Trek Mount Toubkal for young adults with cancer! We've teamed up with Global Adventure Challenges to deliver this unique experience summiting North Africa's highest mountain and the best Morocco has to offer.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Morocco as you summit North Africa's highest mountain raising money to help young adults live well with cancer

Challenge Highlights 

• Explore the High Atlas Mountains  
• Summit North Africa’s highest mountain  
• Immerse yourself in the exotic delights of Morocco  
• Celebrate our achievements in the bustling city of Marrakech 
• 15 Trees planted per participant

Make a Difference

 " The Ella Dawson Foundation came into my life when I was at one of my weakest points. I had lost almost all of my strength - emotionally and physically. The muscles in my legs had wasted away from the amount of time I was sitting on the sofa too nauseous, tired and anxious to even watch a TV show. The hiking I had been doing before my diagnosis felt like a distant memory of a past person and life. I was told about the Ella Dawson Foundation at my hospital (UCLH) and so I got in contact and was met very quickly with kindness and support. [...] I started doing regular yoga classes on zoom with Katy which became a time just for me. We combined strength building exercises with gentle relaxation and mindfulness exercises. This flow has worked so well for me and really allowed me to gently start to trust myself with exercise again after feeling like a stranger to my own body and appearance during my treatment. Some days my head feels so noisy and I have to remember to be kind to myself and to keep returning to whatever I am focusing on in the practice. Knowing that yoga sessions are part of my weekly life has helped me to build up more of a routine in other areas of my life such as eating and sleeping. My family has seen a shift in me since I started doing my yoga classes and they have given me the chance to build up my physical and mental resilience in the face of retuning to university. The sessions have given me hope that I still have the strength and power to change how my life looks despite my diagnosis."

This young person came to us for help 'getting back to normal', they did not know where to start and had little confidence in their body following treatment. We supported this young person with a course of exercise rehabilitation and yoga from our specialist team. An exercise rehabilitation programme costs on average £350 to help get young adults feeling stronger and like themselves again following their diagnosis and cancer treatments. Our Move Well programme is having life changing impact to help young adults navigate through the many physical and motivational challenges a cancer diagnosis brings in your late teens, or 20s. Your participation in this challenge could help fund a course of exercise rehabilitation for a young adult going through cancer. 

You can help to make life changing differences. Since our launch in 2022, we have provided highly impactful support to over 350 young people with cancer and their families, thanks to the incredibly generosity of people like you. 

Sign Up and make a difference today!

Challenge Itinerary

Choose your dates with Global Adventure Challenges by clicking the link: Read the Brochure for more information & sign up

Day 1 - Depart UK

We depart the UK for our flight to Marrakech. Upon arrival, we will meet our local guides and transfer to our hotel. Tonight there will be a briefing about the challenge ahead.

Day 2 - Marrakech to Neltner Hut (3,210m)

Following breakfast we transfer for approximately 1.5 hours to the Berber village of Imlil (1,740m) where the mules will be waiting to be loaded up with luggage and food for the trek. The mountainous terrain all around is termed the ‘Ardrar n’Deren’ by the Berbers, which means the ‘mountain of mountains’. The trek to Neltner Hut will be on a small pathway winding slowly uphill crossing a couple of rivers. Our trek heads towards the village of Sidi Chamarouch (2,310m), where we will see its famous white rock mosque in the distance. From here, we continue trekking up to Neltner Hut, our base for the next two nights. After dinner, it’s early to bed ready for our summit attempt tomorrow!

Trekking distance – approx. 10km

Day 3 - Summit Mount Toubkal (4,167m)

After an early breakfast, we push on to the summit of Toubkal! The trek from the grassy green meadows around Neltner Hut is long and rugged. We will negotiate sections of steep scree and boulders, as we hike higher into the soaring peaks with their isolated snow patches. Today is a tough day but our hard work will be worth it when we reach our goal! Weather permitting, from the summit we can see the plains of Marrakech to the north, Glaoua country to the north east and the Siroua range of mountains to the south. Following a well-deserved rest, we start our descent back to Neltner Hut where we finish our triumphant day and relax with a cup of tea.

Trekking distance – approx. 8km

Day 4 - Neltner Hut to Marrakech

After a hearty breakfast, we push on trekking downhill until we reach Aroumd, where we will wave goodbye to our muleteers and take our transfer back to our hotel in Marrakech. This evening we will celebrate our achievements Moroccan Style at a celebratory dinner where dancing is more than welcomed!

Trekking distance – approx. 8 km

Day 5 - Return to UK

We transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK.

Please note this is a complex itinerary and subject to change, including the timings and distances detailed. Mountain weather conditions, the group’s ability and any other factors outside our control can impact on the schedule set out in this brochure.

What's Included

•  Return flights from a London airport to Marrakech
• All accommodation including tents
• All meals will be provided on trek in addition to breakfast in Marrakech and celebratory meal
• Local English-speaking guide/s
• Global Adventure Challenges leader from the UK
• Comprehensive first aid/medical kit
• Water while trekking
• Challenge Medal
• Ella Dawson Foundation T-Shirt
• Fundraisers Pack & Support from Ella Dawson Foundation Team

What's Not Included

• Sleeping bags
• Personal trekking kit (trekking boots, poles, etc)
• Personal travel insurance
• Alcoholic drinks
• Tips and gratuities
• Meals in Marrakech on Day 1

Responsible Tourism is high on both our priority lists. Preserving landscapes and treating them with respect is standard, and we believe we must find the time to care, not only for the places, we visit but for their people too. For each participant who signs up to this trek, Global Adventure Challenges plant one tree!

Sign Up and make a difference today!

Please note this challenge is organised, delivered and run by Global Adventure Challenges and you may be trekking with individuals raising money for other charities or for themselves. The Ella Dawson Foundation is not responsible for the delivery of this challenge.