We were advised before we went to Morocco that we absolutely had to go on a tour into the Sahara whilst we were there. This actually messed up our plans a fair amount and meant missing out several cities, but it was absolutely worth it. There seems to be a wide range of tours available, at a range of prices. Ours (from Moroccan Views) was at the cheapest end (120Eur per person) but was not missing anything we could wish for. Some tours pick up from nearer from the desert, and are cheaper due to that, but unless you are in the area anyway, I'd recommend being picked up from Fes or Marrakech for the convenience. Additionally, the trip to the desert provided much more than I was expecting.
We were picked up from our riad in Marrakech at 7.30, a little later than expected, and left Marrakech at approximately 8am. The tour consisted of a driver (Said), a guide (Mohammed) and 3 other couples, all also in their early twenties, in a mini bus with plenty of room.
Leaving Marrakech, we crossed the Atlas mountains, stopping for breakfast an hour or so in. We made plenty of stops for pictures of the mountains, of Berber villages and explanations of irrigation systems and how the locals lived. Along the roads wherever cars could stop, brightly coloured rocks and pottery was being sold. The views from the top were stunning, but in the bright sun not particularly photogenic.
In the Atlas we made a stop at a collective that made and sold argan oil, which displayed the various uses of argan, and the importance of the nut to the local people. I bought a small bottle of oil and some soap. Unfortunately I decided against buying the delicious peanut butter like argan paste that can be eaten with bread. As far as I have seen, argan oil is only known in the UK for its cosmetic uses, but the culinary oil was very tasty.
Just before lunch, we reach Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, a Unesco World Heritage Site chosen as an example of the style of architecture in the region. It is familiar to many as the background to movies such as Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Parts of the Kasbah are actually parts of the set, rather than original.
Inside the Kasbah you are guided around a traditional Berber house, and have a glass of tea which was very welcome after the heat, and before our walk up to the top. We had lunch in Ait Benhaddou, then set off again for Ouarzazate, the home of the Moroccan film industry.
After Ouarzazate is a fairly long drive before reaching the Dades Gorges which has stunning rock formations, in addition to a large number of Kasbahs. Ait Oudinar, our hotel for the night was fairly plain but comfortable, and our evening meal was included in the price of the trip (although not the bottles of water!).
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We were picked up from our riad in Marrakech at 7.30, a little later than expected, and left Marrakech at approximately 8am. The tour consisted of a driver (Said), a guide (Mohammed) and 3 other couples, all also in their early twenties, in a mini bus with plenty of room.
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| Berber village in the Atlas mountains |
In the Atlas we made a stop at a collective that made and sold argan oil, which displayed the various uses of argan, and the importance of the nut to the local people. I bought a small bottle of oil and some soap. Unfortunately I decided against buying the delicious peanut butter like argan paste that can be eaten with bread. As far as I have seen, argan oil is only known in the UK for its cosmetic uses, but the culinary oil was very tasty.
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| Grinding Argan nuts |
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| Ait Benhaddou Kasbah |
After Ouarzazate is a fairly long drive before reaching the Dades Gorges which has stunning rock formations, in addition to a large number of Kasbahs. Ait Oudinar, our hotel for the night was fairly plain but comfortable, and our evening meal was included in the price of the trip (although not the bottles of water!).
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| The roads in the Dades Gorges are terrifying, as are those crossing the atlas mountains. That car soon overtakes the lorry |
