Toubkal Short Trek
The Toubkal trek itself is 3 days long from Aremd village in the High Atlas Mountains. Aremd is the closest village to Mount Toubkal and it is here where you will be based for this challenging trek to the summit of Morocco’s highest mountain. In the village, which is about 2 hours drive from Marrakech, then a 40 minute walk, you will stay at a local guest house. Facilities are very basic, but the welcome is genuine and friendly.
Most successful treks are tailor made with client requirements, age and numbers in consideration. Please have dates in mind and approximate number of people. |
All our treks include an English speaking guide, mules and a cook, transport to and from Marrakesh and all food whilst on the trek. |
Walking Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech – Imlil – Aremd
set out from Marrakech for 1 hour drive south way up to Imlil. From Imlil we start our trek through delightful groves of walnut trees to the Berber village of Aremd (1950m). Our local guides are from this village and will treat us to some traditional Berber hospitality. We base ourselves out of Aremd and in the afternoon can go for an acclimatisation hike in the surrounding hills. 2-3 hours trekking
Day 2: Trek to the Neltner Refuge
From Aremd we set out for the Neltner Refuge, head first up to Sidi Chamharouch a small Islamic shrine with a few local houses nearby. The local Berber people here are sharp traders and will try to sell us all manner of tourist trinkets. After a leisurely lunch we continue on to the recently extended Neltner Refuge at a height of 3,207m. The refuge is owned by the French Alpine Club and is operated along similar lines to those refuges in France. There are large and spacious dormitories where we sleep, and a comfortable dining room where our staff will prepare our meals. We go to bed early in preparation for a dawn start.
6 hours trekking
DAY 3: Summit Toubkal – return to Marrakech
The climb to the summit of Toubkal takes around four hours from the Refuge. Nowhere on the climb are there any technical difficulties, but it is a long and tiring ascent up long scree slopes. The initial part of the climb is done in the very early hours of the morning just after dawn, but by the time we reach the Tizi-n-Toubkal col at 3941m the sun will have risen and we will be rewarded with sensational views across the entire Atlas chain. From the col the route ascends a ridgeline towards the summit at 4167m from where we have views in all directions. To the north we can look down over 2000 metres to the village of Aremd, whilst to the south we can gaze over the line of rocky peaks stretching out across towards the Sahara, and the next stage of our adventure. After a long rest and numerous summit photographs we begin our descent back to the refuge. After lunch we retrace our route back down to the village of Aremd then continue to Imlil Where we met our minibus back to Marrakech. 8 – 9 hours trekking