What to See & Do in The Atlas Mountains
Your Moroccan adventure gets off to a flying start, quite literally
After a flight into the bustling city of Marrakech or a drive from Casablanca, you’ll rest up overnight at an opulent riad before hitting the open road the next morning. From the metropolis of Marrakech, you will leave the snake charmers and spice markets behind, heading south toward the cooling shadows of the High Atlas.
Local culture, artisanal crafts, and active trekking
The Artisans of the Gorge
Wind your way through the dramatic Moulay Brahim Gorges to the village of Setti Fatma.
This riverside enclave is the ancient home of walnut wood carvers and potters who have supplied Marrakech with fine artisanal works for centuries.
After getting to know the village and its craft heritage, embark on a trekking adventure to the seven waterfalls at the confluence of the mountain streams. It is a striking landscape of red rock and rushing water—the perfect prelude to a quiet evening at your retreat, enjoying a traditional Tagine dinner as the stars emerge over the peaks.
Ouzoud Falls and the Emerald Pools
Cascading Wonders
Swap the rocky terrain for the lush greenery of the Ouzoud Falls, the highest waterfalls in North Africa.
Your local guide will lead you through a meandering path of orchards and ancient olive groves—some over a thousand years old—where wild Barbary macaques leap between the branches.
As you descend toward the base, you’ll experience Ouzoud’s unique, jungle-like microclimate and the permanent rainbows created by the thunderous 110-meter drop. To fully immerse yourself in the spray, take a private boat to the very foot of the cascade before returning to your retreat for a delicious Tagine dinner under the stars
High-Altitude Haven in Oukaimeden or Ifrane
Alpine Chic
Experience the unexpected at Morocco’s premier ski resorts.
Whether it’s the rugged, rock-strewn slopes of Oukaimeden—perched at a dizzying 2,600 meters—or the European-inspired architecture of Ifrane, these locales offer a surreal mountain atmosphere. In winter, you can ski with views toward the Sahara’s edge; in summer, the peaks transform into a cool, wildflower-strewn escape from the heat of the plains.
If traveling on a Saturday, your journey into the clouds begins with a stop at Asni to explore its bustling souk, famous for local argan oils and rare saffron. As you ascend to the higher altitudes of Oukaimeden, you’ll discover a village renowned for its slow, rhythmic pace of life and ancient heritage.
Berber Culture in a Mountain Hideaway
The Trekker's Gateway
Depending on your fancy, make your way through the Mizane Valley to the mountain village of Imlil.
Get your bearings with a gentle stroll around the village, watching mules graze on high pastures and witnessing the quiet rhythms of undisturbed local life.
After a lunch of local Berber specialties, explore the surrounding walnut groves or take a guided hike to a neighboring hamlet. You’ll spend the night at a luxury Kasbah—a fortified mountain haven that refuses to compromise on comfort despite its dramatic, remote location.
In the Shadow of the Giant
Climb to new hights
For the intrepid, we offer a trek toward Mount Toubkal.
At 4,167 meters, it is the highest peak in North Africa. This is a land of stark, tectonic beauty where the silence is only broken by the occasional eagle. You’ll stand on the literal crest of the continent, looking out over a horizon where the jagged Atlas peaks eventually melt into the hazy Atlantic and the golden Sahara.
After a lunch of local Berber delicacies, explore the surrounding walnut groves or take a guided hike to a neighboring hamlet. You’ll spend the night at a luxury Kasbah—a fortified mountain haven that refuses to compromise on comfort despite its dramatic, remote location.
Rolling Semolina in a Berber Hearth
Culinary traditions
Spend an afternoon in a remote village, where the true luxury lies in the heritage.
At your wish you’ll join Berber hosts for a traditional meal. The uniqueness here is the tannour—the traditional clay oven—where locals bake bread that carries the smoky, earthy flavor of the mountains, shared over stories of nomadic ancestors.
The Hidden Ounila Valley Kasbahs
Mountain Strongholds
Travel the ancient salt caravan route through the Ounila Valley.
It’s farewell to the high peaks as you drive to the village of Telouet, stopping at the Tizi n'Tichka pass, the highest road pass in Morocco.
Explore the Ounila Valley, unique for its "Troglodyte" caves and red-earth Kasbahs. Visit the Glaoui Palace (Kasbah Telouet), a hidden architectural masterpiece of intricate zellij tilework and carved cedar that stands in stark, beautiful contrast to its decaying exterior.
Restoring the Senses in Ouarzazate
An Overnight in the Oasean Gateway
Enter the "Hollywood of Africa," a cosmopolitan desert city.
To reach this oasean hub, you will navigate the legendary Tizi n'Tichka pass, an engineering marvel that snakes through the mountains at 2,260 meters, offering the most dramatic panoramic views in the Maghreb.
Your overnight stay here is focused on the UNESCO site of Ait Ben Haddou, the most perfect example of earthen clay architecture in existence. You’ll wander the fortified village. At sunset, the red mud-bricks seem to glow with an internal fire. In the evening, you will retreat to a boutique lodge scented with sandalwood.
Round off your visit by exploring Ouarzazate’s colourful markets and film studios before continuing your journey through Morocco's matchless southern terrain.
The Fragrant Bloom of Kelaat M'Gouna
Canyons of Rose and Stone
As you move toward the Dades, you’ll pass through the Valley of the Roses.
The Trans-Atlas route is a bucket-list journey through the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs.
This region is globally unique for the Rosa Damascena that grows in the hedgerows.Here, in the Valley of the Roses at Kelaat M'Gouna, unique for the Rosa Damascena blooms. If you travel in Spring, the air is heavy with an intoxicating floral perfume.
You’ll visit a local distillery to see how thousands of petals are transformed into the world’s most precious rose oil, a craft unchanged for centuries.
The "Monkey Fingers" of Dades Valley
The Great Cleft
Enter the Dades Valley, famous for its "road of a thousand Kasbahs."
Witness the "Monkey Fingers"—massive, smooth rock formations that resemble melting wax.
You’ll navigate the famous Dades serpentine road, a feat of engineering that offers a dizzying, bird's-eye view of the lush ribbon of greenery cutting through the red canyon.
Todra Gorge and the Tineghir Palmeraie
The Vertical Cathedral
Next is the Todra Gorge, a spectacular limestone trench that narrows to just 10 meters wide while the walls soar 300 meters skyward.
What makes Todra special is the crystal-clear glacial river that runs through its base year-round. You’ll explore the surrounding Tineghir villages, where ancient irrigation systems still feed the massive, emerald-green palm groves that stretch as far as the eye can see.
The Painted Rocks of Tafraoute
The Anti-Atlas Divide
The Anti-Atlas offers a landscape unlike any other in Morocco—older, drier, and more volcanic.
The Anti-Atlas offers a drier, volcanic landscape. In the Ameln Valley, you’ll witness the "Painted Rocks," a massive land-art installation where giant granite boulders have been painted in vibrant blues and pinks.
Discover ancient Berber granaries and immerse yourself in this surreal, psychedelic landscape of almond trees and jagged quartz that feels like walking through a dream.
Gateway to the sahara
The Golden Finale
Your journey culminates in the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga. These dunes are unique for their height—rising up to 150 meters—and their deep, apricot-orange hue.
In true nomadic style, we cannot recommend highly enough a trek by camel to a luxury camp where the only "noise" is the shifting sand. Under a sky with zero light pollution, you’ll experience the desert's ultimate luxury: a million-star view and a silence that is truly profound.
