🏔️ 3-Day Toubkal Hike from Marrakech

Morning

• Pick-up: 08:00 from your hotel or riad in Marrakech by private 4×4 vehicle or minibus.

• Drive Duration: ~1.5 to 2 hours (approx. 65 km) on scenic winding roads through the Haouz plains and up into the foothills of the High Atlas.

• Arrival in Imlil: Around 10:00 – 10:30. Imlil is a picturesque Berber village and the main trailhead for Toubkal treks, located at 1,740 m elevation.

Late Morning to Afternoon

• Short acclimatization hike (2–3 hours):

  • Gentle loop walk around nearby villages such as Aroumd, Targa, and Mzik.

  • Pass terraced fields, walnut groves, and small waterfalls.

  • Light elevation gain (~200–300 m).

• Purpose: This relaxed walk helps your body adjust gradually to the altitude and gives a cultural introduction to the High Atlas Berber lifestyle.

Evening

• Return to Imlil by mid-afternoon.

• Free time to explore the village, check gear, and prepare for the ascent.

• Dinner & Overnight: Traditional Berber guesthouse or lodge in Imlil.

Total time:

• • Drive: 1.5–2 h

  • Hiking: 2–3 h (easy)

  • Max altitude: ~2,000 m

Morning

• Start time: 08:30 after breakfast at the guesthouse.

• Route: Imlil → Aroumd → Sidi Chamharouch → Toubkal Refuge.

• Distance: ~11 km / Elevation gain: +1,460 m

Trail Details

• Begin with a gradual climb through the Mizane Valley, passing terraced fields and walnut trees.

• Reach Sidi Chamharouch (2,310 m) after about 2 hours — a small pilgrimage site with a white-painted rock and a few mountain cafés.

• Break for lunch or snacks.

• Continue on steeper rocky mule tracks with zigzags up the valley towards the Toubkal Refuge.

Afternoon & Evening

• Arrive at the Toubkal Refuge (3,200 m)  nearby shepherd huts by mid- to late afternoon (usually around 15:30 – 16:00).

• Relax, hydrate, and enjoy the dramatic mountain scenery as the sun sets over the jagged High Atlas peaks.

• Dinner served in the communal dining room.

Total time:

• • • Hiking: 5–6 h (moderate, sustained uphill)

    • Drive: none

    • Max altitude: 3,200 m

    • Overnight: Mountain Refuge (shared dormitory rooms, basic facilities, sleeping bag recommended, also provided in Imlil )

Very Early Morning

• Start time: 04:30 – 05:00 (headlamps needed) to catch sunrise from the summit.

• Route: Refuge → South Col → Summit → Return

• Initial climb on steep scree and rock slopes before dawn, with zigzags up to the South Col (3,900 m).

• Final push along a ridgeline to reach the summit of Mount Toubkal (4,167 m) — the highest peak in North Africa.

• Sunrise on the summit: Breathtaking panoramic views across the Atlas range and, on clear days, as far as the Sahara.

Late Morning

• Descend carefully back to the refuge (takes ~2–2.5 h).

• Breakfast/brunch and short rest at the refuge.

• Continue down the same route past Sidi Chamharouch and Aroumd to Imlil (takes ~4 h down).

Afternoon

• Arrive back in Imlil around 14:00 – 15:00.

• Transfer by private vehicle back to Marrakech.

• Drive Duration: 1.5–2 hours

• Drop-off at your hotel or riad in the early evening (~17:00 – 18:00).

Total time:

• • Hiking: 7–8 h (challenging, with steep ascent and long descent)

  • Drive: 1.5–2 h

  • Max altitude: 4,167 m