Climb Mount Toubkal

A classic. Trek and sweat your way through the Atlas Mountains and catch sunrise from North Africa’s highest mountain (4167m)

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Trip Ref #8214

Climb Mount Toubkal

A classic. Trek and sweat your way through the Atlas Mountains and catch sunrise from North Africa’s highest mountain (4167m)

DURATION

3 nights

LOCATION

Morocco

ANNUAL LEAVE

2 days off work

SEASON

May—Oct

GROUP SIZE

Up to 14 people

MEETING POINT

Marrakech Menara Airport

ACCOMMODATION

Classic

Traditional riad · Mountain hut

OVERALL RATING

4.8

Based on 168 reviews
DIFFICULTY

Challenging

You’ll need to be fit and capable of hiking for up to 10 hours a day up paths of moderate difficulty, with some steep, loose sections.

Climb to the summit of Mount Toubkal and be rewarded with the sunrise of a lifetime

Earn the views from the Marrakech Plain and High Atlas peaks all the way to the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara

Stay in a mountain refuge in the Atlas Mountains and a traditional Moroccan riad in the heart of Marrakech

Day 1

Check out the sights and smells of Marrakech

Your host will meet you at the airport and take you to your traditional riad accommodation in Marrakech’s historic medina. You'll then get the chance to spend the day exploring the city’s colourful souks, wander the UNESCO-listed main square and indulge in some amazing Moroccan food.

Day 2

Travel to the Atlas Mountains and hike to your refuge at 3200m

Hiking

6hrs · 10km · 1540m up · 130m down

Wake up early and drive through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to Imlil, where you'll meet your support crew and start your trek. Gradually ascend the Toubkal Valley, pass Berber farming villages and stop for lunch on the trail. In the afternoon you’ll arrive at the refuge. Settle in, meet other hikers and refuel with a well-earned dinner cooked by your support crew. Sleep well before your summit attempt tomorrow!

Day 3

Rise early to summit Mt Toubkal

Hiking

10hrs · 17km · 1130m up · 2530m down

Wake up while it’s still dark and begin your final ascent. Reach the ridge and finish the climb to the top (4167m) in time to watch the sunrise. Rest up and then begin the long descent back to Imlil. Say farewell to the Atlas Mountains and drive back to Marrakech. You’ll arrive at your riad in the early evening in time to find a restaurant for couscous or a tasty tajine before collapsing into bed.

Day 4

Time to go home. Weekend well spent

Relax over your last Moroccan breakfast, explore the town some more if you have time, then transfer to the airport to catch your flight home.

Included

Guides

Expert, English-speaking Berber guides from Imlil

Accommodation

2 nights in a riad and 1 night in a refuge at 3200m

Meals

All your food on the mountain will be taken care of

Transfers

Both airport transfers and transfers to and from Imlil

Porterage

Mules and muleteers to carry your overnight luggage during your climb

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Travel insurance

Personal expenses

Tips for your guides

Some meals as described

Visas where required

Day 1

Traditional riad · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2

Mountain hut · Same sex dorm

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3

Traditional riad · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Moroccan food has a unique blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Local specialities include tajines (a stew cooked in an earthenware pot), couscous, and pastilles (flaky pastries stuffed with meat and dusted with cinnamon and sugar). Food is often spiced with cumin, turmeric and ginger.

Meals on the trek are cooked by the Berber muleteers. The food is fresh and healthy. Example meals:

  • Breakfast: Jam, bread, cookies, fruit, juice, butter, coffee, milk
  • Lunch: Salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, fish (sardines, tuna), seasonal fruit
  • Dinner: Soup, classic Moroccan tajine, couscous, olives, nuts, fruit

Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form

What is the accommodation like?

Marrakech

In Marrakech, you'll stay in a beautiful riad - traditional Moroccan houses with an interior garden or courtyard. The exact riad you stay in will be confirmed nearer the time based on availability and group size. All are chosen for their excellent reputation, location, beautiful decor and welcoming service.

Mount Toubkal

During the trek, you'll stay in either the Mouflon or Neltner mountain refuge depending on availability and group size. The rooms are basic shared dorms with bunk beds. There’s a common area to relax in the evening and chat with other climbers from around the world.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge for the nights in Marrakech, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability and they are very limited due to the layout of traditional riads).

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Marrakech Airport (RAK)

Arrive any time on Day 1

Ends

Marrakech Airport (RAK)

Leave any time on Day 4

Transfers

Private transfers between the airport and your Riad are included for any time (and day) you choose to arrive or depart.

Travel options

There are daily flights to Marrakech from major airports across the UK and Europe. Day 1 is yours to explore Marrakech: you'll meet your guide and fellow travellers the next morning.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What's included?

  • Sleeping bag (you can bring your own if you like)

What do I need to bring?

  • Day pack (25-35 litres)
  • Rucksack or duffle bag (for the mules to carry overnight kit)
  • Warm jacket
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Light-weight, breathable hiking shirts and trousers
  • Broken-in hiking boots or hiking shoes
  • Warm hat
  • Light gloves or mittens
  • Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sun block)
  • First aid kit
  • Personal toiletries
  • Sanitary supplies (toilet paper, wet wipes, and ziplock baggies to carry out)
  • Head torch
  • Water bottle
  • Towel
  • Sleeping bag liner

Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Double/Twin Room

Payable Before Departure

Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Double/Twin Room

Per Night

Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Single Room

Payable Before Departure

Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Single Room

Per Night

Optional Private Room Upgrade

Payable Before Departure

Optional Private Room Upgrade

- Adam(October 2022)

Really rewarding experience. The climb from refuge is incredibly tough especially in the winter months due to ice and snow.

Refuge can get cold so make sure to bring plenty of thermals.

The walk on day one has some incredible scenery and it’s a gradual, nice pace / incline. It’s the second day that is a real hard slog.

Would suggest 2 months of training focussing on legs and incline walks / stair master work.

In terms of our trip. The group were really friendly with mixed abilities and levels of fitness. The food was as good as can be really (no complaints). Maybe bring earplugs for the night sleep in refuge though as it’s loud and tricky to get some much needed sleep before the hard cram me up the mountain.

- Daniel(October 2022)

Just got back from the mid Oct trip. My first with MBA. Communication was great. The local company they use, fantastic- from prompt collection at airport, through to local accommodation, guides and minibus back. Faultless. The only negative was the weather- truly shocking. I look with pure envy at the photos of Africa taken by other at the summit. We had a snowstorm, flash floods and could barely see our own hands. It was fairly brutal. All credit to the group who made it up. The one note I should flag is when the site states 'it's challenging and involves 10 hours of walking', this isn't an understatement, as one person discovered who got no further than Imlil.

- Lene(October 2022)

I had a wonderful time, met some amazing people and I would have no hesitation in recommending this holiday to anyone who loves hiking/trekking.

- Philip(October 2022)
- rachel(October 2022)

Overall a great experience. Very well managed from the local side - pick ups, accommodation, guides, food. The weather wasn’t great for the summit and descent (hail, wind and torrential rain) and there was far more snow on the mountain than I had considered and it was very icy in places which did make it tough. The group was lovely and a really interesting mix of people.

- Tara(October 2022)

Tough but brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Good value for money.

- Paul(October 2022)

Great trip, quality group, amazing experience, thanks!

- Laura(September 2022)

The trip was incredible! An unforgettable experience, as I’d imagined. I expected it to be hard but the altitude hit me harder than I expected which made it particularly difficult for me. However our two guides, Mohamed and Mustafa, were absolutely fantastic. They checked in with the group often, made sure we were okay and kept a good, sensible pace. They were friendly and funny, and knowledgable and we couldn’t have asked for more. I’d never have made the summit without them! We had unexpected snow, gale force winds and -10C at the summit so our layers were definitely needed. Mohamed and Mustafa made sure we were safe throughout but of course these conditions made it tougher going without crampons. The refuge is certainly an experience! But again our guides kept us informed of meal times, we’re prepared with our sleeping bags and kit carried by the mikes immediately. They made the trip, for sure. Our group was also brilliant. My friends and I took up 9 of the 14 places but the other 5 people were amazing - we were all a great fit, got on very well and had the best time. I wouldn’t change a thing! (Except perhaps my altitude sickness wobble, which of course out of MBA’s control ;) )

- Kathryn(September 2022)

An absolutely incredible experience! The views just insane, food and staff were absolutely fantastic. The Riad in Marrakech was wonderful…. The mountain refuge is what it is. Do not underestimate this climb, it was tough!

- Brad(September 2022)

Fantastic trip from start to finish, snow storm and freezing winds made summit day tough but ended with a great feeling of achievement. Guides were excellent and the food on the climb was a pleasant surprise.

I would absolutely recommend booking one or more extra nights in Marrakech as it's an absolutely amazing city and well worth the extra time to explore.

I will definitely be booking with much better adventures again in the future.

We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 195kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

This trek requires a good level of fitness. You must be capable of hiking all day up paths of moderate difficulty with steep, loose sections. The walking is relatively straightforward, but the loose footing and high altitude will make the going quite difficult in parts and can be mentally challenging. The views along the way make the journey more than worthwhile!

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Spring and autumn temperatures in Marrakech average 10 - 25 °C, and it rains a small amount roughly 7 days each month. From June to September it gets quite hot in the city, averaging 15 - 35 °C, and it only rains a few days each month.

In the Atlas Mountains from March to October daytime temperatures average 25 - 30°C but it cools off considerably at night, and the higher you go the colder it gets. Nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing at and above the mountain refuge. Afternoon storms are always possible, but they are usually quick and generally don’t prevent anyone from enjoying the trek.

Mules will carry your main overnight luggage during the trek and you will need to carry your daypack with your daytime essentials (extra layer, snacks, water etc.). For the welfare of the mules, please ensure your main overnight luggage is in a soft-sided bag and weighs no more than 15kg.

Absolutely! We recognise that you may want to leave some of the kit you bring to Morocco somewhere safe before you start your ascent of Toubkal. When you reach Imlil, you will be able to leave any non-essential items you don’t want to take up on the hike with you at your local guide's base there.

Your host works with Muleteers who collaborate with local charity, Spana, (The Society for the Protection of Animals and Nature) on the AMI program (Aid to the Mules of Imlil). The charity provides training, guidance and incentives to mule owners to encourage and support good care for their animals in all aspects of their working lives. The program also provides a monthly clinic which offers free veterinary care to the animals and the distribution of humane tack.

Up to date advice for UK citizens can be found here

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice however we suggest a minimum of 150 - 200 Dirham per person.

Of course, you are free to tip more or less and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Ramadan will take place from 22nd March to 20th April 2023 and 10th March to 8th April 2024. The national holiday of Eid ul-Fitr will follow for 2-3 days. Ramadan is an Islamic festival where the religious do not eat or drink during daylight hours. While this is a really interesting time to travel, especially to witness celebrations where the fast is broken in the evenings, you can expect some business hours will be shortened, alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and some restaurants will be closed during this festival period. Activities for local people tend to be limited during the day and the nights are very active in cities with lots of different foods being sold and consumed. Ramadan will not affect the inclusions on your trip although you should be aware that dinners will be served after locals break their fast in the evenings.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our adventures. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure.

Your insurance policy should also include specific Covid-19 cover, including cancellation and curtailment cover if you, your travel companion or a close relative are diagnosed with Covid-19.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.

Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.

Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.

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