Walking in the Anti-Atlas, Morocco

In addition to learning about traditional Berber life, there is fantastic trekking here, through a dry landscape of pink and ochre tones, with arid peaks rising above lush valleys, peppered with oases. In spite of the harshness of the landscape, the Berbers who live in the Anti-Atlas grow the mountain staples of wheat, barley, olives, figs and almonds and if you trek in the autumn, you’ll see brightly dressed women bringing in the harvest. Look out for wildlife, too, including Cuvier’s gazelle, Barbary sheep and Barbary macaque.

Many treks here tackle Jebel Aklim. This peak, surrounded by Berber villages in valleys guarded by old Kasbahs, rises to 2,531m and is one of the highest summits in the Anti-Atlas. From the top you can gaze towards the High Atlas as well as Jebel Siroua, an extinct volcano at 3,304m in the Anti-Atlas.

The Anti-Atlas is far less developed for walkers than the High Atlas, so point to point treks generally involve wild camping, as campsites and other accommodation just don’t exist. That means no showers, and just a simple toilet block. If that sounds a tad basic, remember that catering on fully serviced camping holidays is top notch and the choice of places to camp is fantastic. You might pitch tents in a valley of olive groves crisscrossed by trickling streams, or on a scenic plateau amongst farmland, with sunrise views that are really worth getting up for. Once the trek is over, there are a clutch of beautiful towns, including Taroudant, to unwind in before returning home, where you can shop in the souk and visit the hammam, without the hassle and hustle associated with Morocco’s bigger, more visited centres.