Considering Morocco's established reputation as a hot, desert city on the coast and with the Sahara on an entire side of the country, one wouldn't necessarily think of Morocco as a location for a ski resort.
However, the mountains that are south of Marrakech are capped with snow every winter and so the wealthier population of the southern parts of Morocco have found their own little haven to ski in.
This haven is the resort known as Oukaimeden, which is distinctly Moroccan in the mountains.
  Renting the ski equipment and ski pass for the lift for just under 250 dhs is quite the steal.
From the actual top of Oukaimeden's ski lift, it is 3273 meters above sea level and allows you to observe the fresh and sparkling snow.
These mountains then bottom out into a valley that seems to come from a fairy tale, picturesque and with a view that makes your breath disappear.
Even though you are in Africa, you could swear you were in the land of the Snow Queen somewhere in northern Russia as opposed to being only a short way from the Sahara, surprisingly not Siberia.
  The surrounding areas, as well as Oukaimeden itself, have an amazing view every season, all season, and the areas change beautifully with the nature.
During the summer it really is not all that popular, but that only seems to make sense, considering its reputation as a winter site really has changed the local opinion of the area.
Since it is known for being a site of winter sports, the best time to stay there is in the winter, especially as a two-day jaunt.
With the nature that is around Oukaimeden, there is a wonderful opportunity to ski and enjoy the terrain or hike through the mountains as well.
A wonderfully thrilling experience, but at once scary for those who have never skied before, the Oukaimeden's crowning activity is the fact that it is a ski resort.
In the midst of Morocco's desert and subtropical climate, there are these wonderful mountains that tower south of Marrakech.
With this particular place, skiing is not a native sport, but it has certainly become one of the most popular things to do at this mountain.
It is hard to think that skiing would be common or comfortable in Morocco of all places, but it is truly not considered a problem.
In fact, the instructors there seem like total naturals on the snow-capped terrain, and there is no way that you would forget your lessons there.
It is incredibly uplifting and unique to say that one has skied in Morocco.
What is so incredibly shocking, but at the same time very unusual and entertaining for this event is to see that the mountains are covered in snow through a large season.
The season is fairly long for these particular areas in the country, but it is a truly exhilarating site even during the end of the season as it gets warmer, where the snow is now replaced by greenery amongst the mountains.
  The lodges themselves are gorgeous little things, elegant but at the same time distinctly a mixture of both Moroccan and European styles.
You can stay at one of these little elegant lodges by traveling up along the road to Oukaimeden that can scare you in its steep heights, but can also be fantastic to view.
Like many other cities and towns in Morocco, there is a more ancient part of Oukaimeden.
While the actual resort is incredibly modern and enriching for the tourist, there is an interesting original settlement that is a simple 100 meters away from Oukaimeden's ski lift.
The rich get to spend their time at the resort skiing, and in this simple little village there are only simple huts that people inhabit there, and it shows the major difference between the cultures.
While certainly not expected in the middle of Morocco, a ski resort is certainly a thrilling place to be wherever you travel.
The Oukaimeden Ski resort in Morocco south of Marrakech is stunningly beautiful, unexpected, and quite elegant.