This beautiful view can be found on the so-called "Paradise Valley" route in the extreme west of the High Atlas range. The road, which climbs gradually up from the Agadir-Essaouira road, cuts its way through a number of picturesque palm oases before continuing through small villages, farmland, and later moorland, up to the village of Immouzer. A popular day trip from the urban sprawl of Agadir, this route, which can be driven now as a loop thanks to the completion of a further tarmac route from Immouzer to the Marrakech-Agadir road, is one of the prettiest drives in the region. For those with a little more time we recommend staying the night at the charming "Hotel des Cascades" in the village of Immouzer. It's a very friendly place with one of the most spectacular terraces in Morocco. From here you can see the misty ridges of the High Atlas disappearing into the Atlantic as you sip a cold beer. From the hotel you can walk to the Cascades d'Immouzer (waterfalls) and there's also a road through some staggering palm groves that rejoins the Agadir-Essaouira road further north than the "Paradise Valley" route. The number of recently tarmacked routes in this region in particular suggests that the Moroccan government are keen to develop mountain tourism in the area. Epic Morocco, in conjunction with a biking company based in the UK, passes through this region as part of a new road cycling tour. The route, from Marrakech to the coast, passes through some of the most spectacular mountains in Morocco and presents some interesting physical challenges on route. Please enquire with us for details about this tour, which runs in November and February. For those who favour motorised transport, this area can be incorporated into a route from Agadir to Marrakech or from Agadir to Essaouira and could form one stage in an exploration of the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains. Please enquiry about car hire and we'd be happy to advise on suitable routes to take anywhere in Morocco. The best times of year to visit this region are spring and autumn, avoiding the heat of the summer and the cold (and potential snowfalls) of winter. The area can be conveniently combined with the stunning Anti-Atlas region around the town of Tafraoute, a land of towering granite peaks and sublime palm oases.
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