Conquer Mount Toubkal with Imlil Morocco Explorers

Two days is the standard. Day one is five to six hours from Imlil to the Toubkal Refuge at 3,207m, with a lunch stop on the way. Day two starts around seven: three to four hours to the summit, then five to six hours back down to Imlil, and the drive to Marrakech the same evening.

If you have the time, the three-day route via the Azzaden valley and the six-day circuit spread the same ascent over more days, which is better for acclimatisation.

Toubkal is a long, steep walk rather than a technical climb. Outside winter there is no scrambling or rope work on the normal route, but the days are long: six to eight hours on rocky paths and scree, with an early start on summit day. You need good fitness and the stamina for a full day of hill walking.

The altitude is what most people feel. At 4,167m you breathe about 60% of the oxygen you would at sea level, so a steady pace, plenty of water and an extra night at the refuge all help. Our guide to how difficult Toubkal is goes into more detail.

Yes, in summer, if you are reasonably fit. No climbing skill or altitude experience is required on the normal route between May and October — it is a long uphill walk on rough ground. If you can manage a full day of hill walking at home, you can manage Toubkal with a guide setting the pace.

If your hiking experience is limited, a gentler valley trek first builds confidence, and the three-day Toubkal routes give a more gradual ascent with proper acclimatisation.

From late May to September the normal route is usually clear of snow, the weather is stable and summit temperatures sit between roughly 5°C and 20°C. It is also the busiest season, and refuge beds go early in July and August.

From November to April the upper mountain is under snow and ice, and the climb becomes a winter ascent with crampons, an ice axe and porters. The six-day circuit runs from May to the end of October only, since it crosses several passes above 3,000m. Spring and autumn sit between the two: some snow may remain high up, the paths are mostly clear and the mountain is quieter. Our note on when to climb Toubkal compares the seasons.

Yes. Since December 2019 a certified local guide has been mandatory on the trail between Imlil and the summit, and checkpoints on the way up check that every group has one. All our climbs are led by licensed, Berber, English-speaking guides from these valleys, with a cook and muleteers in support.

Read more on why a local guide is mandatory on Toubkal.

Yes, and winter is when the mountain is quietest. From roughly November to April snow and ice sit on the upper gully and the summit plateau, so crampons, an ice axe and a helmet are essential, and porters carry bags from the snowline up to the hut. If you have not used crampons before, our guides run a two-hour session at the Toubkal Refuge before summit day.

Tell us your dates and we will confirm what the conditions call for. See the three-day winter climb and our winter packing list.

At the Toubkal Refuge, 3,207m, at the foot of the final climb: two huts side by side with shared dormitory bunks and blankets, cold running water, flush toilets and a communal dining room. It is basic, warm and sociable rather than comfortable. Bring a sleeping bag liner, earplugs and a head torch. Our cook prepares your meals there.

In summer you can camp beside the refuge instead if you prefer; tents and mattresses are included. On the Azzaden route you also spend a night at the Lepiney refuge at 3,000m. More on the Toubkal Refuge.

It can be. Altitude sickness can affect anyone above 2,500m, whatever their fitness, and the summit is 4,167m. The usual symptoms are headache, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. Our guides are trained to recognise them early and will adjust the pace or the route if needed.

The best prevention is to ascend steadily, drink plenty of water and listen to your body; a three-day route gives you an extra night to adjust. Read our longer note on acute mountain sickness before you come.

Prices are per person and come down as the group grows. The two-day climb is €185 per person for a group of two or three, €165 for four to seven and €130 for eight to twelve. The three-day routes run from €180 to €250 per person depending on the route and the group size. The six-day circuit is €495 per person for two or three, €425 for four to seven and €385 for eight to twelve. Each trek page carries its full price table.

That includes your guide, cook, mules and muleteers, all meals on the hike, your nights at the refuge and return transport between your Marrakech accommodation and Imlil. Travel insurance, drinks and tips are not included. You can pay in euros, dollars, pounds or dirhams.

Imlil is about 65 km from Marrakech, roughly an hour and a half by car through the Moulay Brahim gorges and Asni. Return transport between your Marrakech hotel or riad and Imlil is included in every Toubkal climb, so the trek starts at your door.

For July, August and the Easter and Christmas holidays, book six to eight weeks ahead — refuge beds are limited and sell out. For the rest of the year two to three weeks is usually enough, and we can often arrange a climb at a few days’ notice outside peak season. Tell us your dates and we will reply within 24 hours.