About Ifrane
Set in the heart of the Middle Atlas at 1,665 metres, Ifrane was built by the French colonial administration in 1929 as a summer retreat, and the European ambition of its design remains startling. Red-roofed chalets line clean boulevards, parks are immaculately maintained, and the cool mountain air carries the scent of cedar and pine. The city is home to Al Akhawayn University, an English-language institution that gives Ifrane a young, cosmopolitan energy quite unlike any other Moroccan city.
The cedar forests surrounding Ifrane are among the most beautiful in North Africa: ancient groves of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) that shelter the largest remaining population of Barbary macaques in Morocco. These sociable, tail-less primates are accustomed to visitors and can often be found beside the road, making Ifrane one of the best places in the world to observe this endangered species in its natural habitat. The Michlifen ski resort, 18km away, offers Morocco's best (and most accessible) skiing from December through February.
Just south of Ifrane, the landscape opens into a series of high plateaux and crater lakes: Dayet Aoua, Dayet Ifrah, and Dayet Hachlaf, important wintering grounds for migratory birds. The lakes attract flamingos, herons, and dozens of other species, making the Ifrane region a favorite for birdwatchers. Between Ifrane and Azrou, the cedar forest road is one of the most beautiful drives in Morocco at any time of year.
2 Days
.png&w=1920&q=75)