The Atlas Mountains stretch throughout the length of Morocco. From the Middle Atlas in the north, through the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas as you go south, the mountain range is renowned for its often very fertile landscapes and trekking opportunities.

One of the most popular treks is the ascent of Jebel Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak at 4167 metres, beginning in the village of Imlil at the base of the mountain.

The Atlas is also home to the indigenous Berber population, who are famous for their exceptional hospitality towards visitors. It is well established that many visitors have had the opportunity to be invited into a Berber family's home for mint tea or dinner. There are also of course many treks that can be taken with knowledgeable Berber guides.

Each September in the town of Imilchil a wedding festival takes place which is not actually a wedding event in itself, but a kind of celebration based on a legend. This has it that two lovers from different tribes called Tislet and Isli, whose romance was forbidden by the mutually disapproving families, committed suicide in some nearby lakes. They could not be united in death, as the mountain separating the lakes also separated their spirits, after which families of different tribes decided men and women could choose their life partner. A patron saint of the Ait Haddidou Berbers, it is thought that any union blessed by Sidi Mohammed El Maghani should be prosperous.

Some of the best scenery is found in the lesser-discovered Middle and Anti-Atlas areas, with the Ifrane national park, Ain Leuh cedar forest and Virgin waterfalls, and a vast range of terrain for riding and mountain biking.

Meanwhile, the High Atlas provides the chance to partake in white water rafting, kayaking, and canyoning, as well as take in the sights of Ait Bouguemez Valley, and the Ouzoud waterfalls.

Morocco also provides skiing opportunities, at two main resorts at Oukaimeden south of Marrakech in the High Atlas and Mishchliffen near the town of Ifrane in the Middle Atlas.

In south central Morocco, on the Saharan side of the High Atlas lies the city of Ouarzazate, whose name derives from a Berber phrase meaning 'without noise' or ‘without confusion'. A former garrison and a crossing point for traders to reach more northern Moroccan and European cities, the city which is also known as the ‘door to the desert' has many spectacular kasbahs. Ouarzazate has also been the setting for the work of numerous international filmmakers. (Films shot around the city include Babel, Astérix et Cléopatra, and Lawrence of Arabia). The city also has a centre of cinematography, and a wonderful artisan centre.

Click this link to go to a listing of little hotels in the Atlas Mountains.