Things to do
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Ait Mansour Valley
South of town the road drops into a narrow gorge where palm groves, streams and small hamlets fill the floor between red rock walls. The drive takes about an hour each way on a narrow paved road with tight bends. Walks along the stream under the palms reach small springs, and cafes in the hamlets serve tea.
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Djebel Lkest
Rising to 2,359 metres above the Ameln Valley, this ridge is one of the highest summits of the Anti-Atlas, climbed in a full day from the villages below. Paths are rough and unmarked in places, so a local guide is advisable. Early starts and plenty of water matter, and summer heat rules out the climb.
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Gazelle Rock Carving
On a boulder by the hamlet of Tazka, a short walk west of the centre, an ancient engraving shows a gazelle, with fainter figures around it. The carving is small, so asking for directions in the hamlet helps. Combined with the walk out through the palms, it makes an easy early morning outing.
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Lion's Head
Above the Ameln Valley north of town, a granite outcrop on the hillside resolves into the head of a lion when seen from the valley road. The shape reads best in late afternoon, when shadows sharpen the features. A pull-off on the road to the villages gives the clearest angle.
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Oumesnat
Stone houses climb the cliff face in this Ameln Valley village, where a family has opened its traditional house as a small museum of grain mills, tools and the rooms of a working Berber home. A short path from the road crosses almond and argan terraces. Opening is informal, and the family welcomes a contribution at the door.
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Painted Rocks
Belgian artist Jean Vérame painted a field of granite boulders blue, pink and purple in 1984, a few kilometres south of town near the village of Aguerd Oudad. The colours have been repainted since and fade between coats. The final stretch is a dirt track, and late afternoon light suits photographs.
