Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m)

298
Morocco
4 Days
3B 2L 3D
FromÂŁ319 GBP
Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m)
Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m)
Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m)
Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m)
Trustpilot
Hike North Africa's tallest mountain, Mount Toubkal. Catch the sunrise at the summit with views over the Anti-Atlas mountains and Sahara Desert.
Lahouceine

This trip is led by Lahouceine and the guiding team in Morocco.Meet your guides.

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 and transfers are included in this trip. Be aware that Nov-Mar are winter trekking season and this makes the hike much more challenging, see FAQs below for more details.

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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Your Guides
Lahouceine

This trip is led by Lahouceine, a highly experienced Moroccan mountain guide who was born and raised in the Atlas Mountains. With a lifetime of local knowledge and a deep passion for the landscapes he calls home, Lahouceine specialises in guided treks and tours that showcase the very best of Morocco’s mountains and deserts. Based in the village of Asni at the gateway to Toubkal National Park, he offers a warm, personal approach — combining professional guiding expertise with genuine hospitality. Together with his team, Lahouceine is committed to delivering exceptional experiences while upholding a principled, sustainable approach to mountain tourism.

Atlas Vertical Travel

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 (ÂŁ40 for 2 people).

Rated 5.0

298 verified reviews

Dave
Dave

(Aug 2025)

Excellent service from the Atlas Vertical guiding team in Imlil. We booked a private trek and they arranged all of our transfers to and from Imlil, which all ran very smoothly. Our guide Hassan was very good and even took over when our son had a nosebleed on the walk up to the refuge. The food prepared by the cook/ mule driver was amazing, and there was always far too much for us to finish. The hotel staff where we stayed in Imlil were very friendly. One small negative point was the first hotel we stayed in, which was very noisy (not really what you need just before a trek), but the accommodation we stayed in after the hotel made up for this.

Keith
Keith

(Jul 2025)

Trip was fantastic. The guide, Hassan, did a great job assisting a member of our group who fell near the summit. The food was exceptional. Highly recommend!

Daniel
Daniel

(Jul 2025)

TLDR; Great trip, great guides, great views - but do not underestimate the level of fitness required. Lahouceine (organiser) and Hassan (guide) were great. Lahouceine ensured we were picked up from the airport despite our flight being late and also organised a last minute addition to our trip to visit ourika valley, both very much appreciated thank you! Hassan our guide, was great keeping a solid, but relaxed pace. I had some problems on the mountain descent, and he patiently made sure I made it down safely. To that end, please do NOT underestimate the level of fitness required for this. I am relatively fit young man but would consider myself a novice hiker. While not a technical climb, I found this extremely challenging from a fitness perspective. If you are like me and only ever done some modest hikes (i.e. not multi-day hikes), you absolutely must train for this. You'll enjoy it so much more if you do. Accommodation and food was good, refuge is indeed basic. Bring toilet roll, wet wipes, eye mask and ear plugs - will feel slightly more comfortable that way. Overall great experience, would recommend. đź‘Ť

Callum
Callum

(Jun 2025)

Myself and three friends booked a trip to climb Mount Toubkal through Skyhook, and I couldn’t recommend the experience enough. Everything about the trip was seamless from start to finish. We were picked up early from the airport with no issues and driven straight to Imlil. The accommodation there was excellent — the food was delicious, with massive portion sizes, thanks to Hamad who cooked for us during our stay. Our guide, Mohamed, was outstanding. He adjusted his pace to suit our group and made sure everyone felt comfortable throughout. On the first day, we hiked from Imlil to the refuge. The second day began with a 2:30am start, allowing us to reach the summit in time for sunrise. During the trek, we were incredibly well looked after by our cook, Ahmed, who made sure we were well fed and fuelled with hearty meals at every stop. On the way back, we took an alternative route, summiting another peak and visiting a nearby plane wreck before descending towards Imlil. We even stopped for a swim along the way. All in all, an unforgettable trip — especially with Mohamed as our guide, and with Ahmed and Hamad keeping us so well fed. Highly recommended.

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Shaw
Shaw

(Jun 2025)

Amazing experience from start to finish! Our transfers to and from the airport were organised and in time, our host Hamad at Imlil was warm and welcoming and provided us with amazing meals during our trip! Our guide, Mohammad was friendly and outgoing and had good knowledge of the hike and area and was also up for a good laugh! The chef Ahmed done a good job of providing us with good meals during our time hiking and at the mountain refuge. Overall a 10/10 experience with no issues and would highly recommend! Yalla Yalla!

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Jake
Jake

(Jun 2025)

We had an amazing trip to climb Mt. Toubkal with skyhook. Everything went smoothly from transfers to accommodation to the hike itself. Hamad was a great host kept us very well fed in Imlil. Ahmed cooked us plenty of great food while hiking. Mohamed was brilliant as a guide, very knowledgeable and joined in with the patter. Would 100% recommend him as a guide to anyone. 10/10 experience! Yalla Yalla!

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George
George

(Jun 2025)

Amazing trip to Mount Toubkal , well organised. Everyone on the trip had a safe & successful summit, would definitely recommend.

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Will
Will

(Jun 2025)

Truly a great trip, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hospitality was great throughout, and the guides provided a great service. I highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to challenge themselves.

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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.

Although this mountain makes a good first 'big summit' and does not require technical skills, you do need a good level of fitness and need to consider that altitude also makes this hike more difficult. The summit day is tough and takes physical and mental stamina. Trekking time can be can be 9-12 hours on this day.

We recommend training with some sort of cardio to build endurance 2- 3 times a week in the run-up to your trip. Practice hikes in the mountains or any chance you get to walk at an incline will be beneficial.

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.

The winter season (November-March) brings snow and ice. This considerably increases the difficulty level and usually (depending on conditions) requires hiring additional gear. Although still achievable to novices, we do not recommend attempting this summit in winter unless you have a high fitness level and/ or experience in similar conditions. Please read all FAQs for more info.

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: ÂŁ8 (most normal boots can fit the crampons we hire here in Imlil as they are flexible).
- Ice axe: ÂŁ5
- Gloves: ÂŁ2
- Rain jacket: ÂŁ3
- Sleeping bag: ÂŁ4
- Walking sticks (poles): ÂŁ4

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

For travellers arriving at the airport early or later than the meeting point later than 8:15 PM, we can offer a private transfer to Imlil. This will be at an additional fee of ÂŁ40 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 only. 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 ÂŁ80 for the trip (2 nights in Imlil).

If you give us notice beforehand, we can cater for most dietary requirements. However, please note that due to the nature and location of this trip, meal options for specific diets (vegan, gluten intolerent etc.) may be limited as we don't always have access to a wide range of substitute ingredients. The team is usually able to prepare simple dishes and work around restrictions where they can.

We recommend that if you have specific dietary needs, pack extra snacks and supplements to make sure that your nutritional requirements are met.

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.

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 acclimatisation 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. Notify your guide immediately if you experience any symptoms (headache/nausea). It's important to do this as soon as you experience the symptoms.

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 ÂŁ80 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.

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

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

Start: We'll meet you at the airport at 8:00 PM (just outside of arrivals). Or if you're already in the city, we can meet you at 7.30 PM at Hotel Ali in the Old Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa). If you arrive early, it's worth spending a few hours exploring Marrakech city, which is a short bus or taxi ride from the airport (around 10-15 EUR by taxi).

Return: You'll leave Imlil at 10:00 AM for Marrakech Airport. You'll get to the airport at about 12 noon. Please don't book flights before 2:00 PM, as you'll need to allow 2 hours for check-in. If you're extending your trip, the guide can also drop you in Marrakech city at about 12:30 PM.

Wifi is available in the guesthouse you stay in on the first and last nights. However, given the remote location, it can be unreliable.

The mountain refuge also usually has internet, but the signal can be poor.

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.

Solo travellers will be paired with other solo travellers of the same sex. If this isn't 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.

If you want to book your own room (only available in Imlil on nights 1 and 3), please contact your local Host to make the necessary arrangements. Note this is an extra cost, and it's best to arrange in advance, as rooms are subject to availability.

To contact your Host, click "MESSAGE YOUR GUIDE" from your dashboard after booking. You can then pay on arrival.

A single supplement costs ÂŁ80 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 the typical meals to expect:

- Breakfast: 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, meat or chicken tagines, dessert.

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.
Other FAQs

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! 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.

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)
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.

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