Hotels in Tizi n'Test

Tizi n'Test: Morocco's High Atlas Gateway

Tizi n'Test is a high mountain pass in Morocco's High Atlas range, reaching 2,092 metres above sea level on the road linking Marrakech to Taroudant. The pass cuts through dramatic rock faces and cedar-forested slopes, with the 12th-century Tin Mal Mosque — one of the few Almohad mosques open to non-Muslims — standing 7 km below the summit on the southern descent. The road itself, the P2017, was built by the French colonial administration between 1928 and 1936 and remains one of the most challenging paved routes in North Africa.

Where to Stay

Accommodation near Tizi n'Test is sparse and small-scale. Travellers find gîtes and family-run auberges in the village of Ijoukak, roughly 10 km south of the summit. A handful of properties offer Berber hospitality — tajine dinners and basic en-suite rooms — making the pass viable as an overnight stop between Marrakech (100 km north) and Taroudant (90 km south).

Practical Tips

• Road conditions: The P2017 includes tight hairpin bends; avoid after winter snowfall without local advice.
• Tin Mal visit: Allow 30–45 minutes at the mosque; a small donation is customary.
• Best season: April–June and September–October offer clear skies without summer heat or winter ice.
• Fuel: Fill the tank in Marrakech or Taroudant — no reliable petrol stations on the pass itself.