My wife and I went to Ait Ben-Haddou on September 27. It was a very hot day and the trip from Marrakech by car took us about four hours of time (one way). Nevertheless, it was all fine and interesting. We would like to send a special thank you to our driver Abdul! His driving was cautious, his manner open and patient. He provided water and kindly answered our questions throughout the day (my wife and I were the only participants). At several stopps on our way, he informed us on the locations and the way of life in the Atlas mountains. It was information on first hand, as Abdul himself grew up in a Berber village. Ait Ben-Haddou itself was worth the visit. Located on the intersection between the Atlas and the desert, the Kasbah reminds of bygone times, as well as of sceneries of some well-known motion pictures.

“Mustapha arranged our pick up from our Riad before we headed out the city for a 30-minute camel ride. Here he explained the value of the camels with impeccable English, as we enjoyed mint tea & biscuits post-ride. We then went south to learn about Argan oil & got to try the different products, both edible & cosmetic. Next, we were taken into the mountains to commence a walk through the Berber village, where Mustapha excelled with his local knowledge of the communities and religions. Following our walk, we enjoyed a delicious three-course lunch at the guest house, before returning to Marrakech. Mustapha was incredibly inclusive of the whole group and personalized the trip to accommodate our needs. “

A comfortable and modern minibus took us to Essaouira, a two hour drive. On the way we stopped at a Women's Co-operative where local ladies are employed turning the valuable argan nuts into edible or cosmetic oil. After an explanation of the very labour intensive processes we had an opportunity to buy products made from argan oil. In Essaouira we had an entertaining guided tour of the ancient city and its historical monuments. This was followed by a free time to wander round the city, shop and have lunch before the return journey. Our guide was amusing and informative. It was a really enjoyable day out, not too strenuous.

The trip started with breakfast and the usual tea, then we moved on to the horse riding part. It lasted for about an hour and it was fun - the horses were walking or running on low speeds, it can get a bit scary but it is safe. Then we had an awesome lunch at Imlil, and then a hike to a gorgeous waterfall. The organises were explaining a lot and telling us stories about the villages, the food, buildings, every day life, religion etc. Overall we were incredibly satisfied, totally recommended!

After a few days in Marrakesh we have been looking forward to this day trip to escape the bustling city life - and we definitely had a great nature experience. Our tour was guided by Ibrahim, who was very patient with our large group and gave us a lot of background information about life in the Atlas Mountains, the Berbers and the importance of mint tea. A short hike to a waterfall was a welcome change after the long drive and the tasty lunch.