Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Ifrane · Photo: Karima Lb, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ifrane is a 1930s mountain town in Morocco's Middle Atlas, with red-roofed chalets, cedar forests and clear lakes. You can photograph the stone Lion of Ifrane, look for Barbary macaques in the Cèdre Gouraud forest, walk around Lake Dayet Aoua and, in winter, find snow at Michlifen. It makes a cool-air day trip from Fes.
Set high in Morocco's Middle Atlas, Ifrane is an alpine town of red-roofed chalets, cedar forests and clear mountain lakes. Built in the 1930s, it offers cool air, winter snow and easy access to a national park rich in wildlife.
Founded in 1995, this English-language university is built in a chalet style that mirrors the town. Its landscaped campus, with lawns, pine trees and walking paths, is a calm place to stroll and a hub of student life.
Just outside town, the Zerrouka springs feed cool, clear water from the surrounding limestone hills. The wooded setting is popular with locals for weekend outings and offers shaded paths and a glimpse of everyday Ifrane life.
A green valley and park along the small river that runs through Ifrane, dotted with poplars and willows. Footbridges and shaded walkways make it an easy place for a riverside walk close to the town centre.
Ifrane was laid out in the 1930s as a hill station, and its steep-pitched red roofs, chimneys and chalets were designed for snowy winters. The European-style streetscape is unusual in Morocco and earns the town its 'little Switzerland' nickname.
A series of small waterfalls and cascades set in woodland near Ifrane, reached by a short walk from the road. The shaded, leafy surroundings make it a refreshing stop, especially in the warmer months.
Sitting around 1,600 metres above sea level, Ifrane regularly receives snow in winter, a rarity in Morocco. The season draws visitors for sledging, snowball fights and crisp walks among snow-dusted cedars and red-roofed houses.
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
