Supporting local tourism and local communities 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on local communities and livelihoods across the planet, we’re keen to promote adventures in countries that are actively working towards sustainable tourism and conservation projects. Morocco a leading player in the “green” travel industry, playing close attention to sustainable tourism.

We’re passionate about exploring off the beaten track routes in order to help communities who are in the shadow of mainstream tourist destinations. We also aim to create an adventure which is about discovery, immersing yourself in fascinating environments, customs and cultures and provides an understanding of history and people. On this trek you have the unique opportunity to connect with local people in a meaningful way, the true essence of travel.

We’ve crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of the Mt Toubkal Winter Trek, and plant or protect enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.

What’s the number?
It works out on average at 221kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, leaders, crew and office operations.

The only thing not included is travel to Morocco. Given that our beloved guests travel from all parts of the UK for this adventure we have no way of reliably knowing their travel plans therefore we’re unable to include an individual number in the figure on display here.

What does the number mean?
To give you a snapshot of the numbers:

• Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you).
• A return economy class flight London – New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
• 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air over a period of 5 – 10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our adventures are relatively low-carbon by design, and we’re working to develop long term carbon reduction plan. Following much research into climate change organisations, we carefully selected to support the environmental charity, Cool Earth. They’re a sustainable operation and work with rainforest communities across the globe to halt deforestation and it’s impact on climate change. We invest 1% of our revenue into supporting critical conservation projects world-wild with Cool Earth.

On a local level here in the UK, we’re an ongoing business member of the Snowdonia Society, plus Jim and Sue, together with some of our local leaders, also help the Society with their local projects such as planting native trees in Snowdonia. This is to help preserve the landscape and enhance wildlife habitat here in Snowdonia.

Want to know more?
We believe that with great travel, comes even greater responsibility. Tourism is one of the most important and largest industries on the planet. It employs more people worldwide than any other, with millions of families relying on tourism for their daily needs. At Adventurous Ewe we believe that our type of small scale, positive impact tourism can bring benefits to many communities, help preserve the environments we travel to see, and provide real and positive social exchanges. Here is our plan to do our part towards helping reduce factors that we can contributing to climate change as part of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.

Financial protection
If your adventure needs to be cancelled for any reason, like say a global pandemic, you won’t be left stuck and you’ll be offered plenty of alternative options thanks to our financial protection through our insurance company. What’s more, in the very unlikely event of Adventurous Ewe going under, you’ll get your money back and be repatriated if you were on a trip at the time.

Secure online payments
All bookings can be made online with Mastercard, Visa and debit card or via BACS. You can also opt to pay via monthly direct debit instalments. We use WorldPay to handle all our online payments as it is a payment platform which is a global leader in payment processing offering superior security for both you and us as a company. For any further information or to organise monthly instalment payments, please get in touch with us at info@adventurousewe.co.uk.

Pay in instalments, interest free
We’re well aware that adventures can be a significant investment so we’ve set out to make it easy to afford. Once you’ve put down your deposit, you can pay the remaining balance off in monthly instalments with no extra charges so you can get out there and live your dream.

Adventure info available through our mobile app 24/7
On booking your adventure, you will receive all the exciting trip info via our mobile travel app. You’ll have access to your itinerary, training guide, countdowns, live updates, contact info, weather forecasts, kit lists and much more at the touch of a button 24/7 via your mobile phone. No more unnecessary use of reams of paper and the need of carrying around documents with you. The app is free to download and all info is customary to your adventure ahead.

We’ve joined the movement to reshape the Future of Tourism!

We are excited to announce that Adventurous Ewe has signed the new set of Guiding Principles launched by the Future of Tourism Coalition. As a signatory, we commit to place destination needs at the centre of our recovery strategies and do our part to build a better tomorrow for travel and tourism.

These transformative principles outline a bold vision for the future of tourism – one that retains the integrity of destinations, promotes inclusivity and equality, maximizes positive impacts for communities and environments, and fosters collaborative change.

As a collective, we can build a better future for all and we’re super excited to do our part.

Learn more at Future of Tourism
#FutureofTourism

On booking your Mt Toubkal Winter Trek, you will receive all the exciting trip info via our free mobile travel app. You’ll have access to your itinerary, trip countdown, live updates, contact info, weather forecasts, know before you go trip info, kit lists and much more at the touch of a button 24 hours a day via your mobile phone. No more unnecessary use of reams of paper and the need of carrying around documents with you. The app is free to download and all info is customary to your adventure ahead. A’ppy days.

With being a small family business we pride ourselves with providing personal, professional and friendly service. We appreciate that everyone has different levels of experience and reasons for wishing to embark on the Mt Toubkal Winter Trek and therefore require varying levels of support and guidance. We’re here to help you every step of the way from the moment you join the flock all the way through to completing the challenge and beyond. Jim and Sue’s knowledge and expertise stems from dozens of years of travelling and exploring the destinations that we visit in order to fully support you in the lead up to your adventure.

Chief Ewe, Jim, has lived in Morocco so he has plenty of helpful tips and recommendations of things to do and see, places to stay, where to eat & drink and other areas of Morocco to explore if your time permits.

On signing up for the trip, we will provide you with the recommended flights to book or alternately, we can book the flights for you through our ATOL & ABTA protected Flight Agent at an additional cost.

Flights are not included in your to give you the flexibility to travel from your nearest airport, use your frequent flyer points or extend your stay in Morocco if you wish. The recommended flights for this will include airport transfers in Morocco. There are direct flights from London and other major airports across the UK. 

For any further info on flights, please feel free to get in touch with us at info@adventurousewe.co.uk.

All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 3 months beyond the intended length of stay in Morocco. For the latest entry requirements for Morocco, please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements.

British nationals do not require a visa to enter Morocco for the purpose of tourism for up to 3 months. For the latest Foreign & Commonwealth updates and entry requirements, please click here.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is an important part of any booking. It is compulsory that everyone who travels with us has taken out adequate travel insurance which includes, among other things, cover for the full value of your trip, medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation) arrangements, trekking to an altitude of 4167 metres, personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects and COVID-19 travel cover.

For UK residents we have partnered with Campbell & Irvine Direct to provide you with a travel insurance. If you would like to obtain cover for your trip please feel free to contact specialist Insurance Brokers, Campbell Irvine Direct for a quote.

Global Rescue Membership
For peace of mind whilst trekking in the mountains, Global Rescue provides short term membership giving access to travel, security, medical advisory and evacuation services up to $US500,000.  They’re a specialised field rescue company, and assist from the point of illness or injury by getting you to the closest and most appropriate medical facilities to get stabilised. Once fit to fly if you require additional inpatient treatment Global Rescue will further evacuate and repatriate to your home hospital on record. These services are all covered through their upfront membership fee with no claims process.  For more info, please click here.

There are currently no mandatory vaccination requirements for Morocco. Recommended vaccinations include: Tetanus, Typhoid and Hepatitis A.

For the most up to date information on vaccinations, please consult with your GP or travel healthcare practitioner 6 – 8 weeks in advance of travel. For up to date vaccination information please check the NHS government website ‘Fit for Travel’.

Apart from the recent COVID-19 pandemic there are no other health risks in Morocco. We are monitoring and activating the guidelines and recommendations put in place by the respective governments and World Health Organisation as a result of COVID-19. You will receive our operational guidelines for this expedition when you join the trip and hand sanitiser and face masks will be provided for travel. Rest assured your safety and wellbeing is our top priority at all times.

Severe allergies
If you have a severe allergy please inform us at the time of booking. We will do all we can to help, but unfortunately we are unable to guarantee an allergy free environment on this trip. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as ‘adrenaline auto-injectors’ are not carried as standard by AE leaders and crew. Whilst your leader is aware of our trekkers medical history, please also inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Adventurous Ewe puts the safety and wellbeing of you, our leaders & crew and the communities we visit at the centre of all our operations, always. Your safety and wellbeing is our top priority. The Mt Toubkal Winter Trek is intentionally challenging and requires individual preparation as the trip is designed to take you out of your every-day comfort zone and achieve something incredible. Rest assured we have a thorough Safety Management System, indepth risk assessments and risk management systems in place.

You will be accompanied by your Adventurous Ewe Leader for groups over 7 people and Local Mountain Guide. Our Leaders are First Aid trained and have extensive experience in leading groups in this region. They will be ultimately responsible for your safety on this trip.

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel advice website for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.

We also ask that you please ensure you use your antibacterial hand gel at all times to minimise the spread of any germs throughout your fellow flock of trekkers!

For more info, please visit our Safety and Well-being page. 

An Adventurous Ewe UK Leader will accompany groups of over 7 people and is an experienced high altitude leader. Leaders have been carefully selected to ensure you have the best experience with a bit of humour thrown in for good measure. Your Leader will be Wilderness First Aid trained too.

Your Local Leader is a key part to this trip. They are all expertly trained and experienced in every field of this high altitude trek, bilingual (English and Arabic) and qualified in first aid and/or Wilderness First responder. They also have a huge passion for what they do and have plenty of knowledge ready to share with you. They are responsible for ensuring the complete safety, wellbeing and enjoyment of the team whilst also retaining a flexible and fun attitude. The Leaders have radio and satellite phone contact with base, the local office and Adventurous Ewe’s HQ.

Please note Ramadan runs from the evening of 22 March to evening of 21 April 2023 and the evening of 10 March to evening of 9 April 2024 – Typically we do not operate trips during Ramadan. However, if your trip overlaps into this period, please take into consideration that the energy levels of our crew and local guides may be a bit lower and some restaurants may be closed during the day. Ramadan is a special time in a Muslim country – each evening the streets empty for an hour while everyone breaks their fast, and there’s a feeling of festivity in the air at sundown.

We pride ourselves in small group travel to minimise the impact on the environment and to make your experience more authentic and safe.

The minimum group size for the Mt Toubkal Winter Trek to run is 6 people and the maximum group size is 16 people.

You are most welcome to join this winter trek as a group of family, friends, colleagues, a private bubble or as a solo traveller. You are also welcome to use this trip as a fundraiser for the charity of your choice.

If you have a group of over 6 people, we would be more than happy to run a private trip for your team, your charity or your company.

For any further info or to chat about running a bespoke trip, we’d love to hear from you at info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.

The Mt Toubkal Winter Ascent a strenuous trek in a remote area of North Africa. It is graded ‘Tough’ due to the winter conditions and high-altitude trekking. The trip is designed for confident trekkers who are new to winter walking as well as those who have some experience of trekking on snow. Some sections on Mt Toubkal can be steep and rough. It is expected that large parts of the mountainside will be covered in snow, therefore the use of ice axe and crampons will be necessary. Although these sections are not technically difficult, they are high and can be exposed. At high exposure areas your Guide will cut steps in the snow and/or provide use of a rope. It is essential that you listen to your Guide and follow their instructions accordingly. Snow cover will of course vary, but the use of ice axes and crampons is essential when crossing steep snowy terrain. Winter walking can be dangerous and although we take important steps to manage and minimise this risk, we can never eradicate it altogether. The main danger is from tripping then sliding down a snow slope. Your Guide will give a full briefing and run a training session before your ascent of which there will be time to practice winter mountaineering skills during your trek. Your Guides are also well trained and experienced in handling all scenarios and safety procedures on Mt Toubkal to ensure your safety.

Trekking to the summit of North Africa’s highest mountain (maximum 4167m) involves walking and sleeping at altitude, therefore altitude sickness is a possibility. Your base camp is at 3,208m and therefore mild symptoms may be experienced, such as headaches, nausea and loss of appetite. The best way to adjust to altitude is to walk slowly, rest as often as possible and drink plenty of water! Rest assured your Leader is experienced in high altitude trekking and will advise you accordingly if you are starting to feel the effects of altitude.

A bespoke trek training programme will be provided when join the team for this adventure to help you with your preparations together with some top tips.

We also have exclusive offers with our Training Partners and Communities – Her Spirit and the Bath Kettlebell Society. For more info, please visit our Training and Preparation page.

The more you are prepared, the more you will enjoy the trek.

Our motto is: Train hard, smile harder and enjoy the journey!

We have a variety of tailored training weekends available to ensure you’re fully prepared for your winter trekking adventure. These training weekends are the perfect way to help you gauge your fitness and training progress under the careful guidance of our experienced leaders. Plus the leaders will chat through your specific trip and also provide guidance and tips relating to clothing and equipment, health and well-being, packing, trekking skills (using crampons/using trekking poles), teamwork and much more to ensure you are fully prepared and ready for your adventure ahead. We predominantly host our training weekends in Snowdonia given the wide variety of terrain available to practice and where Chief Ewe’s, Jim or Sue, can meet you too. It’s a great way for you to meet fellow members of the flock and ask any questions, no matter how big or small. We’re here to make sure you’re ready. For further info, please email info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.

A full kit list will be provided when you register for this winter trek. Good kit can make the difference between a fantastic adventure and an uncomfortable one. Well worn in waterproof hiking boots are essential together with a good quality waterproof jacket AND trousers. An exclusive Adventurous Ewe discount code will be provided for the independent outdoor retailers Joe Brown, The Climbers Shop and ashmei athletic apparel on registering for this mountain adventure.

Ice axe and crampon hire are included in this trip. Rest assured any equipment that we supply will be hygienically cleaned and sanitised.

To help you get the very best from your Winter Toubkal Trek we will provide you with an exclusive Adventurous Ewe discount code to use in Joe Brown / The Climbers Shop and ashmei athletic apparel both online and in store. They offer a large choice of kit that the staff themselves use while climbing, hiking, mountaineering, running, travelling or enjoying expeditions across the globe and they pride themselves on sharing their experience and knowledge of equipment so you can choose the right gear to suit you and this trek.

Marrakech is likely to be warm (rather than hot) during the day, and a little chilly at night. In the mountains expect temperatures to vary from 10°C or so degrees in the sun during the day, to below freezing out of the sun and at night. Any warmth provided by the sun soon vanishes after the sun disappears behind the mountains in the late afternoon.

Heavy snowfall, rain and storms can be expected in the mountains during winter, but they are normally short-lived. Although it would be unusual to experience more than two days in a row of bad weather, you should be prepared for all conditions. If there is a stable high pressure system over the mountains in winter, which is common, you will enjoy clear, cold crisp days, and nights with temperatures dropping well below freezing. Make sure you check out the skies on a clear night for a magnificent display of a stars. The first snows often come in late October or early November, but some years can see little snow cover up to December.

We recommend that you check the mountain weather forecast in the days leading up to your trek by visiting: https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Toubkal/forecasts/4167.

Guesthouse (2 nights twin/triple share rooms) and mountain refuge (2 nights dorm rooms)

We’ve sourced our accommodation very carefully in Imlil and picked a locally owned guesthouse in line with the Adventurous Ewe style of travel, but please note that service and accommodation in Morocco may be different to western standards. The rooms are on a twin or multi share basis. Whilst some rooms have ensuites, others have a shared bathroom.

In the mountain refuge you will be staying in shared dorm rooms with shared bathroom facilities. The Neltner Mountain Refuge has very limited heating options as this would be a major financial and environmental strain. It’s also a case of energy supply and timing provisions, which is limited. Please be prepared for cold nights and cold showers should you wish to have a shower. Please note, there is no single room accommodation facilities available in the mountain refuge.

Single travellers

Our group trips are designed for shared accommodation in order to keep the cost at a minimum for you. Single rooms may be organised for an additional cost however this is dependent on accommodation availability. Single travellers share with people of the same gender in accommodation ranging from twin to multi-share. Please note that the accommodation in the mountain refuge is on a mixed gender share basis in large dorm rooms. For more info, please get in touch with us at info@adventurousewe.co.uk.

4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners included

On your trek the food is a mixture of local and Western, all purchased locally and cooked for you by your trek cook. Breakfasts are continental style, with tea and coffee, orange juice, cereal, bread, jam and honey. Lunches will be provided on the days of trekking. Dinner will be provided in the guesthouse and mountain refuge. Dinner usually consists of rice, pasta, couscous, with a vegetable stew (or tagine) and maybe some meat (usually chicken, lamb or beef). Meat is not prominent on the menu. All dishes come with traditional sauces which are rarely (spicy) hot. To round off dinner, there is the usual range of hot drinks.

Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of cous cous and tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more rural or trekking sections of the trip. Please note that if you have any special dietary requirements you should inform Adventurous Ewe at info@adventurousewe.co.uk prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (i.e. coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some items of food with you from home.

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. You should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles. Bottled water can be purchased throughout the trip, but we strongly discourage buying these as it contributes to plastic waste. Please note recycling is not fully established in Morocco so plastic bottles are an increasing waste problem.

Adventurous Ewe has partnered with Water-to-Go, a filtration system that eliminates over 99.99% of all microbiological contaminants from any non-salt water source – for more info please click here. Adventurous Ewe trekkers will receive a free Water-to-Go bottle when departing for our Mt Toubkal Winter Trek, and better still, 15% of the purchase value for replacement filters will be donated to our environmental charity partner, Cool Earth. Please note that if the water freezes it will clog up the filter – in this event, defrost before use by sitting the filter in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes. Please help us reduce the volume of single use plastic in this pristine environment.

Deposit of £95 per person is required on booking.
Remaining balance of £420 per person is due for payment no later than 6 weeks prior to the trip start date.

We’ve got you covered – financial protection 
If your adventure needs to be cancelled for any reason, like say a global pandemic, you won’t be left stuck and you’ll be offered plenty of alternative options thanks to our financial protection arranged by Towergate Travel through Zurich Insurance PLC.

Pay in instalments, interest free
We’re well aware that adventures can be a significant investment, so we’ve set out to make it easy to afford. Once you’ve put down your deposit, you can pay the remaining balance off in monthly instalments with no extra charges so you can get out there and live your dream.

Trip cancellations
This global health crisis has impacted everyone enormously, so we want to ensure your future travel plans are safe whilst also reassuring you that we are committed to supporting you, our valued flock, in the best possible way that we can.

Cancelled trips
If you book on a trip that we are forced to cancel due to the pandemic, you will have the option to join another trip at a later departure with no admin costs or receive a full refund or credit note (excluding flights or insurance payments as these have their own booking conditions directly with the supplier).

You choose to cancel your trip within 30 days of departure despite no official advice against travel
We respect your decision if you no longer wish to travel regardless of the destination or official advice. If you choose to cancel your trip, we will happily make those arrangements for you though please note, if there is no F&CO advice against travel, our standard cancellation terms will apply.

All your trip info will be sent to you through a travel mobile app via Vamoos which is free to download. You will receive an email from Adventurous Ewe with your personalised log in code for this app. For the latest and greatest from the land of adventures, simply follow us at:

Youtube: Adventurous Ewe
Facebook: @adventurousewe
Instagram: @adventurousewe
Twitter: @adventurousewe
LinkedIn: Adventurous-Ewe-Ltd

You’re most welcome to use the hashtags
#ewecandoit #thisflockrock #adventurousewe

Your Adventurous Ewe Leader/s and Crew will have a mobile phones and radios communications in case of emergencies. The team are trained to deal with these situations. Please ensure you listen to your Leader during these times and refrain from putting any posts on social media. Should you find yourself unable to continue with the trek, your Leader and crew will make the necessary arrangements. Depending on the situation, you will be met by the support vehicle (depending on access) and you will be transferred back to your accommodation or nearby medical facility as required. Your Emergency Contact at Adventurous Ewe HQ is Jim Young on +(0)7747 346 588.

Cool Earth
We are very excited to have teamed up with leading climate change charity Cool Earth, who share our mission to protect the planet’s precious environment in a sustainable manner. The future of rainforest protection is where everyone makes a difference to climate change! We invest a % of our revenue into supporting critical conservation projects around the world through Cool Earth. You are most welcome to help make a difference too by sparing a few pennies. Please give what you can and help save the world’s rainforests today by clicking here. Just £2.50 will save 10 trees and lock up 10 tonnes of CO2. Together, we can all make a difference in helping preserve this precious and wonderful planet. Thank-ewe