Azrou is the gateway to the largest cedar forest of the Moroccan Atlas. At 1,250 metres altitude in the Middle Atlas, this peaceful Berber town lives at the rhythm of the seasons and a preserved nature where Barbary macaques roam freely alongside centuries-old cedar trees.
The Azrou cedar grove: ancient cedar forest of the Middle Atlas
The Azrou cedar grove is part of the great Aït Sgougou forest which extends over more than 130,000 hectares in the Middle Atlas, one of the largest Atlantic cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forests in the world. These cedars — some reaching 40 metres in height and 600 years in age — are Morocco's emblematic trees. Their majestic silhouettes stand out against snowy backgrounds in winter and create shaded alleys with the scent of resin in summer.
The forest around Azrou is also composed of holm oaks, thuriferous junipers and cork oaks, forming a mountain ecosystem of exceptional biological richness. The natural springs that gush in the heart of the forest feed the Oum er-Rbia and Moulouya rivers. In spring, the forest floor is covered with wild daffodils, violets and edible mushrooms that the inhabitants carefully harvest.
Azrou's Barbary macaques: meeting Morocco's monkeys
The Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is the only wild monkey in North Africa and Europe. The Middle Atlas Moroccan population is the largest in the world with around 8,000 individuals. Around Azrou, macaques live in troops of 20 to 80 individuals in the cedar groves, feeding on acorns, berries, insects and roots. They are frequently seen while crossing the forest, especially in the morning and late afternoon when they come down to the roadside.
Although Azrou's macaques are accustomed to human presence and accept being photographed, it is important not to feed them processed foods and to maintain a respectful distance. Feeding interactions create food dependencies that can harm their health. Certified local guides offer morning hikes in the forest to observe macaques in their natural environment and learn about their complex social behaviour.
The Tuesday Berber souk and Azrou's wool crafts
The weekly souk of Azrou, held every Tuesday, is one of the most authentic rural markets of the Middle Atlas. The Aït Sgougou and Aït Hadiddou Berbers descend from mountain villages on their mules loaded with agricultural produce, raw wool, cheeses and pottery. This very non-touristy market allows observation of rural Moroccan daily life in its greatest authenticity and the purchase of local products directly from the producers.
Wool crafts are Azrou's speciality. Berber women spin and weave sheep wool to produce burnous (traditional hooded cloaks), Amazigh carpets with geometric patterns characteristic of the Middle Atlas and multicoloured striped blankets. The weaving workshops in the medina welcome visitors who wish to see the work of the traditional loom and purchase directly from the craftswomen.
Lakes Aguelmam Azigza and Sidi Ali: jewels of the Middle Atlas
The Middle Atlas contains several high-altitude lakes of spectacular beauty. The Aguelmam Azigza (Azigza lake), 30 km from Azrou, is a 30-hectare volcanic crater lake at 1,500 m altitude, encircled by a forest of cedars and holm oaks. Its blue-green waters never really warm up (15°C even in summer) and are home to a local trout. The lake is accessible via a forest track passable by car from May to October.
The Aguelmam Sidi Ali, 50 km from Azrou on the Meknès to Midelt road, is Morocco's largest natural lake (1,760 ha, 2,080 m altitude). This lake with black, deep waters is surrounded by alpine meadows where horses and sheep graze in summer. Tour Come Morocco organises day circuits from Ifrane or Azrou combining cedar grove, macaques, high-altitude lakes and Berber village for a complete immersion in the Middle Atlas.
Azrou, ideal stage between Meknès, Ifrane and Midelt
Azrou is ideally positioned on the road of the imperial cities and the Middle Atlas. 75 km from Meknès, 17 km from Ifrane and 130 km from Midelt (gateway to the desert), it constitutes a natural stage in a northern Morocco circuit. The combination Meknès (imperial monuments)-Volubilis (Roman ruins)-Azrou (cedars and monkeys)-Ifrane (lake and snow) is one of the most complete 3-day circuits offered by northern Morocco.
From Azrou, the road towards Midelt crosses the Col du Zad (2,178 m), the highest point on the N13 national road, from where the view over the Middle Atlas and the first Saharan horizons to the east is exceptional. Tour Come Morocco offers private transfers between Fès/Meknès and Merzouga via Azrou-Ifrane-Midelt to combine the discovery of Middle Atlas cedars and monkeys with the experience of the Erg Chebbi Saharan dunes.
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