Morning
Drive via Ifrane
Private transfer from Fes into the Middle Atlas, with a short stop in Ifrane on the way.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Azrou cedar forest walk
Take an easy walk among ancient Atlas cedars in the forest above Azrou, the most reliable place near Fes to see Barbary macaques in the wild. Your guide leads you away from the busy roadside stop into quieter forest for 1–2 hours walking, then on to lunch in Ifrane or Azrou. It suits families.
- Private or small-group
- A local guide with you
- Quoted for your dates
What it's like
The forest above Azrou holds some of the finest Atlas cedars in Morocco: tall, wide-spreading trees, some of them centuries old, on slopes carpeted with needles. It is also the most reliable place near Fes to see Barbary macaques, Africa's only macaque, which live in troops in the forest. The area around the Cèdre Gouraud, a once-giant cedar that is now a dead landmark, is the best-known stop.
This is a gentle walk rather than a hike, suited to families and anyone who wants fresh air and big trees. Your guide takes you away from the busiest roadside spot into quieter forest, then on to Ifrane or Azrou for lunch.
Best for: Families with young children; Nature lovers who want an easy walk; A cool day out in summer.
- How long
- Half day to full day, with 1–2 hours walking
- From Fes
- About an hour and a half by road
- How active
- Gentle, little walking
- Families
- Children welcome
How it runs
A typical running order. Timings shift with your group, the season and the day of the week.
+1:30
Into the cedar forest
Arrive in the forest near Azrou and set off on foot among the cedars.
+2:00
Macaques and the old cedars
Watch the macaques from a respectful distance and see the Cèdre Gouraud area and the largest living trees.
Midday
Lunch in Azrou or Ifrane
A relaxed lunch in town. Azrou has a weekly market worth timing for if your dates allow.
Afternoon
Return to Fes
Drive back to Fes, or continue south if you are travelling on.
Up close
Atlas cedar
Cedrus atlantica, a cedar native only to the Atlas mountains of Morocco and Algeria, and now endangered.
Barbary macaques
Tailless macaques that live in the cedar forests. They are wild and endangered; watching quietly is better for them than feeding.
Cèdre Gouraud
A famous giant cedar, now dead, that gives its name to the most visited part of the forest.
Private or small-group
Private
Your party with a private driver and guide, timed to your day; can be combined with horse riding or a longer hike.
Small-group
A shared day trip with a few other travellers and a short guided walk in the forest.
Practical notes
Comfortable shoes and a warm layer are enough; the walking is on forest tracks. Please do not feed the monkeys, even though roadside sellers offer food for it. Winter can bring snow to the forest.
Good to know
The busiest roadside spot can be crowded; we walk beyond it. Macaques are wild; sightings are likely but not guaranteed. Also works as a stop on the way south to the Sahara or Marrakech.
Before you knock
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
Where can you see monkeys near Fes?
In the cedar forest near Azrou in the Middle Atlas, about an hour and a half from Fes, where Barbary macaques live wild.
Is the cedar forest walk suitable for children?
Yes. It is an easy walk on forest tracks and one of the best family outings from Fes.
Can I feed the monkeys?
Please don't. Feeding harms the macaques' health and behaviour, even though people sell food for it by the road.
Pair it with
Middle Atlas hikingA guided day walk through cedar and holm-oak forest, volcanic hills and the lakes around Dayet Aoua, a short drive from Fes.See how it runsHorse ridingRide through cedar forest and open upland meadows above Ifrane and Azrou, at a pace matched to your experience, beginner or confident rider.See how it runs
Medina photography walkGates, fountains, dye vats and rooftops in the best light, with a local guide who knows the angles and how to photograph people respectfully.See how it runsRead before you go: Can you see monkeys near Fes?, Things to do in Ifrane, Fes to Marrakech via the Middle Atlas (2 days).
Send your dates. We'll fit this into your Fes days.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.