How Long Does It Take to Climb Mount Toubkal?

If you're itching to know how long it takes to climb Mount Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak, you've come to the right place! Whether you're looking for a quick weekend adventure or a leisurely eight-day trek, we've got the lowdown on what to expect.

I'll never forget my first summit of this awesome mountain. It’s an epic journey that’ll give you stories for years to come.

So, essentially you have two options when going on this trek, a short weekender, and a slower paced 8 day itinerary, both with different feels and reasons to choose. Let's get down to the nitty gritty and unpack the different itineraries below.

The Quick Climb: Weekender Itinerary

• Day 1 - 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 lodge in the Berber village of Imlil 1740m where you will spend your first night in the Atlas mountains. The journey takes around 1 1/2 hours to reach Imlil where you will have some spare time to explore the village and the surrounding area depending on what time of day you arrive.

• Day 2 - Today we wake up early and hike the Berber tails up through the Mizane Valley to the holy shrine of Sidi Chamarouch. Here we can take some time to appreciate this special place which is a site of pilgrimage for many Moroccans. After a short rest, we then start to gain some real altitude as the trail slowly takes us up towards 3206 meters and our ultimate goal of the day, the Toubkal Refuge. This is the main base for everyone heading to the summit of Mt Toubkal and is an exciting hub of energy as fellow trekkers all rest and watch the sunset before the excitement of summit day.

• Day 3 - Summit Day! There is nothing quite like waking up on summit day! You'll leave the refuge still under the cover of darkness, head torches leading the way. The trail immediately steepens as you ascend a scree slope and the thin air makes the climb a little tough but hugely 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 summit ridge and step foot on the 'Roof of the North' 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 descent takes you down the same route, treading carefully through the snow as you retrace your steps back to the Toubkal refuge and then back to Imlil where we will then get picked up and transferred down to Marrakech where you will spend your final night. Mission accomplished. This is a tough old day with around 8-10 hours of walking so you will definitely sleep tonight.

• Day 4 - Your time in Morocco has come to end and your transfer is waiting to take you back to the airport. If you have some time, you can explore the local Markets (Souks) for a few hours before you start your homeward journey, reflecting on the amazing achievement of reaching the summit of Mt Toubkal.

Slow down: 8 Day Itinerary

• Day 1 - 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.

• Day 2 - 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.

• Day 3 - 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.

• Day 4 - 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.
  
  
• Day 5 - 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.
  
  
• Day 6 - 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.
  
  
• Day 7 - 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.
  
  
• Day 8 - 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.

In a nutshell, climbing Mount Toubkal itself takes 2 days, it's the length of time to acclimatise, take your time returning and experiencing the culture of Morocco that can differ in the itineraries.

Climbing Mount Toubkal is a thrilling and rewarding experience, perfect for both quick adventurers and those looking to savor every moment. Remember to pack smart, stay hydrated, and enjoy the breathtaking journey. And don’t forget to share your epic summit selfies – your friends will be green with envy!

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