Three Atlas ranges, one world
Morocco has three mountain ranges: the High Atlas (south of Marrakech, with Toubkal at 4,167m), the Middle Atlas (a region of cedars and Barbary macaques) and the Anti-Atlas (to the south, more arid). This is where the Berbers ("Amazigh") live, the original people of North Africa.
The Ourika Valley
An hour from Marrakech, perfect for a day trip. Waterfalls, Berber villages where you can eat in a family home and a local market on Mondays. In spring it's full of almond and cherry trees in blossom.
The Tizi n'Tichka pass
At 2,260 metres above sea level, it connects Marrakech with the desert. The road is spectacular but has many bends — take a tablet if you get car sick. For many tourists it's the only contact they have with the Atlas, but there's so much more.
Toubkal peak (for the adventurous)
The highest in North Africa, at 4,167 metres. It's climbed in 2 days from the village of Imlil. It doesn't require technical experience, but it does need good fitness and acclimatisation. In winter you'll need snow gear.
Berber culture
The Berbers make up 40% of the Moroccan population (although many are Arabised). They have their own language (Tamazight), their own alphabet (Tifinagh, which you'll see on official signs alongside Arabic and French) and very distinct customs: they eat tajines, drink mint tea and weave wool rugs with symbols that tell stories.
Visiting a Berber village and eating in a family home is one of the most authentic experiences you can have in Morocco. We include it in many of our desert tours.
