Trekking in Morocco: 15 Things You Should Know

The first time most people think seriously about trekking in Morocco, they picture one thing: the summit of Jebel Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak, with snow on the ridges and the Sahara somewhere beyond the haze. That climb is a fine place to start, but it is only one corner of a country with four mountain ranges, a stretch of Saharan dunes and some of the most hospitable villages you will ever sleep in. Our guides have walked these trails for decades, and the same questions come up every season. Here are the answers.

Quick answer: the best months for trekking in Morocco are April to June and September to October in the High Atlas, and October to April in the Sahara, Jebel Saghro and the Anti-Atlas. Toubkal can be climbed in two days from Imlil, but a licensed mountain guide is required in Toubkal National Park. Budget roughly 600–1,200 MAD (about €55–110) per person per day for a guided trek with mules, meals and gîte or tent nights.

15 things to know before you go trekking in Morocco

1. The season decides the route, not the other way round

Morocco’s mountains are serious terrain with real winters. Above 3,000 m in the High Atlas, snow usually lies from December into March, sometimes April, and the Toubkal ascent then becomes a winter climb with crampons and an ice axe. July and August are hot in the valleys but pleasant high up, and the passes are clear. The desert and the southern ranges flip the calendar entirely: they are best in the cool months and close to unbearable in high summer.

Region	Best months	Avoid	Notes
Toubkal & High Atlas	April–June, September–October	December–March without winter gear	Summer is fine high up; afternoon storms possible in July–August
M’Goun massif	May–October	November–April	River crossings in the gorges are high in spring melt
Rif Mountains	March–June, September–November	Mid-winter (rain, mud)	Green and lush in spring
Jebel Saghro	October–April	June–August	Cold nights in December–January
Anti-Atlas	October–April	June–August	Almond blossom around Tafraoute in February
Sahara (Erg Chebbi, Erg Chigaga)	October–April	June–September	Nights can drop near freezing in winter

For a broader view of the year, our guide to the best time to visit Morocco covers the cities and coast as well.

2. Toubkal is the classic, and it is busier than you think

Jebel Toubkal stands at 4,167 m, and the standard route starts in Imlil (about 1,740 m), roughly 90 minutes by road from Marrakech. Day one is a five- to six-hour walk up the Mizane valley past the shrine of Sidi Chamharouch to the refuges at around 3,200 m. Day two starts at dawn: three to four hours of scree to the summit, then the long descent to Imlil.

It is non-technical in summer, but it is not easy. The scree slopes are tiring, and in April or October you can wake to ice on the path. Many trekkers add a third day for acclimatisation. Weekends in May and September are crowded at the refuges, so book early.

3. A licensed guide is required in Toubkal National Park

Since 2019, trekkers in Toubkal National Park must be accompanied by a licensed mountain guide, and checkpoints on the route do ask. Elsewhere in the country the rule is less strictly enforced, but we would still never send travellers into the high mountains alone. Official guides (guides de montagne) are trained at the centre in Tabant, in the Aït Bouguemez valley, and carry an ID card. Ask to see it.

4. M’Goun is the quieter, wilder alternative

Ighil M’Goun (4,068 m) is Morocco’s second-highest summit and a very different experience from Toubkal. The usual start is the Aït Bouguemez valley, a long, green, almost Alpine valley with adobe villages and walnut trees, about four to five hours’ drive from Marrakech. A full traverse takes five to seven days and can include the Arous gorge and the descent towards Kelaat M’Gouna and the Valley of Roses.

You see far fewer trekkers here. The trade-off is fewer facilities, longer days and, in the gorges, wading.

5. The Rif and Chefchaouen are for walkers, not climbers

In the north, the Rif Mountains rise behind Chefchaouen, and Talassemtane National Park protects forests of cedar and the rare Moroccan fir. Popular routes run from Chefchaouen to Akchour, with its waterfalls and the natural rock arch locals call God’s Bridge, or over several days through Berber hamlets towards the Mediterranean. Altitudes are lower, and the walking is greener and gentler. Combine a few days on foot with the blue town itself; our guide to things to do in Chefchaouen fills in the rest.

6. Sahara treks are about rhythm, not altitude

Walking in the desert is a different discipline. You cover perhaps 12–18 km a day, much of it on sand, with camels carrying water, food and tents. The two great dune seas are Erg Chebbi near Merzouga and Erg Chigaga beyond M’Hamid, which is wilder and needs a 4×4 to reach.

If you want to walk for several days, look at our desert trekking trips. If you prefer to ride part of the way, our camel trekking tours range from a sunset outing to several nights in the dunes. The Merzouga camel trek is the easy introduction.

7. The Anti-Atlas and Jebel Saghro are the winter secret

When the High Atlas is under snow, we send people south. Jebel Saghro, between the Dades valley and the Sahara, is a volcanic landscape of jagged towers, nomad camps and plateaus like Bab n’Ali. The Anti-Atlas around Tafraoute offers pink granite, painted rocks, the palm-filled Aït Mansour gorge and Jebel Siroua (3,305 m), where saffron is grown on the lower slopes. Days are mild and sunny from November to March, though nights can fall below zero.

8. Mules and muleteers make it work

On almost every multi-day trek in Morocco, a mule carries the bags, the kitchen and the water, and a muleteer walks with it. You carry only a daypack. Expect roughly 250–350 MAD (about €23–32) per mule and muleteer per day, usually built into a trek price. Please make sure the animals are treated well and not overloaded. A good guide checks this without being asked.

9. Gîtes, refuges and homestays: where you sleep

The High Atlas has a network of gîtes d’étape, village guesthouses with simple rooms or dormitories, blankets, a squat or sit-down toilet and, if you are lucky, a hot shower heated by a wood stove. On Toubkal there are two mountain refuges near 3,200 m with bunk rooms. Elsewhere you sleep in tents or with families. Bring a sleeping bag liner at least. Dinner is usually soup, a tagine and mint tea, served on the floor round a low table, and breakfast is bread, honey, olive oil and coffee.

10. Take altitude seriously

Toubkal and M’Goun both exceed 4,000 m, high enough for acute mountain sickness. Headaches, nausea and poor sleep at the refuge are common. The fixes are simple: walk slowly, drink plenty, avoid going from Marrakech (about 470 m) to the summit in 24 hours if you can, and turn back if symptoms get worse. A night in Imlil or Aroumd before starting helps a great deal.

11. Pack for four seasons in one day

Even in May, the summit of Toubkal can be close to freezing at dawn and 25°C in Imlil by lunchtime. Our standard list:

• Broken-in boots with ankle support (scree is hard on trainers)
• Layers: base layer, fleece, insulated jacket, waterproof shell
• Warm hat, gloves, sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream
• Sleeping bag rated to about 0°C for spring and autumn, colder in winter
• Head torch for the pre-dawn summit start
• Walking poles for the descent
• Crampons and ice axe from December to April (they can be hired in Imlil)

12. Water: treat it, do not assume

Springs and streams in the mountains look clean, but villages and grazing animals sit upstream. Use a filter bottle or purification tablets, or buy bottled water where available. In the desert, water is carried by the camels and rationed sensibly. Plan on 3 litres a day when walking, more in heat.

13. What trekking in Morocco really costs

Prices vary with group size, season and comfort level. As a rough guide in 2026:

• Licensed mountain guide: about 500–800 MAD (€45–75) per day for the group
• Mule and muleteer: about 250–350 MAD (€23–32) per day
• Gîte night with dinner and breakfast: about 150–300 MAD (€14–28) per person
• Toubkal refuge with half board: roughly 250–450 MAD (€23–42) per person
• Two-day Toubkal ascent, all-inclusive from Marrakech: roughly €150–300 per person

14. Respect the villages you walk through

Mountain villages are conservative and deeply hospitable. Cover shoulders and knees, ask before photographing people (especially women), and greet with “salam alaikum”. If you are offered tea, accept it. Do not hand out sweets or pens to children; it teaches them to beg from every passing group. Buy honey, walnuts or a rug from a cooperative instead. During Ramadan, avoid eating in front of people who are fasting.

15. The 2023 earthquake changed some villages, not the welcome

The September 2023 earthquake struck the Al Haouz province, including the area around Imlil, Asni and the Ouirgane valley. Some villages were badly damaged, and reconstruction is still under way in places. The main trails and refuges reopened long ago, and trekking income is one of the most direct ways visitors can support recovery.

Planning your trek

For first-timers, we usually suggest three days around Toubkal with an extra village night, or a winter walk in Jebel Saghro tied to a desert trip. Fit walkers with a week can traverse M’Goun. Check the current situation on the UK Foreign Office advice for Morocco before you go, and read our article on whether Morocco is safe to visit for the bigger picture. The official Visit Morocco portal has useful background on each region. If you want a trek to sit inside a longer itinerary, our tailor-made trips build it around your dates.

Frequently asked questions

If you would like us to plan your walk, from a Toubkal weekend to a week in the dunes, browse our Morocco tours or contact our team in Marrakech. Tell us your dates and fitness, and we will match you with the right trail and the right guide.