Climbing Mount Toubkal in 60 Hours: A Quick Adventure to North Africa’s Highest Peak!

Climbing Mount Toubkal in 60 Hours!

At the summit of Toubkal! 4167m

I wanted to share this adventure with a blog, not only because it was such a rewarding experience but also because Mount Toubkal is one of the most beautiful and accessible 4000-meter peaks in the world.

Standing at 4,167 meters (13,671 ft), it’s the highest mountain in North Africa and part of Morocco’s stunning High Atlas range. Best of all, it’s achievable for fit hillwalkers without the need for technical climbing or prior alpine experience.

Planning the Trip

I planned this adventure with two of my friends, Bryany and Kelly. Both are active hikers, but this would be their first 4000-meter summit! After some research, we discovered that the best time to climb Toubkal is between late May and late October, when conditions are generally dry, trails are snow-free, and there’s no need for technical gear like crampons or ice axes. Perfect!

We set our sights on October, I checked local guide availability (almost daily!), and then looked for flights. Since we’d already visited Marrakesh earlier in the year, this trip’s goal was simple: summit Toubkal in two days.

EasyJet operates regular flights between Manchester and Marrakesh, so after little deliberation, we booked a Tuesday evening flight out and a Friday morning flight home, giving us Wednesday and Thursday for our trek.

(Tip: If you want more time for acclimatisation, a 3-day itinerary is often recommended… it allows slower ascent and time to explore side valleys like Azzaden or Sidi Chamharouch.)

Booking the Trek

We booked our guide through GetYourGuide, which included:

• Pick-up in Marrakesh

• Transport to Imlil (1,800m), the gateway to Toubkal

• Mule and muleteer for luggage

• Two days of guiding by certified local mountain guides

• One night in the Toubkal Refuge (Les Mouflons)

• Meals (lunch/dinner Day 1, breakfast/lunch Day 2)

• Return transport to Marrakesh

  
  

Once that was sorted, we used Booking.com to find accommodation for our two other nights in Morocco. We opted for a traditional Moroccan riad; a charming guesthouse built around a central courtyard, to add a little more culture to the trip. Riads are usually located in or around the Medina, Marrakesh’s old town, and are a must-try for an authentic stay.

Our riad kindly arranged airport transfers via booking.com messenger, making things super smooth.

Our beautiful riad in Marrakesh!

Day 1 – Marrakesh to the Mountains

Ready for our pick up and excited for the adventure ahead!

After breakfast, our driver collected us at 8:30 a.m. for the 1.5-hour journey to Imlil. The road winds through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, passing small Berber villages and fruit orchards.

In Imlil, we met our guides Mohammed and Omar, went through a quick kit check, and set off!

Quick map check of the route before heading out

Our group of ten included fellow adventurers from the UK, Canada, and Morocco — a great mix, and we all quickly bonded.

Heading out on the long trek up to the mountain refuge

Entering the Toubkal National park

Passports are mandatory for the Toubkal trek as there are police check points as you enter the National Park. Your guide also has to provide his information and contact details as he is responsible for you and your safety while on the trek!

The trek to the refuge climbs about 1,305 meters over 12.5 km, from 1,817m to 3,152m. The trail passes through the Sidi Chamharouch shrine, a small white-washed village built around a large rock, considered sacred by locals, here we stopped for lunch.

The views were incredible; rugged valleys, waterfalls, and terraced farms… and though the hike was long and hot, the gradient was steady. I took a filter bottle with me to save some money on water; there are plenty of points to refill your filter bottle including at all the shops along the way!

Enjoying the trail!

The last push to the refuge

The team arriving at the refuge

Before sunset, we had reached the Refuge du Toubkal, where temperatures dropped quickly. Out came the down jackets!

Keeping warm outside the refuge while we took in the views and soaked it all up!

We were allocated a large dormitory (27 people), with bunks… earplugs highly recommended! Dinner was served family-style, followed by an early night.

Nighty night!

Day 2 – Summit Day

Our alarms rang at 2:30 a.m. After a quick breakfast, we packed only summit essentials: water, snacks, headtorch, layers, and gloves. The rest stayed at the refuge for our return.

We began the ascent under a canopy of stars, the trail illuminated by a long line of headlamps zigzagging up the mountainside. There must have been around 150–200 climbers on the route that morning, but the groups were well spaced.

Heading on up! The trail steepens form the refuge

Hikers making the climb by headlamps

We reached the Tizi n’Toubkal col (3,940m) just as the first orange bands of dawn appeared.

Beautiful light over the Atlas Mountains

From there, the final push to the summit took about another hour over rocky terrain. Watching the sun rise over the Atlas Mountains, casting golden light across the peaks, was utterly magical. Sharing that moment with my friends made it even more special.

After plenty of summit photos and high-fives, we descended back to the refuge for an early lunch (at 10:30 a.m!), then continued the long, hot, dusty descent back to Imlil.

The long walk back to Imlil!

We tipped our guides, thanked the muleteer, and hopped back on our minibus to Marrakesh.

Evening in Marrakesh

Refreshed and ready for some food!

By 5:30 p.m, we were back at our riad, tired but happy! After a quick shower, we headed to Kabana Rooftop Restaurant, which I’d prebooked. Kabana is one of the few spots near the Medina with a licensed bar ... alcohol isn’t commonly served in many Moroccan venues.

A perfect way to finish the day! Sunrise on Toubkal, sunset on a Marrakesh rooftop!

Sipping wine while watching the sunset over Marrakesh, eating falafel and truffle fries, was the perfect ending to our whirlwind adventure and despite the long day, we couldn’t resist a stroll through the Jemaa el-Fnaa square and the souks, picking up tea and trinkets with our remaining dirhams.

Buying some Moroccan tea in the souks!

Day 3 – Home Time

Back at the airport for an early flight home

At 7:00 a.m., our driver collected us for our short transfer to the airport. Just 60 hours after we’d arrived, we were heading home! A little sore, a lot sun-kissed, and with hearts full of memories!

My Trip Costs

Item	Cost (per person)
Return flights	£113
Shared checked bag	£23.60
Two nights in riad	£38
Airport transfers	£11.60
Toubkal trek (guided, full board)	£96
Total	£282
Spending money (approx.)	£80 (plenty – I had some left!)

My Packing List

Shared checked duffel:

• Hiking boots

• Trekking poles

• Sleeping bag + liner

• Sunscreen

• Toiletries

38L carry-on backpack:

• Sunglasses

• Headtorch

• Power bank & phone charger

• Insta360 camera

• AirPods

• Toothbrush

• Sandals (Salomon Breaks)

• Warm hat & gloves

• Down jacket

• Waterproof jacket & trousers

• 1L Nalgene bottle

• 500ml soft flask with filter

• 2 hiking tops

• 1 pair of shorts, 1 pair of leggings

• Socks & underwear

• Sleepwear

• Light summer dress (for Marrakesh dinner!)

Useful Info for Future Trekkers

• Altitude: AMS (altitude mountain sickness) can affect anyone above 2,500m. Stay hydrated and pace yourself!

• Weather: October daytime temps in Imlil are around 20C; at the summit it is often close to freezing at sunrise, for us it was -1

• Permits: Foreigners must trek with a registered guide (Moroccan regulation since 2018).

• Refuge: The main huts (Les Mouflons & Neltner) sit at 3,200m; both have bunk beds, hot meals, and basic amenities.

• Difficulty: Non-technical but physically demanding; total ascent/descent - 2,400m over two days.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Climbing Toubkal with just 60 hours in Morocco was a truly unforgettable adventure and proof that you don’t need weeks off work or advanced mountaineering skills to experience the magic of high-altitude trekking!

Between the hospitality of the Moroccan people, the dramatic landscapes, and that sunrise summit... Morocco has again, completely stolen my heart!