Climb Mount Toubkal (4167m) in a Week
Hike a circular route to summit North Africa’s highest peak, acclimatising in the remote foothills and exploring bustling Marrakech
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, English-speaking Berber guidesAll Accommodation
2 nights in a riad, 2 nights in mountain refuges and 1 night in a guesthouseMeals
All your breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinnersTransfers
Both airport transfers and transfers to and from ImlilPorterage
Mules and muleteers to carry your overnight luggage during your climbSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Trek the top of Mount Toubkal in the High Atlas, catching an epic sunrise on the tallest mountain in North Africa
Enjoy a relaxed pace as you hike the lesser-trodden Azzaden Valley over four days, sleeping in cosy mountain huts and a Berber village guesthouse
Delve into the sights, sounds and flavours of Marrakech's captivating medina and kick back in a peaceful, traditional riad
Short on time? Try our much-loved classic Climb Mount Toubkal in a Weekend
Key Information
Day 1
Explore Marrakech
Fly into the colourful city of Marrakech and head to your traditional riad in the historic medina. Spend the rest of the day exploring the souks and the iconic main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa – a place that’s been beguiling travellers for centuries. By day, throw yourself into the hustle of market traders and the typical orange juice vendors who inhabit the famous plaza, or retreat to one of the many rooftop bars overlooking the square to people watch over a glass tea or a tasty tagine. Nighttime is the busiest time in the square, with exotic smells flowing from the tempting food stalls and the ambient sounds of street performers, magicians and traditional dancers entertaining the gathered crowds. After sampling the atmosphere, return to the calm of your riad to prepare for the mountain adventure ahead.
Day 2
The foothills of the Atlas Mountains
Hiking
Driving
Drive through the lovely Moroccan countryside and into the foothills of the Atlas mountains. Meet your guides at the Imlil trailhead and follow quiet trails through the Azzaden Valley to the Ighouliden waterfalls. Away from the main walking routes of Mount Toubkal, the first two days of this trek are perfect for seeing a hidden and often missed side of the Atlas mountains. After lunch in the middle of a juniper forest, continue to the Tamsoult Refuge (2250m) where you’ll spend the night beneath a vast, starry mountain sky.
Day 3
The Aguelzim mountain pass
Hiking
Today is a challenging day, starting with a steep uphill section out of the Azzaden Valley and over the Aguelzim mountain pass at 3560m. After lunch at a scenic lookout, with a spectacular view across the Atlas mountain range, continue hiking to Les Mouflon mountain refuge. Bed down and get a good night's rest ahead of an early start to the tackle summit tomorrow.
Day 4
Summit Mount Toubkal
Hiking
Leave in the darkness of the early hours of the morning and clamber to the summit of Mount Toubkal (4167m), arriving in time for a beautiful sunrise over the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. You'll have time to bask in your accomplishment and bag some epic pics before beginning the long walk down. With over 2000m to descend, your legs will be thankful for the stop in the village of Armed (2000m), where you can enjoy a final evening in the mountains over a glass of mint tea and views of the mountains you have just traversed.
Day 5
Head back to Marrakesh
Hiking
Driving
After a relaxing breakfast, enjoy a short morning walk down to the trailhead at Imlil where you'll meet your driver. Wave one last goodbye to the Atlas Mountains and begin your journey back to Marrakech – you'll be back in your riad by lunchtime. You're free to spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Marrakech, picking up any last-minute souvenirs or just relaxing in the serenity of your riad. In the evening, you can head out with your fellow adventurers to explore the local food scene, perhaps indulging in celebratory farewell meal.
Day 6
Goodbye Marrakech
Relax over one last Moroccan breakfast and – if you have time – explore the city some more, before heading back to the airport in time for your flight home.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Moroccan food is a unique blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Local specialities include tagines (stew cooked in an earthenware pot), couscous and bastillas (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 fresh, healthy and cooked by your Berber muleteers. Breakfast will usually feature bread, jam, cookies, fruit, juice, coffee and milk, while lunch will feature salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, fish (sardines, tuna) and seasonal fruit. Dinner will usually include soup, a classic Moroccan tagine, couscous, olives, nuts and fruit.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for – please just request this on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Marrakech
You'll stay in a beautiful riad – a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden or courtyard. The exact riad will be confirmed nearer the time based on availability and group size; however, all are chosen for their excellent reputation, location, beautiful decor and welcoming service.
On the trek
In the mountains, you'll stay at Tamsoult mountain refuge (at 2250m) and Les Mouflon mountain refuge. Facilities are basic, with bunk-bed dorms; however, there is a fun, social area to relax in the evening and chat with other climbers from all around the world. On your way down after the summit, you will stay in a well-appointed guesthouse in the Berber village of Armed.
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).
This trip has been rated as Challenging
Full days of scenic hiking, loose footing, high altitude - you'll need a fairly good level of fitness for this one. The views make the effort more than worthwhile!
Allowing two extra days on the mountain (compared to our classic 3–night trip) gives more time for acclimatisation to the altitude, as well as breaking up the long summit day and descent. The final day of trekking involves just a short couple of hours down to Imlil, meaning you return to Marrakech with time to explore the city in the afternoon and enjoy a celebratory meal in the evening.
What will I need to carry?
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.
Spring and autumn temperatures in Marrakech average 10-25°C, and it rains a small amount (roughly seven 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 height of summer, daytime temperatures in Marrakech have been known to approach 45°C on occasion – so please ensure that you come prepared with sun protection, light and airy clothing and electrolytes/rehydration solutions if travelling at this time of year.
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 (you may even need gloves on a summit day in August!) Night time 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.
View detailed weather for the climb here on Mountain Forecast
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Marrakech Airport (RAK)
Any time on Day 1
Ends
Marrakech Airport (RAK)
Any time on Day 6
Transfers
Private transfers between the airport and your riad are included for any time you choose to arrive on Day 1 and any time you depart on Day 6, or if you have booked additional pre- or post-trip accommodation with your host.
If you are making your own arrangements to extend your stay in Morocco, private transfers between Marrakech Airport and Marrakech City are not included, but can be arranged with your host for an additional cost. Please see Optional Extras for details.
Travel options
There are daily flights to Marrakech from major airports across the UK and Europe.
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
What do I need to bring?
- Sleeping bag liner
- Warm jacket
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm hat and light gloves or mittens
- Lightweight, breathable hiking shirts and trousers
- Broken-in hiking boots or hiking shoes
- Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sun block)
- First aid kit
- Electrolytes/rehydration solutions (especially if travelling during the summer)
- Personal toiletries
- Sanitary supplies (hand sanitiser, toilet paper, wet wipes, and ziplock baggies to carry stuff out)
- Head torch
- Day-pack
- Water bottle
- Travel towel
- For April departures, there is a chance that there will still be snow on the ground, so a set of thermals and an extra fleece/layer will come in handy. Warm gloves and socks will also be well used.
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
Private transfer between Marrakech Airport and Marrakech City (per vehicle)
Payable Before Departure
Private transfer between Marrakech Airport and Marrakech City (per vehicle)
…
I went on the mount Toubkal trip in September when the earthquake hit. The company was very organised, friendly and efficient. Unfortunately we didn't get to summit due to it not being safe. The guide Mohamed and his team looked after us so well and I can't thank them enough. They still looked after us , cooked us every meal and gave us a place to stay when they didn't even know if their own family's were alive. Apart from the earthquakes the trip was great as we got to hike with beautiful scenery and had an amazing team. I will be there next year to summit! 🙌
Fantastic trip, if your thinking about doing this trip then I could t recommend it enough. From when you land to when you finish is organised faultlessly. Hosts and guides are welcoming and work there socks flof to accommodate l. Food was lovely, there is also plenty of food is enough to have 3 plates full at each meal. The climb is high to the mountain but the route is gradual, IE alot of zig zagging to gain height. The last day is the toughest out of the 3 but well worth it. The accommodation on the mountain Had alot more facilities than I expected, shower and power for charging,
Communication by MBA and the local tour guides was unparalleled. Our trek guide, Mohammed, was exceptional. 100% would recommend. Note that the last day of walking is a big day out so ensure to bring plenty of snacks and take lots of breaks to appreciate the views!
Brilliant trip , if you haven't climbed a mountain outside of the UK before MT Toubkal is a great challenge to start with , local guides are great and the Atlas mountains provides views that will take your breath away.
Super trip! Three days of hiking between mountain refuges, led by local Berber guides who introduced us to the landscape and Berber culture. The walking got progressively harder, and we acclimatised to the altitude gradually. Summit day was a real tough slog through snow but the views from the top were sensational.
Fantastic experience, the guides are amazing, knowledgeable and strong as an ox (or a mule!) as they carried the bags for those who weren’t feeling great. They looked after us well and fed us regularly with yummy snacks. The scenery was stunning and it felt so good to reach the top. If you’re just going to climb the mountain I’d totally recommend either a day before or a day after to venture into Marrakesh to see the city too. It’s an experience! The Riads were beautiful, the mountain huts were much bigger than expected, but don’t expect luxuries like hot water or electricity, or high levels of cleanliness.
Cannot recommend MBA and this trek highly enough. Great choice of local hosts and guides. Was well supported all the way through the trip, will definitely take mother trip with them in the future
This is an excellent trip and I would definitely recommend. The mountains were beautiful, the guides were experts and extremely helpful. If you can, extend your stay to experience more of Morocco. You definately need to be physically fit to do this trip and make sure you bring lots of warm layers for the last day if you are doing this in autumn or spring - coldest I have ever been!
Fantastic trip. Our local guides were amazing and so so helpful. Can't fault them.
Accommodation in the refuges is basic (as expected). Expect cold showers, 7-25 people sleeping in a room and simple food. Each night there was bread, tagine of some sort and a western style pasta (spaghetti). If you have a sensitive stomach bring cereal bars etc to snack on. Kendal mint cake was a life saver for the nausea caused by altitude sickness! Bring earplugs and wet wipes! Our climb in October was pretty chilly with minus temperatures reached on summit day - don't skimp on the cold weather clothing! Painkillers and anti-altitude sickness tablets were a life saver.
The hike itself it totally doable if your generally active! The last day is the toughest but the guides will bend over backwards to help you get to the summit. Large groups make pacing a bit of a challenge.
If you're thinking of booking it - do it!
Would definitely recommend - well organised, safe, with friendly knowledgable guides! Food was of a much higher standard than expected. Had a fantastic time!
The trip was very organized, meals and accommodation are better than my expectations, guides paced us well during the hikes in order for all of us to reach the summit...
My first trekking trip, thoroughly enjoyed it.
The trip was amazing. Very well organized with really good and healthy food. The guides were extremely nice and helpful and always looked out for us. I can highly recommend this trip to everybody who wants to climb a 4000m summit.
Very well organised, easy transfers and communication. Fantastic trip from start to finish. High quality refuges for rest between long days. Good food, funny guides, great views, endless tea.
What a fantastic adventure. 3 hard days of trekking but such an incredible experience from start to finish! Waking up before sunrise and climbing to the summit was a highlight, and the whole trip was so well organised and our guide was fantastic. Amazing food, wonderful people and a great way to be challenged and feel resilient at the end.
The trip was brilliantly organised all round. Lovely Riad and hosts, fantastic guide and wonderful porters/cooks! The pace of the trek was perfectly suited to the group and conditions and I felt supported and confident as a result.
An incredibly rewarding experience with astounding scenery. The difficulty of the trek is not to be underestimated - particularly when altitude sickness, sleep deprivation and extreme temperatures come into play. But the brilliant group, and guides Hussein and Mohamed, pulled everyone through. It was epic!
Another fantastic trip with MBA! A challenging hike which requires a good level of fitness, but most certainly worth it. Summitting Toubkal was just breath taking (figuratively and literally!).
Everything is very well organised, and I would certainly recommend it to others!
This trip exceeded expectations on all levels. I would recommend to anyone
Absolutely awesome trip, very well organised but not for the faint hearted. Do not underestimate the challenging rating - you need to be fit to do this! We had a brilliant group and our guides Hussain and Mohamed were lovely and potentially actual mountain goats. The food was pretty good (only pretty good as a veggie!); lunches were brilliant and plenty of food to keep you going (although always quite late in the day). Summit day starts at 2:30am and the sleep deprivation does get you good, but so worth it once you make it to the top.
Wow! Bucket list tick! This trip was excellent, we were looked after throughout and I would recommend to anyone wanting a physical and mental challenge. Food was great and no one went hungry. The guides looked after us and kept us going. Make sure to bring lots of sweet snacks to keep you going when you need a boost.
Wow. If you’re debating whether to do this trip, stop. Just book it. What an experience. The logistics were made so much easier booking through these guys. Transfers were perfect, food throughout was delicious as always expected in Morocco, the guide was great, we went at a good pace which can be altered depending on the group so it’s do-able for most. We summited for sunrise. We were the first group to leave the refuge (our choice) at 0200 and then the first at the summit and had it to ourselves for around 30 minutes to watch the sunrise, which was mind blowing. It’s a challenging trek made harder with lack of sleep but a million % worth it. Thank you MBA, I already have Kyrgyzstan booking with you for next year and have no doubt I’ll be doing plenty more trips with you.
All round awesome experience from Riad in Marrakesh to refuge stops and the amazing views on route to the summit. The trip flowed well to start to finish without any stress. Our guides were great characters, full of experience and good energy. Got the bug to do another trip with MuchBetterAdventures. Many Thanks - Francis
Really enjoyed this trip! Had a great bunch of people, the food was pretty good and the trip very well planned! It was quite the challenge and shouldn't be over looked, I would definitely take lip balm next time! Whilst the marrakech accommodation was perfect the mountain refuge was less so and I'd pay for that private room option to garuntee a good night's sleep before summit day. But everyone was in the same boat and our entire team made it!
A challenging hike with tons of scenic views from dark AM to evening. The guides and hosts were great all round. The mountain refuge can be loud and cramped with many other groups also using it but fine for one night. The people I met on this trip made it all the better and I'd recommended this and MBA.
Extremely well organised trip. All has been as described on the website. Both guide Mohamed and Hakim real professionals through a whole trip. Superb experience. Will highly recommend.
I really did enjoy my trek with mba. Our guides Mohamed and Hakim were very helpful and nice. Also the food was good! Thank you!
It was a fantastic trip! The Riad in Marrakech is in a great location in the southern part of the Medina. The guides, mountain refuges and food were terrific throughout as well. The Atlas Mountains are dramatic, beautiful and exotic. Loved it all.
Wow! This trip was my f**k brain tumour trip. A fundraising challenge for people suffering with brain injuries (like myself) MBA have bent over backwards to accommodate my needs and even helped me when I’ve had problems at home effecting my booking. I had to be pulled off the mountain due to altitude sickness 600m from the summit. The guides were amazing. They made sure I was safe and able to get back to base camp safely. This trip has left me with some amazing life changing memories. Thank you MBA!
The hosts were excellent. The route was incredible.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 126kg 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 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. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
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.
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.
We recommend checking out the country specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
You will be provided with safe drinking water while on the mountain. You should bring a couple of water bottles or a flask to fill up with water (or mint tea) from the refuges.
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 budgeting a minimum of 300 Dirham per person, to be split and offered directly to the following:
- Guides: MAD120
- Cook: MAD40
- Muleteer: MAD100
- Drivers: MAD20
- Riad staff: MAD20 (in total)
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.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
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.
Ramadan will take place from 28th Februrary to 30th March 2025. 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.
This trip visits locations at or above 2500m. At this altitude some people may experience symptoms associated with Altitude Sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Previous experience at high altitude is not necessarily an indicator of future performance. Your guide(s) are trained to mitigate the risks associated with altitude, by carefully managing the rate of ascent and the intensity of the activity, and to provide the appropriate support response should someone feel ill during the trip. Should you experience health issues during your trip you should inform your guide immediately so the proper care can be provided. Owing to the nature of this trip, it is essential that your personal travel insurance policy provides cover up to the maximum altitude visited on this trip as well as emergency medical evacuation by helicopter.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
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 always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
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DEPARTURE DATES
Sunday • 4th May 2025
to Friday • 9th May 2025
New Trip Offer - Next 1 spot available at 10% off
Sunday • 18th May 2025
to Friday • 23rd May 2025
New Trip Offer - Next 1 spot available at 10% off
Sunday • 25th May 2025
to Friday • 30th May 2025
