Morocco

We visited Morocco because we wanted something exotic and this definitely fit the bill. Of course Marrakech was where we started and ended but the middle was filled wifh the Atlas Mountains, Sahara desert and a road trip across Morocco which was equal parts fascinating and overwhelming.

We visited the High Atlas, Middle Atlas and Low Atlas.  The big mountain to climb here, the second largest in Africa and in the High Atlas region, is Tupkal.

The beginning of the Sahara is about 2 hours outside of Marrakech. Our guide Yousuff was amazing.  We thought we were on a group tour of 8 but it turned out to only be us, which meant a normal car/small SUV and all the conversation we wanted.

We visited a Kasbah occupied by a wealthy family until 1950.  The Kasbah has 4 pillars traditionally creating a center court and look out. This one had 5 towers—one was added in honor of women. Something our guide described as highly unique. In the Berber (Amazir) culture, per our guide, women are considered equal more than in other cultures and this added tower was meant to symbolize this.

We also tried the Argan Oil--to eat. We still prefer it for hair treatments only, not eating but it was fun to try. Its taste is a bit harsh.

We stayed in a beautiful Kasbah designed hotel run by a lovely french couple. While wifi was not in our favor, the ambience was delightful with incredible sounds of animals by night and birds by morning. This was in Skoura.

Figs, Dates, Pomegranates, Olives, Grapes are the 5 main trees in this northern part of Morocco.

We visited Dadis Valley in the North East of Morrocco and hiked the Monkey Fingers.  The lush green valley is full of 1/2 mature wheat stocks and beautiful flowers, surrounded by red rocks similar to Sedona or Petra.

For thise looking for travel resources, Knis a goldmine. Our guide her also told us about a new site for travel called kimkim out of Amsterdam and also in the US in CA and CO.  For this tour however we used tourradar.  Both are encouraged by the guides as they rank based on reviews and take less commission. We met Yousuff who was our guide outside of Marrakech through Moroccoactiveadventures.com.

So it turns out that Morocco is amazing at preliferating gorgeous and lush palm trees, but in the north they dont produce coconuts.  Instead they make dates.  Some 35 types of dates.

Erg means dunes. As in sand dunes. The desert is amazing.  The light makes the sand change color depending on the time of day you look at it.

In the north desert region they mine cobalt and barium . We stayed near the mines at the Mirage Luxury Camp in Merzouga. Definetly glamping in the

Erg Chebbi desert which is in the far east of Morocco on the Algerian border. The mountains beyond the deaert in the pictures are in Algeria.

The food, design, the Medina, the colors, the heat, the main square of Marrakech--this is a must visit.

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