Toubkal Summit: 2-Day Trek from Marrakech & Sunrise

Sunrise at 4,167m: The Two-Day Toubkal Climb from Marrakech

You start with hotel pickup in Marrakech, trek five to six hours through Berber villages to a mountain refuge at 3,200 meters on day one, then wake before dawn on day two to climb to the 4,167-meter summit for sunrise and views across the High Atlas. The guide, accommodation, meals and transport back to Marrakech are all arranged. You just need the fitness and the will to climb.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Toubkal Refuge Trek

• Breakfast at Marrakech hotel
• Drive to Imlil village
• Meet guide and rent equipment
• Walk through Berber villages
• Picnic lunch at Sidi Chamhrouch shrine
• Continue to Toubkal refuge
• Overnight at Toubkal refuge

Day 2: Toubkal Summit and Return to Marrakech

• Early breakfast at 5:00am
• Start ascent at 5:30am
• Short break above hut
• Reach Toubkal summit
• 30-minute break for photos
• Descend to refuge for lunch
• Walk down to Imlil
• Transfer back to Marrakech

The experience

Yeah, so you're waking up at five in the morning in a mountain hut at 3,200 meters, and your guide is already moving around with tea. The Toubkal ascent from Marrakech isn't something you ease into: day one is already five to six hours of walking from Imlil, a small Berber village about 67 kilometers southwest of Marrakech, up through the High Atlas with a mule track that winds past Sidi Chamhrouch shrine at 2,500 meters. You stop for lunch somewhere along the way, and then you keep going until you reach the refuge. Your legs know it happened.

The real thing happens on day two. You're climbing in the dark with a headlamp, stepping carefully because the path is steep and you're already at altitude. The guide (English or French speaking, depending on who gets assigned) moves at a steady pace and doesn't rush you. Around three to four hours up, the sun starts to break and suddenly you can see the whole spine of the High Atlas spreading out below you like a map someone unfolded. The green valleys and Berber villages look small from up there. You reach the summit of Jebel Toubkal at 4,167 meters, the highest peak in Morocco, and you get maybe thirty minutes to stand there and take it in before the descent starts. The walk down takes another few hours, and then you're back in Imlil by afternoon, transferred to Marrakech by evening.

This is a tough walk: the description doesn't undersell it. You need real fitness and you need to be ready for altitude. The refuge has basic accommodation, dinner and breakfast are included, and the cook prepares your lunches in advance. You're not carrying a ton, but you're carrying enough, and your body will feel the 9 to 10 hours of walking on day two. It's not a casual mountain stroll. But if you've trained a bit and you want to stand on the highest point in North Africa without flying somewhere else or spending a week on the mountain, this is how you do it in two days from Marrakech.

What’s included

• Your two days include hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech, an experienced English or French-speaking mountain guide for both days, one night's accommodation in the Toubkal refuge, dinner and breakfast, two lunches prepared by the cook, and tea or coffee.
• Equipment rental in Imlil is available to arrange.
• Transport from Imlil back to Marrakech on day two is included.

Information

Lasts 2d, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 192 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

GroupPrivate11 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and ItalianOther languages ›

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 79 years) · Youth (15 to 17 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Biking in Morocco day tours

Is this one for you?Right for experienced hikers or fit travelers who want to summit Morocco's highest peak without a longer expedition: the two-day schedule and included guide, meals and transport mean you're climbing, not organizing logistics, and you're back in Marrakech by evening on day two.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 17 years). Children under 15 can't be included in the booking.

How fit do I need to be for the Toubkal ascent?

You need a high level of physical fitness. Day two is 9–10 hours of climbing at altitude. The trek is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or spinal injuries.

What's included in the two-day trek?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech, an English or French-speaking mountain guide, one night in the Toubkal refuge, dinner, breakfast, two lunches, and tea or coffee. Equipment rental is available in Imlil.

How long is the walk each day?

Day one is approximately 5–6 hours from Imlil to the refuge at 3,200 meters. Day two is approximately 9–10 hours from the refuge to the summit and back down to Imlil.

When do you reach the summit?

You start climbing around 5:30 am to catch the sunrise. After 3–4 hours of climbing, you reach the summit at 4,167 meters and have about 30 minutes there before descending.

Where do you sleep?

You sleep one night in the Toubkal refuge at 3,200 meters. Accommodation is basic mountain hut standard.

Is this trek available for solo travelers?

No, the trek is not available for a single person. Minimum group size applies.

What's the distance from Marrakech to Imlil?

Imlil is approximately 67 kilometers southwest of Marrakech. Your driver takes you there on day one after hotel pickup.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the trek.