Mt Toubkal Climb

Experience Overview

Toubkal stands 13,671ft (4,167m) tall, commanding superb views of the Atlas Mountains. On this classic Moroccan trek, which had a 99% summit success rate in 2024, we pass through impressive landscapes on well-defined paths; as we climb higher, the paths become steeper but the gain in altitude awards dramatic views towards Marrakech and the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Passing through remote villages and terraced fields, we gain an insight into the life of the friendly Amazigh people and finish with free time in the imperial city of Marrakech.
Profile
— Accommodation: 2 Classic nights (hotel), 4 Simple nights (full-service camping) — Five days of walking — Altitude maximum: 14,671ft (4,167m); average: 8,530ft (2,600m) — Travel by minibus — Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16 — New moon departures available – see Dates & Prices
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 2 Classic nights (hotel), 4 Simple nights (full-service camping) — Five days of walking — Altitude maximum: 14,671ft (4,167m); average: 8,530ft (2,600m) — Travel by minibus — Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16 — New moon departures available – see Dates & Prices
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 5 (Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us. Difficulty: This is a challenging yet non-technical trek to an area of outstanding scenic and cultural interest. You should be an experienced walker as trails can be very stony. Most routes follow mule trails but there are some rough paths that involve walking on scree. All five walking days include full porterage, and you should be prepared for a couple of long days (maximum eight to nine hours) with some boulders and steep sections. Weather: The temperature can alter the difficulty of the trek. Morocco can get very hot during July and August and departures during this time may not be suitable if you struggle with the heat. Also be prepared for some stormy weather, even during summer. There can be snow patches in April/early May and from the end of September, so crampons may be needed for April and October departures. Free-to-use crampons and ice axes are provided in these circumstances. From May to June, snow can occasionally block some passes in the mountains and force your tour leader to change the itinerary. As with any trek in mountainous/high altitude areas, safety is paramount, and your leaders may amend the itinerary to ensure the group is safe. Morocco is hot in summer. Expect it to be hot to very hot in the desert from May through to September. Morocco can get cold in winter though usually daytime temperatures are mild. It is advisable to pack winter clothes for November through to March when nighttime temperatures in the mountains can drop considerably. During these months, there can also be rain throughout the country. As Morocco is generally mild to hot, it is not set up for colder temperatures and so there may not be heaters available. Please pack winter clothes and nightwear to ensure you are comfortable. Of course you can also ask for more blankets from the hotels. Please be prepared for the colder months. Altitude warning: This trip goes to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Please refer to the Altitude Warning for further information. To keep a circular itinerary, this adventure has four camping nights, with two of these spent over 9,845ft (3,000m). Camping: Two nights are spent in wild camps as official campsites do not exist in some areas we visit. On the treks, mules carry our personal gear so only a light backpack is required, occasionally carrying a share of the picnic lunch. Travel insurance: Please ensure your travel insurance is valid for trekking over 13,120ft (4,000m). New moon departures: Some departures coincide with the new moon. This may take place a few days before or after summit day. Without the light of the moon, Toubkal is an excellent site for stargazing. Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 17 February-18 March 2026. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.
Group Description
There will be a local tour leader, driver and local muleteers/guides throughout. A second tour leader joins the group for all walking days for groups of 11 or more.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners included. Moroccan food is excellent though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of porridge, bread and jam, and coffee or tea. Main meals will often be tajines of meat and vegetables with a great mix of herbs and spices and light, fluffy cous cous. Salads often comprise of both cooked and raw vegetables including tomatoes, smoked peppers and aubergine (eggplant). When eating out, meals are reasonably priced. Below are some guideline prices. Lunch: 60-100 dirham (US$6- US$10)Dinner: 80-200 dirham (US$8-US$19) in cities and 60-100 dirham (US$6-US$10) in small towns and villagesSoft drinks in restaurants: 10-20 dirham (US$1-US$1.90)Beer: 30-50 dirham (US$2.85-US$5)Wine 150 dirham (US$14) and more Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian cous cous, tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the more rural sections of the trip. If you have special dietary requirements, please inform us prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (eg coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some food with you from home.
Transportation
We use a private bus for this trip, the size of which will depend on the group size, with a local driver. Roads in Morocco are reasonable and driving conditions in towns and on the plains are good. On mountain roads, the pace is slower. Although the buses normally have air conditioning and heating, they may not be up to European/North American standards.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Hotel Gomassine, 71, 40000 Bd Mohamed Zerktouni, Marrakech 40000 Phone: +212 5244 33086 Recommended arrival time: Hotel check-in is from 2pm Airport: Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately a 20-minute drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Marrakech Airport (RAK) from the end hotel. If you’re not taking the Exodus transfer, allow three hours for check in, bag drop, immigration and security. The airport doesn’t accept mobile boarding passes, so take a printed boarding pass to avoid further delays. Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts. Marrakech airport The amount of time it takes to get through Marrakech Airport can vary considerably. Therefore, we suggest you mitigate for delays and allow two hours to get through immigration, security and baggage reclaim on arrival. Take a pen with you to complete the arrivals form and have the details of your accommodation to hand for this purpose. Operators are not allowed to wait inside the terminal building for clients, so please find your Exodus representative outside the main doors. Upon departure from Marrakech, we suggest allowing three hours to navigate the airport: check in, bag drop, immigration and security can take even longer on exit. The airport doesn’t accept mobile boarding passes, so we suggest having a printed boarding pass to avoid subjecting yourself to further delays.
Weather Information
In spring and autumn, Marrakech is warm to hot (maximum daytime temperatures around 25C-30C/77F-86F) with pleasantly cool nights. In the High Atlas, the sun is strong, but the air is cool and the nights can be cold. Mornings are clear but cloud in the afternoon is usual, often bringing showers and occasional storms. During summer, Marrakech is very hot (33C-42C/91F-108F), as are some of the lower valleys of the High Atlas. At medium altitudes, the days will be hot and the nights warm. Only above 9,840ft (3,000m) will you require warm clothing. During the summer, the sky should be clear but, as in all mountain areas, the weather can be unpredictable and late August can have stormy weather. Rain can be experienced on all treks, usually showers but sometimes storms. In April/May and occasionally in October there may be a little snow lying at the higher altitudes.
Spending Money
We recommend you change your money at the airport into the local currency, as Morocco only allows 2,000 dirhams to be imported or exported. There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency you take. When changing your money, ensure you keep hold of your exchange receipt as you may need to show it at the airport bank at the end of your adventure where it’s normally possible to change any unspent dirham notes back into euros, British pounds or US dollars. Allow approximately 30-70 dirhams (US$3-US$6.50) per day to cover small souvenirs, soft drinks etc. See the eating and drinking section for more details on expenditure.
Tipping
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work and tipping is at your discretion for both the tour leader and local staff. However, we would like to advise that tipping is part of the local culture and generally expected. Tipping kitty: If you wish to tip, we have found it useful for the group to have a tipping kitty – about 400 dirhams (US$42) per person. This can make tipping local staff (such as drivers, cooks and guides) easier and less confusing. If you do not wish to join the group kitty, do not feel pressured. Tour leader: If you want to tip your tour leaders at the end of the trip, we suggest 50 dirhams a day per person. This is completely at your own discretion and to be used as a guideline only.

Highlights