
Activities for special occasions
May your next celebration be memorable
Once you’re totally and utterly souk-ed out, and your suitcase can’t possibly take any more leather slippers or zellige tiles, it’s time to head to the High Atlas. North Africa’s greatest mountain range, the saw-toothed peaks run diagonally across the country for almost 1000 kilometres and act as a barrier between the mild Mediterranean climate of the north and the hot and heady Sahara in the south. Unsurprisingly, the trekking is as magnificent as the scenery, and climbers and hikers flock for the chance to ascend the staggering Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in the range. If you’re visiting at a more leisurely pace, you’re still in for a stay par excellence. Wander the fertile valleys of walnut and cherry trees and gawp at the panoramic views, visit a traditional Berber village, seemingly locked in time, or hire a mule and a muleteer and go where the hooves take you...
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Rising quite unexpectedly at the edge of the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains are the highest point in North Africa and impressive as they come. Most travellers make a beeline for one of the beautiful kasbahs with their incredible views, secluded locations, and heavenly hamman treatments. From there, explore the mountains on foot, mule or horseback, or mountain bike - or make the hair-raising drive along the Tizi-n-Test Pass. There also a number of stand-out natural gems to visit, including the rainbow-hued hills of Salt Natural Park, or try your hand at rafting in the Ourika Valley and trekking to the summit of snow-capped Mount Toubkal. If you plan to do a spot of skiing, January is your best bet.
The mountains may be King, but the accommodation options up here are second to none. Think clifftop kasbahs complete with Berber-style hammams and candle-lit terraces overlooking the valleys.
The Toubkal Massif is the focus of most who visit the area, but if you’re in the market for something a little more remote, try the Tichka Plateau in the western region. Only a small number of trekkers make the journey and you’ll be rewarded with superlative views and authentic hospitality in the villages.
In winter (roughly November to March), snow falls thick and fast in the Atlas, blocking roads and rendering most hikes inaccessible. And that’s before we’ve mentioned the temperatures…
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