How hard is it to climb Mount Toubkal?
Mount Toubkal requires no technical climbing and most people in good physical condition should be able to make the summit, if they are well prepared and respect the altitude of the peak. However, it is not an easy hike and there is always the risk of injuries and even fatalities on the climb.
The main difficulty for most people who climb Mount Toubkal is altitude sickness and if you’re new to trekking then you may well struggle, however with the correct preparation and a good guide team, then the vast majority of people will successfully summit.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CLIMB MOUNT TOUBKAL?
A lot of companies offer 2 day climbs on Mount Toubkal but for us this does not offer a safe acclimatisation plan and means you miss out on some of the stunning scenery and views a circuit trek offers, our preferred itinerary on the Mount Toubkal summer ascent is 6 days in the mountains, which includes a couple of treks from Imlil and a 4 day circuit trek with a south to north traverse of the Toubkal summit.
Our Mount Toubkal winter ascent is a 5 day itinerary which includes a day for acclimatisation / bad weather and the chance to summit the Atlas mountains second highest peak and Toubkal’s neighbour, Ouanoukrim (4,089m).
If you are just looking to summit Toubkal using the normal route up and down then we recommend allowing a minimum of 3 days but read some more facts about Mount Toubkal before making any decision.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO CLIMB MOUNT TOUBKAL?
The cost varies depending on whether you are going for the summer or winter option and the length of time you plan to spend on the mountain, it’s a lot cheaper to ascend and descend on the normal route (Ikhibi Sud) with a 3 day itinerary and gets more expensive if you plan to use one of the more adventurous circuit / traverse routes which spend a couple of extra days in the region exploring different routes and peaks.
HOW HARD IS IT TO CLIMB MOUNT TOUBKAL?
Mount Toubkal is an achievable aim for most people and with the correct preparation and a good guide team, then the vast majority of people will successfully summit. If you plan on trekking in the winter months then you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the use of crampons and possibly an ice axe too, but as long as your boots are crampon compatible you can learn these skills on the climb, read up on health and altitude in the mountains, acclimatising safely pages.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU NEED TO CLIMB MOUNT TOUBKAL?
For trekking on Mount Toubkal we have a recommended packing list (we provide all the group equipment, particularly tents and cooking equipment, however if you need personal equipment we can rent out kit like sleeping bags, waterproof jackets, trekking poles, etc). When choosing your footwear our trekking boot guide will help point you in the right direction as will our sleeping bag guide when deciding which weight / warmth bag suits you.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO CLIMB MOUNT TOUBKAL?
When is the best time to climb Mount Toubkal is a question we get asked a lot, the reality is that it can be climbed all year round, though if you don’t fancy trekking in the summer heat then it’s better to avoid mid-June to August, the traditional trekking season is from mid-April to early June and September to mid-November, the winter climbing season is from December through to early April
HOW DO YOU GET TO MOUNT TOUBKAL FROM MARRAKESH?
There is no direct public transport from Marrakesh to Imlil, the main base for ascents of Toubkal. However, you could get a bus to Asni and hire a local taxi from there (Asni is a small town in the foothills of the Atlas mountains) but our itineraries include private transfers in safe vehicles from Marrakesh with responsible drivers.
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