EXPEDITION ATLAS | OCTOBER 2027
The roof of North Africa
On foot with mules, through Berber villages to the summit of Toubkal.
The story of this expedition
You fly from Brussels to Marrakech. On arrival we leave the bustle of the medina behind and drive into the High Atlas, to where the tarmac ends. From that point there is no road: only mule tracks, mountain passes and villages you can only reach on foot. Over six days you climb from 1,800 metres to 4,167 metres, with a mule team as your only logistics and a mountain world around you that has barely changed in centuries.
We set off on foot. Between 1,800 and 4,167 metres you hike over high mountain passes, through deep valleys and along terraced fields laid out by hand, generation after generation. The terrain changes constantly: loose scree, polished rock, dry stream beds and narrow paths that cling to the mountainside. No mountaineering required, but five to seven hours of walking a day with serious height gain. Physically hard, mentally enriching, and every step takes you further away from the ordinary.
Along the way we pass through Berber villages of clay and stone, built against the slope because every square metre of flat ground goes to the terraced fields. Shepherds have taken their herds into these mountains for generations. You share their mint tea, sleep in their villages and travel with their mules: the same logistics that has worked here for centuries, simply because there is no other.
On the final day we set off well before sunrise, on head torches, across the boulder field towards the summit. Above 4,000 metres the air thins, the wind drops and everything falls silent. From the highest summit in North Africa you look out over a sea of peaks on one side, and on the other all the way to where the land flattens towards the Sahara. Then we descend to the valley, where the first mint tea feels like a victory.
We deliberately choose October: the summer heat has broken, the air is clear, the snow has not yet fallen and the mountains are at their very best.
The story of
this expedition
You fly from Brussels to Marrakech. On arrival we leave the bustle of the medina behind and drive into the High Atlas, to where the tarmac ends. From that point there is no road: only mule tracks, mountain passes and villages you can only reach on foot. Over six days you climb from 1,800 metres to 4,167 metres, with a mule team as your only logistics and a mountain world around you that has barely changed in centuries.
We set off on foot. Between 1,800 and 4,167 metres you hike over high mountain passes, through deep valleys and along terraced fields laid out by hand, generation after generation. The terrain changes constantly: loose scree, polished rock, dry stream beds and narrow paths that cling to the mountainside. No mountaineering required, but five to seven hours of walking a day with serious height gain. Physically hard, mentally enriching, and every step takes you further away from the ordinary.
Along the way we pass through Berber villages of clay and stone, built against the slope because every square metre of flat ground goes to the terraced fields. Shepherds have taken their herds into these mountains for generations. You share their mint tea, sleep in their villages and travel with their mules: the same logistics that has worked here for centuries, simply because there is no other.
On the final day we set off well before sunrise, on head torches, across the boulder field towards the summit. Above 4,000 metres the air thins, the wind drops and everything falls silent. From the highest summit in North Africa you look out over a sea of peaks on one side, and on the other all the way to where the land flattens towards the Sahara. Then we descend to the valley, where the first mint tea feels like a victory.
We deliberately choose October: the summer heat has broken, the air is clear, the snow has not yet fallen and the mountains are at their very best.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
From the moment we set off, we are off grid. We filter water from mountain streams, cook our own expedition food and sleep wherever nature and the mountain villages allow.
You learn to walk with serious height gain, travel with a mule team and set off by headlamp for the summit day, guided by an experienced X- Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold WFR certificates and have years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, safety procedures, an evacuation plan and local support in Morocco.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Guided by real expedition leaders.
You step into nature, away from the
beaten track, but always with the certainty of experienced guidance
and safety first.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold
WFR certificates and have
years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, clear safety procedures, a detailed evacuation plan and local support in Morocco.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
From the moment we set off, we are
off grid. We filter water from mountain streams, cook our own expedition food and sleep wherever nature and the mountain villages allow.
You learn to walk with serious height gain, travel with a mule team and set off by headlamp for the summit day, guided by an experienced X-Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
We let no one step into the unknown unprepared.
An expedition of this calibre starts months in advance. The preparation programme consists of an individual phase and a group phase.
Individual phase
Starts immediately after registration. You receive an inspiration pack with practical tips, insights and exercises to start moving like an expedition member. You gather your expedition gear using the packing list (do not buy anything yet: bring what you already have to the kick off). And you share your medical information, because the best preparation is a plan for when things go wrong.
Group phase
Starts 3 to 6 months before departure with the kick off: a full day on which you meet your team, taste the expedition atmosphere and take the first steps as a group. There we plan the follow-up moments together and the WhatsApp group starts. Training includes, among other things: getting to know the group and roles, physical screening and analysis, a personalised training schedule, technical and resilience training, gear, nutrition and sleep setup, and a final check.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
As seen in
Imagine: mountain passes above the clouds, villages of clay pressed against the rock, mules carrying your load and a silence broken only by wind and mountain water.
On Expedition Atlas you step into a world that lies four hours away by plane, but feels as if you are stepping back centuries: where the mountains set the rules, where Berbers still live as their ancestors did, and where the highest summit in North Africa awaits you.
Imagine: mountain passes above the clouds, villages of clay pressed against the rock, mules carrying your load and a silence broken only by wind and mountain water.
On Expedition Atlas you step into a world that lies four hours away by plane, but feels as if you are stepping back centuries: where the mountains set the rules, where Berbers still live as their ancestors did, and where the highest summit in North Africa awaits you.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need to be a top athlete. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and targeted training) we build your level up to expedition level in 3 to 6 months.
Very safe. We work with WFR-certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, evacuation plans and clearly outlined safety protocols.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need to be a top athlete. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and targeted training) we build your level up to expedition level in 3 to 6 months.
Very safe. We work with WFR-certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, evacuation plans and clearly outlined safety protocols.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Ready for the roof of
North Africa?
Taking an option is free and without obligation; your spot is only confirmed after the intake.
Koen De Leeuw
Expedition leader | Element X
“Toubkal is not a technical mountain, but it is an honest one. You build up step by step: first the valleys, then the passes, then the night before the summit. Those who stand on top have earned it with their legs and with their head.”
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