North Africa's highest peak sits a ninety-minute drive from Marrakech, which makes a 4,167-metre summit weirdly weekend-able. The standard two-day route climbs from Imlil to a mountain refuge, then tackles the scree to the top at dawn, with the Atlas rippling away towards the Sahara. Guides are mandatory and easily arranged in Imlil. Go May to October to avoid winter's ice; whatever the season, the mint tea back at the refuge is medicinal.
Featured in Ten treks for your first big summit or base camp · Adventure