Eight-year-old Iya Krish during her expedition to Mount Toubkal in Morocco. She reached the 4,167-metre summit of North Africas highest peak on July 7, 2026.
\| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

At an age when most children are busy mastering playground games, eight-year-old Iya Krish has added one of North Africa’s toughest mountain climbs to her list of achievements.

Eight-year-old Iya Krish during her expedition to Mount Toubkal in Morocco. She reached the 4,167-metre summit of North Africas highest peak on July 7, 2026.
\| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The young mountaineer from Iravimangalam in Thrissur district reached the 4,167-metre summit of Mount Toubkal in Morocco on July 7, 2026, becoming one of the youngest children to scale North Africa’s highest peak.

Iya, aged eight years and three months at the time of the ascent, completed the expedition alongside her father, Krishnaraj, after a demanding three-day trek through the rugged Atlas Mountains. The climb covered about 42 km with an elevation gain of more than 2,900 m.

The expedition was organised by Greenway Adventures Travel \& Tourism LLC and led by experienced mountaineer Nasar Husain, who guided the team through the high-altitude terrain and unpredictable mountain weather.

For Iya, the climb was the culmination of months of preparation and one failed attempt.

The father-daughter duo had first set out to climb Mount Toubkal in early March this year. But harsh weather forced them to abandon the expedition midway. Rather than viewing the retreat as a setback, the family treated it as a lesson in patience and mountain safety.

When weather conditions improved, they returned to Morocco and began their second attempt and Iya stood atop North Africa’s highest peak in July .

Preparation for the climb had begun much earlier.

Living in the UAE, Iya and her father spent weekends trekking to build endurance and confidence. Those regular climbs gradually prepared the young adventurer for the physical demands of Mount Toubkal.

Adventure is not entirely new to Iya. At the age of five, she climbed Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE, offering an early glimpse of her enthusiasm for mountaineering.

Krishnaraj and his wife, Aruna Venugopal, both work in the shipping sector in Fujairah, UAE. Iya is a Class II student at Royal Private English School in Fujairah.

Her father accompanied her throughout the expedition, along with three friends and the support team led by Nasar Husain.

Mount Toubkal, rising 4,167 m above sea level, is regarded as one of the most-challenging trekking peaks in North Africa. The mountain is known for its demanding trails, significant altitude, and unpredictable weather conditions, requiring excellent physical fitness, mental resilience, thorough preparation, and experienced guidance.

For Iya, the climb was more than reaching a summit. It was a lesson in perseverance.

Published - July 21, 2026 09:42 pm IST