Until recently, Morocco’s tourism focused on beaches, traditional markets, the desert, and museums. This fabulous North African kingdom, where mosaics and gold alternate with modern cities and humble villages, offered shores overlooking the Mediterranean sea in the finest exotic vacation style, while keeping much more hidden. Today, tourism begun to shift westward… to a still wild but therefore more fascinating Moroccan region: the mountains. Leaving behind the classic Casablanca and Marrakesh, which are somehow the “capitals” of the High Atlas mountains, set out to discover mysterious and unspoiled corners.
The High Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains are a gigantic rocky arch that holds back the sands of the Sahara desert and prevents them from flowing into the ocean. It crosses three countries—Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco—and reaches its highest peak in the latter: the majestic Jebel (Mount) Toubkal, 4,167 meters asl. The region surrounding Toubkal is called the “High Atlas” and its tourist hubs are the cities of Marrakesh, with the international airport (RAK), and Ouarzazate.
The High Atlas, or Atlas al-Kabir, gather winter snow for months, offering—between January and April—landscapes unimaginable in a Maghreb country. Yes, you can even ski in Morocco! And that’s not all. These mountains feed Morocco’s main rivers, such as the Muluia, the Sebou, and the very long Draa, as well as several “wadi streams”—seasonal waterways.
Exploring Morocco’s high mountains means giving up a few days at the beach and a few hours of shopping in the souks. But it’s worth it to discover unique landscapes and unique places. Especially since they’re never crowded!
Nature Itineraries in the Mountains
Located a five-hour drive from Marrakesh but only two and a half hours from Ouarzazate, the beautiful Dades Gorges were carved out by the Dades River, creating diverse landscapes depending on the route. Limestone, marl, and sandstone alternate along the banks, forming stunning sculptures thanks to the slow erosion of the water. There are four “series” of gorges in total, accessible via winding and extremely dangerous roads! The most spectacular is the road that climbs to the top of the great Tissadrine ravine.
Another wonder of these mountains is the Todra Canyon (a three-hour drive from Ouarzazate), carved over the years by the Todra River between red rocky mountains. The trails wind along the valley floor, and the sensation is like walking through the earth’s depths! The walls, in fact, reach a depth of 160 meters and are only 10 meters apart!
The mighty Mount Toubkal is at a two-hour drive from Ouarzazate. Although it is the highest mountain, the many mule tracks used for years by locals to get around make it easily accessible for trekking today. The hike usually starts from Asnii with intermediate stops in Imlil and the Toubkal Refuge, located at 3,000 meters.
Do not miss the chance to visit Ouzoud Falls, a three-steps waterfall – 150 km from Marrakesh.
Cultural Itineraries
The High Atlas is the land of the Berbers, an ancient population who—culturally speaking— survived the Arab invasion over the centuries. Visiting the Berber villages, for example in the final stretch of the Dades Gorges or in the province of Ouarzazate, means experiencing firsthand the warm hospitality of the simple people, less “glamour” but certainly more authentic Moroccans.
Ouarzazate, with its mighty walls and perfectly preserved medieval towers, stands on the border between the mountains and the Sahara. It is a grandiose monument in itself, also because it has been the setting for thousands of films. It is no coincidence that it houses a Museum of Cinema and Hollywood-style film studios, as well as treasures such as the Taourit Kasbah, the Tifoultote Kasbah. A few kilometers from the city center you find the splendid “Valley of the Roses” where these flowers fill the air with their perfume in spring!
A must-see destination in the region is the castle of Ait-Ben-Haddou. It is actually a fortified town, entirely clustered in an almost cylindrical shape around the ancient 11th-century fort (qasr). Ait-Ben-Haddou is a “must” not only for the beauty of its historic center, a labyrinth of red houses that glows like a stone fire at sunset, but also for the breathtaking view from the summit. The Moroccan plains and the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains in the distance are truly spectacular!
Skiing in Morocco
It takes just two hours by car from Marrakesh (four from Ouarzazate) to reach North Africa’s ski paradise! The small town of Oukaimden, with just 4,000 inhabitants, is the main ski resort in this part of the African continent. The slopes (10 km in total) climb between 2,600 and 3,262 meters above sea level and are divided into easy, intermediate, and super-professional levels. In Oukaimden, you can enjoy all kinds of winter sports, and besides enjoying the snow, you can also admire the stars. At night, the view here is so perfect that an astronomical observatory has been built, also open to tourists.
