Mountains and hiking · High Atlas

Toubkal summit from Imlil

A climb from walnut terraces and Amazigh villages past the shrine of Sidi Chamharouch to the refuges, then a scree and rock ascent to the highest point in North Africa. On a clear day the view reaches the Sahara side and the Marrakech plain.

When to go

How high

The trek at a glance

• Start: Imlil (1,800 m)
• From the city: Marrakech, about 1.5 hours by car (Fodor's); 1.5-2 in other guides
• Height gain: about 2,370 (Imlil 1,800 m to summit 4,167 m); summit day about 1,000 m from the refuge
• Where you sleep: Refuge Les Mouflons (3,207 m) and the CAF refuge below the summit; gîtes and guesthouses in Imlil
• When not to go: December to March for most walkers: snow and ice need crampons, ice axe and winter skills; snow can lie above 2,600-2,800 m around Easter. Summer brings sunstroke and dehydration risk.
• Guide: Compulsory: a licensed local mountain guide is required from Imlil to the Toubkal refuges and the summit, two guides for groups of six or more, with police checks of guide and passport at Aremd, Sidi Chamharouch and the refuge (Trailblazer, autumn 2021). The rule came from the authorities in late December 2018, about ten days after two Scandinavian hikers were murdered near Imlil (Yabiladi, 27 Dec 2018); Morocco World News (May 2019) reports it as law. Sources differ on whether it began in late 2018 or 2019.

Insurance: SafetyWing's base plan covers hiking up to 4,500 m on official paths (their terms); winter routes with crampons may need their add-on. See SafetyWing (affiliate link).