Toubkal Altitude Sickness - Should You Be Concerned?

What is Altitude Sickness?

Altitude sickness, or acute mountain sickness (AMS), is a condition that can occur at high altitude. Air pressure is lower at altitude and there's less oxygen.

Your body needs oxygen to breathe, which can be problematic if it can’t adapt to thinner air.

Read on for everything you need to know about Toubkal Altitude Sickness.

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The good news is your body can adapt to the lower oxygen levels but it needs time to do this. That’s why big mountains like Everest are climbed in stages, with climbers going back and forth between the lower camps before making the final summit push.

Sometimes though your body just can’t adapt to being at high altitude, especially if you’re going too high too fast.

It doesn’t matter how fit you are - if you’re going to get acute mountain sickness, I’m afraid you’ll get it. Even if you’ve been fine at altitude before, you could still get AMS on your next climb.

The worst-case scenario for altitude sickness is if it's ignored, it can develop into High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), where fluid develops in your lungs, or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), where fluid develops in your brain.

If these sound nasty, they are - and they can be fatal.

Mount Toubkal Altitude Sickness - So, Should You be Concerned?

The good news is - no.

Altitude sickness on Toubkal and in the High Atlas Mountains is extremely rare.

Our founder George recently chatted with Jamal, the guide who leads our Mount Toubkal treks, and in his 30-plus years of experience, he has not had a single case of altitude sickness among trekkers.

So relax - it’s not something you need to worry about.

Okay, as with all mountain environments above a certain height, there is a very small chance you could get altitude sickness. Jamal makes sure his staff are all trained to spot the symptoms of altitude sickness and how to manage it.

Want more tips and wisdom from Jamal? Check out our ultimate Toubkal guide.

What are the Symptoms of Severe Altitude Sickness?

Although your guides will be keeping an eye on you and it’s very unlikely you’ll have any problems, it won’t hurt to know the symptoms.

Common symptoms of acute mountain sickness are;

A mild headache



Extreme fatigue



Feeling sick



Breathlessness - more than you’d expect from walking uphill through thin air



You might have difficulty sleeping and you could feel dizzy

If you start to feel symptoms of altitude sickness, tell your guide. Don’t panic though, you're extremely unlikely to develop severe symptoms.

Do you Need to Acclimatise to Climb Mount Toubkal?

Proper acclimatisation allows your body to adapt to the lack of oxygen at a higher altitude and for some mountains it’s essential to avoid acute mountain sickness.

You won’t have to worry too much when climbing Mount Toubkal and trekking in the Atlas Mountains though.

We start the trek at Imlil, at a lower altitude, and spend the night at the Toubkal Refuge before summit day. This will give your body the best chance to acclimatise before attempting the summit.

How to Treat Altitude Sickness?

The best way to treat altitude sickness and alleviate headaches and other symptoms is to descend immediately to a lower altitude.

In the unlikely event you do get altitude sickness symptoms when climbing Mount Toubkal, our guides will get you to a lower altitude and assess your symptoms.

You won’t get severe symptoms and once you’re back down to lower altitude you’ll be fine. But like we say, it’s very rare you’ll get even mild symptoms anyway.

Staying Safe on your Mount Toubkal Trek

Altitude sickness is unlikely to be a problem, but there are other dangers to be aware of when climbing Toubkal and trekking in the Atlas Mountains.

Check mountain weather forecasts and make sure you’re prepared for all weather conditions.

Take warm layers, hat and gloves even in summer and plenty of warm layers. Make sure you follow your guide’s instructions at all times and stay with the group - no soloing off.

Last minute

Make sure you have travel insurance that covers you for emergencies. Bring enough cash and maybe a credit card as a backup for unexpected expenses.

Be flexible and prepared for changing conditions on the mountain.

Climbing Toubkal is an adventure of a lifetime and you’ll see some stunning scenery.

Remember - it’s very unlikely you’ll have any problems so just enjoy your trek in the Atlas Mountains and your climb of North Africa’s highest peak.

Ready to climb Mount Toubkal with us ? We handle all the logistics, just turn up and trek!