Morning
Fes to Ifrane
Through Immouzer country and oak woods onto the plateau.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Into the Atlas cedars near Azrou, where Barbary macaques live wild
This Middle Atlas day tour from Fes stops in Ifrane, then walks the cedar forest near Azrou, where endangered Barbary macaques live wild. A guide who knows where the troops forage leads the walk; we watch from a distance and never feed them. Lunch is in Azrou, with an optional stop at Dayet Aoua on the way back.
- Fes to Ifrane: About 60 to 65 km
- Ifrane to Azrou: About 17 km
- Altitude: 1,250 to 1,650 m
A Middle Atlas day
An hour south of Fes the land rises into the Middle Atlas and the air changes. Ifrane, laid out in the protectorate era with pitched roofs and gardens, is often called Morocco's 'little Switzerland'; it is also home to Al Akhawayn University.
Mid-morning
Ifrane
A stroll past the stone lion, the gardens and the town's chalet-style streets.
Late morning
The cedar forest
Walk among Atlas cedars and look for macaques, with a guide who knows where the troops forage.
Lunch
Azrou
The Berber market town below its great rock; grilled meat or tagine.
Afternoon
Back via Dayet Aoua, if wet enough
An optional lake stop on the way back to Fes.
Road distances and times are typical ranges for a private car, without stops.
How we run it
Beyond it lies one of North Africa's great cedar forests. Barbary macaques, an endangered species found in the wild only in Morocco and Algeria (with a small introduced population on Gibraltar), live among the trees near Azrou. We watch them the right way: from a distance, without feeding.
Private
Private means your party only: one vehicle, one driver, your start time, your stops. Linger at the macaques, skip the shop, add a viewpoint. It suits families, couples, photographers and anyone with a fixed plan.
Small-group
Small-group means we pair you with other travellers on the same route and date when there is a match, which shares the day with a few like-minded people. Ask for it in your quote request and we will tell you honestly whether a group fits your dates.
What we arrange
- Private vehicle and driver from your Fes riad or hotel and back
- Timing built around your pace, the season and site opening hours
- A licensed local guide where one adds real value (on request)
- Lunch stop chosen for the route, from a roadside grill to a riad table
- Bottled water on board and a phone or WhatsApp contact throughout
- Fuel, tolls and parking folded into one written quote
- Responsible wildlife watching: no feeding, no handling
Best season
Spring and autumn are greenest. Summer is the escape from the heat of Fes. December to February often brings snow to Ifrane, beautiful but cold, and the roads are slower.
Fes to Ifrane, about 60 to 65 km.
Michlifen, IfraneThe honest details
Please do not feed the macaques
Barbary macaques are endangered. Feeding changes their behaviour, harms their health and draws them to roads. Some roadside vendors sell food for them; we ask our guests not to buy it.
The famous cedar has died
The Cedre Gouraud, once the forest's best-known tree, has died and stands as a trunk. The forest around it is very much alive, and the macaques are the reason to go.
Questions, answered
What people ask us most before they book this.
Will we definitely see Barbary macaques?
Sightings in the Azrou cedar forest are common, but they are wild animals and nothing is guaranteed. Our guides know the areas they frequent and we give the forest enough time.
Is Ifrane worth visiting?
As a stop on a Middle Atlas day, yes: it is unlike any other Moroccan town, cool in summer and snowy in winter. On its own it is a short visit; the cedar forest is what makes the day.
Is this tour private or small-group?
Both are possible. Private is your party alone. Small-group pairs you with other travellers on the same date when there is a match; tell us your preference when you ask for a quote.
How much does this tour cost?
Every tour is a custom quote for your party, dates, pace and choice of private or small-group. Send the details through the quote form and we reply with a written plan and one figure.
Tell us your dates. We'll plan it with you.
- 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.