High Atlas

Some of the most interesting parts of Morocco begin where most tourists end. On a clear day in Marrakech, you first glimpse the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas mountains, whose 400-mile long range, crowned by Mount Toubkal at nearly 14,000 feet, represents the largest mountain chain in Africa and divides the fertile coastal regions of Morocco from the desert interior. Featuring stunning vistas, spectacular rock formations, and beautiful river valleys, the Atlas attract hikers and climbers from around the world, as well as those at a more leisurely pace in search of breathtaking natural beauty. Long the province of the Berber tribes that fiercely resisted all efforts at external governance, the High Atlas and its way of life remain for the most part undisturbed by modernity. The majority of the population still live in remote earthen villages, and their self-sufficient economies revolve around the weekly souks (markets) which travel from village to village. There are only two passes through the famed Atlas. One, Tizi’n’Tichka, winds its way east from Marrakech to the Sahara desert and lush oases and river valleys which once defined the great trans-Saharan trading routes. The other, known as Tizi’n’Test, snakes its way dramatically south from Marrakech, reaching an altitude of 6,800 feet before descending into the fertile Sousse Valley and the ochre-hued city of Taroudant. Along this road is the newly-restored 12th century mosque at Tinmal, a tiny mountain outpost from which a medieval Berber warrior tribe conquered Marrakech to found a new dynasty that went on to conquer all of North Africa and Spain. A treat for the senses, Condé Nast Traveler (April 1998) dubbed Tizi’n’Test “One of the most spectacular half-day drives in the world.” We recommend allowing a bit more time to absorb the region’s unspoiled wonders.