Atlas Mountain Trekking in Morocco

Wake up in Marrakech and dive into expedition life. Meet the ground team to discuss your plans, and head out to buy a SIM card for the team phone, the currency here is Moroccan Dirhams. Travel to the village of Aremd in the High Atlas Mountains. You’re about to tackle Toubkal (4,167m), the highest peak in North Africa. Trekking at altitude is tough, so start with a day of acclimatisation. From Aremd, set off through the valley and hike to Tizi h’Mzik pass (2,489m) or Kinss Waterfall (2,500m). It's time to go higher... Hike towards Toubkal base camp, following a zigzag trail to your wild camping spot, surrounded by boulders at 3,000 metres. Wake up early for the final Toubkal summit push. Step forward as team leader and take on the southern corrie, reaching the summit for sunrise. The views across Africa are out of this world. Stop, breathe, and take it all in. Retrace your route to the campsite and crash out. The next day, you’ll trek back to Aremd, with epic views of the valley and Berber villages as you descend. What an achievement!

You’re about to spend the next few days in a remote mountain village, contributing to a locally led initiative. Getting there is part of the fun. After a two-hour ride into the mountains, you’ll continue on foot, with regular breaks to take in the incredible views! Settle into your gite (guesthouse) and learn how the community have been striving to lead more sustainable lives through irrigation initiatives and water management. Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in with tree planting, painting work or eco-construction using upcycled materials. To make a positive contribution, you’ll need to listen to your hosts and learn some new skills. Experience Berber culture through breadmaking, rug weaving and farming work. Sip traditional Moroccan tea with the villagers, and engage with local students by playing football and card games. Explore more of the area with a trek to the Yagour Plateau, which has panoramic views and amazing rock engravings that date back to 1,000 BC.

As you travel to the beach town of Essaouira, look out of the window and try to spot the tree-climbing goats. Crazy, aren’t they?! Essaouira is a magical place to unwind, with its blue fishing boats, Portuguese port and windswept sands. Walk along the ramparts, explore the medina, and watch fishermen selling their catch. This town is famous for its crafts, so visit the woodworkers’ souk and watch the artisans at work. You could use some of your spending money to take part in a Moroccan art or music workshop. Or why not visit an argan oil cooperative? Watch how the women crack the nuts to extract precious oil. The profits from these cooperatives are shared among the local women, helping to provide healthcare and education to the community.

Discover more of Morocco’s best-known city and its incredible surroundings. Also known as ‘the Red City’, Marrakech is famous for its pinky-red buildings. The Djemaa El Fna Square should be top of your list, with its storytellers, musicians and medicine men, along with belly dancers, acrobats and open-air food stalls. The souks are also a must, these exotic marketplaces sell everything from spices to carpets. As you explore, soak up the sights and sounds of the city, Marrakech is a feast for the senses, with palaces, mosques, mopeds and donkey carts. To explore more, you could dip into your spending money and visit the golden Saadian Tombs, the beautiful Bahia Palace or the exotic Majorelle Gardens. Or why not learn how to whip up a tasty tagine from scratch in a cookery course? For a different perspective, you could go off-road biking through the palm grove, a mega oasis with tiny villages, ancient ruins and roaming camels.

After the best two weeks of your life, it’s time to travel home. Cram everything into your backpack and head to the airport. Check in, sit back and let it all sink in, you’ve just experienced something incredible. Morocco has opened your eyes and challenged you more than you ever imagined. You’ve fast-tracked your life skills and connected with the locals; you’ve led your team and made new friends for life. These experiences will shape who you are and put you on the path to becoming a true global citizen. So prepare to return home forever changed!