Luxury High Atlas Mountains
Tours made for you
Explore on foot
Follow walking and hiking trails
Dine out
Enjoy traditional cuisine
Beautiful scenery
Hunt for waterfalls
Rugged peaks and green valleys dotted with villages
The Atlas Mountains are a rugged chain that span North Africa from the Atlantic coast through Algeria and Tunisia, an imposing barrier between the fertile Mediterranean coast from the vast Sahara Desert.
The most dramatic section, the High Atlas, can be found in central Morocco, which also includes the tallest peak of Toubkal 4,167 metres (13,671 feet) which towers over the landscape due south of Marrakesh.
Roads follow green valleys dotted with mud-built Berber villages, up through forest and over winding passes then down to wadis and old caravan trading posts on the edge of the Sahara. It is a haven for hikers of all levels from spring through to autumn, whether following well worn trails or donning crampons to conquer jagged peaks. Snow falls from November to April – ski resorts can be found up here – and can last well into the summer on the north face of peaks.
The High Atlas are also the perfect setting simply for cool air and respite after time in the sometimes sweltering northern cities, or as a stopover on the long drives between them and the desert and kasbahs to the south.
Highlights
Spend time relaxing beside waterfalls in the beautiful Ourika National Park
Enjoy a trek through the Wigrane Valley, the Amassine reserve, Ouirgane Valley, Anraz village and Tassoukt
Sample some of the best Moroccan wines paired with local cuisine
Make a stop at the stunning Lalla Takerkoust Lake to take in the incredible scenery
Jack Beckford
Travel Designer
Follow hiking trails through breathtaking landscapes, past rugged peaks sprinkled with quiet mountain villages. Take time to meet the people who live here and learn about their culture and traditions and you'll make memories to last a lifetime.
Jack Beckford
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in the High Atlas Mountains
Trip Inspiration
Discover more of Morocco
Casablanca
This city is the chief port, the financial, commercial and manufacturing center of the country.
Discover more
Essaouira
On Morocco’s Atlantic coast, a little under three hours due west of Marrakesh, Essaouira is a laid-back port town cooled by the vents alizés trade winds gently blowing in from the ocean.
Discover more
Fes
The city of Fes, Morocco’s second largest, is considered to be its cultural and religious capital and often referred to as the Mecca of the West.
Discover more
Marrakesh
With its rich atmosphere, fascinating history and rich Berber culture, the city of Marrakesh encapsulates what draws people from around the world to Morocco.
Discover more
Moroccan Sahara
Morocco’s corner of the desert lies south of the High Atlas Mountains, a smattering of oasis towns becoming less frequent the further you venture, eventually reaching the golden dune seas that evokes the most romantic images of the Sahara.
Discover more
Oualidia
200km north of Essaouira, between El Jadida and Safi, is the peaceful town of Oualidia. Overlooking a coastal lagoon frequented by migratory birds, beyond which is the vast expanse of the Atlantic ocean, its setting couldn’t be more idyllic.
Discover more
Skoura
Skoura is an oasis town that sits south of the Atlas Mountains at the gateway to the Sahara beyond. Once an important trading post where camel trains would offload spices and gold to be hauled over to Fes, its illustrious past can be glimpsed in the sand coloured Kasbahs that still stand here today.
Discover more
Tangier
Morocco’s northernmost city, looking out across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain, Tangier is a place with a fascinating history. Known as ‘The Door of Africa’, it has changed hands dozens of times.
Discover moreMeet your Middle East team
When to visit
The High Atlas Mountains can be enjoyed at any time of year. The spring and autumn months are best, with mild weather making it the best time for serious hiking. The summer and winter aren’t as well suited to treks as the summer months can get very warm (though still relative respite from heat of the cities), and, especially at altitude, winter can get very cold with notable snowfall.
Go hiking
March–June
Cultural discovery
March–November
Winter walks
January–February
Plan your trip to the High Atlas Mountains
Whatever you want from your adventure in the High Atlas Mountains, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
We’ve traveled with Jacada several times (5 or more) and each one is spectacular. The hotel selection, local guides, and trip coordination are all customized and on target with our style. Our most recent trip was to Morocco…. Our favorite part was a toss up between the Agafay desert stargazing vs the Essaouria exploring vs the food tour in Marrakech.…
Jacada was our first choice for creating a memorable holiday experience. It all began with a very empathetic phone call where they carefully listened to our preferences, dos, and don’ts. We were kept well-informed throughout the booking process. Everything was so well-organized that there wasn’t much we wanted to do differently. We completely trusted their recommendations for hotels, guides, drivers,…
We went to Marrakesh, Essaouira and Oualidia with Jacada. Our only regret was not having had more time to spend in Morocco. It was absolutely magical. James from Jacada must have been able to read our mind putting the perfect vacation together, which not only the adults but also our 6 and 10 year old boys enjoyed. Everybody we came…
Planning my daughter and my adventure with Berni and Jen was easy and fun. We outlined the key things we wanted to do and they put it all together. Throughout our holiday, we enjoyed ziplining, nature walks and sloth searches, traversed the hanging bridges, hiked to waterfalls, rafted into and out of our amazing lodge in the rainforest and were…
It worked out exactly as described by the Jacada team ahead of the trip. Like a Swiss watch at work. Thank you for a great family experience.
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.
