Climbing Mt Toubkal, Morocco: Everything you need to Know
- margauxgathy6
- Jun 29
- 4 min read
Climbing Mt Toubkal was the absolute highlight of my Morocco trip. It was a difficult 2-day climb, but so worth it. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about climbing it, including how to book, a packing list, how the hike goes, where you sleep, what the food is like, and more advice.
Contents
How to Book your Mt Toubkal Climb
I booked my Mt Toubkal climb on Get Your Guide, but there are also tour operators that offer it and you can even book in Marrakech. There are so many options, but it really does not matter who you go with because everyone gets exactly the same refuge, food, and equipment. It cost £100 and included pickup and drop off in Marrakech, a guide, mules to carry luggage, all food, and accommodation at the refuge.
Packing List
Here is a list of essential items to bring to climb Mt Toubkal:
Hiking boots (trainers will not be good enough for the summit)
Toilet paper/tissues (the refuge does not provide it)
Wet wipes
Hand sanitiser (there is no soap at the refuge or anywhere along the trek)
Suncream and sunglasses
Layers (it’s very hot on day 1, but the summit is absolutely freezing)
Thermals, coat, and windbreaker
Gloves
Headtorch
Snacks (especially with protein)
Earplugs (for the refuge dorms)
Sleeping bag liner (if you rent a sleeping bag)
Flip flops (for the refuge)
Portable charger
I rented a sleeping bag and crampons for 100 MAD (approx. £8.10) each. Crampons are essential in the winter months (October to April), as the summit push includes a lot of snow and ice. You could also rent a headtorch and gloves for 50 MAD (approx. £4.05) each.
Day 1
You’ll be picked up in Marrakech on day one and drive to Imlil, the town that is the starting point of this hike. Here, you’ll be able to give some things to the mules to take up the mountain to the refuge, and start walking.
Day 1 isn’t that strenuous. You walk from 1700m at Imlil to the refuge at 3207m. It’s a steady incline but isn’t that steep. It took our group 6 hours including a long stop for lunch. It’s absolutely gorgeous views of the mountains, river, and waterfalls on the way up.
The Refuge
The refuge is a stone building which has lots of dorms and communal areas to eat. The dorms are full of bunk beds squeezed together so that you’ll be sleeping next to other people like sardines. They provide a pillow and blanket, but they’re not clean, so I definitely recommend a sleeping bag liner.
They have western toilets, but you need your own toilet paper and hand sanitiser because there is no soap. There are also showers but no towels, so you’ll need one if you decide to shower (and flip flops!). Don’t expect very warm water!
You have free time in the afternoon and evening, then get given dinner and everyone is in bed early. Lights out at the refuge is at 9:30pm. There is no service in the refuge and very few charging points which I think also get turned off when lights go out.
Day 2
You’ll be given breakfast at 3am, and then set off between 3:30 and 4am depending on the sunrise time and how fast you are. Try and eat even if you’re not hungry because it’s a tough climb. It’s a very steep incline, and you climb 1000m that morning over loose rocks, snow, ice, and gravel. It’s mentally very challenging too because of the cold and altitude. It took our group 3.5 hours to get from the refuge to the summit, but it was worth it. It’s absolutely freezing at the top so make sure you have layers!
You’ll walk back down from the summit through the snow which makes it a bit faster than the way up, and it took about 2 hours to get back down to the refuge. You get a bit of time to pack up, then have a ‘lunch’ and set off around 11am. It takes about 3 hours to get down to Imlil, which makes it an exhausting day. You’ll get driven back to Marrakech from there.
Top Tips
The higher you go on the mountain, the more expensive water is. If you can buy water in Imlil and give it to the mules to take up, then it’ll save you a lot of money. Otherwise, buy it as low as you can. The price difference at Imlil vs at the refuge is about 5 MAD (approx. 40p) vs 20 MAD (approx. £1.60)
The food is plentiful, and usually consists of pasta or rice, vegetables, some meat/lentils for vegetarians, and LOTS of bread. I’d recommend bringing some higher protein snacks to keep you going as well, especially on the last day when the last meal you eat at the refuge comes a long time before you’re back in Marrakech
Everything you buy on the mountain will be cash only, including tipping your guide, so make sure you have enough
I hope this is helpful if you’re planning a trip, or I’ve convinced you to add this Mt Toubkal climb to your Morocco itinerary, it really was a highlight. Please look after nature if you go. Only leave your footprints behind :)
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