Day 10: On to the High Atlas Mountains for a Hike and Gite Stay
Our circular route had us head north/west almost into Marrakesh and then an hour and a half south to the OuirganeValley and our destination: Armoud Village.We left Aït Benhaddou the next morning heading through the High Atlas Mountains.The sign at the Tizi N’Tichka Pass at 2260 m. We stopped at the lookout for a quick photo.Our coffee stop showcased local equipment and eclectic decor. Heading to lower ground. The mountain view near Marrakesh. Back at lower altitudes as we approached Marrakesh. A lovely (and warm) lunch spot.Cream of vegetable soup.My new favourite: Avocado salad with shrimp.There were both types of toilets here. I chose the throne to do my business.A narrow and windy mountain road south from Marrakesh.Richard Branson’s Hotel Kasbah Tamadot. According to Virgin: #1 Resort Hotel in North Africa & the Middle East in the Travel & Leisure category, World’s Best Awards 2021. Go here to read Virgin’s very interesting page about the hotel and how Branson came to buy it and read a review of the Hotel here. It costs £488 per night (but children stay free!). Any takers? Winding roads make good movie locations.
This was the road we were driving on in the first pic above, heading into the Ouirgane Valley. Narrow roads, but breathtaking scenery.We leave the bus behind here and set off with an overnight bag on foot through the town of Imlil. Actually, the overnight bags were sent ahead in a 4×4.I’ve never eaten so many tangerines as I have had in Morocco. We will hike up to Aroumd, seen here in the distance.The drive along the Ouirgane Valley to Imlil. Looking back at Imlil from half way up.About half way up we could see a waterfall and some buildings below. Can you see the people?People are living down there!Looking forward to our goal.Many Kodak moments. The hike took about 40 minutes 2.5 km with an altitude gain of 205 m. A pleasant walk. The village looks pretty from this vantage point, but behind it is plain, just a rabbit warren of alleys and front doors to homes.We will need to go down the Valley and cross the river in order to get to the village.Finally getting close to the village.Cars and donkeys have right of way!Into the village by going around the back.An apple orchard.Now, to climb up to all those houses and our rural gite.The entrance.beyond is a windey path with doors to houses on either side. Our gite, Auberge Tafraout, had a terrace out of view of the “street” and towards the other mountain.Inside was cozy but damn cold! No heat except a fireplace which wasn’t lit until later and didn’t provide any heat anyway.Our room slept 3 – bathrooms were down the hall. The blankets were thick and heavy. All girls in 3 rooms, men in 3 other rooms. Yes, husbands and wives separate. LOL.The usual puréed vegetable soup, called Harira.Dinner: couscous, veg and chicken. Daisy and I brought a bottle of wine to share.Notice we all have our coats on eating diner: even though the propane heater was on? It was cold!Breakfast was the usual affair. Hey, aren’t those propane heaters supposed to be vented?I don’t think I’ve been this cold in a long while as I have been on the Morocco leg of this trip. Between unheated common areas, and heaters in hotel rooms which are not turned on until you get there (and cold walls that suck up heat) and cool or just plain cold showers, I think I would go in April, when it is a bit warmer, if I were to do this trip again. At night, I wore all my clothes and stayed under the covers (even my head!). It was well below zero and no heat was left on at night. Good thing I didn’t need to get up to pee!Before dinner we went for a village stroll.The roof of our gite. Climbing upward we will see just alleys and doors. Yes, more houses up there, seems like a bit of a jumble of alleys and houses. Wandering the alleyways.Icy sidewalksSee the sign? “Cyber Cafe” – Our gite had a satellite dish and the village had internet!A stroll around the village reveals that it is not particularly picturesque as the dwellings have an inward facing scheme, designed to maximize family privacy from the outside world. They save pretty stuff for inside. Such privacy is highly prized, conforming to Islamic cultural norms. The “streets,” which wind up the mountain between the homes are pretty plain, (you would hardly know there are homes there, except for the doors), and the terraces are on the outside of the mountain, with privacy and a view. It is these terraces and windows you see from the mountain opposite.Bye bye Aroumd! We trek down the mountain.Back at Imlil village and our van.The map in Imlil village showing the paths available to trek to the summit of Mount Toubkal (4,267 m)
Peggy's Bucketlist Adventures 