If you’re seeking adventure in 2025, then we might have the perfect travel destination for you, as it’s a spot people rarely venture out to.
We’re talking about the Anti-Atlas mountain region in Morocco, which is often missed by visitors who prefer to flock to tourist spots like Marrakech, the Sahara Desert, and the bigger Higher Atlas Mountains.
The area has just been named as one of the top 10 ‘Not Hot’ destinations for 2025, and while that might sound like a bad thing, it’s anything but.
As Intrepid Travel explains, the list is composed of lesser-known places they want to shine a spotlight on for next year. As well as Anti-Atlas, there’s also Cape York in Australia, Adirondacks in New York, Maldonado in Uruguay, and Disko Island in Greenland.
The Anti-Atlas mountains are Morocco’s mouth southerly mountain range, which border the Sahara. Expect a dramatic and spectacular lunar-like landscape, with red granite rock formations with pretty red and pink hues.
You’ll find small towns and villages nestled in the valleys of the mountain, with the main one, in the central part of the mountains, being Tafraoute. This town is often referred to as ‘Morocco’s Berber heartland’ and leaves ‘the most profound impression’, according to travel blogger Tuljak.
Here’s everything you need to know about the region…
The mountains are certainly off the beaten path, so it will take a bit of time to get there. You’ll want to fly to either Agadir or Marrakech (Agadir is much closer). And then either look at public transport to a nearby town, or possibly hire a car to travel yourself.
Flights with Wizz Air from London Gatwick to Agadir take four hours, and prices start from £35. EasyJet also offer flights from London Luton Airport for £49.
Non-stop flights from Manchester are a little more expensive, starting from £86, while those in Birmingham can book cheap flights with Ryanair.
There’s going to be a lot of driving to get to where you’re going, so you could break up the travel by staying in a few different places during your trip.
Some travel companies recommend transferring from Agadir to Taroudant, which takes 50 minutes, and is a popular spot for exploring the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains. The latter are just under two hours away by car.
Alternatively, you could opt to go from Adgadir to Tafroute (also spelled Tafrout). It’s a good three hours south of Agadir, with lots of winding roads and dirt paths to drive down, but those who’ve been claim it’s worth the effort to get there as you’ll be right in the midst of the mountains, surrounded by unique and incredibly picturesque rock formations.
Those staying in Taroudant, a city that is often touted as being a ‘little Marrakech’, will be able to wander through bustling Berber markets and souks or walk the old town walls.
While here you’ll want to sample some traditional Moroccan food, such as tagines, dates, and couscous. Top restaurants on Tripadvisor include Riad Maryan, Complexe El Kasbah, and Restaurant Bar Les Jardins De Taroudant.
A visit to Palais Musee Claudio Bravo is also a great way to pass the time. The building is a hotel, a museum and the former home of Chilean painter Claudio Bravo. The building is impressive and inside you’ll find paintings by Bravo and Francis Bacon, dinosaur fossils, antiques, and some beautiful gardens.
But of course, the main attraction is the surrounding mountains. Those wanting to walk will be able to follow numerous trails to walk the Anti-Atlas. Alternatively you can book excursions and drives around the area, if you’d prefer a day trip with a little more structure.
For those visitng Tafraoute, there’s plenty to see in this peaceful town. Those intrigued by the mountains will want to take a look at the southern face of Mount Lex at just the right time of day, in order to see a pattern in the rock that looks a lot like a Lion’s head. Some have even gone as far as to compare it to Mufasa from The Lion King.
There’s also the painted rocks to see, which are quite literally as the name describes. Large bounders painted in bright shades of blue, pink, and yellow, and just outside of Tafraoutem in the village of Aguerd Oudad, you’ll fine Napoleon’s Hat (Le Châpeau de Napoléon), the famous landmark in the area.
In the town, you’ll also find some unique (but traditional) pink architecture, there are weekly souks with markets on Wednesday in the town centre, where merchants sell everything from woodwork, to silver jewellery, and leather, with cheaper prices than in bigger markets in Agadir or Marrakech.
The local speciality to try while in Tafraoute is Amlou, a spread seved with breakfast, or as a snack, that’s made from almonds, honey, argan oil and a number of other local ingredients.
The weather is warm here throughout the year, with an arid climate meaning there isn’t very much rain.
In the summer months temperatures often get higher than 35C, but the temperature and weather varies depending on how high you are climbing, and it gets colder at night.
Lower valleys and foothills are said to have more moderate temperatures, according to Toubkal Trekking, while the higher elevations are cooler.
The best time to visit is said to be in the spring, between March and May, and in the autumn between September and November.
Where to stay when visiting Anti-Atlas Mountains
If you’re considering a stay in Taroudant after hiking the mountains, then there are a number of hotels with ‘superb’ ratings in the area, and they are reasonably priced.
The aforementioned Palais Claudio Bravo is the top choice for accommodation, with rooms starting from £95.75 on booking.com. The hotel has an outdoor pool, terrace and restaurant.
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Alternatively in Tafraoute, there’s the ‘fabulous’ boutique hotel, Auberge Kasbah Chez Amaliya, which has stays from £40.46 a night, or the cheap and cheerful Hotel Espace Tiawine, which has rooms from £27.82 online.
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