11 Best Sights in High Atlas, Morocco

This unique floral and sculptural garden is a must-visit attraction if you are in the area. Andre Heller, the renowned multi-media artist created this destination to bring together local flora and fauna with his avant-garde style. The garden is a delight to walk in and perfect for visitors of all ages. Stop for a drink or bite at the onsite cafe during your visit. A free shuttle is also included from Marrakech twice daily. 

You can unlock the adventurer inside by scaling this peak, the highest in North Africa. There are several ways to make the ascent, from hikes lasting several days to shorter options. The classic hike is a two- or three-day round-trip from Imlil. On Day 1, you hike to the foot of the mountain, which is an eight-hour walk, ascending at a moderate incline. There are two well-equipped refuges to spend the night that offer food and hot showers, as well as a campsite. On Day 2, you usually get up very early and leave in the dark to get to the first big pass for sunrise, and then push to the top. You can then can either return to the refuge for another night and trek back the next day, or walk straight out back down to Imlil. While anyone can hike Toubkal it is best if you have some training and are in physically good shape to make the journey. It is required by the government to have a licensed guide, and there are police checkpoints along the way.

The road to Imlil is a left turn off the S501 (the Tizi-n-Test road that leads south from Marrakesh), just after Asni. The 17-km (11-mile) stretch is a spectacular expanse of scrub and cacti, which reaches out to the very foot of Ouanoukrim Massif.

Up a 6-km (4-mile) piste above Demnate is the natural stone bridge Imi-n-Ifri, where the diminutive River Mahseur has carved out a tunnel inhabited by hundreds of crows. A path twists down through the boulders and under the "bridge," where stalactites and sculpted hollows dramatize the natural rock formations. Women come to bathe in the stream because it is said to bring them good luck, but the crows are considered harbingers of doom. The legend associated with these birds—a St. George and the Dragon–type saga in which a lovely maiden is saved from an evil genie who, when destroyed by the brave hero, dematerializes into crows—is told in several variations by imaginative guides.

A formerly luxurious testament to the wealth of the Glaoui family, Kasbah Telouet is now in ruins but is still a wonderful place to explore. About five minutes south of Tizi-n-Tichka is the turnoff for the Glaoui Kasbah at Telouet. The road is paved but narrow, and winds from juniper-studded slopes down through a landscape of low eroding hills and the Assif-n-Tissent (Salt River). In spring, barley fields soften the effect, but for much of the year the scene is rather bleak.

Inside, walking through dusty courtyards that rise to towering mud walls, you'll pass through a series of gates and big doors, many threatening to fall from their hinges. Different parts are open at different times, perhaps according to the whims of the guard. Most of the kasbah looks ravished, as most of the useful or interesting bits had been carried off when the Glaoui reign came to its abrupt end in 1956. This sense of decay is interrupted when you get upstairs: here, from painted wood shutters and delicately carved plaster arabesques to exquisitely set tile and broad marble floors, you get a taste of the sumptuousness the Glaoui once enjoyed. Because it was built in the 20th century, ancient motifs are combined with kitschy contemporary elements, such as traditionally carved plaster shades for the electric lights. The roof has expansive views.

This reservoir is around 80 years old and a very established feature of the region, built by the French during the protectorate period. The water level fluctuates depending on rainfall and snowmelt, as it is fed from the mountains above. There are a few Jet Skis and paddleboards available to rent and take on the lake, which is not illegal but still questionable, given that this is a working reservoir. Swimming is prohibited since there is no lifeguard, but it's not uncommon to see people taking a dip, especially in the hotter months when temperatures rise. The most popular activity here is simply walking around the lake, which affords lovely views of the region as well as the local birdlife.

The absolute pièce de résistance of any visit to the Ourika Valley is a trip to Nectarome, the region's first aromatic garden. It produces essential oils for massages, spas, and hammams in the classiest of hotels and riads back in Marrakesh. Started by two Moroccan brothers (one a biochemist, the other a pharmacist), it grows 50 species of aromatic and medicinal plants, all in 2.5 acres of beautifully maintained and colorful gardens. They pick the plants on-site, then extract, process, and bottle the oil in the top-secret perfume workshop. Whatever you do, don't miss the seven-plant tea infusion, taken in a garden gazebo or Berber tent, or the boutique, where you can buy the goods.

Don't munch on the leaves of the oleander rose; they're pretty on the outside but poisonous on the inside. Two leaves are enough to kill a man.

A charming saffron farm located between Marrakesh and Ourika, Paradis du Safran is well worth a visit. The saffron itself is harvested in late October / early November depending on the weather and visitors to Morocco in this time should make a visit a must. You can also enjoy their barefoot sensory trail and relaxing garden space. Saffron tea is served to guests and if you contact in advance breakfast or lunch are also possible. 

Kids and adults alike love treading in these giant tracks of both carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs that are estimated to be about 185 million years old. There are several dinosaur-footprint sites in the region, but the easiest to find are those in the village of Ibaklliwne. As the road leads into the Aït Bougmez hamlets, it splits in two—this is actually a double valley. Follow the right-hand branch, leading into Tabant, the main village complete with a couple of cement structures, a school, and an administrative building. Follow this track for about 1½ km (1 mile) past the schoolhouses into the village of Ibaklliwne, where you'll find the dinosaur footprints on the hillside.

It's worth negotiating the potholed road to the salt mines just off the Amizmiz road (stop at the turning for the Amizmiz road and walk the last part). For centuries, local people have produced salt here from the saltwater river that cuts through the area, but today's relatively low value of the once highly prized natural commodity has greatly endangered the livelihoods of the salt-mining families.

The site of one of the few Jewish festivals still held in Morocco, this complex contains the tombs of Rabbi Mordekai ben Hamon, Rabbi Abraham ben Hamon, and others. The shrine, known locally both as the "tigimi n Yehudeen" and "marabout Juif" ("House of the Jews" in Arabic and French, respectively), is a large white structure. The moussem (pilgrimage festival) generally happens in May. Tip the gatekeeper after a tour—anything between 5 DH and 15 DH is fine.

The Tizi-n-Test pass climbs up to a staggering 6,889 feet and provides extraordinary views to the north toward the mountain peaks and south toward the Souss valleys. It's a hair-raising road trip calling for low gears and snail-like speeds, but the views are worth every second.