Mount Toubkal Morocco, Climbing Mount Toubkal is an excellent introduction to your mountaineering adventures, taking only a long weekend to complete. North Africa may seem a world away, but it’s just a short flight from the UK, making it the perfect first-time high-altitude hike.
Jebel Toubkal offers a very different experience to climbing the European Alps. Enjoy Moroccan cuisine, beautiful mountain landscapes and warmer climates as you ascend this iconic mountain.
At 4,167m high, Mount Toubkal, also know as Jebel Toubkal, is North Africa’s highest peak. Set in the High Atlas Mountain range in Morocco, it offers a challenging yet rewarding trek – perfect for regular walkers with a reasonable base level of fitness. The critical thing to consider when climbing Mount Toubkal is the altitude, with roughly 40% less oxygen than at sea level. To overcome this, we ensure that you have plenty of food and walk at a gentler pace to give you the best chance of the reaching the peak.
The Mount Toubkal ascent only takes two days, with most of the walking done on the first day.
The first day’s trek takes around 5 hours. We cover 11km of gentle incline over well-defined paths, with time to take in the scenery as well as to acclimatise at the camp at the end of the day.
‘Summit day’ starts with a slow walk at steep incline before dawn so you can watch the sunrise over the peaks. Total walking time from the camp to the summit and back down again takes around six hours along a windy, scree slope. You’ll continue onto the village of Aremd where you’ll stay in a village house for the night, savouring home-cooked food, warm showers and a bed.
Trekking needs lots of energy, so the food you eat is essential to get you up and down the mountain safely. Plenty of water is key. You can buy snacks along the route, but the guides also provide nuts and dates to keep you satisfied. The support team cooks up tasty meals that refuel you for the next leg, including juicy fruit and salads, fragrant tagines and a substantial breakfast on summit day. All food is prepared fresh in your camp and is ready for you when you’ve finished walking.
Set in Morocco, Mount Toubkal is often considered a hot trekking destination. However, while Marrakech will range between 28°C and 37°C in trekking season, the valleys of the High Atlas Mountains are cooler, particularly as you walk higher. It’s mostly dry, with very little rainfall and clear blue skies, but it can be misty as you move up.
For the more adventurous climber, you can also climb the mountain in winter, enhancing your winter hiking skills as you hike through the snow.
In winter the temperatures at night can drop to around -5°C, while in summer they stay at 12°C on average. Try to wrap up warm, with fleeces and liners, in the colder months or take lighter layers you can easily take off in the warmer months. Whatever the time of year, a good quality sleeping bag is a must.
Packing correctly is essential to making the most of your trek. Pack for any dietary requirements and remember to bring a refillable water bottle.
As the summit day starts before sunrise, a hat, gloves and a down jacket are essential to keeping warm, though layers are also helpful. There is one night without access to electricity, so a power bank may be useful. The mules will carry any extra gear up the mountain such as wash bags, night clothes and sleeping bags.
The contrast of magnificent architecture and unforgettable history makes Casablanca a fascinating place to visit. It is the amazing city that is gaining in popularity every year as it becomes cheaper to fly to Morocco.
Morocco had always been a country I was curious about. It’s blend of North African and Arabic influences gave it this air of mystique that drew me in. Plus, you know, I like couscous. So I had high expectations when I decided to pop over from Spain and explore the country for three weeks.
