Located in the heart of the Middle Atlas, the Ifrane and Azrou region will delight nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts. Cedar forests and their monkeys are one of the region’s main attractions. In winter, people from Casablanca and Rabat watch for snowfall and arrive en masse to enjoy various winter sports. The rest of the year, the region is much quieter. In my opinion, spring and autumn are the best seasons for a nature getaway.

Overview

Ifrane

Nicknamed, a little unfairly in my opinion, the little Switzerland of Morocco, Ifrane has architecture very different from the rest of the country. Its small houses with sloping roofs create a special atmosphere. When snow falls, you almost feel as if you have left Morocco.

Without snow, the town is less interesting in my eyes. It remains, however, well located for exploring the Azrou cedar forest and the surrounding area.

In addition to hiking in Azrou and Ifrane, the Michlifen Golf Course offers another way to enjoy the region’s landscapes. Located 9 km from Ifrane, it offers introductory sessions, by reservation. The country club, set in the upper part of the golf course, overlooks the valley and offers beautiful views of the surroundings, especially at sunset.

The country club, located in the upper part of the golf course, overlooks the valley. It offers beautiful views, especially at sunset.

For those who are not limited by budget, Michlifen Resort is worth the detour on its own. The cocooning rooms really make you feel as if you have left Morocco.

With a more limited budget, Azrou seems to me a better base than Ifrane. Most accommodations in Ifrane lack charm, in my opinion, and would need renovation.

Azrou

Located 20 km from Ifrane, Azrou often remains in its neighbor’s shadow. Yet the town does not lack charm. Above all, it is closer to the cedar forests and makes an excellent starting point for walks in the region.

It also has, in my opinion, a better hotel offering. To enjoy hiking in the Middle Atlas, I would therefore choose Azrou as a base.

Hiking between Azrou and Ifrane

The region’s main attraction remains the possibility of enjoying beautiful hikes in the Middle Atlas. The routes are mainly low-mountain walks. In one or two days, you can already get a good overview of the landscapes around Azrou and Ifrane.

Cedar forest from the Cèdre Gouraud goat cheese farm

12.17km – 370m ascent and 370m descent – GPX link⁽¹⁾

This 12 km loop starts at the Cèdre Gouraud goat cheese farm, where you can buy some good local products. It mainly follows paths, with a few short, easy off-trail sections.

The hike crosses the region’s beautiful cedar forests, where you can observe monkeys. Unfortunately, they are very used to humans and gather around certain spots, especially around the Maison de la Cédraie and Cèdre Gouraud. You can also enjoy a tagine or mint tea there.

The Maison de la Cédraie is also a good starting point for this loop. Several routes are marked there. They allow you to shorten or extend the hike depending on available time.

Tioumliline Cliffs and Monastery

18.18km – 571m ascent and 571m descent – GPX link⁽¹⁾

This 18 km hike starts from central Azrou. It gradually climbs to the cliffs, which offer a beautiful panorama. It then crosses part of the cedar forests before descending back to Azrou via the Tioumliline Monastery.

The site notably served as a filming location for the film Of Gods and Men. It is still possible to enter the small chapel, which is gradually falling into ruin. For me, it is one of the most interesting routes for discovering the region in a day.

Cliffs, Cèdre Gouraud, Ras Elma and Ben Smim (2 days)

This hike combines the first two and adds a few extra points of interest. Some sections are, however, less interesting. I only recommend this route if your main intention is to walk more.

Day 1

26.59km – 578m ascent and 878m descent – GPX link⁽¹⁾

We spent the first night in Azrou and then, the next morning, drove to the starting point of the walk. The first day covers the main points of interest of the hikes in the cedar forest and around the cliffs.

The route presents no major physical difficulties, except for its length of more than 26 km. In the evening, we slept in Azrou, where we had left our belongings to lighten our load as much as possible.

Day 2

16.82km – 487m ascent and 204m descent – GPX link⁽¹⁾

On the second day, the route, with a distance of less than 17 km, has noticeably less elevation gain than the first. The first 7 kilometers are on an asphalt road, with little traffic but of little interest.

Next, it runs alongside a forest before entering it. It then reaches the Talaat Jamaa dam and the Ben Smim spring, where you can buy some snacks and drinks. The route finally leads back to where we had parked the car.

Skiing in Ifrane

The region also very rarely allows you to practice skiing in Ifrane and its surroundings. The Michlifen and Jbel Hebri resorts are two of the rare places where you can do “alpine” skiing in Morocco.

Located at around 2,000 meters altitude, these small resorts depend heavily on snowfall. Snow, however, is becoming increasingly rare there. When it falls, residents of Casablanca and Rabat rush to the slopes to enjoy a few days of winter sports.

⁽¹⁾The GPX tracks mentioned in this article are provided for reference only. They should never be followed as an official guide or a safe route. Mountain conditions change constantly and can make a track unsuitable or dangerous.

To Continue Your Trip in Morocco

If, after exploring these hikes between Ifrane and Azrou, you have time to explore other regions, also discover my other Morocco guides. After living there for six years, I share all my tips to continue discovering the kingdom, from road trips, mountain range hikes, beautiful beaches and city visits.

Find the complete list of my articles dedicated to Morocco on this page: Morocco.