hi, four of us set off (2 couples) and we toured the part of Morocco that goes from Fez to Marrakech, passing through numerous and characteristic little villages of the Moroccan interior. As for accommodation, we stayed in hotels, also because they are very cheap and comfortable. At first we wanted to do a do-it-yourself trip, but then in the end we opted for an agency...We did practically the whole trip with Youssef, a very likeable Tuareg guy who speaks our language very well, on board his 4x4. For about 10 days we spent very little (not even 500 euros each). There are so many wonderful places in Morocco, but undoubtedly the one that impressed me most was the desert of Er Ghebbi... there are no words to describe the feelings you get...mainly at night. It would be useless and reductive to talk about it more...you have to go there to experience it.
Day 127 Apr 2010
April 27-28 - visit to Fez: Arrival at 13:00. It's thirty-five degrees and luckily a young man originally from Fes leads us to the Batha hotel in the old city. After a few hours of relaxing at the hotel we continue on to tour the medina among markets and tanneries, truly a spectacle! Before returning to the hotel we stop for dinner at a little restaurant nearby where they served us an excellent couscous. The next day, after a refreshing swim in the pool, a visit to the new city and dinner at a charming little trattoria. Meeting with the guide from Marocco key travel
Fes tanneries: stone dyeing vats with hides and mud-brick houses under dry light
Day 229 Apr 2010
April 29 - Fes - Midelt - Ziz Gorges - Erfud - Merzouga. (450km) Breakfast and departure for the city of Midelt, known for the extraction of mineral rocks and fossils. Lunch at a splendid local trattoria where we ate the best meat in the world:) departure for Erfud along the Ziz valley, taking advantage of the coolness of the blue spring of Meski to rest along the road, we arrived at the black desert where we stayed overnight in a fantastic hotel right in the middle of the desert with a pool in the middle of nowhere. a wonderful thing (look at the photos)
Barbary macaque tugging a jacket hung on a tree, saddled horse nearby, Azrou cedar forest
Day 330 Apr 2010
Merzouga and the Region (55 km) After the overnight stay in the fantastic hotel, breakfast and a refreshing swim in the pool. We took the 4x4 for a tour to the caves where the natural desert fossils are found. We thus reach the small and ancient village of Tissrdmin where many films have been shot, taking the road that the Paris-Dakar rally also passes through, and passing through the black desert with its volcanic stones. Here Youssef takes us to drink tea with a Tuareg family. Tea is a pleasant constant in Morocco... everyone will always offer you tea as soon as you arrive in the various places. We then reach the village of Kamlia, famous for its inhabitants from black Africa and for their music. This village is also very famous for the music and dance festival held there every year during the first week of August; we attended a nice little local music concert organized for us.
From here we went to see Lake Dayet Srji with its pink flamingos. For lunch we stopped in Rissani to eat Berber pizza with its 44 spices at a charming inn; Rissani was once the economic capital of Morocco and the center of caravans departing for the desert. After lunch we continue by visiting the Kasbah of this small town. We then return to the hotel to relax before taking the quads and heading into the dunes. After a half-hour ride, we arrive at the Berber tents to see the sunset, and this is where we spent the night. At the camp the Berbers prepare typical dinners, there's music, laughter, and whoever wants to can walk up to the great 300 m dune to see the stars, the shooting stars and, if you're lucky, even the Milky Way.
A truly incredible spectacle! The night walk is indescribable (which can only be done if there's at least a half moon, because otherwise you wouldn't be able to see a meter in front of you (obviously if you move a little away from the tents)
White SUV on sandy track, lake and arid shores in the background
Day 41 May 2010
Merzouga Rissani Tinghir-Dades (260 km) Discovery of the desert region and its isolated oases. Heading East along the Erg Chebbi we leave the desert, stopping at Rissani, the first Alawite city and a great trading center, a visit to the city's palm grove with its ancient Kasbahs, its immense souk and the Ziz valley, with its fossil mine. We continue toward the Todra Gorges. Lunch, and departure for the visit of the Tinghir palm grove, the Todra Gorges, Boulmane and the Dades Gorges. Here too we stayed in a fantastic little hotel in the middle of the mountains, and here too Youssef treated us to a splendid evening with his percussion, accompanied by the hotel manager, who is a very good guitarist
Full moon above the giant sand dune, palm trees and nomad tents
Day 52 May 2010
Boulmane Dades Kela Mgouna_Ourazazate-Marrakech (160km) Boulmane and the Dades Gorges. Arrival in Kela Mgouna, known for the great Valley of the Roses and the production of rose water. Lunch and departure for the road of a thousand Kasbahs, Visit to Kela M'gouna, known for the rose festival, and visit of the great Skoura palm grove and the Boulmane Dades gorges, Lunch stopping along the road. Arrival in Ouarzazate, Lunch and departure to visit the Kasbahs: Taourirte, Tifoultoute and Ait Ben Haddou. Lunch in front of the Kasbah and route to Marrakech passing through the High Atlas (which I don't recommend to anyone who suffers a bit of car sickness). We spend the last 2 days in Marrakech, one of the most beautiful cities in Morocco. Here you can truly find everything, including clubs and very modern discos. In short, this trip is one continuous surprise.
Sorry if I repeat myself, but all of this was possible only thanks to our splendid guide Youssef from Morocco key travel
Blue pool in front of adobe kasbah with arches, palms and dunes
1 reader comments
ciao giovan8 vedo che abbiamo fatto un viaggetto simile :) e sono contento che tu l'abbia fatto anche con Youssef... mitico