Best time to climb Mount Toubkal

The best time to go on a Mount Toubkal trekking vacation is, for most people, during late spring or early autumn months, when temperatures are not too extreme. However you can do a winter climb and summer treks do also happen. You need to be ready to sweat no matter what the season mind you.

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2 min summary Best time to trek Trekking in winter

Best time to climb Mount Toubkal

I was looking forward to the challenge of climbing Toubkal in winter, but my hydration backpack tube froze! So pack a thermal tube, along with thermal everything else.

For people new to trekking at high elevations, the best time to climb Mount Toubkal is in the spring months of Apr-May, or the autumn months of Sep-Oct. This way you avoid extremes of hot or cold. Some trekkers relish the challenge of winter climbs, which take place between Oct-Apr using crampons, ice picks and a lot of determination. Treks do take place in summer, too. Of course, the mountains are cooler than the desert plains, but you will still need to be prepared for searing heat on ‘dem hills.

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Best time to climb Toubkal month by month

For many people, the best time to climb Mount Toubkal is September and October. The busy tourist scene is over, the temperatures average in the 20°Cs and there is little or snow. Or perhaps just enough to make it fun. In June, July and August you will be hit by the heat when arriving in Marrakech, which can be in the high 40°Cs. So, although it will be a good 10°C cooler in the mountains, be prepared for the urban heat. Hiking sunhats are a must as there is little shade. If you are trekking during Ramadan, please respect the cultural rules around feasting and fasting and remember that your porters and guides will be doing so. While trekking in the High Atlas, wildflowers do finally emerge from the landscape that has been frozen through winter. It’s hard to predict the spring here though, with poppies known to appear as early as February and blankets of pink and purple scabiousa springing up around April or May. Yes you can climb Toubkal at Christmas, with some group departures in late December, or January if you want to start the New Year with an exciting challenge. The north facing slopes of Toubkal will be worse when it comes to snow and ice. Even though the south face may be clear by the end of March, the north could still have coverage into May. Snow starts to cover the slopes again in October or November.

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Mount Toubkal Weather Chart

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RAIN (mm)

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-2

MAR

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MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

-1

DEC

-4

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Mount toubkal travel advice

Cultural tips

Simon Clifford from our leading supplier of Mount Toubkal trips, Exodus, shares his top tips for trekking vacations here:

“Make sure you visit a traditional, mountain hammam if you can. There are lots of tourist friendly ones in the city, but they’re more like western spas. If you’re not lying on the floor, you’re not in a traditional hammam!”

“Tagines are the most common Atlas Mountains meal, but is also the best. They usually contain chicken or lamb, with couscous and vegetables all slowly cooked together – lovely!”

Is this trip for you?

"Climbing Mount Toubkal is quite challenging and we wouldn’t recommend it to first time climbers, or people not used to walking. Go for a gentler Atlas walking vacation instead.” (See our Morocco Walking vacations for more details.)

The best time to go to Toubkal

“I think the best time to visit the Atlas is April, May and September, when it’s warm but not too hot, and the highest peaks will have a little snow, adding to the beauty of the views on offer."

Packing advice

“Try and get small denominations of dirhams, as locals struggle to change large notes. Wet Wipes and hand gel are really useful, it’s hot dusty and you do get dirty.”

TIPS FROM OUR TRAVELLERS

At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.

We have selected some of the most useful Mount Toubkal travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your daypack.

Learn some minimal Berber/Arabic in order to reciprocate the generous and courteous welcome offered by local people.

- Nicola Webb

“For the Mount Toubkal climb, I would say GET FIT. Do lots of climbing practice – both ascents and descents and practice with a day pack on your back. Also bring a camera that can take good photos – the scenery is stunning.” – Pam Harris

“Take walking poles; take the fact you will be in a Muslim country seriously and no vests/skimpy tee-shirts and shorts for women; bring a book to read; try and get as much loose change (coins) in dirhams as you can as in remote places they find it hard to change large notes.” – Amanda Dudman

“Be prepared for a VERY long summit day – After reaching the summit and getting back to the Toubkal refuge you still have another 3-4 hour walk back down the mountain... All in all you are walking for around nine and a half hours... Not a problem for us but we were rather knackered that evening!” – Ross McLagan

For the Mount Toubkal climb, I would say GET FIT. Do lots of climbing practice – both ascents and descents and practice with a day pack on your back.

- Pam Harris

“Make sure you're in the best possible shape. Some days can be way tougher than one might imagine. And follow the example of the locals: always smile!!... All scenery was superb, summit days being special and rewarding. But the memorable part will be the excellence of our guide Mohammed and his team, and the contact with the Berber way of life.” – Otto Pereira

“Morocco still has a terrible problem with litter and it was sad to see all the rubbish – plastic bottles, papers, discarded items lying all over the countryside and all around the little villages. We could try our hardest to use local water with purification tablets, but it is still much easier and it is encouraged by the locals to buy bottled water. I always gave my empty bottles back to a shop or our guide to ensure they were disposed in a more environmental manner (at least I hope so).” – Pam Harris

“Learn some minimal Berber/Arabic in order to reciprocate the generous and courteous welcome offered by local people. Also be prepared (whatever your walking pace) to compromise and to work as a group member – helping each other out and finding ways round any challenging moments.” – Nicola Webb

More relevant guides

Written by Catherine Mack

Best time to climb Mount Toubkal

Best time to climb Mount Toubkal