What is special about the forest at Talassemtane?

It protects the only native Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo) forest in Morocco, together with Atlas cedar. The park was created in October 2004 specifically to conserve these last threatened fir stands.

Can you hike in the park without a guide?

The popular valley walk from Akchour is easy to follow, but the higher routes into the fir forest and along the ridges are long, exposed and poorly marked. For those, a Chefchaouen-based mountain guide is strongly recommended.

CHEFCHAOUEN · LOCATIONS

Talassemtane National Park

The Rif fir forest and gorges above Chefchaouen

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Talassemtane National Park, Chefchaouen

The Rif fir forest and gorges above Chefchaouen

Talassemtane National Park covers 589.5 km² of the western Rif mountains next to Chefchaouen and was created in October 2004 to protect the last of Morocco's threatened fir forests. It holds the country's only native stands of Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo) along with Atlas cedar, more than 1,380 plant species — 47 of them found nowhere else in Morocco — Barbary macaques, Greek tortoises and over 100 bird species including the bearded vulture. BirdLife International lists it as an Important Bird Area, and its best-known walking routes lead to the Akchour waterfalls and the natural arch known as God's Bridge.

Location

Chefchaouen

FAQs

The park lies in the western Rif mountains of northern Morocco, immediately around Chefchaouen. Most walkers start from Chefchaouen itself or from the village of Akchour.