The Atlas Mountains stretch over 1,500 miles from Morocco's West Coast to Tunisia and are home to North Africa's highest peak, Jebel Toubkal (4,167 m).
Given the proximity of the mountains to Marrakech (approx. 40 minutes), the High Atlas are a popular destination to escape the hustle and bustle of the souks and the medina where the tranquillity of Berber (the original inhabitants of North Africa) village life provides the perfect contrast to the hubbub of the city.
Trekking through the Toubkal National Park is highly recommended where footpaths and mule tracks mount through lush, irrigated terraces, apple orchards and walnut groves to villages where the Berber way of life has changed little for centuries and traditional values and hospitality are unaffected by the outside world.
For the less active mountain retreats offer superb panoramic views of snowcapped mountains, valleys and waterfalls.
