At 4,167 m (13,671 ft), it is the highest peak in Morocco, the Atlas Mountains, North Africa and the Arab world.

To the south, the mountain drops steeply down for 1,800 metres (5,906 ft) to a small lake called Lac d'Ifni.

[4] Toubkal is popular with trekkers and ski mountaineers, but less so with climbers, despite its ease of access and sunny climate.

The first recorded ascent was on 12 June 1923 by the Marquis de Segonzac, Vincent Berger and Hubert Dolbeau, but the mountain may well have been climbed before that date.

[5] Toubkal's height was measured the following year, and determined as being 4,165 metres (13,665 ft)[4] Nowadays measured at 4,167 metres, the summit is crowned with a large pyramidal metal trigonometric marker, and offers views taking in most of the Atlas and Little Atlas Mountains.

At the col the route turns left (northwards) up easy slopes to the narrow summit crest of Jebel Toubkal.

The ascent during the summer (from May) is non-technical yet moderately difficult, complicated only by steep and slippery scree slopes and altitude sickness.

The ascent during the end of the winter and spring (February/March) is more difficult; crampons are necessary to ascend through the snow and - in some cases - ice.

On 17 December 2018, two trekkers, from Denmark and Norway, were murdered close to the foot of the trail in a terror-related attack.