Mount Toubkal 2025

A SUNRISE VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS

With Jason Leonard

We’re excited to share the below information for the 2025 Atlas Challenge hike in Morocco.

Trek dates: Thursday 25th September 2025 to Sunday 28th September 2025

This page will be updated with all of the relevant information about the trip.

Introduction

Morocco is a vibrant country with extreme variety. It has windswept beaches, bustling cities, and jagged mountain peaks.
Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, stands at an impressive 4,167 metres above sea level, making it a fine challenge.

During this adventure packed weekend, you’ll experience the bustle of Marrakech, the ruggedness of the mountains, and be rewarded with epic views from the summit of Mt Toubkal.

Trip Overview

This trip combines a visit to Marrakech with a challenging hike in the Atlas mountains, where you will aim to reach the summit of Mount Toubkal. After arriving at Marrakech Airport, you’ll be shuttled to your riad for the first night. The following morning, you’ll drive towards the intimidating Atlas mountain range and begin your two day trek on Toubkal. You’ll spend the night at the Mouflon Refuge, 3,200m above sea level, before making a dawn start to reach the peak. After a quick celebration on the summit, you’ll make the long descent to the valley and drive back to your riad for a celebratory dinner. The next morning can be spent exploring Marrakech before flying home.

Accommodation & Service

Sleeping well and being comfortable can make or break your trip, that's why we pride ourselves on delivering the best accommodation and service on and off the mountain. In Marrakech we work with a handful of beautiful riads for a truly Moroccan experience. On the mountain we always use the better of the two available refuges, typically with only 4 team members per room, rather than the 40 per room in the main refuge.

The Itinerary

DAY 1: 25th September 2025

London to Marrakech

Arrive Marrakech Airport and private transfer to you riad or hotel. Explore the famous Jemaa El Fna square by night when it comes alive with snake charmers, henna artists and traditional music, or acclimatise in the riad with some cold beers.

DAY 2: 26th September 2025

Marrakech to Toubkal Refuge (3,207m)

Departing from the riad after breakfast, you’ll begin your adventure with a 2 hour drive along the winding roads through Morocco’s gorges and valleys, to the Berber trailhead village of Imlil. After a quick refreshment of traditional mint tea, you’ll leave the vehicles and set out through the valleys and stark mountain slopes, admiring the remote villages and the impressive sight of the terraced houses perched on the mountains around you. You will break for lunch next to a waterfall in the sacred village of Sidi Chamharouch, before setting out again, up steep mule tracks to the Mouflon Refuge. You can use the rest of the day to relax or stroll around the surrounding slopes, before dinner and a good, if short, night’s sleep in the Refuge.

DAY 3: 27th September 2025

Toubkal Refuge - Jebel Toubkal Summit - Toubkal Refuge - Imlil - Marrakech

Alpine start today for breakfast and set out at around 0500hrs towards the summit. The route starts with a rising traverse of a long slope, before narrowing to a broad gully. This first section will be climbed in darkness, and once the sun has risen you’ll get a view of your real objective, the summit of Jebel Toubkal, which will have so far been largely obscured by surrounding peaks. There is a further steep slope, before a final ridge climb and narrow path to the peak. The climb should take 3-4hrs and may be partly on snow. Once at the top, you’ll have time to take photos and a short break before starting your descent back to the refuge for lunch. After lunch, you’ll hike all the way back to Imlil, retracing your steps, and enjoying the thick air. Once back at Imlil you’ll drive back to your riad in Marrakech for a well deserved shower, a celebratory dinner, and a good night’s sleep.

DAY 4: 28th September 2025

Marrakech to London

This morning you’ll have a chance to recover and explore the fascinating sights of Marrakech, a vibrant and bustling city. We'll arrange a private tour guide to show you around, and explain the heritage of the medina and it's many historical buildings. Then all too quickly, it’s time to head back to the airport for flights home.

Organisation & Leadership

Organisation and Leadership:
This expedition is highly supported by a team of mountain specialists. Monix Adventures has been organising and leading specialised expeditions for more than 8 years, and many of our local guides have hundreds of ascents to their name.

Rhys Jones:
Rhys is an experienced high altitude mountaineer and expedition leader. He has completed over 20 expeditions including ascents of the highest mountain on every continent and Mount Everest. He has previously climbed Mount Toubkal 5 times, and numerous mountains with Laura, and both completed a ski mountaineering expedition in Greenland in 2014. He has also led 8 Kilimanjaro climbs, and private Guided in Ecuador and the Himalayas.

Laura Jones:
Laura has been climbing for 7 years and has racked up an impressive list of challenges to date. She has previously climbed Kilimanjaro & Mount Toubkal on a number of occasions. She also completed a ski mountaineering expedition to Greenland in 2014, and the party made a successful ascent of the highest mountain in the Arctic Circle. Laura is an experienced Ultra-Marathon runner, and has run the World’s Highest Marathon on Mt Everest, as well as the World’s Coldest Marathon in the Arctic, among many other races in challenging areas like Patagonia & the Alps.