6 Epic Views in Morocco You Have to Hike to Get To

Imlil is a small village in the Atlas Mountains, located 1800 metres above sea level. The easiest way to reach this place from the nearest city, Marrakech, is to take a big taxi and then start hiking until you get to the actual village. Along the way, you will notice everything changing – the dust in the air vanishes, greenery appears and the temperatures drop. The view is, indeed, worth it and resembles Macchu Picchu a bit. Many people stay here on their way to Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.

This Berber town, also located in the Atlas Mountains, is 2100 metres above sea level, in the valley of Assif Melloul. It is the perfect place to enjoy exceptional views and know more about Berber culture. Every year, there is a festival in Imilchil, where fathers show off their daughters and find husbands for them. The new couples then get married at the festival, with lots of music, dancing and food. According to legend, two people from different tribes fell in love but weren’t allowed to be together, so they cried themselves to death, creating the two lakes in the area (Isli and Tilsit). Their families established an anniversary of their death and that’s how the festival first began.

This oasis is a hidden treasure between the mountains of Morocco. Located 250 kilometres from Agadir, Tafraoute is the perfect place to spend a relaxed vacation while taking in some of the best views in the kingdom. With backdrops of incredibly shaped rock formations, medieval houses, and endless nature, the hike to this small village will absolutely be worth the effort. Although hiking in this area is not recommended for beginners, you can take a big taxi for some of the way and then walk up the small valleys to enjoy the stunning landscapes.

The Ourika Valley is located 50 kilometres south of Marrakech. It is one of the most popular day trips from the Red City to discover Berber villages and hike up the High Atlas Mountains. You can go through the Ourika River until you reach the village of Setti Fatma (don’t forget to enjoy the numerous waterfalls surrounding the area). There are many guides available to help you hike through the valley and show you around the village.

Ouirgane is a small village near Marrakech in the High Atlas Mountains. The Nfis River flows through the valley and the village lies on the eastern bank of the reservoir, completely surrounded by olive groves. Ouirgane has its own little souk, popular for its rare and beautiful Berber pottery, kasbah ruins, the Tin Mal mosque, numerous salt mines, and hotels with horse riding facilities. It is not extremely difficult to reach this village and the views are splendid.

Located near Ourazazate, this incredible oasis has a backdrop of red rocks and lovely greenery on the edges of a beautiful river. On the other side of the river, you can explore the ruins of an abandoned kasbah or have a picnic on a narrow canyon. You can even catch some fish, which are plentiful in the river, or just relax and take in the beauty of this authentic Moroccan village.