Palm grove under the snow in Morocco
For everyone who thinks of Morocco as a warm country, you’d be surprised to know that the highest ski resort in Africa is there.
It’s hard to believe there would be snow in Morocco, but nevertheless there are several regions of the kingdom, some more improbable than others, which dress in a beautiful white coat every winter.
For the enjoyment of young and old alike, here are a few destinations in Morocco to enjoy the pleasures of winter under the snow.
UKAÏMEDEN
Situated in the High Atlas, less than 100 kilometres south of Marrakech, the ski resort of Oukaïmeden is at an altitude of between 2600 and 3200 metres. It includes about twenty slopes and 6 ski lifts. To get there, you first have to go along the green Ourika Valley, dotted with Berber villages, and then head towards the resort. The journey itself is part of the fun. The landscapes are grandiose and one can admire the snow-covered summits of the Atlas during the ascent.
A little more than one hour of journey separates Marrakech from this resort, which makes it an original and easy destination. You can ski in the morning and dine on the beach in Essaouira in the evening.
IFRANE - AZROU
Ifrane, named Little Switzerland, is a small mountain village located north-east of Marrakech. Its alpine architecture is rather surprising, and it is very popular in summer for its cool temperatures and greenery. In winter it gives the visitor a chance to ski or just enjoy the snow. At a lower altitude than the Oukaimeden, Michlifen, there is a small resort with a lot of charm. Only 2 ski lifts for 1 kilometre of slopes are enough to provide a fun activity for the whole family.
The region of Ifrane-Azrou is also home to a large cedar forest where the Barbary macaque lives, which reminds us that we are on the African continent. The whole region is dotted with lakes, streams, waterfalls and rivers.
Beyond these two sites, snow is of course visible all over the Atlas Mountains between December and March. But in some winters, snow can also cover the desert. A surrealist wonder for the happiness of photographers and children of the desert.
Essaouira_Beachlife_Morocco
Essaouira_Beachlife_Morocco