Travel guide to Oukaïmeden Observatory
Oukaïmeden Observatory is a high mountain observatory at an elevation of 2.764m (9,068ft) above the sea level, located in the Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz region of Morocco, near Jebel Toubkal. It’s one of the highest roads of Morocco.
Perched in the High Atlas Mountains range, the road to the summit is paved but very steep and winding. Open to traffic throughout the year, the road may be closed for short periods in winter when the weather is bad.The summit hosts an astronomical observatory, a radar dome and communication facilities. There’s a fabulous view to the north towards Marrakech. Starting from Oukaïmeden ski resort, the road is 2.2 km km long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 140 meters. The average gradient is 6.36%, hitting a brutal 15% through some of the ramps.
Pic: Mohammed Boukhlouf