The Complete Atlas Mountains Packing Guide

Packing well is the difference between a hard day and a joyful one. After fifteen years guiding the Atlas, we have refined a system that keeps you warm, dry and light. This guide covers what to bring for every season and every grade of trek, plus the small items experienced trekkers never leave behind.

The layering principle

Mountain weather changes by the hour. Dress in three adaptable layers: a moisture-wicking base, an insulating mid-layer (fleece or light down), and a windproof, waterproof shell. Avoid cotton, which holds sweat and chills you on exposed ridges. On a summit morning you may wear all three at dawn and strip to a base layer by mid-morning.

Footwear that carries you

Well broken-in boots with ankle support are non-negotiable on rocky Atlas trails. Pair them with two sock layers — a thin liner under a merino trekking sock — to prevent blisters on long descents. For day hikes in the foothills, sturdy trail shoes are enough; for Toubkal and multi-day routes, choose stiffer B1 or B2 boots, especially in snow.

Summer trekking (May to October)

Warm days, cold nights. Pack lightweight trekking trousers, two or three technical tops, a fleece, a light down jacket for evenings at altitude, a sun hat, high-SPF sunscreen and sunglasses. Nights at the Toubkal Refuge (3,207 m) are cold even in July.

Winter ascents (December to April)

This is genuine mountaineering. Add an insulated down jacket, waterproof shell trousers, gaiters, warm gloves plus a spare pair, a warm hat and a buff. Crampons and an ice axe are essential — we provide these with instruction on our winter Toubkal ascent.

The small things that matter

A headtorch with spare batteries, a 2-litre water capacity (bottles or bladder), trekking poles for the knee-saving descents, blister plasters, lip balm, a power bank, and cash in small notes — there are no ATMs above Asni. A dry bag keeps electronics safe in an afternoon storm.