and florra, and he quickly got the ideal pase for a 'mixed speed' group. He proved himself when one of the group had a fall arranging everything to get her to hospital asap.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

This is a hard trip with many steep climbs and decents on, to be honest, not very good paths! Two hiking stick essential.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Peaks and Valleys of the High Atlas.

The Exodus team of leader, cook and muleteers did their very best to make the trip a once in a lifetime experience! This was a excursion which was challenging at many levels. Physically, it was demanding; trekking and camping at altitude, the length of trekking days, and the need to get used to different food and water quality were some of the adjustments we all needed to face. Summiting four peaks, in the beautiful country of Morocco, three of them over 4000m for me was a personal achievement.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

There were many inspirational moments on this trip. While summiting peaks such as Toubkal were wonderful, for me it was inspirational to see the wildflowers and insects- local bees and lady bird species to name a couple. Also there was new ( to me ) birdlife to be spotted.The Juniper forests were also beautiful. Being able to walk through remote High Atlas villages was also a treat!

What did you think of your group leader?

It was wonderful to see our leader greeted warmly by both local people and other trekking guides. He was obviously a good advocate for Exodus and for us as visitors in remote High Atlas areas. Abdullah did an excellent job of leading us. He set a slow and steady pace while walking which meant we all increased our fitness and were able to achieve goals such as ascending Toubkal without great difficulty. He did a great job of managing 'team dynamics'. In any group there can be personality difficulties and these were managed with a minimum of fuss. He remained professional, kind, and concerned for our well-being throughout the trip.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Remember to take toilet paper and wet wipes. If you have Coeliac Disease (as I have) there is a small shop selling organic and gluten free supplies just around the corner from the Hotel Trois Palmiers, in Marrakesh. It pays to take some of your own bread substitutes and breakfast cereal.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Exodus can assist it's group leader in having the Trip Notes as accurate as possible. For example when we were at Toubkal Base Camp the accommodation is described in the Trip Notes for those nights as BH= Basic Hotel. There were a number of our group who were very 'put out' that we were camping ( with access to the refuge) and became (unnecessarily in my view) hostile and aggressive towards our group leader.