Tafraout Almond Blossom Festival

The Ameln valley and the terraces around Tafraout are planted with almond, and in February the trees flower before they leaf, so the valley floors go pink and white against granite that is itself pink - which is the reason for the festival and is genuinely one of the better sights in southern Morocco for a fortnight. The festival, held since the 1990s, is a combination of agricultural fair and cultural programme: almond and argan products sold, ahwash dancing, music, poetry and a market, over several days in the town. The almonds themselves matter economically to the villages, along with argan and remittances from the emigrant population who work in the grocery trade in France and return in numbers for events like this. Timing is the difficulty - the flowering shifts by a couple of weeks with the winter and the festival is set close to it, so both need checking.

What you actually see

• Blossom before leaf - almond flowering pink and white on the terraces in February.
• Pink granite behind - the valley's rock making the setting what it is.
• An agricultural fair - almond and argan sold alongside ahwash dancing and music.
• A returning population - emigrant families back from France for the season.

When to go

February, timed to the flowering; check dates locally. Two to three days.

Honest expectations

Flowering shifts by a fortnight with the winter and the festival dates move with it. Tafraout accommodation is limited and fills. February nights in the Anti-Atlas are cold. Programme information is published late.

Nearby

The Ameln valley and Jebel el-Kest are north; Ait Mansour gorge is south.