The Atlas Mountains supply breathtaking landscapes, distant Berber villages, and historic Kasbahs. Discover a conventional lifestyle and elegant surroundings effectively off the common vacationer path.
LAST UPDATE: 18 Oct 2023
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Beneath mountains capped with snow, rivers lower an oasis of life by dramatic crimson rock canyons.
Ladies are inclined to fields whereas shepherds escort their nomadic flocks. Youngsters play in riverbanks and native markets buzz with Berber life.
The mountains of North Africa are various and rugged. The Atlas Mountains in Morocco are not any exception.
Take a beautiful day hike by a dramatic valley. Discover surreal crimson rock canyons. Go to evocative ruined Kasbahs immortalized on movie.
The Atlas Mountains have at all times been the spotlight on our journeys and lots of are included on our prime locations to go to in Morocco.
MOROCCAN EARTHQUAKE, SEPTEMBER 2023
The earthquake in September 2023 devastated most of the villages within the Atlas Mountains. The epicenter was within the province of Al Haouz, which had the best variety of casualties.
Lots of the roads had been destroyed and repairs will take time. Moreover, accommodations have appreciable structural injury and lots of locals are homeless and sleeping in tents.
Tourism is extraordinarily essential for this a part of Morocco, so we are going to hold this web page up to date as soon as the authorities deem it secure to return.
- Ourika Valley is open as normal.
- Imlil acquired much less injury than different areas, however test your lodging choices first.
- Ouirgane was badly broken and it’s not advisable for journey in the intervening time.
- Ouzade Falls are advantageous to go to on a day journey.
- Aït Bouguemez is feasible however test your precise vacation spot prematurely.
- Aït Ben Haddou didn’t obtain vital injury and journey is okay offering you test forward.
- Dades and Todra are each okay to go to.
WHERE ARE THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS?
The Atlas Mountains are a collection of mountain ranges extending for nearly 2,500 kilometers (1,600 miles) throughout North Africa. They move by Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, separating the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea.
The Excessive Atlas Mountains are in central Morocco and attain a top of 4,167 meters. That is the best and most dramatic part of the Atlas Mountains.
On the northern and western edges, extra rainfall and gentler slopes create lush inexperienced valleys. This ecosystem helps the normal Berber lifestyle.
The southern edge is far drier and rockier. Right here, crimson rock canyons weathered through the years have smoothed into breathtaking shapes.
1 – OURIKA VALLEY
Greatest vacation spot within the Atlas Mountains for a brief journey from Marrakech
The Ourika Valley lies within the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Its expanse of terraced fields and cascading waterfalls are a dramatic change from the dusty Moroccan plains.
Most head to Setti Fattma, the final small city on the paved street that heads up the Ourika Valley. It’s the departure level for day hikes into the Atlas Mountains, the preferred of which visits 7 waterfalls.
You’ll be able to go for a stroll, take a (very chilly) dip, and sit at eating places perched over the river.
In March and April, the cherry and almond orchards are gorgeous, So are the wildflowers that cowl the picturesque riverside.
At simply over a one-hour drive from Marrakech, it’s an escape to a cooler local weather. Because of this, it could actually get very busy. However, if you’re brief on time it’s an important day journey.
E book // Day tour to Ourika Valley
2 – IMLIL AND MOUNT TOUBKAL
Difficult hikes within the highest peaks of the Atlas Mountains
Imlil is a small village that has change into the middle for top mountain trekking.
It might lack the attraction and custom of different Berber villages within the Atlas Mountains, however it makes up for it in journey and surroundings.
Imlil is surrounded by usually snow-capped peaks, the best of which is Mount Toubkal at 4167 meters.
Nearly everybody who makes the journey to Imlil is right here for one factor: climbing.
There are a number of brief day hikes across the valley and multi-day treks to the best peaks.
The most well-liked is the hike eastwards to the summit of Mount Toubkal. You’ll be able to end the hike in as little as two days, or over 5 days through a extra enjoyable route.
One other nice choice is to hike west to the Azzadene Valley and Ouirgane. That is residence to a number of the most conventional Berber villages within the space.
3 – OUIRGANE VALLEY
Greatest for visiting conventional Berber villages within the Atlas Mountains
Ouirgane is decrease altitude and far hotter than Imlil.
The valley flooring close to the riverbanks is enriched with plums, blackberries, olives, figs, and almond timber. Whereas up within the hills, onions, potatoes, alfalfa, wheat, and barley maintain a really rural lifestyle.
It’s an important vacation spot to see how the Berbers make use of this very particular panorama.
You’ll be able to keep in genuine, however very good lodging, near conventional Berber dwelling. Share a meal along with your Berber host. Then finish the day lazing by the pool.
WHAT TO DO AROUND OUIRGANE
- Take a guided strolling tour as much as native villages.
- Hike into the Azzadene Valley.
- Driving to Assif Zagawari for gorgeous surroundings.
Learn extra in our information to visiting Ouirgane.
4 – CASCADES D’OUZOUD
Essentially the most dramatic waterfall within the Atlas Mountains and a simple day journey from Marrakech
The Ouzoud Falls are probably the most spectacular in Morocco and a well-liked day journey from Marrakech.
Tumbling a complete of 110 meters, the falls are superbly nestled in a jungle paradise. It may be a soothing reduction from the tough Moroccan solar.
There are a selection of fascinating walks across the canyon and loads of eating places to cease for lunch whereas taking within the surroundings.
A path zigzags down the valley wall as spray from the falls clings to dense inexperienced foliage and cools the air.
The indicators forbidding swimming are ignored by vacationers and locals alike. Boat rides can be found for very inexpensive costs to get a novel vantage level of the falls.
Tour // Day journey from Marrakech to Ouzoud Waterfall
5 – AÏT BOUGUEMEZ
The very best vacation spot for the untouched facet of Morocco
Set within the northern reaches of the Excessive Atlas mountains, many say Aït Bouguemez is probably the most stunning valley in Morocco.
A patchwork of wheat and barley fields are fed by a maze of irrigation channels dropping from terraced hills.
It’s a sea of inexperienced beneath the towering rocky summit of M’Goun Massif – the third highest in Morocco.
Berber villages dot the landscapes, and their lifestyle is ever-present within the valley.
There are a couple of riads and accommodations offering lodging and meals, however past that services are restricted.
Getting here’s a little trickier than in different Atlas Mountain locations.
The paved roads had been solely accomplished on the flip of the century and could be a little furry in locations. However offering you are taking care, it’s an important expertise. The surroundings between Demnat and Aït M’Hamed is especially gorgeous.
Aït Bouguemez is superb for village-to-village climbing in Morocco.
6 – AÏT BEN HADDOU & OUNILA VALLEY
Greatest place within the Atlas Mountains for exploring ruined ksars and kasbahs
The Ounila Valley carves its approach from the excessive Atlas Mountains to the barren plains simply north of the Sahara Desert.
For hundreds of years, it was the caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara. Tradesmen got here to trade their wares whereas the highly effective extracted their taxes.
The remnants of that energy remains to be clear within the magnificent decaying properties of Telouet Kasbah and Tamdaght Kasbah. Additionally within the fortified cities of Anmiter and Ait Ben Haddou that line the valley flooring.
It’s a surprising panorama of grand ruins set on the sting of rocky crimson canyons.
A number of movies have taken benefit of the panorama together with Gladiator, Jesus of Nazareth, Kingdom of Heaven, and Prince of Persia.
The well-paved street that connects the ruins is a improbable and straightforward drive.
Whereas the southern finish of the valley round Aït Ben Haddou can get busy with vacationers, the northern finish is simply as spectacular and has nearly nobody there.
7 – DADÈS VALLEY
The picturesque inexperienced oasis and crimson rock formations
Whereas the northern and western sides of the Atlas Mountains are greener and richer in life, the southern facet is a sea of boulders and rock.
Snowmelt from the Excessive Atlas Mountains has lower deep ravines and dramatic valleys. The Dadès Valley is among the most spectacular.
Driving in from the south, the crimson rock valley progressively narrows till it’s a little wider than the street. The drive to Café Timzzillite is the favored Instagram location within the valley, however there’s a lot extra to see.
The slot canyons and rivulets of Monkey Fingers are breathtaking to discover on foot. Move stunning villages, pleasant folks, nomadic camps, and gorgeous surroundings.
We extremely advocate an evening at Auberge Chez Pierre for unbelievable Moroccan cooking in a surprising setting.
We included this space on our 10-day Moroccan street journey.
8 – TODRA GORGE
Greatest for dramatic surroundings amongst crimson rock canyons
Simply a few hours east of the Dadès Valley is the Todra Gorge.
Essentially the most dramatic of the crimson rock canyons in Morocco, it’s nearly 200 meters excessive and solely 10 meters extensive at its narrowest level.
It opens out into the Tinghir Oasis, an enormous swathe of inexperienced breaking the monotony of the desert. It’s a outstanding distinction of crimson rock boulders and swaying inexperienced palms.
The city of Tinghir makes this a a lot busier place, however drive a number of the again roads and also you rapidly end up on their lonesome.
We additionally extremely advocate this Todra Gorge hike.
Alternatively, keep at Auberge le Competition and observe their community of signed footpaths or ask them to offer you a information.
From Todra you possibly can proceed south and east to the Sahara or north throughout the Atlas Mountains. The paved street to Agoudal and Imilchil is a wonderful journey right into a a lot much less visited facet of Morocco.
ATLAS MOUNTAINS MAP
That can assist you get your bearings, our map contains all the highest locations to go to within the Atlas Mountains on this information. We have now additionally included our evaluation of the street high quality for every of the principle passes you would want to take.
The best way to use this map / Click on on the highest left of the map to show the record of areas, then click on on the areas to show additional data. Click on on the highest proper nook of the map to open a bigger model in a brand new tab or the star to avoid wasting to your Google Maps.
HOW TO GET AROUND THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS
The Atlas Mountains are extra distant however surprisingly accessible for many vacationers. There are 4 methods to get round:
- Take Morocco’s public transport;
- Be a part of a tour in a grand taxi;
- Drive your self;
- Take a personal tour.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
There are two bus firms catering to vacationers, CTM and Supratours.
Each run common buses between Marrakech and Ouarzazate which take 4 hours and half-hour together with a 25 minute break. Nevertheless, they don’t cease at any vacationer locations on route.
Supratours additionally runs rare companies to Kalaat M’Gouna on the backside of the Roses Valley and Tinghir on the backside of the Todra Gorge Valley.
GRAND TAXIS
Grand Taxis are higher for attending to a number of the smaller cities and villages.
Grand Taxis are giant automobiles that take 4 to six folks. They run between mounted locations at a set worth, however solely go when they’re full.
Within the cities they are typically fairly fashionable however the extra distant you’re the extra doubtless you’ll be in a clapped-out banger. It may be a social option to journey and a great way to attach the cities to the extra distant locations like Aït Bougmez, Ouirgane and Imlil. Persistence is required, nonetheless.
DRIVING IN THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS
After getting arrived on the metropolis or village, you usually must make your option to different sights or sights.
So a greater choice to discover the Atlas Mountains is to self-drive.
Driving within the Atlas Mountains is simpler than many suppose. The principle roads are effectively paved and effectively signed, petrol stations are frequent, and site visitors is normally pretty gentle.
There are so few street selections that navigation is simple with Google Maps. A street journey within the Atlas Mountains is by far the easiest way to see the world.
We have now some ideas in our information to driving in Morocco.
DO YOU NEED A 4×4 IN THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS?
Lately, the street by the Ounila Valley was paved, so all of the sights on this record will be accessed by any assured driver in a 2WD.
The exception is Aït Bouguemez which has a paved street however was in very poor situation on our final journey. Whereas locals fortunately bounced alongside in a 2WD, I think most vacationers can be happier in a 4×4.
The added bonus of hiring a 4×4 means you possibly can head off the principle roads and discover.
These extra distant roads will be something from disintegrating paved roads to gravel piste or boulder-strewn steep tracks. Clinging to slender tracks on the sting of precipitous valleys as you headed to tiny villages is a whole lot of enjoyable and allows you to see a really rural and distant facet of Morocco.
When you’ve got any questions on street high quality or which areas or routes you may want a 4×4, then please ask us within the feedback beneath.
TOURS TO MOROCCO’S ATLAS MOUNTAINS
If driving your self or ready for buses all appears like an excessive amount of exhausting work, then there are a great deal of excursions zipping across the Atlas Mountains.
The principle hub for excursions exploring the Atlas Mountains is Marrakech (with its worldwide airport) within the north. Though little by little Ouarzazate, within the south, can be beginning to supply a variety of journeys.
Excursions normally final 1 to 4 days. Here’s a pattern of the very best excursions to the Atlas Mountains.
WHEN TO VISIT THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS?
The Atlas Mountains are at their most stunning in spring when flowers line the valley flooring and the crops are a shiny inexperienced. Nevertheless in early spring snow will be sluggish to soften and excessive rainfall can wash away the rock that helps the roads, making them impassable. So a super time to go to is mid-April to late Might.
In summer season the temperatures rise, the wheat and barley flip brown and the snow leaves the tops of the mountains making the entire scene barely much less picturesque. The warmth will also be stifling at decrease altitudes making strolling draining.
After the summer season temperatures drop, September to October can be a good time to go to though the colors will not be as vibrant as in spring.
Lastly, keep away from the winter months from December to March. Snow can cowl the excessive mountain roads making them impassable.
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