Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPARTURE DAY
You will depart the UK for the trip of a lifetime! If you have booked flights with us (option available for Bucket Lister + trips only), we’ll provide all the information you’ll need to meet your guide. If you are arranging your own flights, have a safe journey!
On arrival in Marrakech you’ll make your way to the accommodation. If you have booked transfers through us, we’ll send you the details before your trip.
Special Information: Your adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 6pm today.
DAY 2: TREK TO TACHEDIRT VILLAGE
You will be picked up from your hotel in Marrakech, and be driven to the high Atlas mountains. Drop off is at Aguersioual village where you will be met by the local team. Once the luggage has been loaded onto mules you’ll set off trekking towards Tizi n’Auguersioual pass from where you will have amazing views over the Imnane & Imlil valleys. After a short break on the pass, you will continue walking downhill towards the river. Once you’ve crossed it you’ll walk uphill along the Imnane valley towards the last village in the valley.
DAY 3: TREK TO IMLIL
After breakfast, you will walk along the road towards Tizi n’Tamater pass from where you will have another view over Imlil valley. We continue walking downhill to Imlil, where you will have lunch & spend the night. Overnight at a guesthouse.
DAY 4: TREK TO TOUBKAL REFUGE
Trek towards the Berber villages of Aremd (1843m), Taourirt, and Targa Imoula; we stop at Aremd to visit this village in the Assif Ait Maizane Valley, built seemingly house upon house on a moraine spur. We then carry on to the equally-quaint village of Sidi Chamharouch, a Berber village set beside a waterfall and small stream. We take a break for a picnic, within full view of mighty Jbel Toubkal; at 4167m, the highest peak in the Maghreb. Our last stretch of the day takes us to our overnight accommodation at the Toubkal Refuge.
DAY 5: ACCLIMATISATION
Today is an acclimatisation walk to Tizi Ouanoums pass, from where you will see Ifni Lake. Back to the Refuge.
DAY 6: SUMMIT DAY!!
Climb up to the highest peak in North Africa, where you will have great views over the Atlas mountains. You’ll descend via the same route to the refuge, where you’ll stay overnight.
DAY 7: TRANSFER BACK TO MARRAKECH
Descend from the refuge at 3207m, to Imlil at 1740m, then return to Marrakech.
DAY 8: FREE DAY IN MARRAKECH
Today is a free day for you to explore Marrakech, or enjoy some well-deserved R&R after your trek.
DAY 9: DEPARTURE DAY
This marks the end of our Moroccan adventure.
Food & Accommodation
-
Day 1 3* Riad - Twin roomBreakfast
Lunch Dinner -
Day 2 Lodges - Twin roomBreakfast
Lunch Dinner -
Day 3 GuesthouseBreakfast Lunch Dinner
-
Day 4 Toubkal RefugeBreakfast Lunch Dinner
-
Day 5 Toubkal RefugeBreakfast Lunch Dinner
-
Day 6 Toubkal RefugeBreakfast Lunch Dinner
-
Day 7 3* Riad - Twin roomBreakfast Lunch Dinner
-
Day 8 3* Riad - Twin roomBreakfast Lunch Dinner
-
Day 9 FlightBreakfast Lunch Dinner
What’s the Food Like on The Mount Toubkal Winter Trek?
Food on the Mount Toubkal Trek is simple, hearty and designed to keep you fuelled for long days on the trail. You’ll enjoy a mix of classic Moroccan dishes and familiar staples, all freshly prepared by the trek team.
Breakfasts usually include fresh breads, pancakes, jam, honey, cheese, boiled eggs or omelettes, plus plenty of tea and coffee to set you up for the day.
Lunch is typically a picnic-style stop on the trail with salads, rice or pasta, lentils or pulses, tinned fish or simple proteins, fresh bread and seasonal fruit. And yes, mint tea is always part of the experience.
After reaching camp or the refuge, you’ll be welcomed with afternoon snacks like tea, biscuits or popcorn.
Dinners are warm, filling and carb-rich: soup to start, followed by dishes like pasta, rice or potatoes served with a vegetable or meat stew. Tagines and couscous often feature, and fresh fruit finishes the meal.
We can cater for vegetarian, vegan and other dietary requirements, just let us know in advance.
You won’t go hungry on Toubkal, the food is wholesome, comforting and exactly what you need to power the climb.
Want to learn more? Click here to read our full guide on what to eat while trekking in Morocco.
How Difficult Is It?
How Hard Is the Mount Toubkal Trek?
Climbing Mount Toubkal is challenging but entirely achievable for most people with a good base level of fitness. The full route covers around 72 km with a total ascent of roughly 4,218 m, so expect multiple days of steady uphill trekking.
On summit day, the climb from the refuge to the top is 5.9 km with about 960 m of elevation gain, usually taking 3 – 4 hours. Earlier days can also be demanding, including one stretch of 17.7 km, climbing from 1,700 m to 3,207 m in a single day.
The route itself is non-technical, meaning you don’t need climbing gear or mountaineering experience, but the combination of long days, big ascents, and high altitude means it shouldn’t be underestimated.
If you want to feel fully prepared, our Training Weekends are perfect for building confidence, testing your kit and getting used to long uphill days.
And for anyone worried about trekking at altitude, our partners at The Altitude Centre in London offer expert advice and altitude-training sessions to help you get ready for the summit push.
In short: If you arrive with solid fitness and the right mindset, Toubkal is a tough but very realistic goal, and an incredibly rewarding one.
What's Included?
What’s Included on the Mount Toubkal Winter Trek
Your Mount Toubkal adventure includes everything you need for a smooth, fully supported trek. Here’s exactly what’s covered:
- All accommodation throughout the trip, including hotels/riads in Marrakech, Berber houses, guesthouses and the mountain refuge.
- All transfers as per the itinerary (including airport transfers for those booked on group flights).
- All permits and entry fees required for the trek.
- Most meals during the trip: 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners (as detailed in the itinerary).
- Your UK Bucket List Company guide (for Bucket Lister+ trips), who meets you before take-off and travels with your group throughout.
- Your local Moroccan guide who leads the trek in-country.
- All essential trekking equipment provided by The Bucket List Company.
- Porters/mules to carry up to 12kg of your main kit during the trek.
- 24-hour UK operations and emergency support for the full duration of your adventure.
- A fully planned itinerary, including guided city time in Marrakech and every trekking day from Imi Oughlad to the summit.
What's Not Included?
What’s not Included on the Mount Toubkal Winter Trek
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory and must specifically cover:
- Trekking up to 4,167m (Mount Toubkal summit)
- Emergency medical treatment
- Evacuation and repatriation
- Baggage and equipment
You’ll need to provide your policy details before departure, and it’s essential to check that your insurance explicitly covers high-altitude trekking.
Tips for the Local Team
Tips aren’t included in the trip cost but are customary on the Toubkal trail. They’re a way to thank the incredible local crew who support your journey, and are usually given on the penultimate or final day.
Recommended guideline amounts for this trek:
£10–£20 per day shared between cook, assistant and porters
£10–£15 per day for the Assistant Guide
£10–£20 per day for the Head Guide
This works out to around £150 per person for the full trek. Your guide can distribute tips on behalf of the group.
International Flights
International flights are not included in the base cost of any Mount Toubkal trek. However, flights can be added if you choose a Bucket Lister+ trip.
Transfers
Transfers are not automatically included in the base price, but they can be added to any trip, whether you book Bucket Lister or Bucket Lister+.
Meals Not Listed in the Itinerary
Some meals in Marrakech are not included. All included meals are clearly shown in the Food & Accommodation Section.
Personal Expenses
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities in Marrakech, laundry, and any extra snacks or personal items you may want during the trip.
Reviews
Add-ons
Frequently Asked Questions
How Hard is Mount Toubkal (Jebal Toubkal)?
Mount Toubkal is a trekking peak and requires no technical experience (unless you are doing a Winter Trek). It is certainly achievable by people in a good condition of physical fitness.
Mount Toubkal is 4167m high. You can read more about this in our article ‘How High is Mount Toubkal?’.
With Mount Toubkal being above 4000m, it is always going to be a challenge. The altitude gain on Toubkal is great, so you need to go slowly and give your body as much time to acclimatise as possible.
You can read more about this in our full article ‘How Hard is Mount Toubkal?’
How Long Does It Take To Climb Mount Toubkal?
Mount Toubkal is climbable in two days and many companies offer this. The general itinerary for a Toubkal trek is to get a transfer from Marrakech to Imlil (1800m) and then start your journey up to the Nelter Refuge at 3207m. You will stay overnight in the Refuge before waking early and starting your climb to the summit (4167m). It takes around 4-5 hours to get from the refuge to the summit of Jebal Toubkal. Once you have summited you head back down to the refuge, and then back to Imlil.
At The Bucket List Company we feel this altitude gain over two days adds considerable pressure. So we offer the Toubkal Trek over 4 days. The last two days of the trek are the same as above, but the first two days we head over several high passes giving your body more time to acclimatise to altitude.
When is the Best Time To Climb Mount Toubkal?
The best times to climb Mount Toubkal are April to early June and then end of September and October. These times offer the best conditions and temperatures. It is very hot during the summer months, so we always advise to avoid these times.
What Equipment Do I Need For Mount Toubkal?
What gear will you need to climb Mount Toubkal? If you are climbing during the trekking season then you will not require any specialist equipment. If you are already a regular trekker in the UK you will have everything you need for this trip.
You will need a sleeping bag, day pack, duffle bag for kit to be transported in and then your clothing to walk in.
If you are making a winter ascent of Mount Toubkal then you will also need a pair of crampons and a walking axe. You will also need some warmer clothing for the summits.
Is Mount Toubkal Safe?
After the incident in December 2018 the Moroccan government and the National Park changed the way you trek in the region. You can now only trek in the National Park with an authorised Moroccan guide and you can’t be on your own.
There are now checkpoints on the route where you have to show your passports so the authorities know who is in the National park.
The Berber people are super friendly and we have never felt unsafe in Morocco with our groups.
Can I bring my drone to Morocco?
Unfortunately, drones are prohibited in Morocco.
What are the charging facilities?
There are plug sockets in every lodge that are available to use.
Do you know how long the balloon ride typically lasts in the air?
The hot air balloon flight is for 1 hour.
Are there toilets on route?
There are no toilets along the route, but there are bathrooms in the guesthouses to use in the mornings and evenings.
What money do I take?
You can take £s and exchange it for local currency there. There are plenty of ATMs in Marrakesh.
Is there Wi-Fi?
There is Wi-Fi in the majority of the accommodations on the trek, the only place you won’t be able to get Wi-Fi will be in Tizi Oussem.
Regarding lodges on the trek, and how these are organised?
Rooms in lodges sleep 3 – 4 people, and are single-sex sharing. The refuge is large dormitories where sexes will be mixed. If a couple have booked they will be together in a quadruple, but with e.g. two other females or two other males.
