The Toubkal circuit: high passes, remote villages and the lake of Ifni, ending with the summit once you are fully acclimatised.
The 6‑day trek follows the Toubkal circuit, the classic loop around the highest massif in North Africa. Instead of walking up and down the same valley, you travel all the way around the mountain: over two passes above 3,500 metres, through remote villages on the southern side of the range, past the mountain lake of Lac d'Ifni, and finally up to the summit of Jbel Toubkal at the end of the journey.
This is a true mountain journey. Each day brings a new valley, a new village and a new view of the peaks, and by the time you reach the summit on the last morning you have been living and walking at altitude for almost a week. That makes the final climb far easier than on a short trek, and it turns the summit into the high point of a story rather than the whole story.
You walk with a licensed guide, a cook and a team of mules and muleteers who carry the bags, food and camping equipment. Nights are spent in village gîtes, shepherd huts or comfortable camps, depending on the stage and season, and the last night is at the Toubkal refuge.
The circuit is for fit, experienced walkers who are comfortable with several consecutive days of 5 to 7 hours on rough mountain paths, including long ascents and descents. You do not need climbing skills in summer and autumn, but you should be used to walking on rocky ground and scree.
If you have less time, the 4‑day trek gives you the summit with a gentler build-up. If you want the full circuit at a more relaxed pace, choose the 7‑day trek, which adds an easy first day in the Imlil valley.
A sample itinerary for the 6-Day Mount Toubkal Trek. Your guide adapts it to the weather, the season and the group.
From Marrakesh you drive to Imlil and start walking through the village of Tamatert to the Tizi n'Tamatert pass (2,279 m). The path then descends into the Imnane valley and climbs gently to Tacheddirt (about 2,314 m), one of the highest villages in the area, surrounded by terraced fields and with views of the peaks you will cross the next day. The night is spent in a village gîte.
A long, steady climb leads from Tacheddirt to the Tizi Likemt pass (3,555 m), the first big pass of the circuit. From the top the views stretch across the eastern side of the Toubkal massif. The descent is long and steep in places, down to the summer pastures of Azib Likemt (about 2,650 m), where shepherds bring their flocks in summer. You camp or sleep in a simple shepherd hut beside the stream.
Today you follow the valley south through a string of quiet Berber villages, with terraced fields, walnut trees and irrigation channels that carry water from the mountains. The walk is long but mostly downhill, ending in Amsouzart (about 1,740 m), a village on the southern side of the range where few trekkers stay. The night is spent in a village gîte.
From Amsouzart a wild valley climbs to Lac d'Ifni (about 2,295 m), the only lake in the high Toubkal massif, held in place by an ancient rockfall. The lake sits in a dramatic bowl of mountains and is a peaceful place to spend the afternoon, rest your legs and swim if you are brave. You camp near the shore.
The steepest climb of the circuit leads from the lake up a long scree slope to the Tizi n'Ouanoums pass (3,664 m), the gateway to the Toubkal side of the massif. After the pass you descend to the Toubkal refuge (about 3,207 m) for the night, with Toubkal itself rising directly above you.
The final morning starts early with the climb to the summit of Jbel Toubkal (4,167 m), timed for sunrise. After nearly a week at altitude most people find this climb surprisingly comfortable. After breakfast at the refuge you walk down the Mizane valley past Sidi Chamharouch and Aroumd to Imlil, and drive back to Marrakesh.
The circuit is best from late May to October, when the high passes are clear of snow. June, September and early October are ideal: warm days, cool nights and settled weather. July and August are fine in the mountains but hot in the low villages, with occasional afternoon storms.
From November to April the passes of Tizi Likemt and Tizi n'Ouanoums are often snowy, and the circuit may need to be adapted or shortened. Ask us about winter alternatives.
Live forecast
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Forecast data from MET Norway / yr.no, CC BY 4.0. Summit figures are model estimates for 4,167 m. Mountain weather changes fast, so your guide makes the final call.
Accommodation changes along the route: village gîtes in Tacheddirt and Amsouzart, camping or shepherd huts at Azib Likemt, a camp at Lac d'Ifni and the Toubkal refuge on the last night. Tents and mattresses are provided for camp nights; bring a warm sleeping bag.
Your cook prepares all meals: breakfast with bread, eggs and coffee, picnic lunches with fresh salads, and hot dinners of soup, tagine or couscous. Water is boiled or filtered, and mint tea appears at every stop.
Every departure of the 6-Day Mount Toubkal Trek starts in Imlil, a mountain village at 1,740 m at the head of the Mizane valley, about 65 km south of Marrakesh. We collect you from your riad or hotel in Marrakesh in the morning; the drive takes around an hour and a half, crossing the Haouz plain and climbing through Tahanaout and Asni, where a big Berber market is held every Saturday, before the road follows the river up to Imlil.
If you are flying in, Marrakesh Menara airport is about 20 minutes from the medina, so most people arrive the day before the trek and spend a night in the city. If you are already in the mountains, for example staying in Imlil, Aroumd or Ouirgane, we can meet you there instead. Tell us where you are staying when you book, and we will confirm the pickup time the evening before.
The gradual increase in altitude over six days is the best way to acclimatise for the summit. The two high passes are the most demanding sections; your guide sets a steady pace and plans rest stops.
Some parts of the circuit are remote, so your guide carries a first-aid kit and a phone and knows the evacuation routes. Travel insurance covering trekking to 4,200 m and evacuation is essential.
Tipping is customary in the mountains and makes a real difference to the guides, muleteers and cooks who look after you. As a rough guide, many trekkers give around 10% of the trek price, shared between the team at the end of the trip. It is never compulsory; give what feels right for the service you received.
Bring Moroccan dirhams in small notes for tips, drinks and snacks bought on the way, and souvenirs in the villages. Withdraw cash in Marrakesh before the trek: card payments are rare in the mountains and you should not count on finding a cash machine.
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Read our notes on fitness, seasons and altitude, or the questions trekkers ask most.
October 2026
We climbed Toubkal after completing the 10‑day grand tour of Toubkal. Nothing to fault in the organisation, from the pickup in Marrakesh to the return. Everything was perfect and just as we hoped. A special mention for the excellent cooking
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August 2026
My father and I have just come back from an extraordinary trekking experience in the Atlas Mountains, including the ascent of Mount Toubkal. I can’t recommend Saeed Rashid and the whole Toubkal Hiking Experts team highly enough… Read the full review on Google
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2025
Thank you for a wonderful adventure. Aziz was a brilliant guide, and so were the muleteers, and the food was very good. Thanks again to everyone for the organisation
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October 2026
A very good experience. A superb, very well organised outing with our guide Youssef! Very good communication with Mohamed! Toubkal in one day! Mission accomplished! I recommend it
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September 2026
A superb experience for a first 4,000 m peak, full of traditions and landscapes. Our guide Yassine was great and looked after us all the way up! I recommend it!
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April 2026
Climbing Toubkal with Hassan as my guide was a wonderful experience. He is incredibly strong and experienced, and always made me feel confident, even on the most demanding sections… Read the full review on Google
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Can't find your question? Ask us on WhatsApp. We usually reply within a few hours.
It is a challenging trek with long days and two passes above 3,500 m, but it is not technical in summer and autumn. Good fitness and hiking experience are needed.
Some nights are spent in camps or shepherd huts, others in village gîtes and the Toubkal refuge. Tents and mattresses are provided.
The best season is late May to October, when the passes are clear of snow. In winter the route may need to be adapted.
Yes, if you don't mind cold water. The lake is fed by mountain streams.
Yes, the summit of Jbel Toubkal is climbed on the morning of the last day.
Your guide adapts the route, using alternative valleys or extra rest days when needed.
Tell us when you'd like to go and who's coming. We reply with availability and a clear quote, usually within a day.
from €350 per person
Price estimate
An estimate only. We confirm the exact price with your quote.
See how the 6-Day Mount Toubkal Trek compares with our other treks, or let the quiz below suggest one.
Sort by:
| 2-Day Mount Toubkal Trek from Marrakech | 2 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €170 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Day Mount Toubkal Trek | 4 | Moderate to challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €250 |
| 6-Day Mount Toubkal Trek | 6 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €350 |
| 7-Day Mount Toubkal Trek from Marrakech | 7 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €450 |
| Mount Toubkal via Azzaden Valley | 3 | Challenging | 4,167 m | Yes | €195 |
| 3-Day Berber Villages & 3 Valleys Trek | 3 | Moderate | 2,489 m | No | €195 |
| 3-Day High Atlas Mountains Hiking Tour from Marrakech | 3 | Moderate | 3,172 m | No | €195 |
| 6-Day Hike in the Atlas Mountains | 6 | Moderate to challenging | 3,172 m | No | €350 |
| Imlil Village Day Trip from Marrakesh | 1 | Easy | 1,960 m | No | On request |
| 10-Day Morocco Tour: Toubkal, Kasbahs and Sahara | 10 | Moderate | 4,167 m | Yes | On request |
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