Marrakech is located on the bottom of the Atlas Mountains. A normal Marrakech skyline should include white snow covered mountains on the southern horizon. On this page I will explain how you can explore a few parts of the Atlas Mountains not far away from Marrakech, you just need to get yourself a rent-a-car in Marrakech and your set to go and explore Morocco outside of Marrakech.
12th century Tinmel Mosque in the Atlas Mountains Morocco
Start your day picking-up your rent-a-car in Marrakech and make sure you are ready to set off to the mountains, check your car, fill the tank with fuel and buy some groceries to have some snack and water for the road. I will teach you how to reach and discover a beautiful region in Morocco. You will visit Ansi, Imarigha village, salt mines in Imarigha, authentic Berber villages, 12th Tinmel mosque and Imlil.
After you have your act together, drive south exiting Marrakech ramparts on the Gate Bab Agnaou and follow the road Route du Barrage until you have a sign to turn left direction Tahannaout. All this road from Marrakech to Tahannaout is full of olive trees and you can already notice the Atlas Mountains coming closer. We are almost entering the mountain road towards the Toubkal National Park near Asni and Imarigha.
The scenic part of the trip starts and you will already love the landscapes and dozens of authentic traditional Berber villages. You’ll also notice the strong red color of the land in contrast with the greenish vegetation. In Asni, you can stop and visit to the local market, an if you’re luckily traveling on a Saturday morning, you’ll be amazed by the lively and unique weekly market of Asni.
On the Asni weekly market you can notice how Moroccan people interact socially and how do they do business and bargain merchandise and goods. Also you can see how Moroccan women take part of the society and go to a market to by produce. Something unique and interesting in this Asni market is the little barber tents, where local old men come to shave their beard.
Fruits and vegetables for sale inside Asni weekly souk – market Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Possibly you’ll be afraid or nervous inside this type of market in Morocco due to its energy and somehow chaotic environment, but, you’ll quickly understand local people will basically smile and welcome you to their village. Watch out for unwanted pictures as this may affect some men humor towards you. Always demand to make a picture and you’ll have 50% of a positive response while some people will even come to you to be photographed and offer you a cup of mint tea.
Men shaving in Asni weekly souk – market Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Out of Ansi you’ll take the road to Imlil turning left on the road sign announcing the Toubkal National Park. Imlil is a small mountain village situated at 1600 meters / 5249 feet of altitude above sea level. Imlil is the starting point for treks to climb the Toubkal peak, the highest mountain in north Africa. Toubkal peak has an altitude of 4167 meters / 13671 feet and can be reached on a couple of days mountain trekking in the Atlas Mountains. You can now profit to have lunch in one of Imlil’s small street restaurants and enjoy a tasty tagine for example.
Mountain buildings in Imlil village in Toubkal National Park Atlas Mountains in Morocco
Photo by Alexandre Baron.
After lunch is time to go back on the road. We go back to Asni and will turn right towards Imarigha village, a very calm place surrounded by olive trees and mountains. Imarigha has some gorgeous sites you can visit including the breathtaking Ouirgane valley and lake, also you can visit several Berber villages and also the interesting and unique open air salt mines.
Reaching Imarigha’s big mosque you turn right on a tiny dirt road between the local cafe and the mosque. By the end of this road you will reach Sel d’Ailleurs guest house, a marvelous place with swimming pool, private mountain bungalows and exquisite mountain cuisine on a amazing hotel in the mountains, owned by Mr. Bouhcine. This will be your hotel during the night, you can now get accuitant with the hotel owner, drink an organic herbal tea and enjoy this little mountain haven.
Main building of hotel Sel d’Ailleurs Guest House in the Atlas Mountains Morocco
Sel d’Ailleurs hotel has a main building where you’ll have dinner and breakfast on the terrace, also you have different building housing one room each for total privacy; and the swimming-pool on the section further down. Hotel Sel d’Ailleurs contact information is BP 183, KM 59 Imarigha village, Route de Taroudant, 52140 Asni Morocco. Phone number is +212 (0) 66.657.1477; E-mail: sel-dailleurs@voila.fr and offical website at Hotel Atlas Mountains. Prices of a Double Room + diner + breakfast is 750 Moroccan Dirhams / 75 Euros or Single Room + diner + breakfast = 500 Moroccan Dirhams / 50 Euros.
Room with private bath and shower of hotel Sel d’Ailleurs Guest House in the Atlas Mountains Morocco
Swimming pool of hotel Sel d’Ailleurs Guest House in the Atlas Mountains Morocco
To be continue…please come back soon for completion of this article. Thank you.
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