The Paradise Valley and Immouzer

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Paradise Valley and Immouzer</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8yloi5xDDTbtmcRYDZdIR9QXjehJLHGUTb5tNl9ApUmIBIVqfWVUERVPIejTC3Mo0UnLvmSZSv-VBw7BSh0es_CweN-XOB6FkgUxj-3Pdz6cBUjQwHflGtGoXChB0-oIqwY24iorw6a-/s1600/5018500964_da58b7403b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8yloi5xDDTbtmcRYDZdIR9QXjehJLHGUTb5tNl9ApUmIBIVqfWVUERVPIejTC3Mo0UnLvmSZSv-VBw7BSh0es_CweN-XOB6FkgUxj-3Pdz6cBUjQwHflGtGoXChB0-oIqwY24iorw6a-/s320/5018500964_da58b7403b_b.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The trip up to Immouzer des Ida Outanane – via Paradise Valley, a beautiful palm-lined gorge – is a superb excursion from Agadir. It is feasible in a day (Immouzer is 62km from Agadir) but much more enjoyable if you stay the night at one or other of the superb auberges or take time to explore and camp in the valley. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The 7002 road to Immouzer is surfaced the whole way; it leaves the N1 coast road at Aourir, 12km north of Agadir (make sure you take the righthand fork in the village – the left-hand one is a dead-end, up a palmery). A daily bus leaves Agadir Thursdays at 7am, other days at 1pm (from a small parking area on Bd Mohammed Cheikh Saâdi, 200m southeast of its junction with Av du 29 Février), arriving in Immouzer four hours later; on Thursdays it goes back later in the day, otherwise it returns the following morning at 7am. Alternatively, take a grand taxi or city bus to Aourir, from where there are shared grands taxis to Immouzer, though mostly on Thursday for the weekly souk.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">A surfaced road also connects Immouzer with the N8 <b>Agadir–Marrakesh road</b>, allowing easy access from Ameskroud, Taroudannt or Marrakesh, a highly scenic route.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Paradise Valley </b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Paradise Valley begins around 10km east of Aourir, as the road sweeps down into a deep, palm-lined gorge, with a river snaking along the base. The best stretch starts just after the turn-off for <b>Immouzer</b>. You can hire a mule to explore the valley’s numerous Berber villages, and it’s a glorious place to camp, though pitch your tent well away from the riverbed in case of flash floods.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> Immouzer des Ida Outanane and beyond </b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>IMMOUZER DES IDA OUTANANE</b> is a minor regional and market centre (of the Ida Outanane, as its full name suggests). The waterfall, for which the village was renowned, is nearby, and was best seen at its foot, 4km downhill to the northwest. Unfortunately the falls have been very adversely affected by drought over the last few years; tight control of irrigation now reduces the cascade on most occasions to a trickle, with the villagers “turning on” the falls for special events only. However, the petrified canopy of the falls is of interest in its own right, and there’s a full plunge pool. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1NDFc9Kj5Qo?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="686"></iframe> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> There’s a hamlet just across the stream from the foot of the falls, and a café (Café de Miel) with basic food, near which you can camp out in the olive groves. The whole area is perfect for walkers. You can follow any of the paths with enjoyment – a good one, near the village, cuts up across the cliffs to the Hôtel des Cascades – or even trek off to the Marrakesh road . The birdlife adds an exciting dimension, with birds of prey commonplace; Bonelli’s eagle is a good bet, and you might well spot golden eagles or crag martins.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> In Immouzer village, there’s a souk every Thursday. The local speciality is honey, made by bees that browse on wild thyme, lavender and other mountain herbs. There’s also a honey moussem every August for a week starting in the middle of the month.</span></div>

Tips tourism Travel guide The Paradise Valley and Immouzer

The Paradise Valley and Immouzer The trip up to Immouzer des Ida Outanane – via Paradise Valley, a beautiful palm-lined gorge – is a su...

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When to go

<div style="text-align: justify;">As far as the climate goes, it is better to visit the south – or at least the desert routes – outside midsummer, when for most of the day it’s far too hot for casual exploration, especially if you’re dependent on public transport. But July and August, the hottest months, can be wonderful on the coast, while in the mountains there are no set rules.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8jbE6BamqipB1lNKiMuQNFSECHZ9UOXEzhrLosXrO5wbX6cIMpzx5qDQA9GugBozaPmpfn7OlBZu088q3TYB-6Kmc0hgihP4EFcYSoLCMtEkTVoE3gjRZjKwkQglacT9smMgMZWZVqU/s1600/102SSCAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lightbox" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Eljadida port"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8jbE6BamqipB1lNKiMuQNFSECHZ9UOXEzhrLosXrO5wbX6cIMpzx5qDQA9GugBozaPmpfn7OlBZu088q3TYB-6Kmc0hgihP4EFcYSoLCMtEkTVoE3gjRZjKwkQglacT9smMgMZWZVqU/s320/102SSCAM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><br /> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Spring, which comes late by European standards (around April to May), is perhaps the best overall time, with a summer climate in the south and in the mountains, as well as on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. Winter can be perfect by day in the south, though desert nights can get very cold – a major consideration if you’re staying in the cheaper hotels, which rarely have heating. If you’re planning to hike in the mountains, it’s best to keep to the months from April to October unless you have some experience of snow conditions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Islamic religious calendar and its related festivals will have the most seasonal effect on your travel. The most important factor is Ramadan, the month of daytime fasting; this can be a problem for transport, and especially hiking, though the festive evenings do much to compensate. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Morocco’s climate</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlj6UUft9we4iGI_XGY-alBWRlOK3QeJQ-5L5VXEdu5gMf4p8bzQWLo_mV68CoQ0leXu7uJLhPfi1w8zXCWIraWX5LBYQk2p8EINAyEAQf-FfLsILdqP3YsgigFZB7vDsvhTwFPWxlwE/s1600/climat.bmp" imageanchor="1" rel="lightbox" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Morocco's climate"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlj6UUft9we4iGI_XGY-alBWRlOK3QeJQ-5L5VXEdu5gMf4p8bzQWLo_mV68CoQ0leXu7uJLhPfi1w8zXCWIraWX5LBYQk2p8EINAyEAQf-FfLsILdqP3YsgigFZB7vDsvhTwFPWxlwE/s320/climat.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>

hot destinations Intro to Morocco Sahara route to desert Tips Travel guide When to go

As far as the climate goes, it is better to visit the south – or at least the desert routes – outside midsummer, when for most of the day it...

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Where to go

<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd3Z-ZaSkxKfYIAMgJDAYSo8s0DaWYYKc3kWFg2CuXJBCGoFecI2YD-ZTsXgu86XWN0LTcOQ01F9jhKM5-IHNnb_RpCabcv4-vsu37po8bUeZVvaNJTxY4oejgn2XOeCW6SVPO9kQSpU/s1600/snapshotX.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd3Z-ZaSkxKfYIAMgJDAYSo8s0DaWYYKc3kWFg2CuXJBCGoFecI2YD-ZTsXgu86XWN0LTcOQ01F9jhKM5-IHNnb_RpCabcv4-vsu37po8bUeZVvaNJTxY4oejgn2XOeCW6SVPO9kQSpU/s320/snapshotX.bmp" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%;">G</span>eographically, the country divides into four basic zones: the coast,Mediterranean and Atlantic; the great cities of the plains; the Rif and Atlas Mountains; and the oases and desert of the pre- and fully fledged Sahara. With two or three weeks – even two or three  months – you can’t expect to cover all of this, though it’s easy enough (and highly recommended) to take in something of each aspect.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">You are unlikely to miss the mountains, in any case. The three ranges of the Atlas, with the Rif a kind of extension in the north, cut right across the interior – physical and historical barriers, and inhabited for the most part by the indigenous Moroccan Berbers. Contrary to general preconceptions, it is actually the Berbers who make up most of the population (only around ten percent of Moroccans are “pure” Arabs) although with the shift to the industrialized cities, such distinctions are becoming less and less significant.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">A more current distinction, perhaps, is the legacy of Morocco’s colonial occupation over the fifty-odd years before it reasserted its independence in 1956. The colonized country was divided into Spanish and French zones – the former contained Tetouan and the Rif, the Mediterranean.<br /> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6870866644079530229&postID=6328654542886447163" name="more"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><b>Amazigh community   </b>                                                                                                                              </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85DdrWZTqaz8xBFbjQiK58tKcSBidbFe5lTXu5M6yDQBnhoFgVahXU0rAEnxfHC1JBrLG4QsTFCe3ZQ_t_DagXl0CtHSMXg78IuhAejj_zEpY0vZXVN78J_1Wor_mAyhUtezFTArssoY/s1600/1Berbersmer.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85DdrWZTqaz8xBFbjQiK58tKcSBidbFe5lTXu5M6yDQBnhoFgVahXU0rAEnxfHC1JBrLG4QsTFCe3ZQ_t_DagXl0CtHSMXg78IuhAejj_zEpY0vZXVN78J_1Wor_mAyhUtezFTArssoY/s320/1Berbersmer.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fce5cd; text-align: left;"><span lang="FR">The Berbers were Morocco’s original inhabitants. The Arabs arrived at the end of the seventh century, after sweeping across North Africa  and the Middle East in the name of their new revolutionary ideology, Islam. Eventually, nearly all the Berbers converted to the new religion and were immediately accepted as fellow Muslims by the Arabs. When Muslim armies invaded the Iberian peninsula from Morocco, the bulk of the troops were Berbers, and the two ethnic groups pretty much assimilated. Today, most Moroccans can claim both Arab and Berber ancestors, though a few (especially Shereefs, who trace their ancestry back to the Prophet Mohammed, and have the title “Moulay”) claim to be pure Arabs. But in the Rif and Atlas mountains, and in the Souss Valley, groups of pure Berbers remain, and retain their ancient languages (Tarfi t, spoken by about 1.5m people in the Rif; Tamazight, spoken by over m people in the Atlas; and Teshalhit, spoken by –4m people in the Souss Valley region). Recently, there has been a resurgence in Berber pride (often symbolized by the Berber letter  ) TV programmes are now broadcast in Berber languages, and they are even taught in schools, but the country’s majority language remains Arabic</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>"Fes and Marrakesh are almost unique <br /> in the Arab world for city life which </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>remains in large part medieval"</b></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Broadly speaking,  the coast is best enjoyed in the north at Tangier, beautiful and still shaped by its old “interna-tional” port status, Asilah and Larache, and in the south at El Jadida, at Essaouira, perhaps the most easy-going resort, or at remote Sidi Ifni. Agadir, the main package tour resort, is less worthwhile – but a functional enough base for exploration.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><b><br /> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVJhz_WtGz-McKdMbyQXTybgMyTokf2Wia_C6UzzYrWyiADGoiILnogjUAsLNObCqt9d7DHzFtjJnGlfutPJN7Jq_Ojx6SEJ_0w2pU5rn2isFB4MN9Kf1mnqmMsmQZK_kXZFDNO6eopU/s1600/1mercenary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVJhz_WtGz-McKdMbyQXTybgMyTokf2Wia_C6UzzYrWyiADGoiILnogjUAsLNObCqt9d7DHzFtjJnGlfutPJN7Jq_Ojx6SEJ_0w2pU5rn2isFB4MN9Kf1mnqmMsmQZK_kXZFDNO6eopU/s320/1mercenary.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> Inland, where the real interest of Morocco lies, the outstanding cities are Fes and Marrakesh. The great imperial capitals of the country’s various dynasties, they are almost unique in the Arab world for the chance they offer to witness some city life which, in patterns and appearance, remains in large part medieval. For monuments, Fes is the highlight, though Marrakesh, the “beginning of the south”, is for most visitors the more enjoyable and exciting.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="background-color: #990000; border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none; color: #eeeeee; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr> <td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 481.1pt;" valign="top" width="641"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b>Tajines</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyf_2SMvFIsyTbtM2w1uGOTteHCbhsCimKnZrFuptYX64jTiPKSgHL0GE1qC_qn-DKYCBR38_7FlYX3jtDU2PkqiHFFwAglIuJimEyxlkUn1YNcCe8AWV0fIMUTT4cFC-HO0sdeZf4-E/s1600/TAJIN~0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyf_2SMvFIsyTbtM2w1uGOTteHCbhsCimKnZrFuptYX64jTiPKSgHL0GE1qC_qn-DKYCBR38_7FlYX3jtDU2PkqiHFFwAglIuJimEyxlkUn1YNcCe8AWV0fIMUTT4cFC-HO0sdeZf4-E/s320/TAJIN~0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuSAfnxbqAE5wgQjvZWuCsW_VuLUrYwTjH97Iyq6Ke9_slpLp_WbGknsA_JtXQDs2M9aZW92zWCSCU8VQsMQFYexeg68jWhxiaQdcAeOBUeF7HWvqlqFvPgsRUel7eb_JMKadoXUlNmo/s1600/4329919normal-couscous-1-jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuSAfnxbqAE5wgQjvZWuCsW_VuLUrYwTjH97Iyq6Ke9_slpLp_WbGknsA_JtXQDs2M9aZW92zWCSCU8VQsMQFYexeg68jWhxiaQdcAeOBUeF7HWvqlqFvPgsRUel7eb_JMKadoXUlNmo/s400/4329919normal-couscous-1-jpg.jpg" width="316" /></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Like paella or casserole, the word tajine strictly refers to a vessel rather than to the food cooked in it. A tajine is a heavy ceramic plate covered with a conical lid of the same material. The prettiest tajines, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">decorated in all sorts of colours and designs, come from Safi (see p.404), but the best tajines for actual use are plain reddish-brown in colour, and come from Salé .</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">The food in a tajine is arranged with the meat in the middle and the vegetables piled up around </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">it. Then the lid is put on, and the tajine is left to cook slowly over a low light, or better still, over a charcoal stove (kanoun), usually one made specifically for the tajine and sold with it. The classic tajines combine meat with fruit and spices. </div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Chicken is traditionally cooked in a tajine with green olives and lemons preserved in brine. Lamb or beef are often cooked with prunes and almonds. When eating a tajine, you start on the outside with the vegetables, and work your way to the meat at the heart of the dish, scooping up the food with bread.</span></td> </tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #990000; text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Beyond a line drawn between Casablanca and Meknes – is, on the whole, easier and more relaxing than in the sometimes frenetic north. This is certainly true of the mountain ranges, where the Rif can feel disturbingly anarchic, while the southerly Atlas ranges (Middle, High and Anti) are beau-tiful and accessible. Hiking in the High Atlas, especially around North Africa’s highest peak, Djebel Toubkal, is in fact something of a growth industry. Even if you are no more than a casual walker, it’s worth considering, with summer treks possible at all levels of experience and altitude. And, despite inroads made by commercialization, it remains essentially “undiscovered” – like the Alps must have been in the nineteenth century. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Equally exploratory in mood are the great southern routes beyond – and across – the Atlas, amid the oases of the pre-Sahara. Major routes here can be travelled by bus, minor ones by rented car or local taxi, the really remote ones by four-wheel-drive vehicles or by getting lifts on local camions (lorries), sharing space with the market produce and livestock. </div><div style="text-align: left;">The oases, around Tinerhir, Zagora and Erfoud, or (for the committed) Tata or Figuig, are classic images of the Arab world, vast palmeries stretching into desert horizons. Equally memorable is the architecture that they share with the Atlas – bizarre and fabulous pisé (mud) kasbahs and ksour, with Gothic-looking turrets and multi-patterned walls.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Further south, you can follow a route through the Western Sahara all the way down to Dakhla, just 20km short of the Tropic of Cancer, where the weather is scorching even in midwinter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> memorable is the architecture that they share with the Atlas – bizarre and fabulous pisé (mud) kasbahs and ksour, with Gothic-looking turrets and multi-patterned walls.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Further south, you can follow a route through the Western Sahara all the way down to Dakhla, just 20km short of the Tropic of Cancer, where the weather is scorching even in midwinter.</div>

hot destinations Intro to Morocco Sahara Travel guide Where to go

G eographically, the country divides into four basic zones: the coast,Mediterranean and Atlantic; the g...

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Extreme Adventure Itinerary

<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/extadventure_pic03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/extadventure_pic03.jpg" width="320" /></a>The extreme trips are about exploring new ground in the quest to find a ider variety and more interesting routes. The approach here is that real adventure is about facing unknowns. Sometimes the trip will not go according to plan and often time will be lost due to backtracking from deadend pilot routes. The itinerary therefore needs to remain flexible and the group will have to work together as a team with each member playing their part. Days will be long, camping on route will be the favoured mode of accommodation to maintain flexibilty, and there is the possibility the group will have to face up to unforeseen challenges. </div><br /> <br /> <div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/extadventure_pic02a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/extadventure_pic02a.jpg" width="320" /></a> There will be some hotels along the way at key points and time to stop and relax, but this is a more hardcore adventure for the experienced rider who wants to be involved with pioneering a new route over untested ground. Ultimately there should be a sense of acheivement from all the ground covered riding in challenging conditions.</div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /> <br /> </div>

Tips Travel guide Extreme Adventure Itinerary

The extreme trips are about exploring new ground in the quest to find a ider variety and more interesting routes. The approach here is that ...

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Enduro Adventure Itinerary

<a href="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/endadventure_pic01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/endadventure_pic01.jpg" width="289" /></a>The Eduro Adventure Itinerary is designed for riders with good experience riding off-road and wanting to cover on average of about 200km per day at a steady pace. Full days moving across different landscapes, with some nights camping.<br /> <br /> <b>Day 1 – Saturday</b><br /> <br /> Arrive at hotel...<br /> Introductions and brief safety talk<br /> <br /> <b>Day 2 - Sunday</b><br /> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6870866644079530229&postID=119470247897689970" name="more"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/endadventure_pic03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/endadventure_pic03.jpg" width="297" /></a><a href="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/endadventure_pic02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/endadventure_pic02.jpg" width="298" /></a>150-200km route in and around the Erg Chebbi dunes to get to know the quads and re-familiarise riders with the variety of different terrains they will be facing in the coming week’s tour. Lunch-time stop at the Meski Oasis.<br /> <br /> <b>Day 3 - Monday</b><br /> 175-200km route along stoney and sandy pistes towards Zagora, travelling along the border with Algeria in places, where the group will pass several military outposts, hill forts and Berber villages and encampments. The group will need to cross several chotts, (dried river bed or lake) and there is a 10km meteor crater to cross also. The scenery is spectacular and the group will stop to camp that night. <br /> <br /> <b>Day 4 - Tuesday</b><br /> 150-200km route from night camp leaving early to make good time so the group can spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool at the hotel in Zagora. The pistes are fast taking the group through the only col (pass), a gateway from the Sahara to the lush oasis of the Draa valley. Zagora is the last major town before crossing the desert to Mauritania.<br /> <b><br /> </b><br /> <b>Day 5 - Wednesday</b><br /> 200km route from Zagora to Mhamid crossing the dunes at Iriki. Navigation is key to avoid the softer sections of sand as the dunes are constantly shifting. The final 10km is a dusty chott that leads into the palm groves of Mhamid where the group will make camp. This is a long and demanding day and depending on progress of the group there is a chance of making camp in the dark. <br /> <br /> <b>Day 6 – Thursday</b><br /> There are 2 routes from night camp to stay in the evening with Berber tribesmen in their tents depending on how riders are fairing. A 175km easier southern route or a 250km route heading north back through the pass from the Sahara to Zagora. The first 100km of the northern route is along rugged mountain tracks and passes, later leading to sandy pistes. If the northern route is taken, it will be an early start and another tough day’s riding.<br /> <br /> <b>Day 7 – Friday</b><br /> 175km route back to Merzouga that should ensure an early arrival at the hotel to relax by the pool or do some shopping. Mostly fast sandy pistes with a large chott to cross, covering some of the same sections as day 2.<br /> <br /> <b>Day 8 – Saturday</b><br /> Departure from hotel...

Tips Travel guide Enduro Adventure Itinerary

The Eduro Adventure Itinerary is designed for riders with good experience riding off-road and wanting to cover on average of about 200km per...

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First Adventure Itinerary

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border: medium none; margin-top: 20px; width: 730px;"><tbody> <tr><td class="tbltxtleft"><a href="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/firstadventure_pic03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo: greeted by local children" border="0" height="240" src="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/firstadventure_pic03.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/firstadventure_pic01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo: quad bike atop a desert sand dune" border="0" height="240" src="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/firstadventure_pic01.jpg" width="320" /></a>he First Adventure Itinerary is designed for riders with a moderate or limited experience who have not ridden in Morocco. It allows the rider to build a wide experience of different conditions at a suitable pace without the pressure of long days and the need to cover big distances. <br /> <br /> <b>Day 1 - Saturday</b><br /> Arrive at hotel<br /> <br /> <b>Day 2 - Sunday</b><br /> Introduction to the quad bikes, safety equipment and general issues regarding safety<br /> <a href="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/firstadventure_pic02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo: quad riding in Morocco" border="0" height="240" src="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/firstadventure_pic02.jpg" width="320" /></a>150km round trip to along well defined flat desert tracks to enable riders to get used to the terrain and their equipment. Mid-morning stop at deserted mud village and lunch-time break in the palm groves outside Rissani. Afternoon ride back to hotel, on terrain depending on the progress of the riders<br /> <br /> <b>Day 3 - Monday</b><br /> 180km round trip around the Erg Chebbi dunes with a lunch-time stop at Meski Oasis. Riders will experience soft sand conditions and the group will need to navigate around the drifting sand from the dunes. The route passes through a dry river bed where conditions can be equally demanding. Soft clay dust and sand masked by a hard clay crust, or soft mud depending on seasonal changes<br /> <br /> <b>Day 4 - Tuesday</b><br /> 150km route to night camp in Bedouin tents with local tribesmen. The ride will build on the experience gained so far.<br /> Day 5 - Wednesday<br /> 150km route returning to the hotel closeby the Algerian border<br /> Day 6 - Thursday<br /> Optional rest day for those wanting to take a break from riding with a visit to the souks at Rissani on market day. There will be a lunch organised and the opportunity to shop and browse Moroccan carpets, jewellery and other handicraft.<br /> For others wanting to continue to ride, the consensus will determine a route for this smaller group.<br /> <br /> <b>Day 7 - Friday</b><br /> Riding in the Erg Chebbi dunes, rising before dawn to take advantage or the harder sand conditions. The group will ride into the dunes and learn about navigating a course across this extreme landscape, returning to the hotel for lunch. Those wishing to explore the dunes further can opt to go on an evening trip after the heat of the day.<br /> <br /> <b>Day 8 - Saturday</b><br /> Departure</td><td class="tblpicright" valign="top"><br /> <br /> </td></tr> </tbody></table><br /> <div id="language" style="margin-top: 25px;"> <a href="http://es.offroadholidays.com/index.php"><br /> </a></div>

Tips Travel guide First Adventure Itinerary

he First Adventure Itinerary is designed for riders with a moderate or limited experience who have not ridden in Morocco. It allows the rid...

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Trips and Itineraries_Morocco Winter Trips

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/tripdates_pic01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.off-road-destinations.com/images/tripdates_pic01.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Morocco Winter Trips</b></span><br /> October to May avoids the intense heat of the deserts south of the Atlas mountains. Here you will find huge baron landscapes punctuated with oases and fertile palm valleys where nomadic tribesmen have traded for centuries. A unique experience which is different to anything else you will encounter, big long tracks and mountainous sandy dunes.<br /> <br /> <div style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://morocco-deserts.blogspot.com/2009/10/first-adventure-itinerary.html">Itinerary - First Adventure</a><br /> <a href="http://morocco-deserts.blogspot.com/2009/10/enduro-adventure-itinerary.html">Itinerary - Enduro Adventure</a><br /> <a href="http://morocco-deserts.blogspot.com/2009/10/extreme-adventure-itinerary.html">Itinerary - Extreme Adventure</a></b></span> </div><br /> Morocco Summer and Winter Trips are 6 days riding with collections from Alicante and Almeria, Spain, group collections can be arranged from Marrakech.

Tips Travel guide Trips and Itineraries_Morocco Winter Trips

  Morocco Winter Trips October to May avoids the intense heat of the deserts south of the Atlas mountains. Here you will find huge baron la...

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