Blogs from Ourika Valley, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco, Africa

‘We’re here’, proclaimed the taxi driver, pulling over to the side of the road. ‘Here, really?‘ In our reckoning we must still be about five kilometres short of Imlill, the epicentre of trekking in Morocco’s High Altas mountains. Under the shade of a walnut grove, our guide, cook/muleteer and mule are patiently waiting. After quick introductions our backpacks are strapped onto the mule, along with the food and cooking equipment for the next three days, and with the mule’s cross sectional area almost tripled, our small party sets off. We’re new to trekking, but what we had arranged to do is a three day hike from here (somewhere outside of Imlill) to a small village called Seti Fatma, two valleys away. So with excitement and a little apprehension we head off, following a small track from ... read more

Thursday 3rd March: up bright and early as the tour of the Ourika Valley that we had booked the previous evening required a 9am start at the tour agent's premises near our hotel. We were picked up from there at 9.15am and taken to the tour bus which left Marrakech around 9.30am. There were about 14 people on the bus, of whom 8 were Brits. We headed east out of Marrakech and stopped after half an hour for a “comfort break” and a view of the High Atlas mountains from the roof of a cafe: the view being unfortunately impeded by a strikingly ugly power pylon. Then we headed off towards the foothills and stopped at a viewpoint where we were accosted (almost assaulted) by a couple of hustlers in traditional garb (a hooded kaftan) selling ... read more

After spending 5 hectic days in Marrakesh we retreated to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, being about an hours drive from the city. The last 3 miles was across a rutted track through a couple of Berber villages before we arrived at the Kasbah Bab Ouricka in the Ourika Valley. The Kasbah, being a large country house, is perched high on a ridge overlooking the Ouricka Valley and with splendid views of the Atlas Mountains. This was to be our place of peace and relaxation for the next 5 days. There was lots of rest and reading and in my case a couple of days of treking with a guide and companions from the Kasbah. A perfect break in the mountains following the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh... read more

Why should I visit the Ourika Valley? My third trip to Morocco was a long weekend with my husband Dave, a kind of second honeymoon to make up for the fact we didn't have a first one when we married ten years earlier. After two days looking at the majestic Atlas Mountains in the distance from our hotel balcony, Dave and I decided it was time to take a closer look. We booked a day trip through Complete Tours http://complete-tours.com/ to the Ourika Valley, about 30 kilometres outside the city. A journey of about three hours each way on the meandering mountain roads in a little air conditioned Grand Taxi with our driver/guide, Driss. As we left the madness of Marrakech the buildings thinned out and orchards of orange tress and olive groves, a few ramshackle ... read more