Morning
Drive into the Middle Atlas
Private transfer from Fes, about an hour, climbing out of the Saiss plain into the hills.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Hiking in Ifrane National Park
Walk through cedar and holm-oak forest, volcanic hills and the lakes around Dayet Aoua in Ifrane National Park with a local guide. You choose the route, from an easy lakeside loop to a longer forest day, with 3–5 hours walking. Your driver meets you at the end, and you can finish with tea in Ifrane.
- Private or small-group
- A local guide with you
- Quoted for your dates
What it's like
Ifrane National Park protects a large part of the Middle Atlas south of Fes: cedar and holm-oak forest, limestone plateaus, extinct volcanic cones and a scattering of seasonal lakes. It is one of the easiest places from Fes to walk in real countryside, and it is home to Barbary macaques and a good variety of birds, especially around the lakes.
The walk is chosen to suit you, from an easy lakeside loop at Dayet Aoua to a longer day through the forest and over the hills. A local walking guide leads, your driver meets you at the end, and you can finish with tea in the alpine-looking town of Ifrane.
Best for: Walkers and nature lovers; Families with active children; A cool escape from Fes in summer.
- How long
- Full day, with 3–5 hours walking
- From Fes
- About an hour by road to the trailheads
- How active
- Active: hours on foot or in the saddle
- Families
- Children welcome
How it runs
A typical running order. Timings shift with your group, the season and the day of the week.
+1:00
Start walking
Meet your walking guide at the trailhead and set off through cedar and oak forest.
+2:30
Lakes and viewpoints
Walk to a lake such as Dayet Aoua or a hilltop viewpoint over the plateaus, watching for birds and macaques.
Midday
Picnic lunch
A picnic in the forest or lunch in a village, depending on the route and season.
Afternoon
Finish and Ifrane
Complete the loop, meet your driver and stop in Ifrane for tea before the return to Fes.
Up close
Dayet Aoua
A lake in the national park ringed by forest, one of the most popular walking areas near Ifrane. Water levels vary with the year's rain.
Cedar forest
Stands of Atlas cedar, an endangered tree native to Morocco and Algeria.
Barbary macaques
The only macaque in Africa, often seen in the forests of the Ifrane and Azrou area.
Private or small-group
Private
Your party with a private driver and a walking guide, with the route set to your pace and interests.
Small-group
A shared walk with a few other travellers on a set route of moderate length.
Practical notes
Wear walking shoes and bring layers, a hat and water; the Middle Atlas is cooler and windier than Fes, and winter can bring snow. Routes are chosen for your fitness, from about two hours of easy walking to a fuller day.
Good to know
Please don't feed the macaques; it harms them. Lakes can be low or dry in drought years. Spring brings wildflowers; winter can bring snow.
Before you knock
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
Can you hike near Fes?
Yes. Ifrane National Park in the Middle Atlas is about an hour's drive from Fes and has forest, lakes and hills for walks from easy to full-day.
How hard is the hike?
It is up to you. We can choose an easy lakeside loop of a couple of hours or a longer, hillier day. Tell us your fitness and we'll match the route.
Will we see monkeys?
Barbary macaques live in the forests of the Ifrane and Azrou area and are often seen, but they are wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed.
Pair it with
Azrou cedar forest walkAn easy walk among the ancient Atlas cedars above Azrou, where Barbary macaques live in the trees, on a half-day or full-day trip 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: Things to do in Ifrane, Trekking the Atlas Mountains, Can you see monkeys near Fes?.
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.