Oukaimden ski resort

Oukaïmeden is the highest ski resort on the African continent, set among the peaks and Berber villages of the High Atlas roughly two hours by road from Marrakesh. It is a real mountain area — a scatter of drag lifts climbing steep, treeless slopes with the plains and, on clear days, distant desert stretching out below — rather than any kind of artificial venue. The altitude is what makes skiing possible at this latitude, but snow is genuinely fickle: some winters bring good cover from around January into spring, others very little, and much of the terrain is ungroomed. The atmosphere is uncommercial and characterful, with local guides hiring out old kit, mules on the pistes and mint tea between runs. It suits adventurous travellers after a novel, cultural day on the snow rather than piste perfection.