Anti Atlas Mts

Spectacular landscapes, fantastic walking, a tempting climate and a chance for a real insight into Berber culture in a very quiet and hassle free area with a legendary welcome from the local Berbers combine to make the Anti Atlas a most attractive area to visit. It is Morocco’s most southerly mountain range, bordering the Sahara.

Berber Village in the Anti-Atlas

The Region

The dramatic landscapes of the Moroccan wilderness in the Anti Atlas offer fabulous walking and great cultural insight away from the hustle and bustle further north.

The most distinct and varied of the Atlas ranges, run for around 300 km from close to the Atlantic Coast towards Ouarzazate. Peaking in the stunning volcanic range of Jebel Siroua (Sirwa) at 3,304m 2 hours’ drive east of Taroudant, it provides an important barrier against the Sahara which lies to its south. Completely different but equally fantastic landscapes are found in areas south and south west of Taroudant, near Tiout and Tafraoute respectively.

With less than 20 cm rain per annum, agriculture is focused around scenic rivers and oases. There are many remote Berber villages worth a visit and pretty green cultivated valleys with scattered herds of goats.

Things to do or see

  • See the fantastic rock formations such as the Lion’s Head and Napoleon’s Hat, prehistoric rock carvings and some of the 26 pretty villages in the Ameln valley near Tafraoute
  • Visit the incredible Blue Rocks (boulders), just 4 km from Tafraoute created by Belgian painter Jean Veran with the help of local firemen and 18 tons of paint
  • See phenomenal agadirs (Berber "castles") perched on rocky outcrops in places such as the road north of Tafraoute and the Assif n’Mouguene canyon (the "Grand Canyon of Morocco") in the southwest of the range
  • Trek in the Jbel Sirwa or Assif n’Mouguene canyon regions
  • Learn about organic saffron production at Taliouine on the road between Taroudant and Ouarzazate or Zagora. Arriving in late October-early November should guarantee sight of the beautiful blue-violet flowers and even the festival to celebrate the harvest
  • See carpet production at Tazenakt, between Talaouine and Ouarzazate or Zagora
  • See almond blossom in January and February when hillsides will be bedecked with the delicate pink flowers

Places in the Region

Taroudant, the red-walled Berber market town serving the fertile Souss valley on the northern fringe of the Anti Atlas, is the most accessible and friendly centre from which to explore the range. Don’t miss its Sunday souk or the range of activities on offer here that can give you an insight into the authentic Morocco.

Tafraoute, a peaceful town roughly 3 hours' drive from Agadir along winding mountain roads, is an ideal base for exploring the area and the Ameln Valley, to see the Blue Stones and pre-historic rock paintings.

Taliouine, a village on the edge of the spectacular Jbel Sirwa mountains lies midway between Taroudant and Ouarzazate, not long before the road branches off to Zagora. Famous for production of saffron, the most expensive spice in the world, Taliouine has a cooperative where you may buy this miraculous spice at bargain rates and learn about its cultivation. It also has a large crumbling kasbah.

Climate

The Anti Atlas Mountains enjoy a relatively equable climate on the Atlantic fringe, but as you pass inland towards Ouarzazate the climate becomes more extreme. Altitudes and latitudes are lower than the High Atlas so it is the warmest mountainous region in winter. The best time to visit the inland parts of the region is between September and May, but be aware that nights are cold in midwinter.

 

 

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