Getting some winter sun in is great during the winter months. I managed to get away for a week to Morocco, a month or so ago, and stayed at Medina Gardens. I didn’t really want my trip to Morocco to just be all about hitting the sun rays, and relaxing by the pool. As fun as that would be, I also wanted to get some culture in on my trip, and I didn’t mean just by visiting the souks.
As the hotel was one that was exclusive to Thomson, there were a number of excursions available to us at pretty reasonable prices. It was really dependant on what type of excursions interested you, or what you wanted out of your holiday. The excursions included guided tours around the souks, spa days or excursions to tourist attractions within Marrakech city.
As both Ankit and I look for thrill when we go on holiday as well as relaxation, we decided to go on the “4×4 Atlas Mountains in Morocco” excursion. The excursion included a great spirit of adventure overlooking panoramic heights of the Atlas Mountains. Travelling in a 4×4 on the edges of the mountains – not for those who can’t look down, you are taken in groups of 4 travelling through the Berber villages, beautiful mountains and valleys. It’s a must for those who love scenic views with a mix of thrill.
The trip started with being picked up ultra early from the hotel – which was both fairly difficult, as we had just been relaxing for almost a week with lie ins, but also easy as it was something we both looked forward to. Then it was a short drive, in the 4×4 to one of the local shops Oasis de Tamzargout, where we witnessed clay models being made by hand. The clay used for the pots and statues were picked from the Atlas Mountains. It was eye-opening to see how much time and effort went into making each clay pot, with each one being hand decorated by the wives of the husband.
After which, it was about an hour drive to the Berber village of Immouzer. During this time, we were invited inside a typical Berber house, where the elders had already prepared freshly made Moroccan bread, and Moroccan mint tea – which is something that I grew to love during my holiday. The bread was served to us with fresh olive oil, which is atypical of a Berber household to dine on. This itself is something that has helped them remain healthy and live longer and is a typical local-style breakfast.
Our next stop was to travel further up the mountain, with regular stops to take in the breath-taking views and scenery. Honestly, the photos do not do the excursion any justice. It was soon time for lunch, heading to the Hotel Cascades for an al fresco meal in a mountain retreat. Honestly, the view from here was so beautiful and the food was just as amazing. We had a filling salad with cous-cous and chickpeas, then followed by a traditional home made Berber omelette. This is where the excursion came to an end and we made our way back down the steep mountains.
Honestly, the views you get from going on the excursion are unbelievable. Thomson provide you with a tour guide for the duration of the excursion, who is born and bought up in the Berber village. We had regular stops whilst going up the mountain, so it didn’t really feel like we were in the 4×4 the whole time. The drivers edge so close to the corners of the mountains, so it’s not for the light-hearted who don’t like looking down. At no point, however, do you feel as though you aren’t safe.
Although you do attract sales men who try and sell you souvenirs during the trip, it’s easy to just say “no thank you” to them, and they will walk away after wishing you a good trip. It’s something different for whilst you are in Morocco and certainly something worth doing.
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