Toubkal Expedition 2025 - Queer Hiking Bristol

Saturday 3rd May to Saturday 10th May 2025 - Please arrive/depart into Marrakech Airport at any time on these days.

Queer Hiking Bristol is a walking group for LGBTQ+ folk and offers monthly walks in the South West of England.Our trip to Morocco in May 2025 is solely for people from Queer Hiking Bristol

Morocco is a North African country with a vibrant and colourful Berber culture. The Atlas Mountains stretch across the country and are easily accessible from the city of Marrakech. On this trip you will visit the Mountains of the high Atlas and gradually ascend to Jebel Toubkal. Toubkal is the highest peak in North Africa and rises to 4,167m above sea level.

The high Atlas is one of the top trekking destinations in the World. The scenery is spectacular the food is good. During this trek you will visit sun scorched Berber villages and stay in local lodges (Gites) where accommodation will be shared in one or two large rooms.

We eat traditional Moroccan food cooked by our Berber hosts. This is a fully supported trek to Toubkal, your main bags will be carried by mules and a cook will travel along with us keeping you well fed.

The guides, cooks and porters who work for us have done so since 2017 and are used to guiding LGBTQ+ people. We use a local company that is run by women and the Berber people are more liberal with a tradition of welcoming all to their homes.

The price for this LGBTQIA+ friendly Moroccan adventure is just £675 and includes all accommodation and transfers as well as all meals when trekking. Secure your place with a £150 deposit to Pride Expeditions. The remaining amount can be split into manageable payments that suit you. Some people choose to set up a standing order.

What is included in the price?

• Airport transfer from Marrakech airport on arrival.

• 3 nights Riad accommodation in Marrakech including breakfast - twin rooms

• Four nights’ accommodation in local gites / lodges in the High Atlas - shared dormitories

• British International Mountain Leader and a Local Berber guide. These are guides who regularly work with LGBTQ+groups and subscribe to the Pride Expeditions ethos.

• Fully supported trek with mules/muleteers to carry all baggage.

• Transport to and from the mountains from Marrakech.

What extras do I need to pay for?

• Extra drinks and snacks whilst trekking

• Tips for porters and guides

• Evening meals and lunches when in Marrakech

• Flights

Itinerary

DAY ONE Saturday 3rd May 2025 - ARRIVAL IN MARRAKECH

Easy Jet flights from Bristol and other airports will be recommended to you once you have signed up for this trip. Please book yourself on these flights. If you are booking different flights or arriving earlier please be in Marrakech by 10pm

DAY TWO Sunday 4th May - MARRAKECH - TIZI N’AGUERSIOUÅL - TINGHOURINE 12km

Early departure from Marrakech by minivan. Winding our way up through the Moulay Brahim Gorge and Upper Valleys to arrive at the foothills of the High Atlas mountains and our trailhead of Aguersiouâl (1530m) at around 10am. We set out from here on foot towards the East up winding mule tracks to the Tizi Aguersiouâl (1938m). Overlooking Jbel Oukaïmeden the beautiful undulating plateau stretches ahead of us. After a short break we set off down to the Assif Imenane Valley, passing through several Berber hamlets and thence down to Ikkis (2100m) where we stop for our lunch. After a shorter afternoon walk we enter the hamlet of Tinghourine where we overnight in a Berber house. (Total walking time approximately 4-5 hrs)

DAY THREE Monday 5th May - TINGHOURINE - TIZI-N'TAMETERT - IMLIL 10km

From Tinghourine village with it's sweeping views of the Aksoual Massif we will follow the large sweeping zigzags of the dirt road, or the shorter, slightly steeper and rougher, but well graded mule tracks, eventually arriving at the col of Tizi Tamatert (2279 metres). From here you get fine views of the upper Imenane valley, and the mountains of Oukaimeden (3262 metres), Angour (3614 metres) And Iguenouane (3882 metres). After a short rest at the col we descend more steeply into the fertile Mizane Valley and the large village of Imlil. From here we go up the valley through small irrigated fields and pasture to the village of Arroumd and our house for the night. (Total walking time approximately 4 hrs)

DAY FOUR Tuesday 6th May - AROUMD - TIZI M’ZIK - AZADEN VALLEY - AZIB TAMSOULT 14km

We set off today towards Tamsoult. Our track takes us through an amazing couloir of stunning red and bluish rocks until we reach the Tizi M’Zik (2664m) where we will get views of the Jbel Oukaïmeden range, the high plateau of Tazaghârt and of the beginning of the renowned Valley of the Assif Aït n’Ouissedene with its numerous palmerias. After we reach this point and we now start our descent through woods of juniper and pine of the valley created by the Jbel Tasghimout (2664m) and the Adrar Adj (3729m). Eventually we reach the high summer pastures of Azib Tamsoult (2300m) where we will spend the night at Tamsoult lodge (Total walking time approximately 5 hrs.)

DAY FIVE Wednesday 7th May - AZIB TAMSOULT - TIZI AGUELZIM - TOUBKAL REFUGE: 13km 1,300m ascent 10hr day

After a very early breakfast we set out for a 3½ hour trek gradually ascending to arrive at Tizi Aghelzim (3560m), again giving us some awesome views of the jagged peaks and verdant valleys of the High Atlas. From here we set off downhill for a two hour trek towards the Mouflons Refuge where we will have our lunch. Dinner and accommodation in beautifully situated and well equipped Mouflons Refuge at 3207m. It is important to get plenty of rest today ready for our ascent of Toubkal in the morning.

DAY SIX Thursday 8th May- TOUBKAL REFUGE - SUMMIT JBEL TOUBKAL - IMLIL - MARRAKECH: 15km 12 hr day

The climb to the summit of Toubkal takes around four hours from the Mouflons Refuge. Nowhere on the climb are there any technical difficulties, but it is a long and tiring ascent. The initial part of the climb is done in the very early hours of the morning when it will still be dark, but by the time we reach the Tizi-n-Toubkal col at 3941m the sun will have risen and we will be rewarded with sensational views across the entire Atlas chain. From the col the route ascends a ridge line towards the summit at 4167m from where we have views in all directions. To the north we can look down over 7000 feet to the village of Aremd, whilst to the south we can gaze over the line of rocky peaks stretching out across to the Sahara. After a long rest and numerous summit photographs we begin our 2 to 3 hour descent back to the Mouflons Refuge for lunch. After our lunch we follow a well-defined mule track zigzagging above the river to arrive, finally, at the Berber village of Imlil (1740m), where we rejoining our vehicle at around 1630h to take us back to Marrakech.

DAY SEVEN Friday 9th May - MARRAKECH

A free day to explore the sights and sounds of Marrakech and get some last minute bargains in the Souks surrounding Jemaa el-Fnaa.

DAY EIGHT Saturday 10th May - MARRAKECH - UK

Return home. A transfer back to Marrakech airport is included in the price.

Am I fit enough?

This trek is accessible to anyone who is fit and active and is able to walk for 6hrs or more on undulating, uneven mountainous terrain. It is not a technical climb and although you are at altitude it is not a ‘high’ altitude trek. You will be spending a very short amount of time above 3,500m where you will be able to feel the affects of altitude but this should not adversely affect your abilities to function and enjoy the trek. The itinerary is built so that we slowly work our way up to altitude and with easy days to start. The trek leader will give you a comprehensive talk about altitude at the start of the trek and will be there to support you.