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Berbers in the hidden palm valleys Morocco off the beaten trackYour home for the next few days is a traditional Moroccan home that’s been turned into a small-scale hotel. During this tour, you’ll get to know Morocco off the beaten track, travelling through towering gorges and wandering through endless valleys where you’ll hear nothing but rustling palm trees.You'll explore mountain villages on foot and cycle across a landscape of surreal rock formations, some of them oddly painted bright blue and purple. This module offers you a fascinating insight into Morocco off the beaten track and some of the most amazing areas in the country, the Ameln Valley and the small town of Tafraoute in the heart of the Anti-Atlas. If you're looking to visit the palm valleys and would prefer to stay in a atmospheric palaces and cosy mountain hotels, take a look at our Atlas Mountain tour. Or, if you're looking for inspiration for your Morocco holiday, try our Morocco itineraries. |
| Duration |
3 days / 2 nights departs daily from Agadir or Taroudant |
Accommodation |
Basic but atmospheric traditional house. Comfort level 2 (see accommodation). |
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Price |
£75 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
2 nights' accommodation including 2x breakfast and dinner, guided hike with picnic |
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Transport |
Rental car |
Excludes |
Car hire, other meals |
Day 1: Arrival TafraouteTravel time: 3 hours
From Agadir or Taroudant, you'll make your way south across vast plains towards the rugged mountains of the anti-Atlas. After a while the road begins to wind up into the hills as you near the Ameln Valley and the small town of Tafraoute. The hills are covered in argan orchards. The olive-like fruit of the argan tree are harvested to produce the highly prized and nutricious argan oil that you'll often find on your breakfast table in Morocco. After about three hours you'll arrive in the Ameln Valley and you'll immediately understand why it's known as Paradise Valley. The valley is a bizarre landscape of towering cliffs, bizarre rock formations and a fertile oasis - this really is Morocco off the beaten track. About 3 miles before Tafraoute, you'll turn left and follow the unpaved road for a 10-minute bumpy drive to the small village of Oumesnate.For the next couple of days, you’ll stay in a unique spot. Follow the signs to La Maison d’Hote to get to the traditional, authentic Moroccan home of Abdsalam and his two sons Rachid and Mustafa. Around 15 years ago they decided to turn their traditional home into a small guesthouse, and they moved into another home nearby. |
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The house has been kept as original and authentic as possible, giving visitors a glimpse into the traditional life of the people of the Ameln Valley, and helping them to see Morocco off the beaten track. Next to the traditional house are the simple but cosy guestrooms where you’ll stay for the next two nights. After a glass of mint tea in the living room Rachid and Mustafa will show you around the house and tell you about the local way of life. In the afternoon you can go for a walk around the village on your own. The centre is made up of a couple of houses built in kasbah style, some in a crumbling state. If you climb up the rocks, you'll get a fantastic view of the village and the surrounding area. You can also catch a great sunset here. In the evening, dinner is prepared by the women of the house and as you sit down for a delicious home-cooked meal you’ll really feel part of the family. |
Day 2: Tafraoute - Amelm ValleyAfter breakfast Rachid or Mustafa will be waiting to take you on a tour of a couple of villages nestled at the foot of the mountains, giving you a taste of the rural life of the people of the Anti Atlas. Don't expect anything too spectacular, no shows or craft demonstrations here, just the pure authenticity of the area.Rachid and Mustafa can tell you all about the area and what it’s like to live here. Two to three hours later you’ll be back at the guesthouse where you can relax on the roof terrace of the maison d'hote and admire the views across the Ameln Valley. You can spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the area on your own. |
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Driving through the bizarre landscape, you’ll suddenly find giant blue, purple and pink rocks appearing and you'll know that this is Morocco off the beaten track. In 1984, these rocks inspired the Belgian artist Jean Verame to give a couple of stones a makeover with a bright lick of paint. They're easy to get to by car, but you can also hire a bike from Richie, a friendly German who has lived here quite a few years. You can give him a call on 062 87 96 57 or ask for him at one of the shops on the main street. There’s always someone who knows where to find him. Richie has three good mountain bikes which you can rent for half a day for less than £3 each. Before you drive back to Oumesnate, follow the road another 45 minutes to the Ait Mansour Gorge. At the beginning of the gorge, you’ll pass a palm oasis where you can park your car on the square by the river. There’s a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere here, with the odd house hidden beneath the lush green palm trees. If you walk for about 15 minutes you'll get to Chez Messaoud, a great little open air café. As you follow the bendy road back to Tafraoute you can’t help but notice the large, luxury villas between the rocks. Many men from this region spend a couple of months a year working in Agadir or Casablanca and with their hard-earned money build a house here in which to spend the rest of the year. If you’re feeling peckish by now, continue on to the small centre of Tafraoute where you’ll see the restaurant Etoile d’Agadir. They serve a great tajine with prunes and almonds for less than £3. |
Day 3: Tafraoute - End of moduleIn the morning, it’s time to pack your bags and after one last cup of tea up on the roof terrace it's time to say goodbye to the family and continue your trip north.Having been in the hot, dusty mountains of off the beaten track Morocco, you might want to enjoy the refreshing sea air with our Essaouira tour. Essaouira is a photogenic, authentic coastal town halfway between Casablanca and Agadir, that attracts windsurfers and artists. It’s a lovely spot for sun-worshippers, shopaholics, surfers and seafood lovers. During this tour, you’ll take a camel ride by the sea and spend the night in a charming little riad hotel overlooking the ocean. Essaouira is probably one of the nicest spots to start, or end, your Morocco trip. Click here for a map of Morocco. |
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Morocco off the beaten track: traditional Moroccan house |
