Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Imlil to Setti Fatma or El-Kelaa M'Gouna/Valley of the Roses

Country forums / Africa / Morocco


I'll be in Morocco in late May. Planning on doing some trekking in the Atlas Mountains. I'm thinking about trekking either from Imlil to Setti Fatma or through the Valley of Roses. I'd like to spend quality time in one or the other, probably not both. I've heard the area around El-Kelaa is beautiful this time of year, what with all the roses.

Suggestions? Good memories from either place?

I enjoyed both areas but Imlil etc is on a bigger scale. Not really sure what they mean when they say Valley of the Roses. I went up from El Kelaa to Bou Thrarar and hiked in the vallies. It's very rural and remote with the roses growing in little hedges but the surrounding mountains are dry and bleak. Good casbashs in the village and farther up. But no bread available and other supplies limited so stock up in El Kelaa if you go. Not as friendly as Imlil and the hike to Setti Fatma is more demanding - not that I did much of it. They are different and I was glad I did both.

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