The classic Mount Toubkal trek from Imlil, day by day: the walk to the refuge, the summit morning, when to go, guide rules, altitude and kit.
Jbel Toubkal is the highest mountain in North Africa at 4,167 m, and most people climb it in two days from the village of Imlil, about 1.5 hours’ drive from Marrakech. It is a long, steep walk rather than a technical climb in the snow-free months, but the altitude and the summit-day descent make it a serious day in the mountains.
Mount Toubkal at a glance
Summit height
4,167 m, in Toubkal National Park, High Atlas
Usual start
Imlil, 1,740 m, about 1.5 hours from Marrakech
Usual length
2 days, with one night in a mountain refuge
Height gained
About 2,400 m from Imlil to the summit
Difficulty
Non-technical in summer and autumn; winter conditions need crampons and an ice axe
Best months
Late spring to autumn, depending on snow
The classic 2-day route from Imlil
Day 1: Imlil to the Toubkal refuge
The trail leaves Imlil through walnut groves and the village of Aroumd, crosses a wide stony valley floor and climbs to the shrine of Sidi Chamharouch, where small stalls sell drinks and snacks. From there the path zigzags steadily up the Mizane valley to the refuges at about 3,200 m. Most walkers take five to six hours, and mules usually carry the main bags. Evenings at the refuge are simple: a dormitory bunk, a hot meal and an early night.
Day 2: summit and descent to Imlil
Summit day starts before dawn. The climb from the refuge to the top takes roughly three to four hours on a scree path through a boulder-filled corrie, and the last section follows a ridge to the metal summit marker. On a clear morning you see across the High Atlas towards the Sahara. You then descend all the way to Imlil, so day two is often eight to ten hours on foot and very hard on the knees.
Taking three days instead
A third day makes the trek much more comfortable: either a night in Imlil before starting, so you leave fresh, or a second night at the refuge after the summit. Both give your body more time with the altitude and avoid the longest single day.
When to climb Toubkal
Late spring to autumn (roughly June to October): the upper slopes are usually free of snow and the route is a hiking trail. Summit mornings are still cold, often close to freezing at dawn.
Spring (April–May): snow can linger high up, so conditions vary year to year.
Winter (about December to March): snow and ice on the upper mountain. This is a winter mountaineering ascent that needs crampons, an ice axe and someone who knows how to use them.
Marrakech is very hot in July and August, but at the refuge the nights are cool. For the weather in the rest of the country, see our best time to visit Morocco guide.
Guides, refuges and rules
Since 2019, hikers on Toubkal have been required to go with a licensed mountain guide, and checkpoints on the trail may ask for one. Rules can change, so confirm the current situation when you plan. A guide also knows where the path is under early-season snow and when to turn back. The two refuges below the summit offer dormitory beds and meals; in busy months they fill up, so beds are best arranged ahead.
Altitude and fitness
You do not need climbing experience, but you need to be comfortable walking six to ten hours on rough, steep ground. Above about 3,000 m, headaches, poor sleep and loss of appetite are common. Walk slowly, drink plenty, and take symptoms seriously: if they get worse, the answer is to go down. People who arrive straight from sea level do better with a night in Imlil first.
What to pack
Broken-in walking boots and trekking poles for the descent
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, hat and gloves, even in summer
A head torch for the pre-dawn start
A sleeping bag liner, sun cream, sunglasses and a refillable bottle
Cash in dirhams for drinks on the trail and tips
Our Morocco packing list covers the rest of a trip that also takes in cities and the desert.
Not ready for the summit? Imlil as a day trip
If two days on the mountain is too much, Imlil itself is a beautiful day out from Marrakech: Berber villages, terraced fields, a walk towards Sidi Chamharouch or to a viewpoint, and lunch on a terrace facing Toubkal. Our Imlil day trip guide explains how that day works, and the Atlas Mountains tours page lists the private day trips into the mountains.
Adding Toubkal to a private Morocco tour
A Toubkal trek is not one of our fixed tours, but it can be built into a private itinerary on request: transfer from Marrakech to Imlil, the trek with a licensed mountain guide and the drive back, before or after the rest of your trip. Tell us your dates and fitness on the custom Morocco tour page, or read how our private tours work.
Ab € 40,00
bezogen auf 7 personDieser Preis basiert auf 7 Reisenden. Der Preis variiert je nach Gruppengröße.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
How long does it take to climb Mount Toubkal?
Most people climb Toubkal in two days from Imlil: five to six hours up to the refuge on day one, then three to four hours to the summit before dawn and a long descent to Imlil on day two. A third day makes it far more comfortable.
Do you need a guide to climb Toubkal?
Since 2019 hikers on Toubkal have been required to go with a licensed mountain guide, and checkpoints on the trail may ask for one. Rules can change, so check the current situation when you plan your trek.
Is Mount Toubkal hard to climb?
In the snow-free months it is a non-technical but demanding hike: about 2,400 m of ascent from Imlil, rough scree and altitude above 4,000 m. In winter, snow and ice make it a mountaineering ascent that needs crampons and an ice axe.
What is the best month to climb Toubkal?
From about June to October the upper mountain is usually free of snow and the route is a hiking trail. Spring can still have snow high up, and from December to March it is a winter ascent.
How far is Imlil from Marrakech?
Imlil is about 1.5 hours by road from Marrakech, at 1,740 m in the High Atlas. It is the usual starting point for the Toubkal trek and also a popular day trip from the city.
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