Morocco

Toubkal (4,167m)

64

Hike North Africa's Tallest Mountain - 4 Days.

Itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Imlil (1,740m)

You will be picked up at 8pm from Marrakech Airport, and then driven to the mountain village of Imlil. Here you can enjoy your welcome dinner, and take in the panoramic views of the High Atlas mountains.

All food, accommodation and transfers are included on this trip.

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In the morning you’ll give your main bag to the muleteers, and then hike for 3 hours to the tiny settlement of Sidi Chamharouch. Here your cooks will serve up lunch, and you can also get fresh orange juice from one of the local stools. Afterwards you continue for another 3 hours to Toubkal base camp, where you’ll stay for the night.

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You start very early at around 5am, you will have breakfast. After this, we begin the hike with a slow and steady pace upwards.

After 2-3 hours you’ll aim to reach the summit of Mt Toubkal (4,167m) at sunrise! From here you can look down from the snowy summit, to the green Anti-Atlas mountains, and then finally the vast Sahara desert! After taking some time to enjoy the views, we’ll then head downhill for 6 hours to Imlil.

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After breakfast, you will be taken back to Marrakech airport for 10am (in time for flights after 12.30pm). You can also be dropped to Marrakech city instead, if you want to stay on for a few days.

64 verified reviews

Rated 5.0
Magdalena
Magdalena

Traveled May 2022

A beautiful adventure. Top quality of guides.

Aagash
Aagash

Traveled May 2022

Fantastic experience. Great food, friendly host and guide. Would definitely recommend to anyone, be they a beginner or expert at mountain climbing.

nils
nils

Traveled May 2022

Fantastic trip! Well organised, fantastic staff all from the hotel the refuge and the mountain guides. The ascent is hard though 😉

Darren
Darren

Traveled May 2022

An incredible experience! The guides accommodation, food and organisation were all 1st class. We all felt looked after and safe by Omar and the team so that we could focus on the trek and taking in the surroundings. Extremely well organised and the best trip I've had. We will most certainly return to the Atlas and book other adventure with Skyhook. Absolutely brilliant!!

Will
Will

Traveled May 2022

Brilliant! The guides, accommodation & food are perfect for this hike & make the tough climb much more enjoyable. It was good fun hiking with a group of like minded people & I will definitely be recommending Skyhook to my friends.

Simona
Simona

Traveled May 2022

Amazing! Just as advertised. Omar and Abdul were great guides and supported our group so we all made it to the summit. Highly recommend!

Mark
Mark

Traveled May 2022

My wife and I recently travelled to Morocco with Skyhook to climb Toubkal. We were slightly nervous as neither of us had climbed to that height, so weren’t sure how the altitude would effect us. There was no need to worry because our guide, Lahcen, was awesome! He took us up the mountain at such a good pace, stopping for breaks and ensuring we reached the summit with no problems. Our stay at the refuge, prior to the climb was also made comfortable by our great cook Mohammed who fed us so well. It’s a worthwhile challenge supported by a great team all round. Definitely worth doing a bit of training prior to the challenge (which we did) so that you can fully enjoy the experience. We would thoroughly recommend this trip with Skyhook. Mark & Abigail (UK)

David
David

Traveled May 2022

Fantastic experience. Everything went very smoothly. Guides were fantastic, especially Omar and Yousef. The food was great and the riads adequate. Thanks to all involved.

Richard
Richard

Traveled Apr 2022

Where to begin! We booked our trip in December 2018 and it was cancelled and re booked 4 times due to the pandemic. The team at skyhook couldn’t have handled the situation any better than they did and allowed us to transfer our deposits and bookings on to future dates. Throughout the process Damien and Allan’s communication was second to none, they couldn’t be more helpful and responded to all my emails straight away. This was the first time I have used a company for a trip like this and I can honestly say I will never use any other company now other than Skyhook as I was that impressed. We will be using them for Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp in the future. As for the trip it’s self, everything went 100% according to plan and the company/staff they use (Atlas Vertical) in Morocco we’re just as professional, kind and helpful. We felt completely safe throughout and was welcomed with open arms. For anyone considering to book this trip and who is a little unsure, rest assured you are in great hands both in the UK with skyhook and in Morocco with Atlas Vertical. One thing that is worth knowing, don’t underestimate the Altitude. A lot of people found the final summit day taxing on their body’s due to the altitude and sheer distance you cover on the day. You do follow an acclimatisation plan but some admitted at the end they would have benefited from another day as you get up and down quite quick so make sure you attend in your best physical condition. Thank you Skyhook for an unforgettable experience and outstanding service. I can’t wait to travel with you again in the near future Best Regards Richard

Paul
Paul

Traveled Apr 2022

Overall it was an amazing adventure, we really enjoyed it - although was far harder than we anticipated. I thought the guides were amazing and ensured we had a really memorable experience, the accommodation at Imlil was good, at the refuge it was 'an experience' and not sure any of us got any rest before the summit climb. few things to feedback from us, although the kit list etc on the skyhook website covered most things, there was a lack of pre event comms which was disappointing, one key thing that was not discussed at all was around altitude sickness, 2 of our group didn't summit due to this and we all felt the effects, there should have been more awareness of things to look out for and what can be done to limit / prevent it. Secondly, the only slight criticism of our hosts was a lack of kit check before the climb, one of the team went up without gloves and had the weather turned this could have had serious implications due to the extreme temperatures. Overall, it was such an amazing experience, i would certainly recommend it for others.

Thomas
Thomas

Traveled Apr 2022

Fantastic Experience, the tour was well organised and they take pride in what they do. accommodation was good & food was excellent. Would 100% recommend this trip to anyone.

Edwin
Edwin

Traveled Apr 2022

It was a great experience. With a lot of thanks to my fellow groupmembers and to Omar and his excellent team. My legs still hurt, but it slowly gets better.

Marina
Marina

Traveled Apr 2022

Hiking Toubkal was an amazing experience! It was great having Youssef and Abdul as our guides, they were both supportive and funny. Both the hospitality and accommodation were excellent. They always made sure I had vegetarian meals available. It was a pleasure to hike in such beautiful scenery, and the summit was breathtaking. I highly recommend it.

Shane
Shane

Traveled Apr 2022

The hardest but best thing I’ve done in my life! thank you so much to Youssef and Abdul for getting us up and back, to the porters that work so hard and the cooks for keeping us fuelled for this gruelling adventure.

Jonathan
Jonathan

Traveled Apr 2022

Brilliant experience, run by great hosts at the accommodation. The porters were extremely helpful and full of enthusiasm. The 2 guides made the trip a wonderful experience, they were friendly, enthusiastic, full of encouragement but must of all we felt safe in their hands. Thanks Skyhook and Atlas Vertical.

Frank
Frank

Traveled Apr 2022

Fantastic experience with very motivated and professional guides. Good accommodation with delicious and plenty of food. All was very well organised. A must do.

Ross
Ross

Traveled Apr 2022

Enjoyed a great few days with Abdel and the team, trekking to the top of Toubkal. Couldn’t have asked for a better guide. The hospitality they delivered was first class. The food was delicious, super authentic and healthy. Transport to and from the mountains included. The Riad was excellent. A really high standard with Mohammed the host/chef The mountain refugee was described as basic but this far exceeded our expectations. In comparison with trekking in other parts of the developing world the accomodation was a high standard. A large heated room for eating in and thick blankets provided free of charge for additional warmth. Probably won’t sleep much with the altitude but you’ll be comfortable. Mules and porters were provided for transport of large bags and the food. The greatest part of the trip is kind and humorous Berber people. Everyone we met was friendly and welcoming.

John
John

Traveled Mar 2022

An amazing experience. Transport and accommodation were spot on and our guide Abdul was tremendous. Food and digs better than expected. Nothing to moan about. Top class

Alexander
Alexander

Traveled Mar 2022

Amazing from start to finish. I would highly recommend Skyhook to all my friends. Toubkal was an incredible trail. The guide Ahmed was super friendly and knowledgeable. The food was really good, the accommodation was very good too, all at an affordable price. I can’t wait to book again with Skyhook. I would do this hike again 👏

Asma
Asma

Traveled Mar 2022

I loved it. Everything from the beginnings at Imlil, to the trek back to Imlil was done in a way to make everybody feel very comfortable. Our trip started with the stay at the Riad in Imlil where Hussein briefed us on what to expect during the hike, and even provided us equipment we didnt have for the hike. Our guide Abdul was very helpful and took care of us from the beginning to the end of the two days hike, making sure we were very well looked after. The stay at the refuge was quite comfortable, basic but cannot expect more. Good fun the night we stayed at the refuge. The summit hike was challenging, but again ABdul our guide was very helpful, especially as I struggled with a headache and nausea on the way back. Would recommend this trip to friends interested in mountaineering, and maybe I go back again for more.

Pranjal
Pranjal

Traveled Mar 2022

This was indeed an epic trip. From the time I landed in Marrakesh till I left, everything was meticulously organised by Atlas Vertical Travel. The owner Hussain is not only a man from the ground who has many experience and expertise under his belt, but also will make you feel special when you spend a night at his guest house in Imlil. The hike to Mount Toubkal was fantastic even though get ready for some serious walk and lots of hard work (especially for us since it was in end March, we had walked on plenty of snow even before reaching the refuse). But expert guide made it all look easy with encouragement and walking with your pace. The experience of summiting the Mount Toubkal was epic. I will surely come back for a summer hike.

Georgiana
Georgiana

Traveled Mar 2022

The trip was great! The climb itself in winter conditions is quite difficult, however I've had the support of a great guide, Mohamed, who helped me summit safely and made the whole experience very pleasant!

Ildiko
Ildiko

Traveled Mar 2022

What an amazing experience!!! I was slightly sceptical of going to Morocco - thinking of safety. I experienced the complete opposite! Starting with the effective communication with Hussein (sorry if I will spell the names wrong), who was our contact there via Skyhook. He has the skills of being the host you could wish for and always going above and beyond to make your sure you are well looked after. I cannot thank him enough for his kindness! During our trip we had two cooks, Mohammed and Abdul. Our taste buds were taken to another level with the Moroccan dishes we've been served. Our guides Mohammed and Ibrahim are so experienced! It was so lovely listening to them on the hike, finding out about their culture. The looked after us and they set up a pace that was suitable for all those in the group, more so they made sure we have all the equipment needed for safety. Due to the bad weather conditions, I only managed to hike up to about 3800 m and again, the guides looked after us coming down in poor visibility and high winds. Everyone turned back that day, so there were more people around. I was amazed of the remarkable teamwork they showed us, we were all been looking out for each other. There've been no rules set up, it has been a natural caring skill they revealed. During this trip I learned the pure kindness of Berber people, I made new friends and I store unforgettable memories. I cannot wait to revisit! Thank you all for looking after us the way you did! P.S. I would highly recommend to visit Marrakech using a guide called Hussein, he's knowledge of history is incredible. To get in contact with him you can ask Hussein your contact via Skyhook, or I am happy to give information.

Nigel
Nigel

Traveled Feb 2022

Really tough but rewarding. Great guides from Atlas Vertical but I don’t want Tagine ever again

David
David

Traveled Oct 2021

What an amazing weekend… Big thank you to our guides Houssain and Omar for looking after us all on this trip.. Being coeliac I always worry about food on these trips but Houssain looked after everything, food was fresh ,delicious and plentiful.. everything is taken care of with these guys, many thanks guys 👍🏔

Eamonn
Eamonn

Traveled Oct 2021

WOW…. I would give 6 stars if I could. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I am Just back from Mt Toubkal and what a fantastic trip. I traveled with a group of friends, 11 of us in total and we all had a brilliant time. The accommodation was great. The food was freshly made for us every time, it was very tasty and plenty of it. On day 1 was around 12.6km. On day 2 we were up and gone by 4am and its 5k to the top, tough going with altitude and the steep ascent and It’s a long day going all the way back to Imlil. Was it worth it ? Yes. When you get to the top, you will know what I mean A massive thanks to our guides Hussein and Omar who were amazing, making sure we all got to the summit and also the porters, cooks and hosts were all brilliant 👍🏻. I have nothing negative to say about the trip. I would highly recommend Hussein and Omar to guide you. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

mark
mark

Traveled Oct 2021

Just back from an amazing few days with Hussein and his team ,could'nt have been any better,food and accommodation were excellent.Hussein and his team had everything covered,cant thank Hussein enough for his help getting my 21 year old daughter up to the peak even though she was struggling for a while,the effort he put in to guide her up by the hand and make sure she got to the top was unbelievable,Thank you again Hussein ,amazing trip :)

Scott
Scott

Traveled Oct 2021

Brilliant trip, couldn't have asked for a better guide for the weekend! Made sure the whole group made it up to the top for the awesome views. Accomodation was nice, all guides, cooks and porters were helpful and friendly. Ate well all weekend even as a vegan, totally catered for. Couldn't recommend enough, thank you again Hussain!

Catherine
Catherine

Traveled Oct 2021

The hike to climb Mt Toubkal was amazing. Houssain is a first class Guide. Houssain and his team did a great job of making every member of the group feel relaxed and at home in the beautiful Atlas mountains. The accommodation and food was excellent and the scenery spectacular! I would give this trip a ten out of ten. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering doing it. I'm so glad I did it. I had the most amazing positive experience. Thank you to all the team.

Imola
Imola

Traveled Oct 2021

It was an amazing jorney to the summit of Toubkal! Our guide, Houssein was very kind, helpful and supported us during the whole tour. The altitude is challanging, but can be managed following a very experienced guide instructions. Everything was well organized and the food was delicious! Atlas mountain is beautiful and summit of Toubkal is definitely a destination for any hikers.

FAQs

Included: - Guides, porters and muleteers - Airport transfers - Accommodation in camp or in the refuge depending on season. - Food & purified water Excluded: - International flights - Tips - Any visa fees (not needed for UK citizens) - Personal travel/rescue insurance

The summit day can be 9-12 hours (with lots of breaks) so you do need a good level of fitness. We recommend training with jogging or sport 1-2 times a week, in the run-up to your trip.

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 especially between Dec till end March. 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 • Footwear for Marrakech Other • Large rucksack for the mules/porters • Daysack (25-35L) • 3L of water bottles (Minimum) • Sunglasses • Suncream • Sunhat • Insect repellant • Glasses/contact lenses (if needed) • Sleeping bag (2-3 season) • Bathroom items including travel towel • Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor (French plug style), phone & charger • Lipsil • Book/mp3 player (optional) • Walking poles (optional -Available to rent for €3)

The local guides use mules to carry your main bag, so that you can just carry a small bag with water, sun cream and waterproofs whilst trekking.

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

Winter season (Nov – Mar) Winter can be quite cold on Mt Toubkal, with temperatures on the summit going as low as -20 °C. March starts to warm up with a higher chance of rain. Early/late season (Apr– May & Oct) Temperatures at lower altitudes can reach 26°C, with little chance of rain. The summit can still go as low as -10°C with wind chill. Summer (Jun – Sep) June has a higher chance of rain, but still stays warm. July to Sept 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.

You stay in a hostel in Imlil and a mountain hut on the mountain. The lodge will offer twin shared rooms, with intermittent internet and warm showers.

The mountain refuge is very basic, and showers do not always offer warm water, with basic style toilets. The mountain hut does sell snacks. It is worth taking small denominations of cash, as they sometimes do not have change available.

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. However, the key is to mention if you are experiencing any symptoms to your guide (headache/nausea) as soon as you feel them.

Yes, you can leave anything you don't need.

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

Yes! Many people choose to do this, and you can use the trip Facebook Group to arrange to meet other people from your team.

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

Start: Your guide will meet you at hotel Ali in the Old Medina (Jemaa el-Fnaa) of the city at 19h30. If you have arrived early, we recommend you spend a few hours exploring Marrakech city. If you arrive to the airport late in the day around 8pm we can join you there before we drive to Imlil. End: For return transfer from Imlil to Marrakech kech Airport , you will be transported from Imlil at 8am. . You can also be dropped in Marrakech city if you would like to stay on.

The guides will provide you with 1.5L of water each day. Water is also available from natural springs and at various village stores along the way. You may want to consider taking purification tablets with you for any spring water.

Wifi is available in the hotels on the first and last nights, however it can be unreliable given the remote location. There is internet available in the mountain refuge, but phone signal can be poor sometimes .

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.

Yes - all trips are guaranteed, even with only one person. In practice however most trips get fully booked up.