Why the Atlas Mountains?
At the Western End of the ancient Greek world lived a God called “Atlas” who carried the sky on his shoulders; this awe inspiring range of mountains remains and is an increasingly popular place to go for adventure travel in Morocco. This spectacular Atlas system is the most rugged in Morocco; if you are fit and fancy a challenge like I did it is a great place to choose for a Moroccan holiday. You get the best of both worlds, an exhilarating climb to the highest peak in North Africa with complete relaxation on the beach afterwards. Having previously trekked in Nepal and Tibet I was interested to see this mountain range, as it attracts serious climbers as well as those who fancy a recreational or moderate trek. The mountain system itself stretches 2400 km from the Atlantic coast of Morocco to the Gulf of Gables Tunisia. I wanted to climb the highest part of this range, the High or Grand Atlas – and the peak of Mount Toubkal at 4167 m.

What to expect on the trek
It is quite a strenuous climb, I choose a 9 day trek so you do need to be pretty fit and be able to deal with the acclimatisation. However, these treks are tailor made to help you deal with the change in altitude and time spent resting in the Berber villages was crucial to maintain strength and gradually acclimatise. We had great Berber guides and mules to carry the heavy tents, food and drink, often taking a shorter route. Also we were looked after well and the food was simple but delicious and often warming as the temperatures dropped at night quite sharply. You really need to be prepared with layers of clothing as you sleep in basic tents, and this can make a big difference to a good nights sleep, and in turn enough energy for the following day. Once we left Marrakech we headed into the foothills and that’s where I first felt a tingling of anticipation, as we continued on foot when the road came to an end. Before too long you feel that you have been transported into another world, one which has not changed for hundreds of years. The locals are friendly and I felt quickly immersed into the culture of the Berber people. We enjoyed a few shorter warm up walks in the foothills passing the occasional villages which sit up above seasonal rivers and rich farmland. Some days we only saw one or two people, an old man on a mule or a shepherd. There is definitely the hint of a lost world about this place, as the trekking itself is tough, the scenery and people more than make up for it.

Our route to the top
We trekked from the foothills up to Oukaimeden at 2700m – a ski resort in a rather flat but lush valley, then we started our acclimatisation with an ascent to the Tizi n’ou attar at 3100 m. Here we enjoyed fantastic views down the Ourika valley. Next we continued for three days until we reached the refuge at the base of Mount Toubkal 3200m. From here we made the 3 hour climb to the top, and as it was still winter we did need axes and crampon experience as the path was very icy, this experience is easy to learn though if you haven’t used them before. Each time we climbed a peak we were rewarded with another breath taking view of distant mountains stretching for miles. Reaching the top of Mount Toubkal at 4167m was a complete high, totally exhilarating and gave the whole group a sense of achievement. We were lucky enough to have a totally clear day and could see across to the Sahara. Some of us had got to know each other well by this stage, and I have made plans to trek with a couple of my new mates next year. We descended via a different route and I chilled out in the beachside town of Essaouira for a couple days before heading back to London.

Find out more about Morocco holidays at The Adventure Company website.