Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

Towering over the southern horizon from Marrakech, North Africa’s loftiest peak commands an unrivaled panorama. Mount Toubkal often startles observers with its glistening snowy mantle, an unexpected sight in this sun-drenched land.

Yet, come summer, it unveils a more accessible face, inviting adventurers to explore its heights. This majestic mountain anchors an extraordinary Moroccan journey, offering you the chance to:

Why book this trek?

Conquer the summit of Mount Toubkal, standing atop North Africa’s highest point
Trek through the breathtaking landscapes of the High Atlas Mountains
Marvel at the serene beauty of Ifni Lake, a hidden gem nestled in the mountains
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Berber culture and traditional way of life
Lose yourself in the vibrant labyrinth of Marrakech’s ancient medina

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

What to Bring

Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

Embarking on an Atlas Trek demands preparation akin to any mountain adventure. While days often greet you with warmth and sunshine, the mountain climate is mercurial, capable of rapid shifts from pleasant to perilous – think sudden snowfall and biting winds, especially from autumn through late spring. We emphasize a ‘leave no trace’ philosophy; please pack out all you bring in to preserve these majestic landscapes.

Our Atlas Treks are expertly tailored to align with seasonal conditions and your personal fitness level. We offer two primary expedition styles:

Berber Guesthouse Experience: Establish a cozy base in authentic lodgings, venturing out on invigorating daily excursions.
Atlas Mule Trek Adventure: Embark on an immersive journey of two or more days, accompanied by sturdy mules.

For multi-day mule treks, your accommodation options typically include:

Nights in charming Berber Guesthouses or with welcoming local families
Wild camping under the vast Moroccan sky in comfortable two-person tents

To ensure you’re fully equipped for your Atlas odyssey, we’ve curated a specialized packing list. Beyond your usual travel essentials.

Highlights

Departure & Return Location : Marrakech Airport
Meeting Time : Arrival time of your flight
Good walking boots and socks
Comfortable shoes/slippers for camp/guesthouse
Trekking pants
Lightweight waterproof over-trousers / rain-pants

Day 1 :

Day 1

Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

Pick up from the airport in Marrakech and transfer to your riad where you will spend the night.

Day 2 :

Day 2

Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

We leave Marrakech after breakfast and drive to Imlil (1740m) via Asni. Imlil is the principal trailhead for walkers. This is the place where we meet our mule team and once all our gear is loaded we begin walking along the valley towards Tacheddirt, some 8 km from Imlil. Soon the trail begins to rise as we climb up to the pass at Tizi ‘n Tamatert (2279m). We then descend to the pretty village of Ouaneskra (2200m) and continue, for a further half-hour or so, to Tacheddirt (2300m), where we set up camp near the river. Approx. 4 hours walking.

Day 3 :

Day 3

Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

We immediately begin a long, slow ascent to the pass at Tizi Likemt (3555m). At the top we enjoy our first fine view of the Toubkal Massif before a long downhill descent to the village of Azib Likemt (2200m), where we set up our camp for the night. Approx. 5 hours walking.

Day 4 :

Day 4

Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

This day is going to be a long but quite easy day, passing many different landscapes. From Tizi ‘n Ououraine (3120m) we enjoy further views of the Toubkal Massif, including the summit, the east face and the Ifni Dome (3876m). The trail leads on towards Amsouzert (1700m), one of the most striking villages in the region, where we spend the night in a local gite or in a camp. The gite is very basic accommodation. Approx. 6 hours walking.

Day 5 :

Day 5

Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

West of Amsouzert are several small villages, which we explore as we make our way towards Ifni Lake (2300m), the only lake in the Massif. It is a memorable sight, surrounded by rocky mountains and giant heaps of rubble, and is unusually deep.
We expect to arrive by lunchtime and spend the afternoon relaxing at the shore. We camp tonight in this area. Approx. 4 hours walking.

Day 6 :

Day 6

Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

By now we should be both fit and acclimatised, and ready to tackle the hardest day of the trek. We make our way along a steep path that leads up a seemingly endless scree slope. At length we reach the pass at Tizi n’Ouanoums (3664m), a narrow ledge between two shafts of rock. From here it is a long zigzag descent to Nelther Refuge (3200m), where we spend the night in tents. Approx. 6 hours walking.

Day 7 :

Day 7

Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

We leave before dawn, following a well-worn route to the summit of Toubkal (4167m). If conditions are good it should take no more than 2-3 hours to reach the summit, where we enjoy beautiful views of the entire Atlas range and the Marrakech plains beyond. Returning to base, we then descend fairly rapidly to the villages of Sidi Chamharouch and Aremd, before following the Mizane River, along a well-forested trail, to the trailhead at Imlil. Transfer back to Marrakech. Approx. 9 hours walking. Night in a riad.

Day 8 :

Day 8

Mt Toubkal Summer 8 Days

Transfer back to the airport and departure.