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Rugged High Atlas peaks above a green valley

Valleys, villages and high passes

The Atlas Mountains

Berber villages, walnut valleys and the highest peaks in North Africa, a cool counterpoint to the cities.

The Atlas ranges run across Morocco. The High Atlas, close to Marrakech, includes Jbel Toubkal, the highest summit in North Africa, and valleys with terraced farms and Amazigh villages.

Whether you want a gentle valley walk, a night in a mountain lodge, or a scenic crossing toward the desert, the Atlas adds contrast and calm to a Moroccan itinerary.

Best for

  • Walkers and nature lovers
  • Scenic road journeys
  • Cultural contrast to the cities

Highlights

Valley walks

Short, scenic walks between villages are possible without serious trekking experience.

High passes and scenic drives

Roads such as the Tizi n'Tichka pass link Marrakech to the south.

Kasbahs of the south

Earthen fortified villages such as Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lie on routes through the Atlas.

Gorges

The Todra and Dades gorges are dramatic stops on southern routes.

The Atlas Mountains in pictures

See all 66 photos
  • Rugged High Atlas peaks above a green valley
  • A 4x4 on a mountain track in the Atlas
  • A river canyon winding through southern Morocco
  • Ait Benhaddou kasbah glowing pink at dusk
  • Earthen kasbah houses above a southern Moroccan river valley
  • A kasbah rising from a palm oasis in southern Morocco

Practical information

  • Mountain weather changes quickly; snow is possible at altitude in winter.
  • Roads can be winding and slow, so travel times are longer than distances suggest.
  • Trekking at altitude should be planned with qualified local guides.

Itineraries that include The Atlas Mountains

Useful reading

Rugged High Atlas peaks above a green valley

Planning · 5 min read

When to Visit Morocco

How the seasons differ across the cities, mountains, coast and desert, and how to choose the right months.

Read the guide

Thinking of The Atlas Mountains?

Tell us when you’d like to go and what you’d love to do, and we’ll shape the journey around it.

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