Can you go skiing in Morocco?

Skiing in Africa, with the Sahara only a few hours south, is the kind of contradiction Morocco does best — and yes, it is real. Oukaïmeden sits at over 2,600 metres in the High Atlas, about two hours by road from Marrakech, and it is the highest ski resort on the continent. When the snow falls and the lifts run, you can carve down open Atlas slopes in the morning and be back among Marrakech's orange trees by dinner. I have done exactly that, and the disbelief on guests' faces is half the fun.

Let me be straight about the standard, though, because it is a long way from Chamonix. Oukaïmeden has a small cluster of drag lifts and a chairlift, a modest set of runs, and infrastructure that is charmingly basic. Equipment rental is available at the base but it is old and a mixed bag, so committed skiers bring their own. The atmosphere is local and cheerful rather than slick — think mint tea in a roadside café, not a polished Alpine village.

The real catch is reliability. The season is short and entirely snow-dependent, broadly January to March, and in a thin winter there may be barely enough cover to ski at all. I never sell a Morocco trip on the promise of skiing; I treat it as a "if the snow is good while you are here, we will seize the chance" bonus. Checking conditions a day or two ahead is essential.

Even without snow, Oukaïmeden is a spectacular high-mountain drive worth doing for the views, the Berber villages along the Ourika valley, and the ancient rock carvings near the plateau. Many guests who go up hoping to ski end up just as happy hiking and taking in the panorama. So go for the story and the scenery, and treat fresh tracks as a delightful gamble that sometimes pays off.