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Azrou,
Morocco.

Middle Atlas · Ifrane Province

Plan a Azrou trip
From Marrakech
327 kmas the crow flies
How long
Half-day to 1 night
Nearest airport
Fès-Saïs (FEZ) + 1h drive
Best time
April–June and September–November; snow may close high forest roads December–February

Azrou is the cedar-forest village of the Middle Atlas — the surest place in Morocco to see wild Barbary macaques and walk beneath ancient Cedrus atlantica.

Azrou is a Berber market town of about 45,000 at roughly 1,250 m in the Middle Atlas, 17 km south of Ifrane and 67 km south of Fes on the N13. Its name means 'rock' in Tamazight, after the volcanic basalt outcrop on which the old town was raised. It sits at the edge of the Cèdre Gouraud forest — one of the oldest and most extensive groves of Cedrus atlantica (Atlas cedar) left in North Africa, where some trees top 900 years old and 40 m tall. Within this forest lives Morocco's most reliably accessible population of wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus): semi-habituated troops move through the cedars along the road south of Azrou in every season, making this the easiest and most dependable wildlife encounter in the country. Azrou also runs a well-established carpet and woodcraft cooperative whose carved-cedar and Berber-woven pieces are among the finest traditional crafts to be found outside the imperial-city souks.

Where it sits

Azrou on the map.

Azrou is about 327 km north-east of Marrakech in a straight line; the road is longer. The line on the map is that straight line, not the route your driver takes.

  1. Ifrane15 km
  2. Meknes59 km
  3. Fes70 km

Map: Marrakech to Azrou

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

What to see in Azrou.

  1. Where is the best place to see Barbary macaques in Morocco?

    The cedar forest south of Azrou on the N13 toward Midelt — especially the Cèdre Gouraud stretch around the ancient 'Cèdre Gouraud' tree — is the most reliably productive spot in Morocco for Barbary macaques. Troops of 20–50 are often met at road level. They're semi-habituated and approachable; don't feed them, as human food upends their foraging and breeds dependency.

  2. Ancient Cedrus atlantica forest

    The forests around Azrou and Ifrane form one of the last significant stands of Atlas cedar in North Africa. The 'Cèdre Gouraud' — a lone tree by the road — is reckoned over 900 years old and more than 40 m tall. Walking tracks thread through the forest between Azrou and the Ifrane National Park boundary.

  3. Azrou cooperative and cedar craft market

    The Ensemble Artisanal de Azrou is one of the few government-supervised craft cooperatives in Morocco selling cedar woodwork, Berber carpets and embroidered textiles at fixed, transparent prices. Cedar salad bowls, inlaid boxes and geometric rugs make this one of the best craft-buying stops on the Fes–Marrakech overland route.

  4. Tuesday souk

    Azrou's weekly Tuesday market is an authentic working souk that draws Berber communities from the surrounding plateau — livestock, raw wool, traditional dress and produce from the cedar-forest villages — far less tourist-facing than the urban souks of Fes or Marrakech.

Trips

Azrou, the way we would plan it.

Every itinerary is private and built around your dates, with a proper stop in Azrou. Each one is priced in a written quote within 24 hours.

  1. Fes, Ifrane & the cedar forest

    2 days

    A private two-day loop out of Fes: cedar forests, the Barbary macaques at Azrou, the alpine town of Ifrane and a night in the Middle Atlas quiet.

  2. Azrou cedar forest half-day

    Half day

    A private morning from Ifrane or Fes: the ancient cedars, a Barbary macaque encounter and a stop at the Azrou craft cooperative.

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Plan your Azrou days

  • Private your group in its own car
  • 24 h a written quote
  • Free nothing to pay to ask

Azrou, answered.

Is Azrou better than Ifrane for Barbary macaques?
The macaques range the forest between both towns, but the densest concentration is usually in the Cèdre Gouraud forest south of Azrou on the N13. Ifrane's cedar forest, reached via the national-park road east of town, holds populations too — a morning in the Azrou forest followed by lunch in Ifrane covers both.
How old are the cedar trees near Azrou?
The forest is ancient: the Cèdre Gouraud by the road is reckoned at 800–900 years old, and the surrounding Cedrus atlantica stands include trees several centuries old. In ideal conditions Atlas cedar can reach 2,000 years, though none confirmed that old survive in this forest.
Is the Azrou craft cooperative worth a visit?
Yes — it's one of the most transparent craft-buying experiences in Morocco, prices displayed and craftspeople working on site. Azrou's cedar woodwork is genuinely distinctive; the mix of cedar scent, intricate carving and Middle Atlas skill makes 30–45 minutes well spent.

Before you go.

Getting there
17 km south of Ifrane and 67 km south of Fes on the N13 — easily folded into a run toward Midelt or the Sahara
Wildlife etiquette
Don't feed or touch the Barbary macaques; keep a respectful distance and never chase individuals
Best combined with
Ifrane (17 km north for alpine architecture and skiing) and Midelt (1h30 south for the Cirque Jaffar)
Craft cooperative
The Ensemble Artisanal opens Monday–Saturday; fixed prices, no haggling needed

Have your Azrou days planned by a local.

Tell us your dates, group size and pace. We send a written proposal within 24 hours: private guides, transfers, riads, the lot.

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