What's on in Oukaïmeden, Morocco through the year

Peak crowds — Atlas ski season, Ramadan

• Season

  Atlas ski season

  1 Jan – 10 Mar · usuallyCrowded

  Africa's highest lift runs when there is cover, and January into February is when there usually is. Marrakech drives up at weekends to see snow rather than to ski, so the road is the bottleneck. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Ramadan

  25 Jan – 25 Mar · usuallyClosures

  The handful of places to eat up here close in daylight and the day-trip traffic from Marrakech thins right out. If you are staying, arrange food with your lodge before you come up. Source ↗

Still on: Snow on the mountain road (1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Atlas ski season, Ramadan

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Atlas ski season (1 Jan – 10 Mar (usually)), Ramadan (25 Jan – 25 Mar (usually)), Snow on the mountain road (1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Atlas ski season, Ramadan

• Closure

  Agdal: pastures closed to herds

  15 Mar – 10 Aug · usually

  Under the agdal, a customary ban, flocks are kept off the high plateau from mid-March until 10 August so the grass can flower and seed. Spring walkers find the meadows ungrazed and the shepherds' huts empty. Source ↗

Still on: Atlas ski season (1 Jan – 10 Mar (usually)), Ramadan (25 Jan – 25 Mar (usually)), Snow on the mountain road (1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Agdal: pastures closed to herds (15 Mar – 10 Aug (usually))

Busy — Fourth interim break (May) in Morocco, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Agdal: pastures closed to herds (15 Mar – 10 Aug (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Morocco, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Summer pastures and walking

  1 Jun – 30 SepTrail season

  Once the snow goes the plateau becomes grazing again and the flocks come up from the valleys. It doubles as the walking season, with the rock engravings and the ridge to Angour reachable on foot. Source ↗

Still on: Agdal: pastures closed to herds (15 Mar – 10 Aug (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Morocco, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Agdal: pastures closed to herds (15 Mar – 10 Aug (usually)), Summer pastures and walking (1 Jun – 30 Sep)

Busy — Summer holidays in Morocco, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Agdal: pastures closed to herds (15 Mar – 10 Aug (usually)), Summer pastures and walking (1 Jun – 30 Sep)

Busy — Summer holidays in Morocco, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Summer pastures and walking (1 Jun – 30 Sep)

Busy — First interim break (October) in Morocco, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Busy — Second interim break (December) in Morocco, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Snow on the mountain road

  1 Dec – 15 Mar · usuallyWinter road closuresClosures

  The single road up from Marrakech can ice over or close after a heavy fall, and chains or a 4x4 are expected when it does. A snowy weekend brings the city up the hill at the same time, so leave early and be ready to turn back. Source ↗