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


KatiaSaft icon
KatiaSaft
March 31st 2012

Reservei um passeio as montanhas, nao foi barato, e depois de ter ficado em uma familia, experienciando a vida dos marroquinos, achei que foi bem carinho... MAD500, uns R$100. Incluindo transporte, refeicoes, visitas e "escalada" nas montanhas. Na mesma van, tinha uma familia, pai, mae, filho de 5 e filha de 8 da Belgica e tres americanos (uma mulher e dois homens). Eu me identifiquei com a familia na mesma hora. Primeira parada: casa de moradores locais para cafeh da manha. Como fiquei na casa de moradores locais, nao foi muito novidade. A casa era toda limpa e organizada, na verdade, pronta para os turistas. Cafeh da manha: pao feito na hora num fogao a lenhas, numa tigela de barro, mel, manteiga (feita pelas mulheres da casa) e azeite de oliva (que eh feito pelo vilarejo. ... read more




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RobbertenEsther
January 22nd 2012

De auto stond er gelukkig nog de volgende dag en na een tank-stop zijn we richting het Atlasgebergtegereden. Zoals iedere dag was het strak blauw en de besneeuwde toppen staken mooi tegen de luchtaf. Aanvankelijk reden we nog door de vlakke vallei, maar na een half uur begon de weg omhoog te gaan en flink te kronkelen. Langs de kant van de weg stonden kinderen allerlei kruiden te verkopen.Nog hoger reden we door canyons en kwamen we tussen de sneeuw en op onze bestemmingOukaïmeden. Dit dorp is gelegen op een plateau, in de winter is het een skioord en ’s zomers kanje er bergtochten maken. We zijn eerst bij het bergmeer gestopt om wat foto’s te maken en daarnahebben we de toegang tot het dorp betaald. Oukaïmeden bestaat uit een aantal hotels die eruit zienalsof ze ... read more




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WhereareLandA
April 26th 2011

‘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




jackieandchris2011 icon
jackieandchris2011
March 4th 2011

DAY 5 3rd March 2011 We booked the trip yesterday at a local travel agent and were to be picked up at 09.00am. The minibus duly arrived and after picking up a couple of other people we set off towards the higher atlas mountains – no guide!!!! Yesssss!!! After about half an hour we stopped at a large gift shop with a panoramic roof terrace where we could take photos of the plains (and of course do some shopping!). Another half hour we stopped in a small lay-by to take photos of a small palace - with a few camels that you could ride if you wanted to and of course the usual hustlers selling jewellery and daggers! Another twenty minutes drive and we stopped again – this time at a herbal plant shop where we ... read more




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TravellingJenks
March 3rd 2011

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






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Raptas
January 29th 2011

Started withbreakfast on the terrace this morning, bit chilly. Mohammed, our host came to meet us at 9AM to drive us as arranged "into the mountains", in his old Peugot. Much amusement leaving Marrakech - the way they drive and the old cars - the posh taxis are all 1970's mercedes, the same yellow sand colour and the others small hatches of the same colour. We head for the hills, lots of merchants on the roadsides and as we start to climb and follow the river into the Ourika valley, the number of cafes with their tagines sitting on firepots, their plastic chairs and tables with colourful tablecloths is unbelievable. It's a Saturday and the start of the school holidays, we have beaten the rush as we find out later when there is a constant flow ... read more




John from Totnes icon
John from Totnes
November 11th 2010

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




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Pierest
October 9th 2010

Yes I sleep in again…… must try harder tomorrow. We have decided on a day trip today to the Ourika Valley and the seven waterfalls at Setti Fatma. Spectacular we have heard, the place all Marakeshi go to get away from the city….. here we come. We wear sensible shoes but forget the back pack…..try to haggle with the taxi man and have no luck so we stump up with way to much cash and are on our way. After winding our way into the Atlas Mountains our taxi driver insists that we take photos on the suspension bridges and we pretending to be scared…just to make him happy and us laugh. Upon arriving at the base of the falls be fight off the offers of a guide (literally) and hike our way to the top. ... read more




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MarieKeates
April 23rd 2010

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




angecad icon
angecad
November 12th 2009

Have just spent the most amazing 2 days trekking the Atlas Mountains, let me start from the beginning. Del & I got picked up from our hotel at 9am on Wednesday morning, after a hour and a half in a taxi we were dropped off in a small Berber village at what we thought was our 'hotel' not a bad place but much to my dismay no en suite, Mohamad, our guide then arrived and introduced himself and informed us that as soon as the 'Donkey' was packed we would be leaving, we did ask if we should put our things in our room but were informed that we wern't actually staying there?? Once 'Donkey' was packed, with our bag, we then set off, following Mohamad and Donkey and a young lad leading Donkey. We proceeded ... read more









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