28 Sep Morocco. Route of the Kasbahs
Here is a trip to the southern part of the Moroccan Atlas that you are going to love: the route of the Kasbahs. As it is so close, I like to escape there every time I start to feel that I have been in the slavery of the office for too many days in a row, and I need to smell the smell of the choto again, see the dunes, the palm groves, the starry skies, etc. etc. etc.
If you want to come with me, please send me an email, I am open to all suggestions of dates, days and itinerary.
This is itinerary number 1:
First day
This day we arrive at Ouarzazate airport, from there, and before going to the hotel, we will visit the Ksar of Ait Benhadou. I would spend hours and hours here... not in vain has it been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You couldn't ask for a better start to your trip
And this is only the beginning of the journey, and the emotions will increase, I promise. If we have time, I would like to show you the Kasbah of Tamdaght, very close to Ait Benhadou, along a track that is well worth a walk.
And with this, knowing that you will not be able to endure many more emotions like this in one day, we will retire to our quarters, inside the Kasbah of Taourirt, which by the way, is also a UNESCO heritage site.
But here we are in for another big surprise, because the place where I like to stay is an impressive palace located inside the medina, so don't let me know that you are missing anything.
I love to have dinner on the rooftop and then while I sip a gin and tonic, (I don't drink dyc whisky anymore because I've matured) I like to look at the landscape and listen to the muezzin reciting the adhan or call to prayer. This moment is impressive, I like that terrace, in fact I have slept on it more than once, (or that, or in the room with the snoring of Paquito, or Juan Luis).
Day two
The next day we will wake up with a natural awakening (when the sun is high), as it is not necessary to wake up with the call to prayer at dawn (which will wake us up...) and we will calmly head southwards through the palm groves that accompany the Draa river.
This river is the longest in Morocco, and as we will see, it disappears in Mhamid to reappear, after 600km underground, in the beaches of Tan Tan (impressive beach by the way, one day I will post some pictures of Tan Tan and the rest of our old Sahara) and if anyone wants, I can take you there, that area is really beautiful...
Along the way we have to make a few obligatory stops
First at the Kasbah of Tammougalt, another of my favourites, which, by the way, is also a World Heritage Site. It is an ancient crossroads for caravans coming from sub-Saharan Africa, with Jewish, Berber and black slaves from Niger and Mali.
We'll definitely make a stop for tea, but don't rush (haste kills...).
We can also stop at the Kasbah deTamegroute. A former educational and religious centre, but for me, the most impressive thing about this place is to see the dark corridors where they live. You will love this too
Zagora, the gateway to the desert,
The Kasbah of Tinfou
This is a foretaste of what awaits us in the desert.
And we will arrive in Mhamid with enough time to see the sunset from the dunes near a spectacular hotel I know, or we can even see it from the dunes of Erg Lehoudi (the Jew of Mhamid), very close to the village, we will see.
Day three
Before heading out to the Erg Chegaga dunes, I will take you to an abandoned village near Mhamid, next to the river bed where the river disappears. The village is being swallowed by the desert, and it is a marvel to walk through its abandoned streets.
I will also take you to a local market, where I am sure I will be able to get you for only half the price of the purchases you make at the end. On the way to the desert we will see acacias, few but we will see them, (either I put a picture of an acacia or I'll burst).
When we get to the dunes of Erg Chegaga, we'll walk around them a bit, and if you're up for it, I know a place where we can rent quad bikes or buggies, although as lazy as you are, I don't see you going up the dune...
Of course we will stay there to sleep, to see the stars, this day and night for me is the highlight of the trip.
We can organise the evening in my way, in a pellagra style, with sandwiches ( of chope) and bottles of wine and gin and tonic, etc etc.
Or a little more sophisticated, according to personal taste.
I won't tell you more about the night, it's better if you see it with your own eyes.
Fourth day
From there, we retrace our steps back to Zagora or Ourzazate where we will spend the night or I will drop you off at the plane according to the timetable and return home.
Of course, I can extend this itinerary to a trek through Jebel Sagrho.
Or the great dune of Merzouga, and the Todra Gorges, which we will see the next day when I will show you option 2, which is not bad at all, I don't know which one I like more, why don't we do both at once?
Maria
Posted at 19:32h, 29 SeptemberJo; for me, both in one go.................... and soon, as I'm already getting annoyed by the asphalt........................... It looks great................................
Start making cost estimates, as the piggy bank needs to be inaugurated as well .....................
Kisses. Talk to you!
undiaenlavidadecuchara
Posted at 20:06h, 29 SeptemberI have to find a good date, but I want to go as soon as possible, so I will make a proposal for dates very soon. I'm glad you liked it
cristina
Posted at 13:12h, 30 SeptemberHi! I'm Cristina, Maria's sister, and I'm in too! I think the desert is a spectacular idea, and I haven't left home for over a year, so I think it's the best way to cleanse my mind!
marta arias
Posted at 07:53h, 12 OctoberHi, I'm Marta from Lugo, I've just seen about the trip, you know what? I would love to do it, but I think I'm going to have a cash flow problem, so I think I'll have to stay, however Carlos, if you can make an estimate of how much it would cost, I'll look at it, because the truth is that it impressed me.
A big kiss and I'm glad all is well.
undiaenlavidadecuchara
Posted at 18:34h, 12 Octobermuch cheaper than you think, you just have to make the trip out of high season, that is to say out of the usual holidays, I recommend just when Easter is over, when everyone comes back from there. there is no one and everything is half price. My first trip down will be at the beginning of January. if you want I can send you an email with a rough estimate.
marta arias
Posted at 21:05h, 16 Octoberok, tell me then an approximate calculation and I will study it, it is that having the little one studying in the private, is going to finish with me, but I will do my best to go, to all this, on what days Easter falls for the year? I have no idea.
Kisses.
undiaenlavidadecuchara
Posted at 08:43h, 22 OctoberHello, send me an email to my email address, carlosenelchad@gmail.com and I detail everything there
Kisses
Ayanna
Posted at 00:22h, 03 MarchLove the blog