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ICICLE T-SHIRT WITH EVERY BOOKING
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Course
overview
Mount
Toubkal 4167m is the highest peak in North
Africa, and it is possible as an adventurous
ski tour during the snowy winter months. As
well as touring, some sections frequently
require the use of crampons and an ice axe
for security. The ascent is non-technical
from a mountaineering perspective, but a good
level of ski touring skill is required, to
enable you to ski more of the terrain.
As
with all our climbing trips, we focus on skills
training and acclimatisation, so before you
ascend Toubkal, you summit Ouanoukrim 4089m.
From both summits, the views are amazing across
the mountains to Marrakech to the north, and
the start of the Sahara to the south. All
around are the jagged peaks of the High Atlas
stretching as far as you can see in every
direction.
This
trip enables you to enjoy both the mountains,
and the colourful local culture of the Berber
villages that are built into the steep valley
sides. Your local guide can tell you all about
the local culture and traditions, so you get
an amazing insight into the region.
In contrast, Marrakech provides an interesting
start and finish, where you can relax and
enjoy shopping and eating in the French area
boulevards or the narrow alleyways of the
medina. For those who enjoy haggling, it's
a must to visit the Souk (local market) in
the centre of Marrakech, and to try and negotiate
a bargain.
Enjoy
the local cuisine, couscous, mechoui, pastilla
and tajine, as Moroccan food is considered
by many to be the best in Africa. In the souk
markets, many try and haggle for souvenirs.
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are
included on trek. Whilst in Marrakech meals
are provided from dinner on the first evening
with breakfast the following morning, then
dinner on the last night with breakfast on
the morning you depart.
Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right, and
they show the live availability from our secure
online booking system. When you book online,
you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine
Information Booklet, course specific kit list
and invoice.
Daily
Course Itinerary
Please note that this itinerary, as with all our
adventure travel trips, is highly flexible to cater
for changing weather and conditions in the mountains.
Be aware that the itinerary is likely to change,
and the outline below should be used for guidance
as an indicative plan. Obviously Toubkal is the
primary objective, and the guide will decide which
of the days to make this ascent, so sometimes it
is ascended before Ouanoukrim,
to make it happen.
Day
Itinerary
Night
Meals
Sat
Fly
out to Marrakech, where you are met at the
airport for a transfer to the hotel where
the group are staying. Typically this is a
4 star hotel, a short drive from the airport,
next to the old city walls. In the afternoon,
you have time to explore the old city, then
in the evening, a meal is provided at the
hotel. Here you will meet the rest of the
group, as some people may arrive on different
flights.
Hotel
n/a
Sun
Transfer
by 4x4 or Minibus with your ski guide and
the supplies for the week. The journey starts
with a scenic drive to Imlil, 65km in the
heart of the Atlas Mountains. The altitiude
is 1750m. Pack light for the first 3 days
only taking the barest essentials in your
smaller day sack. Your remaining items will
be stored securely for your return to Imlil.
Head out on foot to Tmsoulte (2250m altitude)
with the support crew. This is a good place
to fit the skis for the first time. We then
head towards the valley of Azaden and then
rising to the refuge of Lepiney (named recently
Tazarhart). Spend the night in the Refuge
Lepiney Tazaghart 3000m. The crew will be
one muleteer between 2 people.
Gite
/ Hut
BLD
Mon
Enjoy
a good breakfast, then set off soon after.
The aim is to ski tour upwards to the remote
and beautiful Col Aguelzim (3500m altitude),
followed by a great ski descent dpwn to reach
the Toubkal refuge at 3200m.
Gite
/ Hut
BLD
Tue
Climb
up to ski from the Toubkal (4167m altitude)
summit, accompanied by the guide and the porter.
Descent to the Toubkal refuge again at 3200m,
Climb back, an ascent of 1000m, and repeat
the ski descent.
Gite
/ Hut
BLD
Wed
Go
up at the summit of N Ouanoukrim (4080m altitude)
and descent to the same refuge for lunch.
Return with the crew passing Sidi Chemharouch
(2300m), returning to Imlil (1750m), for a
relaxing evening at the gite.
Gite
/ Hut
BLD
Thu
Head
on foot towards Ousarou (2400m). Here a camp
will be set up. Later we will climb to the
of top of the spectacular Iguenouane (3800m)
with superb views of the valley of Tachedirt
and neighbouring summits (Angour 3600m, Likkemt
3600m, Aksoual 3920m). Descend after midday
towards the camp. Length of day 8-9 hours.
Hut
/ Gite
BLD
Fri
Explore
the Imenane valley on foot heading towards
Oukaimden via col Eddi (2900m). There is a
chance of fitting in a skiing session around
the collar before heading towards famous runs
between 2900m to 3300m, and then descend by
the station of Oukaimden, the highest ski
resort in Africa at 3260m. We will have lunch
and then we will be transferred by car back
to Marrakech. In the evening there is a group
celebratory meal in Marrakech, where you spend
your last evening together in Morocco, and
can chat about all the amazing experiences
of the week.
Hotel
BL
Sat
Enjoy
breakfast in the hotel, and maybe a final
dip in the pool, before you leave for your
return transfer to the airport and your
flight home. It is possible to extend your
stay with one or more extra nights in the
hotel. Just ask us for a quote.
ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries.
Mountain adventures are weather and conditions
dependant, so occasionaly we are forced
to alter the plans. If this is the case,
suitable alternatives are offered. Please
use this outline itinerary as a guide to
the types of route / activity that you will
attempt.
n/a
B
Mountain
focus article on Toubkal
Click
on the picture to the left of the BMC Summit magazine,
in which one of our guiding team had an article
published on the 'experts view' on the mountain.
The short article gives a fascinating insight
into the history of the first ascents of the mountain,
and of the classic ascent route. It is a great
example of how Icicle is recognised as a leading
operator of trips to this mountain, and of how
all our staff and leaders are very knowledgeable
about this peak. If you would like to speak to
one of our guiding team who has led trips to Mount
Toubkal, please get in touch with our Windermere
office by phone or e-mail. To contact an experienced trip
advisor please click on this link,
and if you prefer, we can even have a trip advisor
call you back at a time of your choice. Just give
us a landline number, and we'll call you.
Marrakesh
4**** hotel / riad accommodation
We've
added a touch of luxury at each end of this trip, so for
the nights at either end of the trek, whilst in Marrakesh
you stay in a 4**** hotel next to the old city walls, or in a riad with a pool.
This ensures you have a good nights sleep, and the hotel
we usually uses boasts a pool and spa facilities. There's
time to pamper yourself a little before and after your
efforts in the mountains. Full details of the hotel are
supplied before travel.
On the nights spent in the Marrakesh hotel / riad, it is possible
to upgrade to a single room, or to book extra nights if
you wish to arrive early and / or stay on. The single
room / extra night typically costs c.£80 per night.
If you would like any of these upgrades, please let us
know at the time of booking, as in key periods such as
over Easter, the hotel is likely to be busy, and there
will be limited availability of extra rooms.
Course
Prices
Standard
course
6 full days guiding, 1:6 max ratio
8 days holiday in total, Saturday-Saturday
£999
Live
availability
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) Local Morrocan mountain guide
for six days, 2) Accommodation from Saturday evening to
Saturday morning (7 nights), varying from hotel / riad to mountain
huts and gites, 3) All meals on the mountain (breakfast,
lunch and dinner), 4) Pre course information booklet,
5) Airport transfers to and from Marrakech airport, 6)
Equipment discount voucher for our UK shop, 7) Free 36
page technical Course Instruction Booklet.
Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Marrakech, 2) Equipment hire, 3)
Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals
in valley, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels
/ restaurants, 4) Lunches and evening meals in Marrakech,
5) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges,
6) Allow up to 50€ per person for optional entry
into sightseeing places of interest and optional town
tour on the Friday.
Notes: Group sizes
are a minimum 2, to maximum 6 clients, with 1
lead guide (and extra guides as required). If
you can't find a date that suits, we can provide a bespoke
date for just 2 people booking together on any date you
would like, for just £1099pp. For this option, get
in touch, and we'll put a bespoke date up for you. For
private groups of 3 or more, the scheduled price applies,
and discounts are applied for private groups of 4 or more.
Current
course availability
Course Dates Toubkal Ski Tour
No Dates Available
NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are four who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
As
featured in the
BMC Summit Mag... Read why Toubkal
is
one of our busiest trips
in the winter season; click
here to view
Testimonials
Press
& media
Films
& videos
Photo
gallery
Our
unique selling point?
Our
trips are exclusively for Icicle clients, and we
don't pool you with other companies guests, who
might speak another
language
completely! Unfortunately we have seen this practice becoming
more common with other operators, and it is our USP that
you travel with who you book with, not a random group.
Pro top tips - geeks corner!
Ski touring equipment
There's limited availability of ski touring equipment in Morocco, so we strongly advise you to take your own equipment for this trip, or to hire it in your home country and take it with you when you fly out to Marrakech. It's possible to rent technical mountain equipment in resort, such as crampons, harness and ice axe, but if you have your own, it's worth taking them for fit and comfort.
View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here
Any
further questions?
A
key part of choosing a company is being able to come and
talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor
face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know
our clients value speaking to real people, getting open
and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are
British, and our office and outdoor store is based in
Windermere in the English Lake District.
Get
in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee
to discuss your course in person with a trip
advisor.
