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Atlas Mountains Camping & Refuges

Our rating

4/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Wild camping
- Basic facilities
- Dorm rooms in refuges

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Overview

Where gites aren't available (outside of the villages) we use camps or refuges on multi-day treks. In remote locations, we will set a wild camp. There are some fantastic locations available although it is important to note there are no formal washing or toilet facilities. Modern dome tents are provided along with roll up sponge mattresses for sleeping on. Meals are served in a mess tent. The crew will dig a fresh hole for each visit and put a small toilet tent by way of privacy (toilet roll is provided, but we always recommend taking a roll yourselves as back-up).

At locations with refuges (e.g. Neltner at Toubkal and Lepiney at the head of the Azzaden Valley), we usually prefer to camp in the grounds and make use of the refuge facilities for washing, toilets etc. as long as the weather is reasonable. The rationale for this is that the dorm rooms in the refuges can be crowded and noisy.

In winter or inclement weather, you will need to put up with the refuges. The two Toubkal refuges stand alongside each other in a dramatic position at the head of the Toubkal / Imlil Valley. Both huts tend to be full over Easter, September and in the summer, with trekkers of all nationality swarming the place, all waking between 3 and 5am to tackle Toubkal – this isn’t the place to come for a good night’s sleep! The original Refuge du Toubkal or Neltner Hut was built and run by Club Alpin Francais. Whilst it lacks some of the nicer touches of the alternative (see below), it is a warmer building (which means it is popular with the guides and muleteers) and provides kitchen facilities for food preparation. There is a dining room, a small shop selling snacks, soft drinks and mineral water, a sitting room with a fireplace and lots of large dorms. All dorms have bunk beds, with mattresses laid side by side with barely space to fit a book between. The mattresses are tired and the bathroom facilities over-used, but the management are making efforts to spruce up the place and it can be endured.

In winter and when it is cold, we use Neltner Hut for all our Toubkal treks, in summer we prefer to camp in the grounds of Neltner.

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What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 513 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • Hi Lisa and everyone at Tourdust,
    We've had a wonderful time on our holiday and wanted to pass our appreciation to you. Everything has been expertly planned and executed, allowing us to enjoy the holiday to its fullest. Special appreciation to Muhammed, Ibrahim, and Omar, our Atlas guide, cook, and muleteer, who couldn't have done more for us and were just generally wonderful and hardworking. Riad Hanane is a perfect base in Marrakech to complement the trekking as it's ina less touristy area of the medina, which we appreciated. The staff and accomodation was superb.Thank you again for a trip to remember!
    Bob, May, Grace, and Lucas

    MissingRobert B reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 20 February 2023

  • Hi Ben

    Just to enlarge on my earlier, our M'goun trip couldn't have gone better. A great itinerary, altho perhaps an extra gentle day around the plateau before the summit might have eased things but that couldn't be helped given the road change. Our team were all fantastic, couldn't have been more solicitous for our comfort. Hakim our guide a real star. Food delicious. Kit was great - tents held up in a biblical storm, mattresses most comfortable ever (good thing as ground often v stony), loo worked well. You have a good local agent. Riads excellent, esp Adore. Great value.

    Many thanks. William

    MissingWilliam M reviewing Mgoun Summit Trek on 26 October 2022

  • Hi Lisa, Got in at 4.30 this morning. It was absolutely incredible! Dar Adrar is as wonderful as ever and Hamed is an incredible host there- it was lovely to see him again! He couldn't do enough for us. Mohammed Eight our guide up the mountain was also absolutely amazing- we all managed the ascent due to his expertise and care. A once in a lifetime experience- my calves have finally stopped hurting now :) Thanks again to you and Tourdust for organising an amazing trip. Jen

    MissingJennifer J reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal on 18 October 2022

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