Packing light for a High Atlas trek
Packing for the High Atlas is about carrying less so your legs have more. The mountains reward the traveller who keeps their pack light, their layers easy and their water handy. Here is the system we use on every Atlas Trekking departure.
Start with your feet and your layers
Comfortable, broken-in walking boots matter more than anything you can put on top of them. Pair them with thin liner socks under thicker hiking socks, and pack a spare pair in a dry bag. Above the waist, think in layers rather than one heavy coat: a light base layer, a warm mid layer and a waterproof shell. High Atlas days swing between warm sun and cold wind, and the refuge nights are noticeably cooler.
A sensible day pack
- A 30–40 litre rucksack with a rain cover
- Water bottles or a bladder — you will drink more than you expect
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
- A warm hat and gloves for the early passes and summits
- A headlamp with spare batteries
- A small first-aid kit and any personal medication
What we carry so you don’t have to
Tents, cooking gear, sleeping bags and food travel by mule and porter on most routes — on trips like our Sahara Camel Trek, the mule team carries your camp while you walk. All you need for a walking day is in your pack; the team meets you at each camp or guesthouse. That is the trick to trekking light in the mountains without giving up a hot meal or a dry sleeping berth.
Still deciding what to bring? See the gear guidance on our Toubkal Summit Trek, and your guide sends a detailed packing list before you fly.