The High Atlas begins an hour south of Marrakech and rises to 4,167 metres at Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak. It is the country's Berber heartland — walnut groves, terraced fields, mud-brick villages, and the silence you don't expect so close to a big city.
Where to stay
The Ourika Valley for day trips from Marrakech. The Imlil Valley to be at the foot of Toubkal. The Aït Bouguemez Valley — a full day's drive but far quieter — for the loveliest lodge stays and gentle walks between villages.
Our preferred lodges are family-run, at 1,700 to 1,900 metres, with wood-fired hammams and gardens that feed the table.
How to walk
You don't need to climb Toubkal. Half-day walks between villages, with a local guide, tea in a Berber home, and a mule to carry the picnic, are often the best moments of a Morocco trip.
For committed hikers, a two-day ascent of Toubkal is achievable between April and October.