A tough trek through the Central High Atlas, with an option to climb two of North Africa's highest peaks
At 4,167m, Mount Toubkal is the highest mountain in North Africa; at 4,068m, Ighil Mgoun is not far behind. The hike to these two summits is challenging, but it requires no mountaineering experience and the panoramic views makes the hard work worthwhile. With the start of the trek just a few hours’ drive from Marrakech, you can reach the summit of both these mountains and be back within three weeks and so still have time to explore Morocco’s most captivating city.
Morocco
Mgoun & Toubkal
Duration
18-21 days
Mountain Trek
Tough/Extreme
This trek is available as
trek only or with add-ons
INTRO TO THE HIGH ATLAS TRAVERSE: FROM MGOUN TO TOUBKAL
At 4,167m, Mount Toubkal is the highest mountain in North Africa; at 4,068m, Ighil Mgoun is not far behind. The hike to these two summits is challenging, but it requires no mountaineering experience and the panoramic views makes the hard work worthwhile. With the start of the trek just a few hours’ drive from Marrakech, you can reach the summit of both these mountains and be back within three weeks and so still have time to explore Morocco’s most captivating city.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Climb to the summit of Jebel Toubkal (4,167m), North Africa’s highest mountain
- Optional ascent of Ighil Mgoun (4,068m)
- Trek across the summer pastures of the pristine Yagour Plateau
- Discover prehistoric rock engravings
- Swim in the waters of Lake Ifni
PLACES TO BE VISITED
- Aït Bou Guemez Valley – Azib n’Akkis – Aghouri Est – Tarkeddid Plateau – Ighil Mgoun Summit – Tasgaiwalt – Tessaout Valley – Ait Ali n’Ito – Megdaz – Tizi Awrghiz – Tagoukht – Tizi n’Fedghat – Tizi n’Tghaghayt – Lake Tamda – Jebel Anghomar summit – Tighza – Telouet – Tizi n’Telouet – Titoula – Taddert – Afra – Yagour Plateau – Ourika Valley – Setti Fatma – Agadir n’Aït Boulmane – Timichchi – Tizi n’Tacheddirt – Tizi n’Tamatert – Aït Souka – Aït Mizane Valley – Sidi Chamharouch – Immouzer Waterfalls – Jebel Toubkal summit – Refuge les Mouflons – Imlil
KEY INFORMATION
- 18 days of tough/extreme trekking, maximum altitude – 4,068m
- 17 nights camping in the High Atlas Mountains. (Alternatively, sleeping can be arranged in local accommodation on some of these nights, depending on the season).
- You can start your trek on any date you wish
- This trek is available throughout the year, subject to snow
- On occasion local weather conditions may require the trekking route to be altered in the interests of your safety
- If this itinerary is not exactly what you had in mind, please do contact us for a discussion as all itineraries can be adapted according to your wishes
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Full escort: our treks are fully escorted by an English-speaking, local, official mountain guide, muleteers and a cook
- Accommodation: 17 nights camping and 1 night sleeping in local accommodation in the High Atlas Mountains. (Alternatively, sleeping can be arranged in local accommodation on some of these nights, depending on the season).
- Meals: lunch and dinner on Day 1, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Days 2 to 18, plus breakfast and lunch on Day 19, all including bottled mineral water and hot drinks
- Documentation: provided documents include a personalised itinerary for your trek, a full risk assessment of your trekking route, a bespoke kit list and facts about the country.
- Plus add-ons
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- International flights
- Sleeping bags
- Travel insurance
- Tips
- Soft drinks & items of a personal nature
Best Season
June to October
DATES
TREK ONLY
Tues 4th August – Friday 21st August 2026
DATES
TREK WITH ADD-ONS
- Sun 2nd August – Sat 22nd August 2026
PRICES
Trek only
Including Add-ons
£1800pp
£2100pp
Maximum group size – 12
Bespoke, private tours: Please talk with us if you would prefer a private, bespoke, tailor made tour for dates of your own choosing.
DAY 1
Trek from Ait Bou Guemez Valley to Azib n’Ikkis
We begin our trek by leaving behind the beautiful and fertile Aït Bou Guemez Valley (1850m) known to the French as “The Happy Valley”. Climb gently through the narrowing Arous Valley, passing through the village of Aït Sayd, to reach the pastures of Azib n’Ikkis (2200m). Lovely views of Ighil Mgoun already lie ahead. We either camp on the pastures or spend the night in a local gite, depending upon the season.
DAY 2
Trek from Azib n’Ikkis to Tarkeddid Plateau
We climb steeply to cross two passes in quick succession, Tizi n’Oumskiyq (2909m) and Aghouri Est (3400m), both of which offer wonderful, far-reaching views, before descending to the vast expanse of the Tarkeddid Plateau (2900m), at the foot of Ighil Mgoun. We spend the night either camping on the plateau or sleeping in the refuge, depending on the season.
DAY 3
Optional ascent of Ighil Mgoun
Those wishing to undertake the optional ascent of the summit of Ighil Mgoun (Ighil n’Oumsoud, 4068m), will make an early, pre-dawn departure from the plateau. The climb itself is demanding but the views all round and towards the Sahara are quite amazing and absolutely worth the effort. We descend back onto the Tarkeddid Plateau for a second night.
DAY 4
Trek from Tarkeddid Plateau to Tasgaiwalt
We head westwards across the plateau and climb over a small pass, Tizi Asdim (3216m), at its far end, descending into the beautiful Tessaout Valley. We camp at the village of Tasgaiwalt (2325m) near the head of the valley, or sleep in a nearby gite, depending on the season.
DAY 5
Walk from Tasgaiwalt to Ait ‘Ali n’Ito
We follow the course of the river, passing a succession of traditional villages, including Amezri, Talat n’Tazart, Ait Hamza and Ichbbakane, to reach our overnight halt at Ait ‘Ali n’Ito (1825m). We either camp or spend the night in a local gite, depending on the season.
DAY 6
Walk from Ait Ali n’Ito to Tagoukht
Leaving the Tessaout Valley, we head south to the impressively located village of Megdaz (1961m), formerly the home of the Berber poetess Mririda n’Ayt Attiq, and considered by many to be the most beautiful village throughout the entire High Atlas Mountains. We cross the Tizi Awrghiz (2454m) to reach Tagoukht (2018m) where we spend the night in tents, or in a local house, depending on the season.
DAY 7
Walk from Tagoukht to Lake Tamda (Tamda n’Ounghamar)
We cross two more passes, Tizi n’Fedghat (2191m) and Tizi n’Tghaghayt (2838m) to reach the spectacularly located Lake Tamda. We spend the night in tents in a rather romantic setting near the lakeside.
DAY 8
Optional ascent of Jebel Anghomar and walk from Lake Tamda to Tighza
Today begins with an optional ascent of Jebel Anghomar (3609m). We then follow the Ounila Stream down to the village of Tighza (1980m) where we either camp or spend the night in a local gite, depending on the season.
DAY 9
Walk from Tighza to Telouet
We trek through groves of walnut and almond and cross a small plateau before descending to the village of Telouet (1900m) next to which stands the historic kasbah of the infamous El Glaoui family. We camp near the kasbah, or sleep in local addomodation, depending on the season.
DAY 10
Walk from Telouet to Titoula
We cross the Tizi n’Telouet (2567m), a major pass through the High Atlas, and descend to the village of Titoula (1950m) where we spend the night in tents.
DAY 11
Walk from Titoula to Afra
We climb across a small pass to reach Taddert where we cross the main Marrakech – Ouarzazate Road. We enter the gorge of the Afra Valley and continue to our riverside camp.
DAY 12
Trek from Afra to the Yagour Plateau
We trek up onto the high pasture of the Yagour Plateau, through sparse forest of evergreen oak. From here we enjoy good views up valley of Bou Oughiwl and Aghoujdid. We camp for the night on the plateau (2300m).
DAY 13
Walk from the Yagour Plateau to Agadir n’Aït Boulmane
We traverse the Yagour Plateau to reach an excellent viewpoint across the High Atlas Mountains before descending into the Ourika Valley. We trek onwards to Setti Fatma and then continue further upstream as far as Agadir n’Aït Boulmane (1400m) where we spend the night in tents.
DAY 14
Walk from Agadir n’Aït Boulmane to Timichchi
We climb through a gorge on a spectacular balcony path and pass through three Berber villages before reaching Timichchi (2050m). We spend the night in tents or in local accommodation, depending on the season.
DAY 15
Walk from Timichchi to Tacheddirt
We head up to Tizi n’Tacheddirt (3172m) and take lunch at the pass before decending to Tacheddirt (2250m) in the Imenane Valley. We spend the night in tents or in a local gite depending upon the season.
DAY 16
Walk from Tacheddirt to Immouzer Waterfalls
We trek across Tizi n’Tamatert (2279m) and descend to Aït Souka. After lunch, we head up the Aït Mizane Valley to Sidi Chamharouch and then beyond to a camp at the picturesque waterfalls of Immouzer.
DAY 17
Walk from Immouzer Waterfalls to the summit of Jebel Toubkal and down to Refuge les Mouflons
There is an early start for those of us who wish to trek to the summit of Jebel Toubkal (4167m), North Africa’s highest peak. We descend back down the mountain end either camp near Refuge les Mouflons or sleep in the refuge depending on the season.
DAY 18
Walk from Refuge les Mouflons to Imlil
We trek across Tizi n’Tamatert (2279m) and descend to Aït Souka. After lunch, we head up the Aït Mizane Valley to Sidi Chamharouch and then beyond to a camp close to the Toubkal refuges.
THE HIGH ATLAS TRAVERSE: FROM MGOUN TO TOUBKAL
WITH ADD-ONS
Our The High Atlas Traverse: From Mgoun to Toubkal trek is also available with add-ons which include:
- Airport pick-up upon arrival and transfer to a riad in the medina of Marrakech
- 1 night’s accommodation with breakfast in a riad in Marrakech before your trek
- Transfer from Marrakech to Aït Bou Guemez Valley in the High Atlas mountains for the start of your trek
- Transfer from Imlil back to Marrakech at the end of your trek
- 1 night’s accommodation with breakfast in a riad in Marrakech at the end of your trek
- Transfer back to the airport for your departure from Morocco
