Hike Mount Toubkal (4,167m)

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 backbag for your main luggage that goes with the mules (shouldn't weigh more than 8kg) to be carried in case the mules cannot reach when there is snow. • 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) - Helmet ( for winter) 10£ • 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. Note that certain conditions may mean it is not possible/ safe to attempt to summit in which case the itinerary may change. Please read all FAQs for more info.

The minimum age for this trek is 18 years, or 16 years with a parent/guardian.

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: £8 (most normal boots can fit the crampons we hire here in Imlil as they are flexible). - Ice axe: £5 - Gloves: £2 - Rain jacket: £3 - Sleeping bag: £4 - Walking sticks (poles): £4 Note that prices are based on the Moroccan Dirham and may fluctuate slightly.

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. There are also times when snow or ice can make the trek too risky to attempt a summit. The guide may need to make the decision to turn back or trek a different route completely. This call is at the discretion of the local teams, who have years of experience on this mountain. 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).

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 £40 for a taxi (4 seats). 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 £80 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.

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. In some cases where the risks ar too high, the team may make a decision ahead of time not to attempt the summit. Please understand that these decisions are not taken lightly and in these rare circumstances, the local team will do everything possible to still deliver the best possible/ alternative experience.

It’s highly recommended that you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover can protect you in the case of unforeseen circumstances, including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip. Note that standard insurance often doesn't cover adventure activities. We recommend using specialist adventure travel insurers, like [Rise & Shield](https://riseandshield.com/), for your trip. Specialist insurers can cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover. It's your responsibility to carefully check the details of your policy to ensure that you're covered for the specific activities you'll be carrying out.

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.

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.

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 £80 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.

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

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.

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 Islane 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.

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 £80 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.

You can see the latest NHS advice at https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/africa/morocco.

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.

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)