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Trek through the spectacular Atlas Mountains and take on the highest peaks in North Africa. This is an epic climb of Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa which offers truly stunning views that, on a clear day, can reach Marrakech. Our eight-day itinerary is designed to give you a truly immersive experience, giving you the chance to experience the hospitality and beauty of the Berber people and villages plus the opportunity to summit North Africa's second-highest peak, Mount Ouanoukrim.
During your trek you will reach a max altitude of 4167m - 13,671ft. The trail can be tough all year round. It depends on whether you're trekking during winter or summer as to which route you will take to Mt Toubkal, but either trail can be a challenge. During winter, the Atlas Mountains do become more challenging due to the cold weather and snowy conditions. You can rent winter equipment for the trip if needed, including an ice axe and crampons. you will also have a highly trained mountain guide. The trek requires no technical climbing ability although any winter experience (if you're trekking in winter) is ideal. Most people who are in good fitness and come prepared will be able to complete this awesome trek.
As with all of our trips, your itinerary has been designed to give you the 'Full' experience of Morocco and the Atlas Mountains. As on all of our high altitude adventures, the itinerary is designed to ensure proper acclimatisation for a safe ascent of Mt Toubkal.
Over our long and challenging Mt Toubkal - Roof of the North 8 day trek(Winter & Summer), you will hike the Berber mountain trails and experience the hospitality of the Berber people at the same time as soaking in the awesome views of the Atlas Mountains. You will reach a maximum altitude of 4167 meters and stand on the summit of the highest peak in North Africa - Mt Toubkal. The Roof of the North. In addition, there is an optional climb of the 2nd highest peak Mt Ouanoukrim (4089m). You will also get to fully immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and colours of the magical city of Marrakech as we spend a day either side of your trek.
Winter options:
IMPORTANT - If you choose to trek on one of our winter summit treks, the conditions can force us to alter the itinerary meaning we head a different route to Mt Toubkal. We still climb and ascend to the mountain Refuge but through the valley next to the Mizane valley due to the crossing a ski area. We will try to keep to the schedule as much as we can but the main aim is to summit Toubkal via the safest route and this will be determined by our mountain guide before the trek commences.
Welcome to Morocco!
Upon arrival in Marrakech a member of the EverTrek team will be there to welcome you at the start of your adventure and drive you to our hotel. You will then have time to explore and soak in the sights, sounds and colours of this ancient city. You will be left in no doubt that the adventure has begun as you explore the city’s souks (Markets) and thriving central square. There are plenty of bargains to be found and tea to drink as you mingle and barter with the local traders of exotic spices and jewellery.
Today you'll wake up early and after a hearty breakfast you will complete the final preparations before driving through the low hills of the Atlas Mountains. The journey will take you through the beautiful Mizan valley to your first destination and the start of your trek at Imlil. From here you can already see the mighty peaks of the Atlas range and on a clear day you will see your ultimate goal of Mt Toubkal. Imlil was chosen by Hollywood as the location for parts of the movie Kundun and its picturesque paths and trails are the perfect spot to stretch your legs and take some gentle walks in the afternoon to help your body acclimatise.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today you will be acclimatising in the beautiful Imlil valley. Your guide will take you on the local Berber trails so you can experience the rich history of the Berber villages and people. If the weather is playing ball, you will hopefully have the chance to climb some of the smaller peaks reaching an altitude of 2500m, from here you can take in the extraordinary views of the Imlil valley. This will also be great practice for the terrain of the next coming days. You will return to Imlil in the afternoon for some food and rest to further aid your body in acclimatising.
Included meals: Lunch, Dinner
Today your trek towards Toubkal begins with a hike up through the Mizane Valley to the holy shrine of Sidi Chamarouch at 2310m. Here you can take some time to appreciate this special place which is a site of pilgrimage for many Moroccans. From here you will re-fuel before starting to gain some altitude. The trail slowly takes you up towards your ultimate goal of the day, the Toubkal Refuge at 3207m. Here your guide will complete a briefing of the next day's summit attempt and you will spend the evening resting and adjusting to the altitude. Have an early night so that you can be strong & ready for the long day tomorrow and your goal of stepping foot on the highest point in North Africa.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The day you have all been waiting for, there is nothing quite like waking up on summit day! You'll wake up and leave the refuge still under the cover of darkness, head torches leading the way. The trail is immediately steep as you ascend a scree slope and the thin air makes the climb tough but rewarding. After some steady climbing you come to a wide pass which will offer some stunning views and a small break before you turn towards the summit ridge and the final push. As you ascend the ridge and step foot on the summit plateau reaching an altitude of 4167 meters, you will be hit by the massive sense of achievement that you are standing on the summit of the highest peak in North Africa! The metal tetrapod which marks the summit is a great photo opportunity and the views are incredible. On a clear day you will be able to see all the way back to Marrakech and take in how far you have come, both physically and mentally. The descent takes you down the same route, treading carefully through the snow you will retrace your steps back to the Toubkal refuge, mission accomplished.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Today you wake up and have a decision to make. Those who wish to, can head out for a second day in the mountains and the chance to summit North Africa’s second highest peak, Mt Ouanoukrim. After an early breakfast, the summit team will leave the refuge and head to Tizi Quagane at 3750m and after a short break you'll move on to the summit. The route to the summit involves some hands on scrambling to get through a loose rock section, it is relatively straight forward and your guide will be there ensuring your safe accent. After the scrambling it's on to the always fun 'false summit' and across a ridge to the true summit of Mt Ouanoukrim, after celebrating your success you'll retrace your steps back to the refuge. Anyone who didn’t do the climb will be waiting for you at the refuge where you'll all spend one last night.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your last day hiking in the mountains is a nice and steady decent back to Imlil, taking in the stunning views of the Atlas Mountains for one last time before you say your farewells to the guides and porters who supported you during the accent. You will drive back to Marrakech and arrive back in the late afternoon, even more time to explore the city with your newfound knowledge and experience before enjoying a farewell feast with your fellow EverTrekkers
Included meals: Breakfast
Your time in Morocco has come to end and your transfer is waiting to take you back to the airport. You may have time to once again experience the sights, sounds and colour of Marrakech before starting your homeward journey and reflecting on the amazing achievement of reaching the summit of Mt Toubkal.
Experience Required
The summit of Mt Toubkal is suitable for keen walkers/trekkers who are fit and able to walk for 4 – 5 hours in a day with a light rucksack. Ideally, you will be able to walk for consecutive days for this length of time. The altitude is manageable and not that great so this can be an amazing first venture to the high peaks before heading on other treks like Everest Base Camp or Kilimanjaro. If you choose to trek during winter, any previous winter walking experience is ideal although you will learn all you need on the trip itself.
Equipment
We can forward a detailed equipment list upon booking. However, you can also view our Recommended Equipment for this trip »
Over the years, we have gained an incredible amount of experience and expertise in outdoor equipment and clothing. We have applied this to each trip that we offer and recommend what we believe to be the most suitable items for your trip. We have also teamed up with outdoor equipment experts Cotswold Outdoor and as an EverTrekker, you can receive 15% off all equipment in-store and online.
If you are looking to climb Mt Toubkal from October to the end of April, then this is a rundown of what gear you'll need for this EPIC trek!
We usually recommended 20-30 litre day packs. Your daypack will carry your essentials for the day, water, suncream, waterproofs etc. Try to prevent buying a day pack that is too big as it makes it easy to overpack. You can check out an article HERE to check out all our favourite packs.
A couple of recommendations which come to mind would be the infamous Meindl Bhutan or the Mammut Trovats. Essentially you need a study winter hiking boot which will provide you plenty of grip and support for the wintery terrain and conditions you can expect on Mt Toubkal this time of year. Please note, B1 boots are sufficient for this trip, this means they are compatible with C1 crampons which will fit on your boot to provide you extra grip in the slippery terrain.
During winter, the ground is steep and covered in snow and ice so it's crucial to have a pair of crampons to provide additional grip. Whilst you can hire crampons from our team, I would always recommend bringing your own to ensure quality, plus it means you can get used to them beforehand. .
For some more information about crampons, check out Dave’s guide HERE!
We recommend an 80ltr duffel bag to carry the bulk of your equipment. This will be carried by a mule so be mindful to only bring your essentials. Your travel bag or suitcase will be kept safely for you in Imlil lodge whilst you are off adventuring!
We would recommend 1 short sleeve base layer and 2 long sleeve thermal base layers. It's crucial that these are not cotton and are made of breathable fabric which will be quick drying, such as merino wool, smart wool or bamboo.
A midlayer fleece for added insulation when the temperature start to drop. Some brands we like are Rab, Craghoppers, Columbia and North Face.
We recommend one winter pair and one lighter weight pair. The winter lined trousers are a lifesaver on cold summit days and the lighter ones are perfect for the approach to Refuge.
Walking trousers can vary in price quite a lot. From the likes of Mammut and Fjallraven, Rab and Montane to more budget brands like Peter Storm or Decathlon.
Ensure you are looking at materials and the product's technology (are they breathable, flexible, water and wind resistant?)
I would recommend something like the Mountain Equipment’s Lightline down jacket, its a firm favourite amongst us Yetis at HQ.
Essentially, you need to be looking at something with a 700 fill.
A light waterproof is key and perfect to have to hand in your day pack in case of a shower. There shouldn’t be much rain at the time of year but you never know! I personally like The Rab Firewall waterproof.
The Painted Yeti recommends his trusted Montane prism gloves / mitt with a pair of liners. If you are prone to suffering from cold hands, the Titan Gore-Tex Snowboard/Ski Mitts may be best for you.
I used the Vulcan Heated cycling/Ski Gloves when I did Mt Toubkal, they are great gloves alone but the cool thing about these gloves is they use infrared technology to heat up the gloves too!
You can check out my full review of the kit I tried from Vulcan Sportswear HERE. The kit would be ideal for a trip like this, remember, as an EverTrek customer you get 15% off, the code is in your members area!
Please be cautious that water bladders are prone to freezing in the cold weather conditions. We recommend bringing 2-3 water bottles (total 2-3 litres) instead which you can store wrapped in your day pack away from the direct cold.
Bottled water is available to buy at the refuge, you will need to replenish your supply at this point. Bottles and snacks at the refuge are inexpensive, you will need to have cash.
If you run cold, it's always a good idea to bring a sleeping bag liner with you as they can have a big impact on keeping you cosy!
TOILET PAPER! The refuge is very basic so you must remember to bring your own toilet roll.
Disposable wet wipes,
Hand sanitiser
Ear plugs (the refuge is can also be pretty noisy!)
Diarrhea kit
Hydration tables (We personally like the SiS ones)
3-4 pairs of walking socks
Head torch is essential (remember to pack spare batteries)
Power bank
Warm hat
Neck buff
Toiletries
Small quick drying towel
Sunglasses
Flip flops or casual shoes for around camp
Pack of cards or something to keep you entertained in the refuge in the evenings as there is little signal
Dry bags
Plastic zip lock bag to store rubbish until you are off the mountain
Lip balm
Sleeping Bag - 5 Euro per day
Down Jacket - 10 Euro per day
Crampons - 5 Euro per day
Ice Axe - 5 Euro per day
Helmet - Free
Duffel bag -5 Euro per day
This can be paid directly to the team in Morocco after you arrive.
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