Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m)

255
Morocco
4 Days
3B 2L 3D
From£319 GBP
Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m)
Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m)

Hike North Africa's tallest mountain, Mount Toubkal. Catch the sunrise at the summit with views over the Anti-Atlas mountains and the Sahara Desert.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Imlil (1,740m)

You will be picked up from Marrakech city center (Hotel Ali Cafe), at 7:30 PM. Or, we can collect you from Marrakech Airport at 8:00 PM.

From there, you'll be driven to the mountain village of Imlil. After arriving, enjoy your welcome dinner, and take in the panoramic views of the High Atlas mountains.

All food, accommodation (see FAQs), and transfers are included in this trip.

Drive time: 1hr 40mins | Driving distance: 64km

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Day 2: Hike to Refuge de Toubkal (3,207m)

In the morning, you’ll give your bags to the muleteers and then hike for 3 hours to the tiny settlement of Sidi Chamharouch. Here, your cooks will serve up lunch. Don't miss the chance to buy fresh orange juice from one of the local stalls.

Afterwards, we continue for another 3 hours to Refuge de Toubkal, where you’ll stay for the night. You will stay in shared big dorms.

Hiking time: 6hrs | Hiking distance: 12km

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Day 3: Toubkal Summit (4,167m)

Today is an early start to the day. At around 5:00 AM, you will have breakfast. After this, we begin the hike, taking a slow and steady pace towards the summit.

It's a 2-3 hour trek, and we'll aim to reach the summit of Mt Toubkal (4,167m) at sunrise! From here, you can look down to the green Anti-Atlas mountains and then finally, to the vast Sahara desert!

After taking some time to enjoy the views, we’ll then head back to Imlil. It's a long trek of 6-7 hours, but it's downhill. It's a steep scree slope and can be slippery. We'll take it easy, though, and trekking poles really do help.

Hiking time: 10hrs | Hiking distance: 19km

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Day 4: Return to Marrakech

After a relaxing breakfast, we leave Imlil at 10:00 AM to go back to Marrakech. Depending on your plans, we'll drop you either at the airport or at the city centre.

Note that you'll arrive at the airport at about 12 noon. It's advisable not to book flights any earlier than 2:00 PM, which gives you 2 hours for check-in.

Drive time: 1hr 40mins | Driving distance: 64km

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What's Included

Included
  • Certified mountain guide.
  • 2 nights accommodation in Imlil.
  • 1 night accommodation in the refuge.
  • All meals during the trip, prepared by our cook.
  • Group transfer from Imlil to Marrakech.
  • Mules to carry luggage from Imlil to the refuge in summer (see FAQs).
Not Included
  • International & local flights.
  • Mineral water (see FAQs).
  • Mountain equipment rental.
  • Tips & gratuities.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Early or late transfer from Marrakech to Imlil (£40 for 2 people).
Have a question?

If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.

We're ready to help.

Team Images
Team Images
Team Images

Rated 5.0

255 verified reviews

Abigail
Abigail

(Feb 2025)

A brilliantly organised trip. Our guides were really patient, the hospitality at the hostel in Imlil was fantastic. The organisation as a whole was smooth and efficient. It was definitely harder than I anticipated it being, so would recommend anyone considering doing the trip checks the kit list carefully (probably more important in the winter). You can hire more technical equipment and sleeping bags, but general clothing/footwear are important to get right for this trip. The refuge below the summit was better than expected, it was comfortable and clean. Every meal served was perfect for what we needed and they catered for all needs. I can’t fault the team, the trip or the organisation. 100% recommend.

Cameron
Cameron

(Feb 2025)

What an experience! As someone who hikes and camps alot i wanted to try something like this out but didn’t want to be thrown into the deep end. This trip from start to finish was full of culture, great food and great weather. the pace of the hike was perfect and the guides and cooks took so much care of us all through out. Accommodation was great too, i didn’t expect it to be as good as it was and how accessible service and wifi was along the journey. The summit was an amazing experience aa well and well worth the hike. Can’t wait to get on more trips after this one!

Richard
Richard

(Jan 2025)

An absolutely unforgettable experience. From pick up in Marrakesh to being dropped back everything ran like clockwork. The guides, riad, refuge and especially the hike have given me memories to last several lifetimes. I would most definately recommend and use skyhook again for another adventure.

Cammy
Cammy

(Jan 2025)

Fantastic trip. Everything was well organised and ran smoothly. The food was excellent and they were very good at catering to my dietary requirements. Having previously done Kilimanjaro, I would say this was equally physically demanding - Kili was longer but more of a gradual ascent. Doing it in January meant the temperatures lower down were warm but not roasting, and the snowline started from the refuge hut. The snow added a great challenge to the walk and made the scenery even more stunning. I did notice that many members of our group did not have crampon compatible boots with them. While this was deemed ok by the guides, in my experiences putting crampons on 2/3 season boots is totally unsafe. We also weren't given ice axes. Walking poles were great 90% of the time but there were a couple of falls which could have been stopped by a self arrest. Apart from a few questionable safety decisions, the climb was an unforgettable experience and one I would highly recommend to those looking to tick off a big mountain.

Ayu
Ayu

(Jan 2025)

Thanks Skyhook Adventure! Everything was very well prepared👍🏻

FAQs

Before you go

Documents

• Passport & visa if needed
• Travel insurance details
• Boarding passes for flights
• Wallet
• Pen for filling in arrivals form

Clothing

• 2-3 base-layer t-shirts (e.g. running t-shirts)
• Fleece/soft-shell jacket
• Waterproof jacket
• Insulated jacket for warmth, if possible (from e.g. Rab, Alpkit, Mountain Equipment)
• Spare clothes for Marrakech
• Underwear
• Base-layer trousers (optional)
• Trekking trousers
• Waterproof trousers
• Shorts
• Swimwear for Marrakech (optional)
• 2 pairs of thick wool hiking socks
• Warm gloves and hat
• Walking boots
• slide-ons/ slippers to wear in the refuge
• Footwear for Marrakech

Other

• A flexible duffel bag for your main luggage that goes with the mules (shouldn't weigh more than 8kg)
• Daypack (20-35L) to carry your essentials while hiking
• 3L of water bottles (minimum)
• Sunglasses
• Suncream
• Sunhat
• Insect repellant
• Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
• Glasses/contact lenses (if needed)
• Sleeping bag (2-3 season bag that can withstand temperatures as low as 5°C or -5°C (for winter). Available to rent £5)
• Bathroom items, including travel towel
• Female sanitary products
• Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor (French plug style), phone & charger
• Lipsil
• Book/mp3 player (optional)
• Walking poles (optional - available to rent for £4)

Note that prices are based on the Moroccan Dirham and may fluctuate slightly.

The summit day can be 9-12 hours (with lots of breaks) so you need a good fitness level. We recommend training with jogging or sport 1-2 times a week in the run-up to your trip.

The descent from the Toubkal summit is long. From the summit back to the refuge is steep, there's about 3km of scree path which is sometimes slippery. So it's not recommended for someone who suffers from knee problems. The stage from the refuge back to Imlil is 11km, but it is easier.

Please see 'Inclusions & Exclusions' section above.

The minimum age for this trek is 18 years, or 16 years with a parent/guardian.

Yes - all trips are guaranteed, even with only one person.

We recommend a good pair of hiking boots. They need to be warm, waterproof, and have good ankle support. For those a little technically minded, a B2 boot, or similar would be ideal.

If you are trekking over winter, crampons and ice axes are available for rent in Imlil.

Here's a list of equipment we have available to rent (prices are for the entire trek);

- Crampons: £8 (most normal boots can fit the crampons we hire here in Imlil as they are flexible).
- Ice axe: £5
- Gloves: £2
- Rain jacket: £3
- Sleeping bag: £4
- Walking sticks (poles): £4

Note that prices are based on the Moroccan Dirham and may fluctuate slightly.

For travellers arriving at the airport meeting point later than 8:15 PM, we can offer a private transfer to Imlil. This will be at an additional fee of £40 for a taxi. If there is more than one person, you can split the fee.

Note that prices are approximate and subject to change. You will arrange this directly with your host after booking and pay cash in country.

Yes, a single supplement is usually available for the 2 nights in Imlil. This depends on availability, so please contact your Guide straight after booking to make the necessary arrangements for a private room.

To do this click "Message your Guide" from your dashboard (after booking) and they'll arrange all the logistics for you. You can then pay on arrival. Single supplements cost £80 for the trip (2 nights in Imlil).

Yes, we can cater for most dietary requirements. Please indicate this on the trip form before you go. We will also check with you on arrival.

It’s highly recommended you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover protects you in the case of unforeseen circumstances including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip.

We suggest specialist adventure travel insurers, Rise & Shield. They cover 100s of activities and are easy to deal with if you need to make a claim.

They also cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover.
On your trip

We recommend taking only the essentials and keeping the rest in Imlil. In the summertime, the mules carry food to the refuge and can take some of your luggage for you (up to 8kg per person). Please pack this in a soft duffel bag.

When there is snow, the mules can only carry the luggage to the snowline, which is usually around 2,600m. From here, you will need to carry your luggage to the refuge at 3,207m. It is possible to hire a porter to carry your bags all the way at an extra cost if needed. Simply message your Guide after booking to arrange this.

On the summit day, take only a small day pack with essentials, as you'll return to the refuge.

The weather will usually go from one extreme to another, with highs of 30°C in Marrakech and lows of around -10°C (with patches of snow) on the summit of Toubkal. Here is a general guideline of what to expect each season;

Winter (Nov – Mar)
Winter can be quite cold on Mt Toubkal, with snow on the summit and temperatures dropping as low as -20 °C. March starts to warm up with a higher chance of rain.

Shoulder Season (Apr– May & Oct)
Temperatures at lower altitudes can reach 26°C, with little chance of rain. Summit temperatures can still drop as low as -10°C with wind chill.

Summer (Jun-Sep)
June has a higher chance of rain but stays fairly warm, July to September are the hottest months with temperatures at the lowest altitudes reaching 30 °C. The summit of Toubkal can be as low as -10°C with wind chill.

Yes, you can leave anything you don't need at the lodge. You will have a chance to pick it up when you come back after your trek. We encourage you to take only the essentials up the mountain.

You will follow a sensible acclimatization plan that works well for most participants. This includes regular breaks and a gradual increase in the altitude at which you sleep. Altitude affects everyone in different ways. Immediately notify your guide if you are experiencing any symptoms (headache/nausea) as soon as you feel them.

You stay in a hostel in Imlil which has big rooms of 3-6 beds with private facilities (shower & toilet).

If you would like a private room, it's usually possible to book this in advance of available. Single supplements cost is £80 for the trip (2 nights in Imlil) and are to be paid in Morocco.

You sleep in a mountain refuge on Toubkal. We sleep in shared dormitories which are typical of mountain refuges around the world. There is intermittent internet access and hot showers are not always available. Toilets are also very basic. Note that this refuge can be very crowded and the bathroom facilities are limited. We recommend bringing some hand sanitiser, toilet paper and also wet wipes.

Snacks are available to purchase at these huts. It is worth taking small denominations of cash, as they sometimes do not have change available.

Each group is typically 12 people, with a maximum of 14.

Water is available from natural springs and also sold at village stores along the way. Consider taking purification tablets with you for use in spring water.

Start: Your guide will meet you at the airport at 8 pm (just outside of arrivals). Alternatively, they can meet you at 7.30 pm at Hotel Ali in the Old Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa). If you have arrived early, we definitely recommend you spend a few hours exploring Marrakech city. It's just a short bus/taxi ride from the airport (around 10-15 EUR by taxi).

Return: Transfer from Imlil to Marrakech Airport, you will be transported from Imlil at 10 am. You will arrive at the airport at about 12-Noon. Please do not book flights before 14:00 as you will need to allow 2 hours for check-in. You can also be dropped in Marrakech city, also at about 12:30, if you would like to extend your trip.

Wifi is available in the hotels on the first and last nights, however, it can be unreliable given the remote location. There is usually internet available in the mountain refuge, but the signal can be poor.

Solo travellers will be paired with other solo travellers of the same sex. If this is not possible (for instance you are a woman and there are only men on your trip) you will get your own room, at no extra charge. Extra rooms are subject to availability.

Please contact your guide in advance to confirm if a single supplement is available and arrange this. To do this simply click "message your guide" from your dashboard (after booking) and they'll arrange all the logistics for you. You can then pay on arrival.

Single supplement costs £80 for the trip (2 nights in Imlil).

Your team prepares hearty meals with good portion sizes, no need to worry about going hungry! Here are some examples of what to expect;

A typical breakfast is: Mint tea, coffee, milk, cheese, butter, jam, honey, eggs, porridge, Moroccan nutella (amlou), wheat bread

Lunch: Moroccan mixture salad, Moroccan tagine (meat bowls or onion & tomato sauce), rice or pasta, lentils, dessert

Dinner: Moroccan soup (Harira), couscous or meat tagines or chicken tagines, dessert.
Other FAQs

Yes! Many people choose to do this. You can use the trip Facebook Group/ Skyhook chat to arrange to meet other people from your team.

The muleteers have been trained by a UK-based vet on ethical treatment of the mules. They use modern harnesses and follow strict weight limits.

Morocco has a strong tipping culture. Tipping is at the discretion of the Guest, and depends on your personal experience. At the end of your trip, if you feel that your guides and porters did an outstanding job, then tipping is greatly appreciated.

A good rule of thumb is around 30 – 50 Euros per traveller and devide the amount into : Guide, Cook chef, Mule team.

Climbing Toubkal in winter (November- March) is a very different experience from the warmer months. Depending on annual conditions, snow covers the mountain top which brings additional challenges to the route. We usually expect snow from early January to mid-May but some years, the snowy season lasts longer or is shorter than usual so it's hard to predict exact conditions.

The main difference if you are planning to trek during the winter months is that you will need additional equipment. Crampons and icepicks (which can be rented) become necessary to safely navigate the snow and ice-covered mountainside. This makes the trek somewhat tougher. We generally recommend winter treks for those with some prior mountaineering experience. You will also need additional, warm clothing layers.

There is also a difference in the Toubkal summit route over winter months. In summer, you normally ascend from the west side and descend on the north. During winter, it's more common to return down on the west side (to avoid avalanche risk).

These are our recommendations for extending your stay in Marrakech

- Hotel Ali (basic) good position
- Riad Assia
- Riad Omar
- Riad Al Omara (luxury)
- Riad Africa (luxury)
- Hotel Chems (4 Star Hotel)

Unfortunately, although the success rate for Mount Toubkal is very high, we can't guarantee summit success on every trip. Weather conditions, personal health, altitude effects and other circumstances may mean it's necessary for an individual or group to turn back. It is at the guides discretion to make a call and implement any itinerary changes as seen fit.
Your head guide is Lahouceine

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip you'll be led by Lahouceine and the guiding team based in Asni.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Lahouceine

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