Things to do · Ifrane
Ifrane is an unexpected base in the heart of the Middle Atlas: an alpine-style town of tidy chalets, pine gardens and a famous stone lion, sitting at around 1,650 metres beside Al Akhawayn University. Green and cool in summer, snowy in winter, it puts cedar forests, mountain lakes, a small ski area and two imperial cities all within easy reach. Here are nine excursions worth the short drive from the chalets.
9 experiences
About 17 km from Ifrane, the cedar forest above Azrou shelters Morocco's largest stands of Atlas cedar, including the celebrated Cèdre Gouraud grove. Wild Barbary macaques gather along the forest roads, easily seen on a relaxed half-day, though you should not feed them.
A natural lake set among cedar and oak between Imouzzer and Ifrane, Dayet Aoua is a tranquil picnic and birdwatching spot that draws migratory birds in season. It pairs naturally with the Azrou cedar forest for an easy half-day loop close to town.
A high, remote mountain lake south of Ifrane, Aguelmame Sidi Ali is one of the largest natural lakes in the Middle Atlas, ringed by bare hills and grazing flocks. The scenic drive up through cedar country makes it a rewarding fuller half-day for those wanting wide open landscapes.
A small ski area in an old volcanic crater just south of Ifrane, Mischliffen sees snow and basic ski lifts in winter and is a cool pine-clad walking spot in summer. Conditions are very seasonal, so it works best as a short outing on a snowy day rather than a guaranteed resort.
Around 60 km and roughly an hour north, Fes rewards a full day with its sprawling medieval medina, the Bou Inania and Al Attarine medersas, the tanneries and the great Bab Boujloud gate. The contrast between Ifrane's clean mountain air and the dense old city makes for a memorable day.
About 70 km from Ifrane, the imperial city of Meknes was Sultan Moulay Ismail's 17th-century capital. The monumental Bab Mansour gate, the vast Heri es-Souani granaries and the sultan's ornate mausoleum anchor an easy day, often combined with nearby Volubilis.
Roughly 90 to 100 km from Ifrane, Volubilis is Morocco's best-preserved Roman site and a UNESCO World Heritage location. Standing columns, a triumphal arch and remarkably intact floor mosaics sit among rolling olive country, ideally paired with Meknes on a full day.
A pretty walled town between Ifrane and Fes, Sefrou is known for its mixed Muslim and Jewish heritage and its long-running Cherry Festival. A compact medina, the old mellah and the nearby Kef el-Moumen waterfalls make for an easy half-day stop on the way north.
On the road between Ifrane and Fes, Imouzzer Kandar is a Middle Atlas town set among apple orchards and seasonal lakes. It is a pleasant short stop for fresh mountain air, a lively weekly souk and views over the surrounding plateau.
The Azrou cedar forest, about 17 km away, is the signature half-day for its Atlas cedars and wild Barbary macaques. For a full day, Fes is around an hour north, while Meknes and Volubilis combine well for history. Please do not feed the monkeys in the forest.
Yes, in winter. Ifrane itself often has snow, and the small Mischliffen ski area just south of town sees snow and basic lifts in the cold months. Conditions are very seasonal, so summer visitors come instead for cool, green pine forests and lakes.
Fes is around 60 km and roughly an hour by road, an easy full-day trip. Meknes is a little further at about 70 km, and Volubilis around 90 to 100 km, so Meknes and Volubilis are usually combined into a single day.
Yes. Ifrane is cool, green and tidy, with cedar forests, mountain lakes such as Dayet Aoua and Aguelmame Sidi Ali, a small ski area and two imperial cities all within easy reach. It offers a genuinely different, alpine side of Morocco.
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