Hafida: A pioneer with an extraordinary journey

Hafida — Pioneer, guide, passionate

A Berber woman from a modest background, Hafida grew up in a society that told her she would never make it. She chose not to listen.

In 1994, she reached a historic milestone: she obtained her qualification and became the first female guide in Morocco, in a world that was then exclusively male. A victory over prejudice, earned through courage and determination — and one that would open the door for other women after her.

Driven by an unquenchable desire to go further, she continued her training in France and earned the Mountain Walking Leader diploma (AMM), building an expertise recognised well beyond Morocco's borders.

Today, Hafida organises treks across Morocco and guides travellers from all over the world. Multilingual, she moves effortlessly between Arabic, Berber, French, English and Spanish — languages that are, for her, bridges between cultures.

Her journey inspires. The international press has taken notice, and between treks, Hafida shares her experience on television, reminding us that the hardest summits are sometimes those we climb against prejudice.

To stop dreaming is to already give up.

It is in this spirit that Hafida opens the doors of her guesthouse to you — Bihi Lodge, an authentic haven nestled at the foot of the High Atlas, 35 kilometres from Marrakech.