Mount Toubkal from Imlil

Jbel Toubkal is the tallest mountain in the Atlas range and North Africa. From its summit, a view on a clear day stretches from the Atlantic and Marrakech all the way to the Sahara Desert and into Algeria. This hike from Imlil is strenuous, but can be broken up into two or more days, either by camping or by staying at one of the refugios along the way. 

While the hike can be completed unassisted, going with a guide gives you confidence that you are on the right path and helps to introduce you to the local culture. Guides can be hired in Imlil at the certified guide office. Expect to pay around $50 (about 500 dirhams) per day for a guide through the agency. Non-certified guides will likely offer you their services, often for less than 500 per day if you bargain, but be aware that you may not get what you signed up for. Always agree on an exact itinerary with a guide you do not already know.

From Imlil, various trails rise up to the town of Aroumd, then on up a ridge to the shrine at Sidi Chamarouch. There are various places to buy snacks and soft drinks along the way. After approx 12 kilometers and 1,460 meters of elevation gain, you arrive at the refuges. The Refuge du Toubkal can be booked online. You may consider bringing at least your own sleeping bag liner, if not your own sleeping bag, as the wool blankets provided seem to have been washed around the time the refuge was constructed. Meals can be purchased there and are very reasonably priced for being served hot in such a remote location.

Past the refuges, the trail becomes much more steep, climbing another 1,000 meters to the summit. This is a challenging hike any time of the year, and it becomes a mountaineering adventure requiring crampons and an ice axe in winter. The trails are typically snow-free from May to October, depending on precipitation.