Fun week trekking in the High Atlas Mountains A really enjoyable week trekking in the High Atlas. The trip was very well paced with several challenging days but still enough time to rest, acclimatise and enjoy the spectacular scenery prior to summitting Mount Toubkal itself. There is also a mix of wild and arranged camping which gives a nice contrast throughout the week.
Had an absolutely amazing time We went on the 4 day trek across Singalila, in a group of 6. The company arranged for an early morning pick-up from our hotel in Darjeeling to their office, where they stored our additional luggage before driving us to the start of the hike in their Tata Sumo. Starting with the guide: Pemba Sherpa, he assisted us with all government procedures and paperwork before we can enter the national park. And through the 4 days, he carried fruits and refreshments for us, surprising us with something new during every break. He took excellent photos of the group, ensured we made appropriate progress through the day while keeping safety as the number one priority. During Day 3, we lost a mobile phone and the guide went above and beyond walking extra miles to go back and check every part of the road while informing the right people to get it back. He was quite knowledgeable, knew the locals and kept us motivated to go. The trek: amazing visuals, challenging sections with climb and descend and you will get the true sense of Himalayas. During late April, the mountains are covered with flowers and temperatures are quite tolerable through the day. Mobile network however wasn't available starting Day 2 to Day 3. Home-stays: If you seek luxury, you won't be in this trek in the first place and the stays aren't anything like a 5-star hotel, but after walking for hours they are really comfy places to be at. Friendly staff/owners, good-warm food and clean facilities. Day 1 was at Gurdum Mingma Sherpa Homestay—all basic amenities, except warm water which a paid extra. Day 2 at Sandakphu, no running water or mobile network but the homestay provided us with wi-fi. Day 3 at Rammam, we were the first guest at the place and we had running hot water and mobile network. Food: It was mostly Tibetan, we took a number of breaks through our journey. Tea was the common feature in every break, the guide called ahead with our special needs in terms of avoiding spice in meals. The feature meals were veg momo, thukpa, samosa and rice and veggies grown locally. At the end of the trek, we were picked up by the same Tata Sumo and driven back to Darjeeling. Despite it being a Sunday, the company staff were there to receive us with the local scarves as gift. They dropped us to our new hotel before parting ways.
Everything about this trip was great. From the help we got from Hamisi at the office in selecting the route, preparation materials, smooth payment to the actual trip. We definitely could not have done the trek without the wonderful and professional support from senior guide Shaban and his colleagues. They made sure we were in the best condition to tackle the mountain. The six of us all made it to the summit and it was an unforgettable experience. We had three days safari after Kilimanjaro and Tanzania is an absolutely beautiful country. We saw numerous animals and birds and also managed to see the Hadza people in Rift Valley.
