Middle Atlas
Set in the Ifrane National Park, this Ramsar site is a five-hour walk or 35-minute drive south of Ain Leuh.
Must-see attractions in Middle Atlas
Fez
This area of thousands of blindingly white tombs, all freshly painted in 2019, was established in 1883. You'll find the tombs of a few notables, such as…
Meknes
Moulay Ismail considered this early-18th-century complex one of his finest architectural projects, and on paper it's a marvel. The massive, thick-walled,…
Middle Atlas
Several dozen fresh- and salt-water (brine) springs emerge from the rocks to form a series of waterfalls at Oum Er Rbia, and the river cascades down the…
Kairaouine Mosque & University
Medina
Established in 859, the Kairaouine is the spiritual heart of Fez and, arguably, all Morocco. It is also considered the world's oldest university, though…
Middle Atlas
If you're desperate to see Azrou's furry famed locals, it's a piece of cake – just outside town, Moudmame (meaning 'hawthorn') is a popular forest picnic…
Meknes
Moulay Ismail's reception hall for foreign ambassadors is a lovely show of zellige (patterned tile) work. It's here that Unesco officially inscribed…
Meknes
Adjacent to the Heri Es Souani lies an enormous stone-lined lake, the Agdal Basin, built in the 18th century as both a reservoir for Moulay Ismail's…
Fez
Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour built this fortress in 1582 to monitor the populace of Fez. Modelled on Italian forts, the building holds a display of European…
Meknes
South of Bab El Mansour lies this public garden and car park that's a popular place with local families in the evening – less raucous than Place El Hedim,…
Medina
What's considered the 'front door' of the medina dates only from 1913, when the French punched a hole in the city wall and erected this grand triple…
Ifrane
Ifrane’s landmark is the stone lion that sits on a patch of grass near the Hôtel Chamonix. It was carved by a German soldier during WWII, when Ifrane was…
Ain Leuh
It’s a pleasant climb through the rough streets of flat-roofed houses to a waterfall (best in spring) at the town's northern edge, surrounded by storks'…
Middle Atlas
The most interesting section of Taza Haute's fortified wall is around Bab Er Rih, from where there are superb views over the surrounding countryside. Look…
Meknes
Housed in the peeling old tribunal building in the imperial city walls, this small museum is long overdue for a refresh, but while the larger Dar Jamaï…
Medina
The dusty displays of silver jewellery are secondary to the experience of finding this mansion, down extra-winding lanes, and relaxing over tea in the…
Medina
Algeria-born Sidi Ahmed Tijani settled in Fez and established the Tijaniya order in the late 18th century. It's now the largest Sufi order in West Africa,…
Middle Atlas
Just over the Guigou River east of the town are the showgrounds that host the livestock market on Sunday mornings. Come early to watch men test-riding…
Middle Atlas
A spot for viewing Barbary macaques similar to Moudmame, this area has a large car park, picnic tables, toilets and an enormous dead cedar tree. There are…
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
The only cylindrical minaret in Morocco is found at the Sentissi Mosque. Built in 1939, it is covered in pretty green zellige (colourful geometric mosaic…
Sefrou
Skirting the western walls of the medina, Sefrou's public gardens are wedged into a small valley and feel a little like the lost world. Towering tangles…
Middle Atlas
Taza Haute's bastion, where the medina walls jut out to the east, was added to the 12th-century fortifications 400 years later by the Saadians, but it's…
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
The Roman Baths have a small circular pool that sometimes has water in it. When it does, it's often full of boys and young men, and women visitors might…
Tazekka National Park
Climbing out of Taza into the mountains as you travel south on the R507 affords wonderful views. The waterfalls, just outside the park, are at their best…
Middle Atlas
The huge main souq takes over the eastern side of this small town on Sundays. In amongst all the fresh produce, seek out the Amazigh women weavers for…
Sefrou
It's a leafy 1.5km walk west of town to the Cascades, a modest waterfall. On a hot day, it makes for a pleasant escape. Follow the signs from Ave Moulay…
Tazekka National Park
This is a pleasant spot to picnic or have a barbecue in a designated fireplace. There's a children's play area too. The cabin sells tea, cold drinks,…
Ain Leuh
Come early to watch the sheep and goats being bought and sold every Wednesday at this large, atmospheric souk 1km off the main road to Ain Leuh. While…
Meknes
These gardens just outside the medina were being renovated on the last visit. When finished, they should be a tranquil place to stroll after a busy…
Medina
This square on the edge of the medina comes alive at dusk, when locals emerge to stroll and chat. Concerts and a few storytellers sometimes pop up here,…
Tazekka National Park
Wooden tables and benches under the trees make this a pleasant place to picnic. The toilets are only open in July and August.
Sefrou
This funduq sells wooden furniture, including some old turquoise-painted Jewish pieces if you're lucky. It's the home of the Sefrou Museum of…
Aire de Pique-Nique Les Oiseaux
Tazekka National Park
Wooden tables and benches under the trees make this a pleasant place to picnic. The toilets are only open in July and August.
Tazekka National Park
The wide valley of the River Lakhal contains a few small hamlets surrounded by farmlands. It's in sharp contrast to the heavily forested mountains all…
Co-opérative Bouharche de Tissage
Ain Leuh
Women at this cooperative produce hanbels (flat-weave rugs), Berber tents, djellabas and carpets.
Middle Atlas
The ruins of this Benedictine monastery on the edge of the forest is a little eerie. The monks left in 1980; only the church and a troop of monkeys…
Meknes
Known as Cheikh El Kamel for his perfection in learning, Sidi Ben Aïssa (1465–1526) inspired the Aïssawa Sufi brotherhood, widely followed in North Africa…
Middle Atlas
Not far from Bab Er Rih, and visible over the top of the houses, is the Grande Mosquée, which the Almohads began building in 1135 before they conquered…
Sefrou
Just south of Bab Merba, this former Jewish school with its own synagogue is now closed, but you can still peak through the doors – it's pretty rundown…
Midelt
The lands around Midelt are apple-growing country, hence this oversized statue of an apple perched atop Midelt's main roundabout in the centre of town. It…
