The Atlas Mountains are in fact three distinct ranges that divide the interior of the country into strips of lower lying land.
The Middle Atlas are the furthest north, whilst furthest south are the Anti-Atlas that almost cut the desolate Western Sahara off from the rest of the country.
It is the High Atlas that are the most dramatic, containing North Africa’s highest peak, Jebel Toubkal (4,167 metres), as well as countless Berber villages, terraced on to inaccessible ledges and perfectly preserving a tenacious culture.
Trekking is easily arranged, and can be anything from a day’s walk into the foothills to a trek lasting several days. The ascent of Toubkal is a favourite, requiring no technical expertise but a good level of fitness.
The High Atlas are easily accessed from Marrakesh, about 40 minutes away, and also offer wonderful mountain retreats, rustic but full of local character and set amidst stunning scenery.