Ifrane & Middle Atlas Itinerary: 2 Days

Ifrane earns the nickname from its alpine character: built by the French in 1928 as a hill station at around 1,665m, it has pitched red roofs, chalet-style buildings, manicured parks, small lakes and clean, cool mountain air. It even gets regular winter snow and has a small ski resort nearby at Michlifen.

The Lion of Ifrane is a carved stone lion statue that has become the town's emblem and most photographed landmark. It is popularly said to commemorate the last Barbary (Atlas) lion shot in the region, and is widely believed to have been carved by a German prisoner during the Second World War.

The best place is the Cedar Forest of Azrou, about 17km southwest of Ifrane, where troops of wild Barbary macaques gather in the forest clearings. They are the only macaque species found outside Asia, and the Azrou cedars are the easiest and most reliable place in Morocco to see them in the wild.

No. Although vendors sell peanuts at the roadside, feeding the macaques harms their health, disrupts their natural foraging and makes them aggressive toward visitors. Conservationists strongly advise keeping your distance, securing food and bags, and simply observing the animals without interfering.

Two days is plenty for a focused stay. One day covers Ifrane town - the lion statue, Al Akhawayn University, the parks and the Cascades des Vierges - and a second day is ideal for the Azrou cedar forest and its Barbary apes. Many travellers also use Ifrane as a cool overnight stop en route to the desert.

Ifrane is about 63km south of Fes, roughly an hour's drive through the Middle Atlas foothills. It is an easy day trip or overnight from Fes, and a popular first stop on the long southern route toward Midelt, the Ziz Valley and the Sahara dunes.

It is a vast forest of ancient Atlas cedars in the Middle Atlas above the town of Azrou. The woods are home to Barbary macaques and were long famous for the Cedre Gouraud, a giant centuries-old cedar that became a tourist landmark. It is one of the largest cedar forests in North Africa.

Yes. Thanks to its altitude of about 1,665m, Ifrane has cold winters with regular snowfall, and the nearby Michlifen area even has a small ski station. Even in summer the nights are noticeably cool, so a warm layer is worth packing in any season.

The Cascades des Vierges (Waterfall of the Virgins) is a small, pretty waterfall on the edge of Ifrane, reached by a short wooded walk. Fed by mountain springs, it is a popular local picnic and walking spot and an easy add-on to a day spent exploring the town.

Late spring (April-June) and autumn (September-November) are ideal for walking the town and the cedar forest in pleasant, mild weather. Summer is a cool escape from the heat of the cities and desert, while winter brings snow, skiing and a true alpine atmosphere.