Looking out of the plane window at Marrakech sprawled below us in shades of pink and orange – this impossible, film-set like city... I couldn't quite believe it was real. My favourite Disney film has always been Aladdin, and honestly, it felt like we were descending into Agrabah. I was buzzing with excitement!
What I didn't know then, looking down at that beautiful city, was that in a few days I'd be standing on top of North Africa's highest peak at 4,167 metres, having discovered something extraordinary about what I'm capable of.
By Jess, Brand and Marketing Manager at Discover Adventure
Mount Toubkal has been quietly living on my wishlist for years. I'm not even entirely sure why some trips do that – catch your eye and set up camp in your brain. A colleague once told me the stars out there are unbelievable. Rob, Discover Adventure's General Manager (my boss!), told me it was "very achievable" (which, for the record, it absolutely is – just not quite as easy as he made it sound!). I'd always wanted to experience Morocco, and Toubkal has this reputation as the indie cousin to mountains like Kilimanjaro. Serious and challenging, but accessible.
Here's the thing, though: I'd never summited a mountain before. Not even Snowdon. So going straight in with a four-thousander felt bold – maybe even a bit brazen for someone who works at an adventure travel company! But sometimes you know something is meant for you, and this Morocco trekking adventure had my name on it.
What I've learned over the years at Discover Adventure is that everyone who takes on one of these challenges is carrying something extra. Sometimes it's visible – they're fundraising for a cause that's personally touched their lives. Sometimes it's quieter – grief, change, a need to prove something to themselves. And sometimes people don't even realise what they're carrying until they're out there in the mountains with time and space to think. My grandmother – my very strong, well-travelled grandmother – was on end-of-life care. She knew I was going. She was excited for me and wanted to hear all about it. She would have been furious if I'd cancelled the trip because of her. But I was acutely aware that she might not be there when I got home.
In the months before my Toubkal trek, I'd ramped up my preparation. I'm quite active anyway – regularly working out, walking the dog, that sort of thing – but I started doing longer walks with most of my kit. I even put weights in my backpack on a couple of them to get used to carrying a heavy backpack. Some people struggle more with carrying a pack than with walking itself, so I wanted my body to adapt.
I was also testing out my trusty old boots. They're well broken in, but starting to rub in new places, so I gave myself plenty of time to work out what would be comfortable over multiple days. I added an extra gym session each week, focusing on building leg strength and stamina. And crucially: I practised back-to-back days of walking. Waking up with stiff legs from the day before and getting back out there again is probably the best training you can do.
Here's the thing: you'd be surprised what you can achieve without training (though, I really wouldn't recommend it!) Preparation makes such a difference to how much you enjoy the experience. The more you get your body ready for what's coming, the more you can focus on the incredible scenery and the achievement itself. And that's exactly what you want from a challenge like this.
The other thing I obsessed over (maybe a bit too much) was packing smart. After a good few years at Discover Adventure, I've learned it's not just what you pack, but how you pack it. I organised everything in coloured dry bags – blue for sleeping kit, red for extra layers, that sort of thing. It meant at the end of each day I could grab my joggers and cosy hoodie without unpacking my entire bag. When you're in a tent after a long day of trekking, with limited space, this system is a lifesaver.
I also packed a couple of bin bags. Everything gets thoroughly dusty in the mountains (it's part of the adventure!), so those bags kept things like my PJs and camp clothes relatively clean and were perfect for my boots on the way home.
I met our group at the airport with Dr Freyja. Our leader, Heidi, was already in Morocco, fresh from leading our Sahara Desert Trek the week before, waiting to welcome us with our local team.
This was a bespoke corporate group booking – one of the options we offer at Discover Adventure for companies and organisations – so while they all worked together, not everyone knew each other well yet. But there was an immediate eagerness to connect, to introduce themselves. There's always a particular energy in those first few hours of any adventure – people excited to be somewhere new, thinking about the present moment rather than the challenge ahead.
The airport was the usual chaos – a long wait in customs that Heidi had warned us about. (Good to know: Marrakech Airport is known for its queues and not known for its speed, so factor in extra time on arrival and departure.) It was late by the time we cleared, so we went straight to the hotel for a quick dinner and bed.
That first night, I don't think any of us were really thinking about the mountain yet. We were just happy to be there, in Morocco, ready for whatever came next...
As I was lucky to be on one of our bespoke trips, it meant we had two extra days of High Atlas trekking before the main Toubkal ascent. It gave us time to acclimatise, settle into a pace, learn how to descend, walk on scree, and time to really get to know each other.
The first day of our ascent to Mount Toubkal was glorious. Warm sunshine (quite hot at points) with a gentle breeze. It is a fairly sharp climb at first, especially as your body wakes up, levelling into a gradual ascent, and the mountains revealed themselves slowly, dramatically. I found myself constantly pausing to take it in. It was a long day (we were on the go for around 8 hours altogether, gaining over 1000m of elevation), and we all found it challenging. The terrain is rocky and engaging; you're not just walking, you're reading the mountain, choosing your footing, staying present with every step.
And then there are the mules...
Mules are the lifeline of Toubkal – the main form of transport for supplies, equipment, everything the mountain needs. On that first day, you'll see hundreds of them going up and down. I'm a big animal lover, and I understand the (quite privileged) guilt of seeing the traditional use of animals. Still, you quickly realise there is no other way to support the mountain - I never saw any mistreatment or anything that worried me, but I made sure to thank every single one that passed us.
You learn quickly to listen for hooves or shouts of "Mule!" and move aside – there were a couple of comical moments where people didn't quite get out of the way fast enough and caught a corner of a mule bag, sending them tumbling (always safely, just a few grazed hands and bruised egos).
One of my favourite things about any Discover Adventure trip is getting to know our local teams, and Morocco absolutely delivered on this. The candid conversations about life, culture, what it means to be Moroccan in the modern world – these conversations are pure gold to me. Our guides were incredibly open, sharing their perspectives on everything from tradition to the future. Understanding what being a "modern Muslim" means to one guide versus a more traditional approach for another gave me such insight into this beautiful country. It's these human connections that transform a trek from just a physical challenge into something richer and more meaningful.
The food was great, too. Really wholesome trekking food: fresh salads and vegetables, spiced stewed meats, rice, root vegetables. Every meal felt nourishing and perfectly suited to our bodies' needs. The real Moroccan touch was the tea – mint tea in the afternoon with biscuits, and sleepy lemon verbena tea after dinner, served in the traditional way. These small rituals became highlights of each day.
We camped near the main Toubkal Refuge but in a more remote spot – wild camping at its finest... and yes, this means the most basic toilet you can imagine! But, there's something magical about being so far from everything, surrounded by mountains, with nothing but stars above you. This was the first time I'd seen the Milky Way so clearly with my own eyes, and it was absolutely breathtaking.
Something about adults sharing tents takes you back to being a teenager at sleepovers – it's way more fun than you think. All inhibitions drop. We laughed constantly in the evenings, through silly moments and shared experiences. That camaraderie is what makes these adventures so special. We were lucky to have some really lovely, kind, and inspirational people trekking with us, and that's something I've noticed across all our trips – Discover Adventure attracts genuinely wonderful humans.
The night before summit day, the atmosphere shifted into focused anticipation. Everyone was eager to rest well and be as prepared as possible for the challenge ahead.
Earlier that evening, Heidi and Freyja – our phenomenal UK team – had pulled me aside. "We don't mind how you approach tomorrow," they said, "but please don't feel like you have to have your Discover Adventure hat on. Remember, this is your challenge too."
They were giving me permission to be Jess the trekker, not Jess from DA. It was a reminder of something really important about how we operate – every single person on the mountain matters, and everyone deserves to have their own experience supported.
I tried to sleep, knowing I'm absolutely useless without rest. But I woke needing the loo about an hour and a half before my alarm (altitude will do that to you), and as I walked across camp in the freezing cold darkness, the overthinking started. Am I going to get any more sleep? God, I'm already out of breath. How am I going to get up the mountain if I'm feeling anxious now? The questions spiralled, as they do in the small hours when you're nervous and tired and worrying more than you want to admit. I didn't really get back to sleep...
Summit day on any mountain is special, and Toubkal is no exception. We started at 3:30 am under a sky full of stars, layered up against the minus something cold, head torches cutting through the darkness. There's something almost meditative about those early hours – just the rhythm of your breathing, the crunch of boots on rock, the quiet determination of everyone around you.
For the first few hours, I managed to stay in "Adventure Jess" mode – checking in with the group, riding that wave of adrenaline, focusing outward. But as we climbed higher and the air thinned, I felt my body work harder, my mind turn inward. This is where the real challenge of climbing Mount Toubkal begins – where your physical discomfort meets whatever emotional and mental weight you're carrying, and you have to find a way to keep moving forward anyway.
We'd been trekking a few hours when we reached a regrouping point. It was still dark, the wind picking up, and our leadership team gave us one of their characteristically honest safety talks. This is something I really value about how Discover Adventure operates – we're always transparent about what's ahead and what options people have. It's never about pushing people beyond safe limits; it's about empowering everyone to make their own informed decisions.
The group had naturally split into two paces by this point, and we'd supported a few people in making the brave decision to turn back – because knowing the extent of your limits, your personal summit, is just as much an achievement as reaching the summit. The rest of us pushed on, and this is where something shifted in me. The physical challenge intensified – steeper terrain, thinner air, colder wind – and my body started sending all the panic signals. Breathless. Heart racing. Every instinct screaming to stop. I've never been in a place where my mind and body were at war like that. I knew I could do it. But my body was in full flight mode, and bridging that gap required something I didn't know I had.
"Come on, Jessica." It became my mantra. My full name, the way my grandmother – my other grandmother, the one who passed years ago – used to say it. Hearing her voice in my head, feeling like I was carrying both of them with me up this mountain, gave me something to hold onto when my own strength wasn't enough.
There was a point I heard Dr. Freyja's voice cut through the cold air: "I just need to check on our Jess."
She wrapped her arms around me and asked if I was okay. I didn't cry at that point, but I could have easily, because I really needed that moment. It was permission to let the last bit of "Discover Adventure Jess" go and just be Jess, climbing a mountain, carrying grief and worry and determination all tangled together. A whisper in the ear – "You're okay, you can do this" – can be worth everything at 4,000 metres.
This is what having experienced, caring leaders means. They know exactly when someone needs support, and they give it without hesitation. They'd both noticed I was fighting hard, and they made space for that, made it okay for me to struggle and be supported through it. I wasn't alone in this – our whole group was rallying around each other, sharing energy and encouragement, proving that sometimes the only way to do hard things is together.
One of those moments you never forget.
The sun rose over the Atlas Mountains, and the light hit the peaks like they were on fire. Pink and orange and gold – absolutely stunning. I'm a big sky person; I love sunrises, sunsets, the stars, the way light transforms everything. But this was something else entirely. I haven't spent much time in the mountains in my adult life, and in that moment, I understood why people become obsessed with them.
This is what I'd been waiting for. What my body needed. And it delivered spectacularly.
Around an hour from the summit, we hit the ridgeline, and the view was phenomenal. Toubkal doesn't slope gently – it's dramatic and sheer, dropping away to reveal the landscape below. The wind at that point was so intense – really strong and icy cold and a little bit exhilarating!
The final push to the summit was challenging – there's no getting around that – but I was surrounded by incredible people. The participants I walked with for those last hours were so motivational, sharing their energy and determination. Our charity rep was a constant source of positivity, knowing exactly the right things to say to remind everyone why we were doing this. That's the beautiful thing about these challenges – you discover this collective strength.
Having our local guide – who'd summited Toubkal 20 times already that year – greet us at the top with huge hugs and genuine pride was incredibly moving. It's never routine for them, even when they've done it dozens of times. They celebrate every summit like it's their first, and that energy is absolutely infectious, a reminder that what you've just done matters.
Standing at 4,167 metres, on top of North Africa's highest peak, having never summited any mountain before – the sense of achievement (and exhaustion) was overwhelming. This was my first summit, my first real mountain, and I'd done it. The Sahara stretched out in the distance, the Atlas Mountains rolled away below us.
Just don't ask me to describe the view in perfect detail. I'm not entirely sure I had the energy to take it all in the way I wanted to. But that's okay... Some moments are meant to be felt more than remembered in HD.
Descending is its own challenge – your legs are exhausted, your feet are protesting, every step downward sending shocks through your knees and toes. But walking down in daylight meant I could finally see what we'd climbed in the dark. Looking at those scrambles and steep sections in the light, I was genuinely amazed we'd managed them with just head torches and determination. It gave me this huge respect for what we'd accomplished – and for the preparation and leadership that made it possible.
Everyone found the whole thing massively hard. There were lots of "hardest thing I've ever done" comments, comparisons to childbirth and marathon running and other monumental challenges. But that's exactly the point. It's supposed to be hard. You earn the achievement. The difficulty is what makes standing on that summit mean something, what makes the pride you carry home real and lasting.
That first shower back in Marrakech was glorious. The amount of dust that came out of my hair was genuinely impressive – I washed it twice, and I'm not sure it was enough!
I fell completely in love with the city. If you're considering any of our Morocco adventures, absolutely add on the Marrakech extension – the city deserves your time and attention. The souks had been on my bucket list for years, and they delivered beyond all my expectations – wonderfully manic yet chic all at once. People, motorbikes, cats, colour, chaos, and incredible smells everywhere. But it's also authentic. Nothing feels forced or staged.
The days after were bittersweet. I received the news that my grandmother had passed the night I returned to Marrakech. I was desperate to be home with my family, grieving and exhausted and emotionally wrung out. But I was also trying to honour her, this woman who loved to travel, by being present in a place she'd visited and loved herself.
Here's what I am trying to convey about this experience: yes, it's physically and mentally challenging. Yes, there are moments where you have to dig deep and push through a hefty amount of discomfort. But what you get in return is extraordinary.
It's not just about the summit photo, though that's wonderful. It's not even just about the achievement, though that matters too. It's about what rises to the surface when you strip away all the normal distractions of life. It's about discovering that you're carrying things you didn't even fully realise were there, and finding out that you're strong enough to carry them anyway. It's about the people who hold you up when your own strength isn't enough. It's about seeing how vast the world is and how small you are in the best possible way, the way that puts everything into perspective.
I know that if someone sent me back to climb Toubkal again tomorrow, I could do it. In fact, I think I want to. That's my favourite thing about the challenges we offer at Discover Adventure – the sense of pride and power you get from achieving something you weren't entirely sure you could. The same is true for everyone who takes on any adventure. This trek has genuinely expanded what I think I'm capable of, and that's an incredible gift.
The scenery is already calling me back. Part of me feels like I didn't take it in enough, didn't capture enough photos, or truly absorb every moment (though, of course, I did). I'd love to experience it all again with the knowledge I have now, understanding which parts I found most challenging and most rewarding.
There's only one main route up and down the mountain. Accommodation options are limited. So the differentiator isn't the route or the camps – it's the people. And this is where I feel Discover Adventure truly excels.
Our team genuinely, deeply cares about enabling people to achieve their goals while keeping them safe. I watched our leaders agonise over difficult decisions, because turning someone back is never taken lightly. It's done with care and respect, always in that person's best interest, always prioritising their safety over summit statistics. That level of genuine care translates to our local Moroccan teams, who approach every summit with the same enthusiasm and support, no matter how many times they've been up that mountain.
The years of expertise we have under our belts matter enormously, too. Our UK leaders and doctors are highly experienced, qualified professionals who know exactly how to read people, how to support them through difficult moments, and how to make safe decisions in challenging environments. Our local guides know every inch of Toubkal and have summited it more times than most of us can count. That combination of expertise creates an environment where people can push themselves safely and achieve things they didn't think possible.
We also offer bespoke options – like the trip I was on – if you're looking to travel with a specific group, company, or organisation. These can be tailored to include extra trekking days, adjusted itineraries, or specific departure dates. It's worth getting in touch with our team to explore what's possible.
Absolutely, yes.
Let me be completely honest with you, in true Discover Adventure style: climbing Mount Toubkal is challenging. It's thousands of feet of ascent over two days; summit day starts practically in the middle of the night, in sub-zero temperatures, and you'll be physically and mentally pushed in ways you might not have experienced before.
But it's also genuinely, wonderfully achievable with the right preparation, mindset, and support.
Morocco is spectacular – from the moment you land in Marrakech to your final day exploring the souks. The High Atlas Mountains are breathtaking. The local culture and hospitality will warm your heart. The food is delicious.
I think the Mount Toubkal trek is a brilliant alternative to bigger, longer expeditions like Kilimanjaro. It's challenging enough to feel like a real achievement, but compact enough to fit into a week or so away. It's accessible for first-time mountain trekkers (like me!) but still commands respect and preparation.
If I can do it – going straight in with a four-thousander having never summited anything before – then genuinely, so can you.
The adventure is challenging. But that's exactly the point. That's exactly why, when you're standing on that summit looking out over North Africa with the Sahara in the distance, you'll understand that you're capable of so much more than you ever imagined.
Ready to discover what you're capable of? Explore our Mount Toubkal trek or get in touch with our expert team to discuss bespoke options, upcoming departures, and how we can support your Morocco trekking adventure.