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Ridge of the Afella massif with views over Morocco's High Atlas

Signature trip

High Atlas 9x4000 Challenge · Full Traverse

Nine summits above 4,000 metres. Full Traverse option: crossing between the Tazaghart and Toubkal refuges.

  • CategoryAdventure
  • LevelAdvanced
  • Duration8 days / 7 nights
5.0· 76 Google reviews
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Trip overview

High Atlas 9x4000 Challenge · Full Traverse

The High Atlas is much more than Toubkal. The 9x4000 Challenge brings together nine great summits of the massif in a single trip: Toubkal, Toubkal West, Imouzzer, Ras, Timesguida, Akioud, Afella North, Afella South and Biguinnoussene. The Full Traverse option crosses the massif from the Tazaghart refuge to Toubkal: the experience closest to a small expedition in the whole catalogue, with more logistical commitment and less room to reorganise days. An Ecotour guide, who has personally walked the main routes, plus the local team.

A mountaineer and their tracks on a snowy slope of the Ouanoukrim massif, High Atlas
  • DestinationMorocco · High Atlas · Tazaghart and Toubkal massifs
  • Duration8 days and 7 nights
  • GuideEcotour guide + local High Atlas team
  • Group sizeSmall group
  • EcosystemsHigh Atlas mountains, 9 summits above 4,000 m

The character of the trip

How much adventure, culture and nature you'll experience.

Adventure5/5
Culture4/5
Nature4/5
Ecotour (Javier Gil) and the local High Atlas team
Ecotour guide + High Atlas guide team

Who will be with you on this trip

Ecotour (Javier Gil) and the local High Atlas team

Toubkal, Toubkal West, Imouzzer, Ras and Timesguida have been walked personally by Ecotour's founder, who leads the trip alongside the local mountain team, with more experience of the Tazaghart massif than of the rest of the catalogue.

The goal is the nine summits, but the priority is always to come down well from each one. This option demands more planning because it is a traverse between refuges.

Flexible dates

Interested in this trip?

Who organises this trip?

This experience runs with our partner team on the ground, who organise and sell the trip's services directly. At Ecotour we design the itinerary, explain how it works, answer your questions and put you in touch with the organising team when you're ready to go ahead.

Local team on the ground

Travel with our local team

You travel through Morocco with the local team, who organise and guide the trip on the ground. Ecotour helps you decide.

Duration
8 days / 7 nights

Start day

Pick your start day: the 8 days of the trip are marked automatically.

We explain how the trip works, answer your questions and put you in touch with the organising team when you want to go ahead.

How you experience it

We design the itinerary and support you throughout your decision. Sending the form is not a booking or a payment.

How does it work?

  1. You get in touch. Fill in the form or send us a WhatsApp message. No commitment: it isn't a booking or a payment.
  2. We talk it through. We give you all the details, answer your questions and see whether the trip is right for you.
  3. We put you in touch. When you're ready to go ahead, we connect you with the organising team, who handle the booking.
  4. All that's left is to enjoy it. Your guide is with you every step of the way. You just live the trip.

Flexible dates: get in touch and we'll tell you about the next departure windows and how the trip is organised.

Tell us what you're looking for and we'll contact you personally. It isn't a booking or a payment, just a request for information.

Flexible dates

Tell us what you're looking for

High Atlas 9x4000 Challenge · Full Traverse

How many people?

Sending this form is not a booking: it doesn't hold a place, create a contract or commit you to any payment.

Itinerary at a glance

  1. Day 1: Marrakech → Imlil

    Arrival, transfer, group introductions, technical kit check and rest before the traverse.

    Imlil

  2. Day 2: Imlil → Tazaghart refuge

    Entry into the western sector of the massif, far less frequented than the Toubkal cirque, gaining height gradually.

    Tazaghart refuge

  3. Day 3: Biguinnoussene

    Summit and return to the Tazaghart refuge.

    Tazaghart refuge

  4. Day 4: Afella North and South → Toubkal refuge

    You climb the two Afella summits and then cross to the other massif, descending to the Toubkal refuge. Exact variant, luggage and logistics to be confirmed with the local team.

    Toubkal refuge

  5. Day 5: Toubkal West, Toubkal and Imouzzer

    The central day of the traverse: Toubkal West, the summit of Toubkal (4,167 m) and Imouzzer, in a single day along the ridge.

    Toubkal refuge

  6. Day 6: Ras and Timesguida

    The two summits of the Ouanoukrim cirque, Ras and Timesguida.

    Toubkal refuge

  7. Day 7: Akioud → Imlil

    The last summit of the traverse and a full descent to the valley. Variant, timings, elevation gain and possible porterage to be confirmed with the local team.

    Imlil

  8. Day 8: Imlil → Marrakech / airport

    Transfer to Marrakech and connection with your return flight.

Detailed itinerary

The trip, day by day

Marrakech → Imlil

DAY 1

Marrakech → Imlil

  • Imlil
  • Dinner

Arrival, transfer, group introductions, technical kit check and rest before the traverse.

Imlil → Tazaghart refuge

DAY 2

Imlil → Tazaghart refuge

  • Tazaghart refuge
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Entry into the western sector of the massif, far less frequented than the Toubkal cirque, gaining height gradually.

Biguinnoussene

DAY 3

Biguinnoussene

  • Tazaghart refuge
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

Summit and return to the Tazaghart refuge.

Afella North and South → Toubkal refuge

DAY 4

Afella North and South → Toubkal refuge

  • Toubkal refuge
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

You climb the two Afella summits and then cross to the other massif, descending to the Toubkal refuge. Exact variant, luggage and logistics to be confirmed with the local team.

Toubkal West, Toubkal and Imouzzer

DAY 5

Toubkal West, Toubkal and Imouzzer

  • Toubkal refuge
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

The central day of the traverse: Toubkal West, the summit of Toubkal (4,167 m) and Imouzzer, in a single day along the ridge.

Ras and Timesguida

DAY 6

Ras and Timesguida

  • Toubkal refuge
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner

The two summits of the Ouanoukrim cirque, Ras and Timesguida.

Akioud → Imlil

DAY 7

Akioud → Imlil

  • Imlil
  • Breakfast and packed lunch

The last summit of the traverse and a full descent to the valley. Variant, timings, elevation gain and possible porterage to be confirmed with the local team.

DAY 8

Imlil → Marrakech / airport

  • Breakfast

Transfer to Marrakech and connection with your return flight.

Trip highlights

What makes this route special

Included

  • An Ecotour guide, who has personally walked the main routes, plus the High Atlas guide team.

    Ecotour guide and local team
  • Marrakech to Imlil and back by road, as per the programme.

    Transfers at the destination
  • Nights in Imlil and in the Tazaghart and Toubkal refuges as per the programme, with the meals listed for each day.

    Accommodation on the trek
  • Organisation of the traverse and support from the local team throughout the activity.

    Mountain logistics

Not included

  • International flights to and from Marrakech, travel insurance and mountain rescue cover (compulsory), personal technical gear, drinks and personal expenses, hotel nights in Marrakech before or after the programme and tips.

    What is not included

Additional information

  • Safety always comes before the itinerary

    The weather, the condition of the terrain, snow, wind, how the group is going and any other relevant factor may force a change to a day or the abandonment of a summit. The final decision rests with the guide team. Booking the trip does not guarantee reaching all nine summits.

  • Travel and rescue insurance

    You must travel with insurance covering medical assistance, high-mountain activity and rescue, as well as cancellation cover.

  • Gear depending on conditions

    Depending on the time of year and snow or ice conditions, the guide team may ask for additional equipment such as crampons or an ice axe. Whether a helmet or rope is needed on the Afella and Akioud sections is confirmed with the local team before each departure.

  • A traverse between two refuges

    It is the option with the most logistical commitment in the catalogue: two high-mountain refuges, less room to reorganise days and a crossing stage between massifs. It is best to arrive with previous experience of multi-day traverses.

  • Previous experience questionnaire

    Before confirming a booking we ask for a short form about your mountain experience (routes in the last year, maximum elevation gain in a day, highest altitude reached) to make sure this traverse suits your level.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask us

01How does it differ from the Classic option?

Both go for the same nine summits. The difference is not in the summits but in how you travel through the massif: the Full Traverse crosses the range from the Tazaghart refuge to Toubkal, with two high-mountain refuges, more commitment and less flexibility; the Classic uses the Toubkal refuge as a base for almost the whole trip. It is not necessarily more technical; its greater difficulty lies in the accumulation of days, the elevation gain, the fatigue and the logistics of a traverse.

02Are all nine summits always completed?

No summits are guaranteed. The weather, the condition of the terrain, snow, wind and how the group is going may force a change to a day or the abandonment of a summit. The final decision always rests with the guide team.

03What previous experience do I need?

It is the most demanding option in the High Atlas catalogue: you need good fitness, previous multi-day mountain experience and the ability to manage the accumulated fatigue of a traverse between refuges. Before accepting a booking we ask you to complete a short questionnaire about your previous experience.

04What gear do I need?

Basic mountain gear (boots, thermal layers, windproof jacket, gloves, hat, sunglasses, poles). Depending on the time of year and snow or ice conditions, the guide team may ask for additional equipment such as crampons or an ice axe.

05How do I book and how does payment work?

Write to us and tell us about your mountain experience and we will help you choose between the 8x4000, the Classic 9x4000 or this Full Traverse. The final price and conditions are confirmed with you before going ahead.

Gallery

Trip moments

Reviews

What people who have done this experience say

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