In winter, everyone wants to head for the snow. But how many of you have ever imagined you could find snow in Morocco?
I’m talking about the town of Ifrane, known as the “Little Switzerland of Morocco,” and you’ll soon see why. It has the unmistakable feel of a Swiss village tucked away in the mountains. Only these mountains aren’t the Alps, but the Middle Atlas range.
I’m sure very few of you picture Morocco as an alpine-style village wrapped in a blanket of white snow. Discovering Ifrane will be an unexpected and enchanting experience, and it will teach you to love Morocco from a different angle than the usual (and, let’s be clear, absolutely stunning) imperial cities, deserts and endless beaches.
Ifrane: the story of the town where you can find snow (and more) in Morocco
Ifrane is less well known than many of Morocco’s other beautiful destinations, yet it lies just a few dozen kilometers from two of the country’s most visited cities: Fes and Meknes. In about an hour’s drive, you can reach it along a direct route that winds through mountain roads of extraordinary beauty.
In winter, Ifrane becomes a gem set in the Middle Atlas mountains. At 1,700 meters above sea level, it offers snowy landscapes that can hold their own against far more famous destinations, Switzerland included.
Ifrane also resembles Switzerland in its architecture, which is distinctly European, with steep red roofs that turn white with snow in winter.
This very European atmosphere makes the most sense once you know the town’s history. Although the region has been inhabited for centuries, Ifrane as we know it today is quite recent. It was built by the French during the Protectorate, in the 1930s. Before then, it was just a small mountain retreat where wealthy locals and colonial families came year-round to vacation, enjoy winter sports, hike, hunt and fish.
Today, apart from the tourists who arrive from all over the world, only Morocco’s most affluent families can afford to live in a place so different from the rest of the country.
Since so many French citizens came to Ifrane during the colonial period, the builders decided to “make them feel at home” by recreating the architecture of their homeland. The town is known for roofs typical of various French regions, as well as half-timbered houses, a common sight in Alsace.
The climate holds its own surprises. Anyone who arrives in Ifrane after visiting another city, for example on a day trip from Fes, immediately feels as though they’ve crossed into another country, whether it’s the warmer or the colder season. And yet they’re still in Morocco. The contrast between the hot, dry summers of nearby Fes and Ifrane’s cool, pleasant air makes exploring the town far more comfortable.
In winter, temperatures often drop below zero, but the cold is more than made up for by plenty of snow and the chance to go skiing.
Ifrane is also a great base for taking in the majestic Atlas Mountains, with lovely excursions through parks and around lakes (where freshwater fishing is also popular) as well as hiking trails.
In short, whether it’s summer or winter, spring or autumn, Ifrane shows travelers all its faces, each more captivating than the last, and has everything needed to delight visitors who choose to spend their holiday in one of the most unspoiled places in the world.
What to see in Ifrane
Small as it is, Ifrane is home to the largest cedar forest in the world, inside Ifrane National Park. Its biodiversity, spread over 53,000 hectares, is a unique and precious asset for the region. This is where the queen of the forest lives: the Gouraud cedar, probably the largest in Morocco, estimated to be 800 years old.
This magnificent park was established in 2004 specifically to protect this remarkable ecosystem, and anyone who loves hiking, nature, plants and wildlife should visit it at least once in their life.
The cedar forest is also home to some fascinating wildlife, including the famous Barbary macaques. The ones living near the Gouraud cedar are fairly tame, since tourists feed them and approach them, but I’d advise you not to go near any you might meet deeper in the forest, as they can be much wilder.
The region around Ifrane is full of lakes, including some of the most famous in Morocco. Travelers love lakeside outings, especially in summer, to escape the city heat and breathe some fresh air. Just 15 km from Ifrane you’ll find Lake Dayet Aoua, at an altitude of 1,460 meters and surrounded by forest. Lake Dayet Hachlaf and the Ifrane Valley are also well worth a visit, with truly exceptional scenery.
And now for the highlight of your Ifrane excursion. One of the most unexpected attractions for visitors is the Michlifen ski resort, one of the most beautiful ski areas in Morocco and all of North Africa. You can rent all the equipment you need either in Ifrane itself or at the ski area.
Set in the Middle Atlas a few kilometers from Ifrane, surrounded by a beautiful cedar forest, the resort sits in a huge volcanic crater at 1,800 meters. When the snowfall is too heavy and relentless, its 5 slopes can’t be used, but during typical seasonal snowfall, families come from all over the country to ski together with their children.
A fun fact: Ifrane’s emblem is a stone lion, said to have been carved by a German prisoner. It’s also said that lions once roamed Morocco too, which is why the national football team is nicknamed “the Atlas Lions”!
So grab your backpack and book your tour to discover Ifrane!
Lisa
