Marrakech seems to glows red, like a welcoming campfire, against the snow capped Atlas Mountains. It is from here, where the Atlas skyline stretches across the horizon creating an awe-inspiring backdrop, that most intrepid adventurers will start their trek, a journey through deep canyons, under imposing peaks and past ancient, remote and culturally interesting Berber villages. The tops of the highest peaks are snow capped all year round. When you actually stand in the baking heat of the desert looking up at them, it is really hard to believe that this distant dream of coolness is actually real and not some sort of mirage.

Your visit to the Atlas range can be as challenging as you like from a full on ascent of the highest peak, Jbel Toubkal at 4,167m, to a gentle stroll through the tranquil Jebel Sahro region, where the rocky landscape is interspersed with crystal clear rock pools home to many exotic creatures.

The Atlas Mountains which fill most of the northwestern corner of Africa are divided into five regions. The Grand Atlas of Morocco includes the Middle Atlas, High Atlas and Anti-Atlas. The High Atlas, which is home to the highest peaks of North Africa, forms a complex range of jagged ridges, deep sheer valleys stretching over 250 miles across Morocco. The Saharan Atlas runs further south through Algeria and the lower Tell Atlas extends through Algeria into Tunisia. With such high peaks there is plenty of rainfall over the Atlas range creating many fertile valleys, although the Cedar forests which once dominated the lower slopes are all but gone now, exploited for their wood.

The mountains were formed thousands of years ago when North America, Europe and Africa where a connected land mass. The collision of Africa and America caused the birth of the Atlas Mountains and remnants of this almighty chain of mountains are found in the Appalachians in North America and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Spain.

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Climate

Morocco's climate is moderate and subtropical, cooled by breezes off the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. In the Atlas Mountains summers are hot and harsh, whilst winter snows are cold and heavy. Whilst Marrakech has an average winter temperature of 21ºC (70ºF) in the mountains conditions are not so favorable, often below zero degrees. There are no glaciers on the Atlas mountains but the highest peaks maintain their snow cap for most of the year. In the north of the country winter is wet and rainy, while in the south, at the edge of the Moroccan Sahara, it is dry and bitterly cold.

On the ridge of the mountain there is often heavy snow which presents a great avalanche danger. If you are planning to ascend to these heights on the mountain it is essential that you are properly prepared an with an experienced guide with avalanche equipment.

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When is the best time to climb the Atlas?

There are two climbing seasons which present the best conditions. Either from February - May, when the weather is warming up but there is still a fair amount of snow present or July-October when the mountains are much drier and the weather is cooler again.

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How to get to the Atlas Mountains?

Flying

There are three main international airports in Morocco: Casablanca, Tangier and Agadir. You can also fly direct to Fes, Marrakech and Oujda from Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and other European cities. The closest airport to the Atlas Mountains is Marrakech.

Most long distance flights will arrive in Casablanca. It's a modern airport with plenty of transport options to take you in to the center of town or to other destinations in Morocco. You can fly directly into Marrakech with some airlines including BA, Air France or Royal Air Maroc. Easy Jet is also starting a new route with daily flights from Gatwick to Marrakech in July 2006. If you are flying from the Us your only option is Royal Air Maroc which has daily flights from New York.

By Sea

There are several car and passenger ferry services which offer routes between Spain, Gibraltar, France and Italy to Morocco

Driving

The border between Algeria and Morocco is closed and you cannot cross it. The border with Mauritania is open but it is complicated to get across, especially if you are using public transport. Once you are in Morocco then it is possible to drive around but not recommended.

This is 4 x 4 country, and you'll pay up to 1,000Dh a day for a Suzuki or a Mitsubishi, though you're probably better off hiring a mule for the day unless you're used to the dirt roads. The best way to get out to the High Atlas is in one of the big Merc 'grands taxis'. Despite a scarcity of roads in Morocco, it is fairly easy to access most of the major mountains. Once you get there, there are numerous mountain huts, plenty of guides and mules to carry your gear.

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Visas

Important Note:

Sufficient funds should be held for maintenance for the period of stay. Entry may be refused to travellers with a 'hippy' appearance.

Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. All travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.

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Money matters

The Moroccan Dirham (MAD), is the accepted currency, which is divided into 100 centimes. ATM's are available in the larger towns, but can be unreliable, although currency can be exchanged at banks or at an official bureaux de change. Dirham cannot be obtained or exchanged outside Morocco and receipts must be retained as proof of legal currency exchange, as well as in order to re-exchange money when departing. major credit cards are accepted in the larger shops, hotels and restaurants. Traveller’s cheques can also be used in tourist areas.

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People

The Atlas Mountains have been inhabited traditionally by the Berbers, pastoral people who call themselves Shleuh. Living in simple flat roofed, sun baked mud houses in small villages situated on the steep mountain slopes, they speak mostly Berber, Arabic or French. They are in general a welcoming and very interesting community and their knowledge of the mountains is second to none. Many millions of people live in the Atlas Mountains, all most al of the berbers, except in Tunisia where the locals regard themselves as Arabs

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Equipment

It is usually necessary to bring complete expedition gear, including tents, camp stoves, tools, snowshoes, water, and food. During strong snowfall the mules can't walk. That's when you have to carry this all yourself. So make sure you have a good rucksack to carry it all in.

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Mountain biking in the Atlas

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Useful Links

U.S Consulate Travel Information

Travellers Health Information

The World Factbook - Morocco