In case you are planning a visit to Morocco, you are not alone. Final yr, the dominion dethroned Egypt as the highest tourism vacation spot in North Africa. Based on UN tourism information, Morocco’s tourism numbers have been steadily rising, with a 20% soar from 2023 to 2024, when 17.4 million vacationers visited. Amongst of all its cities — together with Casablanca, Fez and Rabat — Marrakech ranks the hottest vacation spot in Morocco for guests.
Although Marrakech is not fairly struggling the full-blown results of over-tourism, some early indicators, together with crowds and better costs, persist. Fortunately, there’s a simple escape from the crowds obtainable if you need a quieter journey. Lower than an hour’s drive from the bustling metropolis, the Atlas Mountains supply nature, journey and a singular tradition, making them a really perfect detour vacation spot to get off the overwhelmed path from Marrakech for a day or two.
The mountains are dwelling to jutting peaks ripe for climbing (by foot, bike or donkey), dramatic desert landscapes and dozens of villages the place the indigenous Berber communities dwell. Whether or not you rent one of many myriad tour firms providing excursions to the mountains, lease a automotive or snag a bus to the realm by yourself, this is what to do when you arrive.
What to see and do
The Atlas Mountains have three sections: the Excessive Atlas (or simply Atlas), the Center Atlas and the Anti-Atlas (or Little Atlas) Mountains. The Excessive Atlas Mountains are probably the most accessible from Marrakech, with the closest massive village of Asni nearly an hour’s drive away from Marrakech.
Go climbing
The Excessive Atlas Mountains have greater than 400 peaks, with a number of over 13,000 toes. Nonetheless, the vary has a wide range of trails with an assortment of ability ranges. Mount Toubkal, the very best mountain in northern Africa at 13,665 toes, might be trekked with a information. For a scenic, more difficult hike, strive a path by Mgoun Nationwide Park, a UNESCO World Geopark identified for its scenic rivers, deep gorges and dramatic mountain surroundings.
Go to a Berber village
One cause to hike with a information is that they’ll usually convey you to a Berber village on the finish of your trek (typically a relative of theirs), which is a good way to expertise the native tradition. Within the mountains, it is not uncommon for Berber households to open their humble houses to hikers and vacationers, making contemporary mint tea and flatbreads of their clay ovens.
Witness the person of the home put together Moroccan mint tea, made with contemporary herbs normally grown of their backyard, by constantly pouring the combination between the pot and glasses to completely mix it earlier than serving the brew in dainty glasses. In the meantime, his spouse will flatten the bread dough and press it in opposition to the within of her clay wood-fired oven to bake it. For those who’re fortunate, your hosts may additionally serve cured olives from their bushes and olive oil hand-pressed of their village’s communal stone mill.
The Atlas Mountains have been additionally dwelling to a number of Jewish communities within the late 1800s and early 1900s. Most Jewish Berbers from the Atlas Mountains left Morocco within the Nineteen Fifties and ’60s, however just a few villages stay, though they’re unpopulated. One is Anraz, a photogenic ghost city of deserted clay buildings, which you’ll be able to go to with a neighborhood information. There’s a well-kept synagogue — nonetheless used for holidays by Jews from Casablanca — and a preserved cemetery.
Store domestically made textiles
One other spotlight is a go to to the Eve Branson Basis Tamgounssi Weaving Centre within the village of Tansghart, the place girls study to embroider and weave by hand to earn an unbiased residing. Watching the weavers on the loom is fascinating, and their stunning handmade rugs, tablecloths and different objects are additionally on the market.
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The place to remain
There are a number of native kasbahs to remain in, however if you wish to use factors, the Virgin Restricted Version Kasbah Tamadot in Asni is probably the most luxurious possibility within the Atlas Mountains. Like many buildings within the area, it sustained some injury through the 2023 earthquake; after a seven-month closure, it reopened on the finish of 2024, simply in time for its twentieth anniversary in 2025. The renovation introduced the lodge from 28 to 42 rooms, including a brand new restaurant and children membership.
The unique constructing, a kasbah first owned by a neighborhood governor after which an Italian businessman who restored it, dates again to 1920. Richard Branson, the founding father of the Virgin Group, purchased the property in 2000 and turned it right into a lodge in 2005.
Among the largest lodging are the newly constructed, stand-alone riads, which function rooms adorned with native textiles, metalwork and ceramics. In addition they include non-public swimming pools or scorching tubs.
When it reopened, the lodge additionally added a brand new restaurant beneath an enormous canvas tent. Assays serves Moroccan and Western meals, some nights providing a standard Moroccan tasting menu accompanied by dwell Moroccan music. There’s additionally an out of doors patio restaurant overlooking the pool for lunch, the place each meal begins with an array of Berber flatbreads.
Do go away time to discover the lodge: Bask in a hammam remedy on the spa, play tennis on the clay courts, partake in a tagine cooking class and revel in a glass of freshly ready mint tea with Mohammad, an worker from Asni who has been working right here since 2005. The entire staff at Kasbah Tamadot are Moroccan, so ask them for his or her native ideas — they’ve many.
Reserving with factors
Charges at Virgin Restricted Version Kasbah Tamadot begin from $577 per night time. However you too can redeem Virgin Pink factors beginning at 140,000 factors per night time. After a minimal two-night keep, further nights value 70,000-85,000 Virgin factors. (This is among the lowest redemption charges obtainable for any Virgin Restricted property.) To e book, contact Virgin Restricted Version at (877) 577-8777 or electronic mail enquiries@virginlimitededition.com to verify availability and factors charges.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership companions with each main bank card rewards program, and when you hyperlink your Flying Membership account to your Virgin Pink account, your factors will sync throughout the packages. (Word: Capital One miles switch on to Virgin Pink.)
Although that is not the finest redemption charge, you can also make your factors go barely additional by making the most of Chase Final Rewards’ 25% switch bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership, which runs by June 15.
Tips on how to get there
The closest main airport to the Atlas Mountains is Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), which is seeing an enlargement of direct flights from the U.S. which are bookable on factors and miles.
United direct flights to Marrakech
Final yr, United Airways launched seasonal direct flights between Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) to RAK. That route resumes Oct. 25, 2025, and runs by March 28, 2026.
For those who use United MileagePlus miles to e book this flight from EWR to RAK, one-way financial system tickets begin at 42,200 miles, and business-class tickets from 180,000 miles (taxes and charges are minimal at round $5.60). United costs its awards dynamically, so you might have to make use of extra miles on peak dates, whereas even decrease pricing could also be obtainable to United bank card holders and Premier elite members.
Delta direct flights to Marrakech
Delta Air Strains will launch its personal direct seasonal service to Marrakech on October 25, 2025, from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL). This service runs by the top of April 2026.
To e book this ATL to RAK flight utilizing Delta SkyMiles, anticipate one-way financial system tickets to start out at 48,000 miles, and Delta One tickets from 270,000 miles, with taxes and charges round $5.60. Delta awards are additionally dynamically priced, so anticipate to make use of extra miles on peak dates. Delta bank card holders can anticipate reductions on redemptions.
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