Marrakech is a vibrant, colourful and wonderful experience, sometimes though it can get a bit hectic and you need a little break. Thankfully there are plenty of options and one of the best is a day trip to the Atlas Mountains.
The Atlas Mountains offer a rich tapestry of natural beauty sewn together with traditional Moroccan lifestyle. One of the best ways to experience it is is to grab your walking shoes and go for a hike! We choose to do a one day hike with Berber Adventure Tours, included was a traditional lunch in a Berber family’s home.
Our day started early. The hike begun in the city of Amizmiz, an hour’s taxi ride away from Marrakech. The drive out offers an interesting look at the Moroccan country side, keep an eye out for the massive Dam that powers the entire region, including Marrakech.
Once we arrived we met Said, our guide for the day. He spoke fluent English and had an excellent knowledge of the surrounding area. He also understood our differing hiking capabilities and took this into account when setting the pace. After getting to know each other over a round of Moroccan tea we hit the road.
There is something exceptionally satisfying about exploring a foreign landscape by foot. The panoramic views are that much more satisfying, the experiences that much more rich. I think it’s the closest you can get to experiencing travel in the finest traditions of famous explorers such as Columbus.
Our hike consisted of five to six hours of walking of which at least 50% was uphill. I’m not going to lie at times it was hard work, really hard work! I had a few moments where I was struggling to keep going but I fought through it. My reward for persevering was one of the most insightful cultural experiences of my entire trip.
Moroccan food in Marrakech is a satisfying affair. Moroccan food in a traditional berber village is simple devine. The freshness of the ingredients, the fullness of flavour, the authenticity of the moment. Mohammed, our host went out of his way to ensure that we had the best possible experience. It was a really insightful look into day to day Berbers live.
A Berber villages’ primary source of income comes from traditional means. Three to four times a week the villagers and their trusty donkeys make the 5 hour round trip to Amizmiz to sell the produce that they cultivate on their own lands. Every Tuesday Amizmiz puts on a local farmer’s market and all the local Berber villages have stalls. So if you can, organise your tour on a Tuesday and you’ll experience the rural take on Marrakech’s own Djeema el Fna!
A hike into the Atlas Mountains is a perfect way to compliment a trip to Marrakech. It’s a bit of hard work, but in return for the sweat off your brow you’ll get a cultural experience like no other.
~~~~~~~~~~~ As seen first as a guest post on CheapoAir ~~~~~~~~~~~~
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