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(see 2)HOTEL Sleeping
1 Hôtel Beau-Sejour
2 Hôtel des Cèdres
3 Hôtel Salame Eating
4 Café-Boulangerie Bilal
Hôtel des CèdresAzrou (Great Rock) takes its name from the outcrop marking the town’s western boundary.
The big Ennour mosque, beautifully finished with local cedar, provides another handy landmark.
Azrou hosts one of the region’s largest weekly souqs, and is particularly known for its Berber
carpets, so timing your visit for market day (Tuesday) is a good idea. A museum of the Middle
Atlas has been under construction for some years, yet its final opening seems permanently
delayed. It’s probably better instead to just head out of town to enjoy the surrounding
countryside; there are plenty of day walks that take in the mountain air and great views. You
might even spot a few of the local Barbary apes.
EXPLORING THE AZROU AREA
Azrou sits on the edge of some of the prettiest parts of the Middle Atlas – ideal for throwing a few things in your day pack and
setting out for a hike. The area is known for its Barbary apes, and you might be lucky enough to spot a troupe foraging in the
woods. Although you can just head out of Azrou by foot and into the hills, some of the best walking spots require some wheels
to get yourself started.
‘Ain Leuh is a pretty village 25km southwest of Azrou. The drive here is through thick cedar forest, so you might just be
tempted to stop your vehicle anywhere and hit the trail. Instead, take in the large Tuesday weekly souq (the best day to get
public transport), which attracts market-goers from around the region, particularly from the Beni M’Guild Berbers. It’s a
pleasant climb through the rough streets of flat-roofed houses to a waterfall in the hills above.
Around 20km south of ‘Ain Leuh, an even more picturesque walk leads to the waterfalls at the Sources de l’Oum-er-Rbia .
Leave the road at Lac Ouiouane and follow the path down past a number of farmhouses to a small valley, where a bridge
crosses the Rbia river. From here, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the gorge where several dozen springs break out of the rocks
to form a series of waterfalls. There are a couple of cafes where you can take a rest.
It’s possible to incorporate these walks into a much longer circuit trek of up to six days from ‘Ain Leuh. For more information,
contact official local guide Moulay Abdellah Lahrizi ( 0663 77 26 87; www.tourisme-vert-ifrane.com) of the Association des
Guides de Montagnes du Moyen Atlas.Sleeping
For its size, Azrou has a surprising number of sleeping options, with more being added out of
town along the Fez road (look out for the Disneyland-esque ‘castle’ being built to attract Gulf
Arab tourists).