Photograph: your accommodation at Kasbah du Toubkal
Lachlan Goudie
The Atlas Mountains are the Alps of North Africa and Mt Toubkal, the highest peak (4167m), provides a dramatic skyline. Kasbahs perch on ridges and Berber villages cling to the hillsides and nestle in the valleys. Spring brings out the cherry and apple blossom and the snows begin to melt, filling the streams and bringing a freshness to the juniper forests. The rich red-brown soil provides a fabulous contrast. The Berbers have a rich culture and life in the mountains has changed little over the past century. Many people still adorn the traditional brown-hooded jellabah and mules are the only form of transport.