Middle Atlas Mts

The Middle Atlas mountains lie between Fez and Marrakech. Although less popular with tourists than the High Atlas, the often heavily forested slopes and gentler relief offer beautiful walking country, a number of interesting Berber towns and villages to visit and the famous waterfalls at Ouzoud. The cooler mountain air also offers relief from the summer heat of the Moroccan interior.

View of Middle Atlas near Azrou

The Region

The Middle Atlas range covers a vast area, lying just south of Fez and Meknes and running south towards Marrakech. Often covered in thick forest, with oak and cedar prevalent in the north, it is home to lakes, the Barbary “ape” (really a macaque) and numerous Berber towns, many of which are little visited by tourists. 

It is the most fertile of the Atlas ranges and runs from for around 350 km south of Fez and Meknes.  Although lower and generally less craggy than the High Atlas range, it has several peaks over 3,000 m and has a highest peak at Jebel Bou Naceur (3,340 m).

Due to their breadth and relatively slow road network, the range is most accessible from the north (1 hour from Fez or Meknes) or from the south (2.5 hours from Marrakech). We offer excursions to both these areas.

Things to do or see

The Northern Middle Atlas, accessed from Fez or Meknes:

  • The charming Berber towns of Bahlil, Sefrou and Azrou, from where several treks are available options.
  • The incongruous Alpine-style resort of Ifrane, set in stunning surroundings and frequented by Moroccan high society and home of the King’s summer palace, due to the cooler summer climate in the region.  In winter the region has snow and skiing is possible, most notably at nearby Mischliffen, but is very limited compared to resorts of Europe.

The Southern Middle Atlas, accessed from Marrakech offers:

  • Cascades d'Ouzoud, which are undoubtedly the most beautiful waterfalls in Morocco.
  • The recently designated M'Goun Geopark, covering nearly 12,000 sq km is centred on nearby Azilal; it contains a wealth of features of interest to geologists - mainly of Mesozoic age - including dinosaur footprints, natural pyramids and arches.  
  • Whitewater rafting on the river leading to the highly scenic reservoir lake Bin El Ouidane is an exciting possibility when the river rises with spring meltwaters between March and early May.

Places in the Region

  • Ouzoud, 2.5 hours north of Marrakech, famous for its waterfalls and scenic olive groves and surrounds; a pretty place to stay.
  • Midelt, we recommend staying near to this market town to break your journey between the Fez or Meknes and the Saharan dunes at Merzouga.

Weather

The range has a cool climate in summer, offering relief from the heat of the Moroccan interior at that time, and has snow in places such as Ifrane in winter.