Mount Toubkal the highest peak in North Africa
Mount Toubkal is the highest peak in Morocco, North Africa, and the Arab world. It’s one of the most scenic and rewarding hikes in Morocco.
Mount Toubkal is 13,670 feet high (4,167 meters). It’s located inside Toubkal National Park in the Atlas Mountains.
There are many hiking trails to get to the summit of Toubkal. You can spend as much or as little time as you like in the mountain.
An Amazigh village near Toubkal National Park
In this article, I will focus primarily on climbing Toubkal in 2 days.
I will share with you everything you need to know before attempting this climb: How to get there, where to stay, how to find a guide, and things you should consider for a successful climb.
I climbed Toubkal in November of 2022.
Getting to Imlil from Marrakesh
Imlil is a small village in the high Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
Most visitors head up to the summit from Imlil. The village makes for a good base for attempting to summit Toubkal. It’s also the perfect location to hire mountain guides and rent gear or mules.
Imlil is about 67 kilometers south of Marrakesh. The road is not in the best conditions especially as you get closer to Imlil but it’s drivable.
The easiest and cheapest way to get to Imlil from Marrakesh is taking a “Grand Taxi”
Grand taxis in Morocco are a form of public transportation. They transport passengers inside as well as outside the city. A Grand taxi can seat up to 6 passengers. The driver has to wait for all seats to be filled before it departs.
You can take a taxi from the station of “Sidi Mimoun” near Grand Hotel Tazi. Look for the yellow taxis and ask who’s heading to Imlil, you will be pointed to the right vehicle.
The price is 35 Moroccan Dirhams (Around $4). The price might change slightly.
Foreigners might be quoted a different price. A good hack is to ask another passenger how much they paid for their seat.
The drive is around 90 minutes. The road is not in the best conditions but Grand taxi drivers are very experienced as they drive this route numerous times a week.
You will be dropped in the center of Imlil, and from there, you can make your way to your accommodation.
Where to stay in Imlil
Booking.com has a wide range of places to stay in Imlil for all budgets. You can choose between guest houses, family lodges, or kasbahs.
I stayed at Atlas sultana riad. I had to walk a bit from the center of Imlil to get there but it was very worth it. The guesthouse was tucked away in a small village called Mazik.
The house was overlooking a valley with a lot of pecan and apple trees and surrounded by other peaks. Watching the sunrise and the sunset from the guesthouse was an absolute treat.
Many of the guesthouses in and around Imlil will have the option to prepare your breakfast and dinner and you can often request what you’d prefer.
Is Imlil a safe village?
Imlil is a safe village to travel to. The locals are super friendly and helpful. It’s a breath of fresh air from the busy streets of Marrakesh both literally and figuratively.
The incident of 2018 brought a lot of controversy about safety in the area but if you have a licensed guide with you and you are practicing common sense, you will be as safe as it gets.
Preparing to climb Toubkal
Can I climb Toubkal without a guide?
After the incident of 2018, it is no longer possible to climb Toubkal without a guide.
Every hiker or group of hikers must be with a guide with no exceptions. Be sure to have your ID or passport with you as there is a checkpoint at the trailhead where you and your guide must register with the local authorities.
How to find a guide for Toubkal?
You can hire a guide when you arrive in Imlil or even at the trailhead as there are usually guides waiting for clients. I suggest, however, that you hire and contact your guide before arriving in Imlil.
You can either get a referral from a friend.
Here’s the contact number of the guide I climbed with: Hamid +212 666-080320, bear in mind that he speaks French, Arabic, and Amazigh)
Otherwise, you can contact the Office of Mountain Guides of Imlil and ask to hire a guide before you show up in Imlil.
How much does it cost to hire a guide for Toubkal?
Typically, a guide charges 300 Moroccan Dirhams per day on the mountain regardless of whether it’s one person or more in your party. Don’t forget to tip your guide at the end of your adventure.
Climbing Toubkal over Two Days
The most common way to tackle this climb is over two days.
On the first day, you start your hike from Imlil to make your way to the refuge.
On the second day, you leave the refuge to make your way to the summit, then descend back to Imlil.
You can opt for more days on the mountain if you prefer.
Day 1: Imlil to the refuge
The first day is a day hike from Imlil to the refuge. The hike is about 6.7 miles long (10 Kilometers) and can take between 5 to 6 hours depending on your pace.
You will start from an elevation of about 5,800 feet( 1768 meters) and gain 4500 feet to sleep at 10,300 feet at the refuge (3140 meters).
You will pass small villages as you trek up, the most notable one is Armed early on during the hike.
Another important checkpoint is Sidi Chamharouch. Sidi Chamharouch is a popular spiritual pilgrimage site in Morocco. It’s marked by a big white boulder sitting atop the site. Many visit the site seeking spiritual healing.
It’s also a popular day trip from Marrakesh or Imlil. At Chamharouch, there are a few restaurants where you can stop for some food or snacks.
Past Chamharouch, there are many vendors where you can stop to buy snacks, orange juice, Moroccan mint tea, water, or even a full hot tajine.
You will share the trail with mules transporting provisions or luggage to and from the refuge.
If you want to rent a mule, you can do so in Imlil or let your guide know ahead of time. It typically goes from 150-200 Moroccan Dirhams.
How to book the refuge in Toubkal
There are two refuges where you can spend the night before the summit push:
French Alpine Club https://www.refugedutoubkal.com/fr/refuge/1.
Refuge Toubkal Les Mouflons https://refugetoubkal.com/
It’s recommended, especially during the busy season, to book your spot before you show up.
I stayed at the French Alpine Club. You can choose to include breakfast and dinner too. They have mixed dorms where you can book a bed. They also provide blankets, so there is no need to carry a sleeping bag unless you want to.
At the refuge, you can also buy things like water and snacks for a higher price than you normally would in Imlil or Marrakech.
Check my video linked at the end of this article to watch what the French Alpine Club looks like from the inside.
Day 2: Refuge to the summit
On day 2 you will be pushing to the summit of the highest peak in Africa. It’s typical to start the trek as early as 04:00 am to get to the summit around sunrise. You can decide with your guide what time works best for you. The refuge will coordinate breakfast time before your early morning
trek. From the refuge, you will be gaining more than 3000 feet (1000 meters) to the summit of Toubkal.
It’s a steep climb to the summit but you can make it one step at a time. Some sections of the trail are pretty exposed. Your guide will advise you when wearing microspikes or crampons is necessary depending on the trail conditions. It’s very common to rope up with your guide for some winter ascents.
When the sun is out, you are welcomed by the jagged peaks of the Atlas Mountains. This mountain range is one of the best that I have ever seen.
At the summit, there is a sign that marks the peak where you can stop for some photos and celebrate a successful ascent of one of the most beautiful mountains in Africa.
During the same day, you will descend back to the refuge to take a break before making your way back to Imlil.
What to pack for Toubkal
Your packing list will vary depending on the time of the year and how much snow or ice there is on the mountain. There are many outfitters in the village of Imlil where you can rent shoes, trekking poles, sunglasses, gloves, micro spikes, crampons, ice axes, or even jackets.
Consult with your guide on things that you might need and ask if he can arrange for renting any missing gear.
Here is a list of some hiking essentials (Please keep in mind that you might need more or less of what’s listed)
Hiking boots
Day pack (20-40 liters)
Top layers (2-3) (preferably merino wool or a moisture-wicking material)
Hiking pants
Bottom layers (for the colder season)
Waterproof pants
Trekking poles
Fleece jacket
Waterproof jacket
Hiking socks (2-3 pairs with a thick pair for winter conditions)
Headlamp & extra batteries
Power bank (Keep warm overnight so that it doesn’t drain)
Microspikes
Ice crampons (For thick ice on the trail)
Ice axe (for winter conditions)
Emergency kit
Gloves
Mittens (for the colder season)
Scarf
Sunglasses
sun hat
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Water bottle or water bladder
Buff (neck gaiter)
Nuun tablets for hydration
Snacks
Clothes to sleep in at the refuge
Wet wipes
Hand sanitizer
Camera & batteries
Here’s my hiking kit for Toubkal highlighting my favorite brands:
10 Tips for Climbing Mount Toubkal
Be aware of the risks of high altitude sickness. At this elevation, the human body can start experiencing risks of high altitude sickness. The higher we go up in elevation, the less oxygen there is in the air for our bodies to consume. Get to Imlil at least one day before your climb to adjust to the change in elevation, keep yourself hydrated, pack some pain killer to help with headaches, and listen to your body. The mountain will always be there.
Pack light, especially during summit night. You can leave everything that you won’t need on summit day at the refuge and collect it on the way down.
Trekking poles are super helpful to find your footing and to descend with ease. Rent a pair if you don’t have one.
The Atlas mountain range is fascinating. Take a moment to look around and take in the beauty of the landscape.
You don’t need to pack a lot of water with you as there are plenty of water sources throughout the trail.
Discuss the route with your guide and have a rough understanding of the approach. As a backup, you can download an offline version of this map to help with orientation in the park.
Listen to your guide.
Before you take on this challenge, train and prepare physically by doing some cardio, conditioning, and going on long hikes. This way you’ll end up having a much more pleasant time on the mountain.
