Atlas Mountains vacations

The Atlas Mountains have the most extraordinary hiking locations. Unlike the Alps, you are walking through truly wild places with not a road or a cable car to be seen. Hardcore hikers head for the High Atlas’ Mount Toubkal but there is superb walking to be had in the less elevated regions of Imlil Valley, which is the gateway to Toubkal. Or in the quieter Azzaden Valley, with a stunning trekking lodge and views over to Toubkal. Heading further south, there is plenty of hiking to be had in the Anti Atlas with treks to peaks such as Jebel Aklim (2,531m). There are also wonderful day hikes in the Middle Atlas in the northwest of the country, mostly offered as day trips from Fez and Meknes. Trekking with mules, muleteers and expert mountain guides is the way to go, with dramatic dry mountain terrain interspersed with argan and almond filled valleys, poppy filled fields and snow-capped peaks in the distance. Stay in mountain gites, splendid kasbahs or camp in the wilds in the Anti Atlas.

Mount Toubkal is the highest mountain in North Africa. It takes a couple of days to summit this 4,167m peak – you make your ascent to the summit early in the morning from a mountain hut that’s reached a day’s walk from the village of Imlil. There’s snow at the top of the mountain – especially if you choose to tackle it in winter, where you will need crampons and a bit of training before you set off. Whether you ascend in winter or in summer, the views from the top of this peak are magnificent.

The Atlas Mountains are home for the Berber people who call themselves the Amazigh. They will be your guides and mentors in the mountains, so do read up on their culture before you go and remember this lovely fact: The name Berber actually comes from Roman times, and was Latin for barbarian. The name they give themselves, Amazigh, means ‘free people’. When you visit the Atlas Mountains, that sense of freedom is infectious. Traditional, subsistence farming is the norm here, with small holdings bearing fruits and nuts, with sheep and goat herders too. You will also see women weavers, who will make you never want to buy a cheap rug again when you see the skills involved. Learn some words in Berber to really be the perfect guests, support local charities such as Education for All, which supports Berber girls continuing their education beyond primary age, feast on traditional food and, most of all, enjoy bubbling and beautiful Berber company.

Our hiking vacations in the High Atlas center on Imlil – a gateway to the mountains, and a village that is in easy reach of Jebel Toubkal. Over the years, it’s become a hiking hub, full of guest houses. Hiking beyond Imlil you can stay in trekking lodges and mountain refuges. If you’re walking in the Anti Atlas you can even camp on the mountain plateau. Many of our vacations use Kasbah du Toubkal, a stunning historic kasbah just outside Imlil that has been sympathetically restored to become an eco-resort and sits at the beginning of a network of hiking trails. A stay here benefits the local people who are employed at the hotel, but also contributes funds to projects that improve the lives of people in remote villages, particularly school girls who want to continue their education.

Our cycling vacations are as much about culture as they are about conquering cols. Mountain communities are still pretty new to passers-by going by bike so you get a fantastic welcome everywhere you go. Cycle along the forested slopes of Ifrane National Park in the Middle Atlas, or up to the famous Tizi n'Tichka Pass at 2,260m. And taking on the famous hairpins of the Dades Gorge shows you the true meaning of pedal pushers. Go for more mellow rides through the argan groves of the Anti Atlas with wonders such as the Ait Mansour gorges en route. Our cycling vacations stay in Amazigh-owned riads and guest houses where possible, and are fuelled by delicious local food.