Travellers looking to escape Marrakech and venture into the High Atlas Mountains often first think of Imlil. Its spectacular mountain scenery and traditional Amazigh villages make it a popular choice, although the valley can become crowded with day-trippers, hikers and tour groups, particularly during the busiest periods.
For Ruben, a rewarding alternative lies a little further into the mountains. Around two hours from Marrakech, Oukaïmeden offers a remarkably different experience, with expansive high-altitude landscapes, ancient rock engravings and seasonal pastoral communities. At approximately 2,600 metres above sea level, the plateau provides easy access to some of the High Atlas’ most impressive scenery, without the demanding climbs often associated with mountain hiking.
In this third edition of his Hidden Gems series, Ruben shares why Oukaïmeden is one of his favourite escapes from Marrakech, from discovering prehistoric carvings and walking among high mountain pastures to enjoying an unexpectedly excellent French lunch.
Why Oukaïmeden stands out
Unlike many hiking destinations, where reaching the higher elevations requires several hours of climbing, the road to Oukaïmeden ascends directly to a plateau at around 2,600 metres. From here, walking routes lead towards surrounding ridges and summits exceeding 3,000 metres, making the region particularly appealing for travellers seeking rewarding mountain hikes without committing to a strenuous expedition.
The landscape also changes considerably throughout the year. During summer, the high pastures become grazing grounds for Amazigh pastoral families who bring their sheep and goats into the mountains, continuing seasonal traditions that have shaped life in the High Atlas for generations. In winter, snowfall transforms the plateau into Morocco’s best-known skiing destination, with snow-covered slopes and mountain peaks creating an entirely different atmosphere.
Key experiences
The rocks of Oukaïmeden
Beyond its sweeping mountain scenery, Oukaïmeden has a fascinating geological character, with rocky slopes scattered with quartz and other distinctive stones. Across the high plateau, different shapes, colours and textures emerge among the exposed rock. For Ruben, who has a particular interest in geology and collecting unusual stones, these small discoveries are part of what makes exploring Oukaïmeden so enjoyable. A piece of quartz or an interesting rock formation can be enough to interrupt a walk, turning an otherwise straightforward outing into an opportunity to examine the landscape in greater detail.
He admits that his pockets are rarely lighter by the time he returns from the mountains, having collected a few interesting finds along the way. It is a personal enthusiasm that adds another dimension to his appreciation of Oukaïmeden, where the smallest details of the landscape can be as intriguing as the dramatic mountain views.
Cross-country snow hiking
Winter brings an entirely different character to the high plateau. As temperatures fall and snow settles across the mountains, the landscape becomes a destination for winter sports, with ski slopes set against the dramatic backdrop of the High Atlas.
Beyond skiing, Ruben particularly enjoys exploring the area on foot. Cross-country snow hiking allows travellers to venture away from the busier ski slopes, following routes across the plateau and into the surrounding mountain scenery. It’s a great opportunity to appreciate the silence of the mountains and the vast stretches of snow create a remarkable sense of isolation.
Visiting during this time can be a delightful surprise to visitors as it allows for enjoying outdoor winter activities more commonly associated with the European Alps than North Africa.
Assessing ancient engravings
Oukaïmeden is home to hundreds of prehistoric rock engravings scattered across the plateau, one of the High Atlas Mountains’ most fascinating archaeological features. Some of these petroglyphs date back several thousand years, depicting animals, weapons and human figures that provide valuable evidence of the pastoral communities that once inhabited or travelled through these highlands. Rather than being displayed within a conventional archaeological complex, many are found directly among the rocks of the plateau, where visitors can encounter them while exploring the surrounding landscape.
For Ruben, there is something especially memorable about discovering these ancient markings while shepherds continue to move their livestock across nearby pastures. The contrast offers a fascinating perspective on the continuity of life in the High Atlas, where traditions established thousands of years ago remain visible in the landscape today.
A mountain lunch at Chez Juju
After a morning exploring the plateau, Ruben recommends stopping for lunch at Chez Juju, a long-established mountain chalet that brings an unexpected touch of Alpine character to the High Atlas.
Known for its French cuisine, the restaurant offers a welcome opportunity to relax after time spent hiking at altitude. Its chalet-style atmosphere feels distinctly different from the traditional Moroccan dining experiences found elsewhere in the region, adding another interesting dimension to a day in the mountains.
For travellers, it also provides a natural pause between exploring Oukaïmeden’s high-altitude landscapes and beginning the descent towards Marrakech. Rather than treating lunch as a quick stop before returning to the city, Ruben suggests allowing time to enjoy the setting and the slower pace of mountain life.
How to incorporate it into a journey
Oukaïmeden can be incorporated into a Marrakech itinerary as either a full-day excursion or a more leisurely overnight escape, depending on how much time travellers want to spend in the mountains.
For a day trip, Ruben suggests heading up in the morning and returning through the Ourika Valley in the afternoon. A pottery workshop in Ourika can be added along the way, offering a hands-on cultural experience before returning to Marrakech.
Those with more flexibility can spend the night in Oukaïmeden rather than making the return drive the same day. Ruben particularly recommends experiencing the plateau in the evening after visitors have left, when the atmosphere changes and the mountains become exceptionally quiet. An overnight stay also allows for a less structured itinerary, with more time to explore without the need to descend to Marrakech before evening.
Add Oukaïmeden to a Morocco journey
Get in touch with our team to discover how this lesser-explored mountain destination can be incorporated into a tailor-made Morocco itinerary.
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