Things to do · High Atlas
Few visitors expect to ski in Morocco, yet the High Atlas above Marrakech holds Africa's best-known ski resort. Oukaïmeden sits at roughly 2,600 metres, with slopes climbing toward 3,200 metres, about 70 kilometres and an hour and a half by road from the city. The season is short and entirely snow-dependent — roughly January to March in a good year — so the golden rule is to check conditions before you set out. Here is what skiing and snow in the High Atlas actually involves.
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Oukaïmeden is the highest ski resort in Africa, its village set around 2,600 metres beneath the slopes of Jbel Oukaïmeden. When snow falls it offers a handful of pistes and a genuine, if modest, alpine atmosphere within easy reach of Marrakech, which is its real novelty.
The resort's chairlift and surface lifts climb from the village toward roughly 3,200 metres on the upper slopes. The lift system is simple and old-fashioned by European standards, and which lifts run depends on snow cover, so it is worth confirming on arrival what is open.
The lower runs above the village are gentle and short, making Oukaïmeden a low-pressure place for beginners and children to try skiing. Local instructors can usually be found at the base, and the relaxed, uncrowded slopes suit first turns more than serious descents.
You do not need to bring equipment: skis, boots, poles and snowboards are hired from stalls and small shops at the base of the slopes, often with attendants ready to help fit them. Quality is variable, so check bindings and boots before paying, and negotiate the rate.
A local quirk: muleteers wait at the base to carry skiers and gear up toward the snow line when lifts are not running or snow is patchy lower down. Riding a mule to your first run is a distinctly Moroccan twist on a ski day and a memorable photo.
When there is snow but you would rather not ski, the high plateau and surrounding ridges are excellent for snowshoeing and winter walking. Guides in Imlil and Oukaïmeden can arrange snowshoes and lead routes onto the open tops for big, white mountain views.
Oukaïmeden is close enough — about 70 kilometres and roughly an hour and a half by road — to visit as a day trip from Marrakech. Grand taxis and private drivers make the run via the Ourika valley; set off early, as the mountain road can be slow in snow.
Around the plateau, Oukaïmeden is also known for prehistoric rock engravings depicting weapons, animals and figures, scattered on rock slabs near the village. In snow-free months they make a rewarding reason to visit the area when there is no skiing at all.
Snow in the High Atlas is variable from year to year and even week to week, and there can be little or none in a poor season. Always check recent conditions through your guide, riad or a local contact before travelling up, rather than assuming the lifts will be turning.
Out of winter, the same plateau becomes green walking country, with the small Oukaïmeden lake, grazing flocks and trails toward the surrounding peaks. It is a cool, high escape from the summer heat of Marrakech and a fine base for day hikes.
Yes. Oukaïmeden in the High Atlas, about an hour and a half from Marrakech, is the best-known ski resort in Africa, with lifts and pistes that operate when there is enough snow, roughly between January and March in a good year.
The season is short and entirely snow-dependent, falling broadly between January and March. Snow cover varies a lot from year to year, so some winters offer good skiing and others very little; always check recent conditions before travelling up.
The resort village sits at around 2,600 metres, with slopes rising toward about 3,200 metres, making it the highest ski area in Africa. It lies roughly 70 kilometres from Marrakech, about an hour and a half by road via the Ourika valley.
No. Skis, boots, poles and snowboards can be hired from stalls and shops at the base of the slopes, and local instructors are usually available for beginners. Check the condition of boots and bindings before paying, as rental quality varies.
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