I climbed Toubkal on my 23rd birthday. Here's what no one tells you.

I booked the guide at 11pm the night before. Not recommended, but the kind of thing that happens when you’re in Imlil and you’ve had three cups of mint tea and the mountains are right there.

The approach

The trailhead starts in Imlil village at around 1,740m. From there it’s a steady four-hour climb through the Mizane valley to the Toubkal refuge — nothing technically demanding, just a long haul with your pack.

What nobody mentions: the mules. The path up to the refuge is shared with mule trains carrying supplies for trekkers. They have right of way. You will learn this.

The summit push

We left the refuge at 4:30am. By “we” I mean me, my guide Mohammed, and four other trekkers I’d met over dinner the night before. The plan: summit by sunrise.

It almost worked.

The scree slope below the summit is where most people struggle. Two steps up, one step back. The final 400 metres took 90 minutes. But then:

4,167 metres. North Africa’s highest point. On my birthday, with the Atlas stretching out in every direction and the Sahara somewhere beyond.

The costs

Being honest about money is kind of the whole point of this blog, so:

Item	Cost
Guide (1 day, summit + back)	€65
Refuge (dorm bed + dinner + breakfast)	€28
Gear rental (crampons + ice axe, winter)	€15
Imlil accommodation (night before)	€18
Total	€126

That’s for the mountain itself. Getting to Imlil from Marrakech is a shared taxi (grand taxi) — about €10 each way.

Would I do it again?

Yes. But I’d go in May, not March. The snow on the summit in winter adds a layer of seriousness that requires crampons and a guide who knows what they’re doing. In late spring it’s just a long walk with a spectacular view.

If you want to do it without the stress of figuring it out on arrival, GetYourGuide has a well-reviewed guided option that includes transport from Marrakech — worth it if you’re short on time or planning confidence.