Enjoying The Hilltop Villages and Beautiful Valleys of The Atlas Mountains – Ouirika, Morocco
What Is It – The High Atlas Mountains of Morocco stretch for over five hundred miles across the interior of the country. The mountain chain starts just to the east of the resort city of Agadir and continues in a northeast direction towards the Algerian border. The peaks and passes through the mountains often reach an elevation of more than six thousand feet including the 13,676-foot high Jbel Toubkal peak, the eighth highest mountain in Africa. For thousands of years, the High Atlas has served as a fifty-mile-wide barrier between Africa’s Sahara Desert and the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean.
Despite these imposing surroundings, Berber tribes have prospered in the region for centuries and caravans have crossed the mountains from Timbuktu and other trading cities. The Berbers established a distinctive life in the hamlets, pastures, and hillsides which became an important part of Morocco’s culture. Today, tourists flock to the region to hike, explore, and sample the culture of its people. The best place to do that is in the Atlas Mountain villages and foothills south of Marrakech which attract everyone from serious mountain climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, to skiers and backpackers, and spa ladies.
Experiencing a Mountain Tour – After looking over various excursions, I booked one with Morocco Attractive Tours of Marrakech, which offers private and group day trips to the High Atlas. The private tour I selected included stops in five different valleys, a mountain trek with an experienced guide, and a lunch in a typical Berber family house in a mountain village. My driver, a friendly English-speaking young man from the area named Marouan El Mourabit, was an excellent companion for the day. He navigated the modern paved road from Marrkaech and the dirt roads in the mountains with equal skill and we shared stories about our backgrounds and life in Morocco.
Popular Sites – Some popular sites that we visited in the region or viewed there were the following:
Ourika Falls- As you travel south from Marrakech, the road passes through a gentle valley and a series of foothills filled with small villages, local markets, and backyard gardens. Eventually the elevation increases, and the road runs parallel to the Ourika River. This river has a rocky shallow bed in dry times but can turn into a torrent that floods the houses alongside it from excessive rains or snow melt, as it did just days after my visit. Near the end of the road is the village of Setti Fatma which serves as a gateway to the High Atlas and a starting point for visiting the cliffside Ourika Waterfall which drops from an elevation of six thousand feet. Arriving early in the morning, Marouan introduced me to the company’s local guide who then directed my morning hike and climb beside the mountain stream up to the waterfall. Along the way, vendors and cliffside cafes were busy preparing their shops for the tour groups expected later in the day. Although the water flow from the mountain in October was reduced after months of drought, it was still rewarding to see the tributaries of the falls meander down the mountain and to look out on the villages below. After a drink at the top, we climbed down the other side and enjoyed an air-conditioned ride to the next stop.
Oukaimeden- Another interesting view of the mountaintops is in Oukaimeden Valley, a high pasture that is popular for mountain biking during warm weather and skiing from December until March. The ski resort has twenty runs including more than a dozen that are classified as advanced or difficult. While it appeared quite peaceful and remote in the early fall with animals grazing there, the lodges around Oukaimeden are often used by climbers as the starting point for hikes to the high passes and peaks in the area.
Sidi Fares – Sidi Fares is a traditional Berber hilltop village built from adobe and stone which is reached by driving up a secluded mountain road. The view there sometimes extends all the way to Marrakech. We walked from the road to a family house and were greeted by the patriarch, given a tour of the house, and seated on a shaded rooftop with couches, tables, and carpeting. We were served a delicious lunch by the family that featured Moroccan salad, chicken tagine, couscous with vegetables, and drinks. After thanking our hosts, we were on our way to the next stop.
Kasbah Tamadot – Kasbah Tamadot is located just outside of Asni at the top of a valley. The kasbah was a privately owned mansion full of exotic furnishings and collections from around the world before it was purchased and renovated by businessman Richard Branson and his parents into an award-winning hotel and mountain retreat in 2005. Its twenty-four guest rooms include traditional suites and Berber tents serviced by a staff of over 120 Moroccan workers. In addition to viewing Mount Toubkal in the distance or trekking the mountains on foot or by mule, guests can enjoy the hotel’s fine dining, pool, spa, cooking classes, cinema, golf, and tennis. It is also a popular place to visit on a half day tour from Marrakech for lunch or afternoon tea.
How to Get Here –. The sites and villages described here can be reached by modern roads from Marrakech on route P2017 and route R203. Private guides, drivers, and group tours offered by Morocco Attractive Tours and other companies are readily available in Marrakech.
When to Go – The best time to visit the High Atlas areas near Marrakech is during late spring and the fall. By late spring, temperatures are quite comfortable during the day while local rivers and waterfalls are vibrant and beautiful. Hydration and preparation are important during the summer. Temperatures are hot in the afternoon and extended hikes and exercise can be difficult for some people. The snow visible in the mountains throughout the year also falls in the valleys and hillsides during the winter and nighttime temperatures can be quite cold.