Oukaïmeden

Unless you're Moroccan, or a ridiculously enthusiastic ski bum, it's highly unlikely you'll arrive with any of the right gear. Numerous shops are ready to help out. As in the souk, nothing has a fixed price, so you may need to bargain. As a general rule, expect to pay around 150 DH per day for some warm clothing, boots, skis, and poles. The next step is the ski-lift pass, which is in fact a frustratingly long distance away (particularly in ski boots). To ride on the big lift to the very top of the mountain (known as the télésiège in French) a lift pass costs 100 DH per day; access to the six smaller chairlifts (téléskis) costs 50 DH per day.

Although Oukaïmeden is small, don't think its 20-odd runs (pistes) are basic. Apart from three green (easy) runs and four blue (medium), everything else is either red (advanced) or black (difficult). Only red and black runs go down the télésiège, so go ready for a challenge. The long red run starts to the right of the lift drop-off point—everything else to the left is black, and with names like Combe du mort (Vale of Death) they aren't for the faint-hearted. It's currently undergoing massive investment. The ski season lasts from December until late March.