FAMILY, TRAVEL AND BACKPACK
THE TRAVEL BLOG THAT WILL MAKE YOU TRAVEL
4 DAYS IN MOROCCO
Morocco is one of the destinations that has the most seduced here are the 5 reasons that make that we fell in love with.
THE PRICE
- The prices of plane tickets: for example we paid 10€ round trip from Bordeaux
THE CLIMATE
- The climate is relatively warm throughout the year except for the summer period. December to February.
HOME
- The welcome is something that particularly touched us because we have been welcomed to open arms without restraint on the part of Moroccans.
THE EXPANSION
- Moroccan landscapes are all more beautiful from each other, we pass from a desert landscape, arid, to a landscape rich in colors and vegetation
.
The cleanliness
- We were really pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness towns where we passed. Ouarzazate, Imlil, and a large part of the atlas
Or did we sleep ?
THE PALMERAIE ECOLODGE
The Ecolodge is a camping hotel located at approximately 15 minutes from Ouarzazate airport by car. This hotel can be both practical for its proximity to the airport but it can also be a real haven of peace for resting by the pool or in one of the hammocks provided. our disposal. Like us, you will have the chance to be greeted with a big smile and a welcome mint tea. This hotel is a real favorite even though we stayed there only two nights...
THE POSITIVE POINTS
HOME
The welcome and the sympathy Staff of this hotel is really up to our expectations, a smiling staff, friendly with children, very welcoming and caring for the customers.
HYGIENE
Hygiene is paramount when taking a room for one night and we were very satisfied the cleanliness of our room.
ACTIVITIES IN L' ESTABLISHMENT
- A swimming pool is available to customers which is rather pleasant when the weather is warm.
- Bikes are available for hire.
- Hammocks are available for lounging with a good book in the sun.
- A small farm with animals.
THE NEGATIVE POINTS
There aren't any, the only downside is that the toilets are outside the room, which in itself isn't a problem....except when it's 5 degrees outside.
THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE POINTS
THE Gîte Imi-ouglade
This cottage has was a real favorite, not because we stayed in a 5-star hotel but above all for the simplicity of the host who welcomed us, a real, simple and could not be more friendly person. This cottage offers a room with a maximum capacity of 7 people at 6€ the night with breakfast. A room with plenty of space, extra blankets in case of cold. A bathroom and toilet are outside the room. A very generous and served breakfast in the morning we have juice, omelet, bread, jam, coffee, tea, chocolate with milk, spread etc....
This accommodation is really for people who have a small budget (6€/night for 7 people) but also people who are looking for Moroccan authenticity, while staying with the locals. Hamid, the host of this gîte is a qualified mountain guide who offers a multitude of activities around the gîte MORE INFO HERE; It is with great confidence that we recommend this accommodation.
THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE POINTS
THE GOOD POINTS
HOME
Hamid is a very simple and genuinely friendly person. A person who offers more than he has. We arrived late at night and it was with a smile, tea and a Berber omelette which we were welcomed.
THE PRICE
With a price of 6€ /night it's hard to find more competitive in price but (PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A 5 STAR HOTEL)
ACTIVITIES
- hiking pedestrian
- hiking on skis
- hiking by bike
- visit for people with reduced mobility
- hiking over several days
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THE NEGATIVE POINTS
The negative point of this cottage is the bathroom outside, instead small, the hot water pressure very weak .
Our means of transport
True freedom on a trip begins with the means of transport and the best way to enjoy of each place when you want, and where you want is to have a car. The two major problems that prevent us from renting a vehicle are obviously THE DEPOSIT AND THE RECEPTION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE TRIP. Who has never sweated returning the vehicle and saying "I hope it will go well and that they will return my deposit...." Good news, we have found a company that rents vehicles that is very very serious, honest, cheap and NO DEPOSIT TO GIVE !!!! The Rayanocars company provided us with a vehicle in perfect condition, a Ford fiesta with few kilometers.
A company that we recommend without hesitation !!!!
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WHAT WE DID IN 4 DAYS
For our first day, we were lucky to have an early morning flight which allowed us not to lose
of time to start our activities, for this trip we aim to see the landscape, so as soon as the car is picked up at the airport and the papers signed, here we are went directly to the hotel to ask Our things.
Direction the mountains and the Moroccan landscapes. Once the business was done, we headed the
mountains because we wanted to climb. So first mountain found here we are already parked and
ready to ride. We took the time to go up but especially the time to go down because the descent was much more
dangerous than the climb. Here we go again at nightfall, we have this chance to contemplate a bed of
magnificent sun with a temperature close to 20 degrees, it was a magic moment, a moment when it is not necessary to speak but simply to breathe. Here we are towards our hotel when on the road we see a market at night, in less than 5 minutes here we are in the middle of hundreds of people who sell vegetables, fruits, clothes, cotton candy and also popcorn, a magical atmosphere where trade and meeting place mix. In the evening the city is very lively and everything open late, we take the opportunity to eat at outside in the city center of Ouarzazate where we tasted a excellent roast chicken on a spit (a meal that cost us no more than 8€ for 4 with drinks and fries) after a busy day here we are returned, ready for a good night from sleep to attack the second day.
our second day
After a good night and a very hearty breakfast in our hotel Ecolodge la Palmeraie, here we are ready for
our expedition to Imlil via the Atlas Mountains. Leaving from Ouarzazate you have of them
different routes, the first towards Marrakech and the second towards Agadir. To go we
choose direction Marrackech through Agouim, Touflhit, Tamazouzte, Sidi Faress Asni and finally Imlil. We
we were lucky enough to be able to eat in an altitude restaurant with a view of the mountains, this restaurant is located
at the Tichka pass to 2260m and we eat very very well for not very expensive. Once our belly is full we
let's get back on the road because we have no less than 5h30 road mountainous to do... On our way we are lucky to find snow which
is really incredible because 1h00 before we were under 25°. The children take the opportunity to make a snowman, throw a few balls, a moment of relaxation and fun for the children because it is very important for them to be able to let off steam. during the road. Then we drive again and again passing villages more beautiful than each other. We have often been told about the Atlas Mountains but we did not expect such a spectacle, a grandiose spectacle due to its diversity but also its beauty, its colors, and the architecture, it was a total change of scenery, with a feeling of freedom total. After around 7h00 of road in the mountains here we are arrived at night in Imlil in Hamid's lodge, where we are welcomed with open arms, with a big smile of welcome. At this time we haven't eaten, we are hungry and tired, just arrived Hamid offers me to accompany him to the mosque to do our evening prayers. Here I am left with him, in total darkness without even have spoken to him before, I make him trust, I am, then here we are arrived to the mosque, all the faithful are present for the prayer and welcome me with a big smile, we have never seen each other but I feel a sense of benevolence in their glance. We say our prayers then we go home where he prepares us a welcome Berber omelette (it's good we are hungry and tired). This is how our second day ends.
our third day
After a short lie-in, it is with great surprise that we discover the breakfast that Hamid has given us. prepared, you can find coffee, milk, chocolate, honey, jam, fresh bread, omelette etc.... and after have good lunch we take the road towards Ouarzazate; but leaving this time in the direction of Agadir and it is with a lot of surprise that we discover a totally different landscape from the one we took on the way, a landscape that really makes us think to the American desert, with red earth and very dense and very green vegetation. This route is much simpler to ride that road that we took to the outward journey, a less damaged road and slightly less dangerous even if the roads of the Atlas remains very dangerous roads. The landscapes are still incredible, we meet every two kilometers at the edge of the road to take advantage of the panoramas breathtaking which makes our trip even more amazing.
We stop in a village lost in the middle of the mountains to eat where we taste meat skewers cooked on the barbecue and a chicken tagine, an incredibly good dish... As on the outward journey, the road is still quite long but as on the outward journey, the landscapes are so incredible that in the end everyone takes pleasure in crossing the Atlas. In the evening, we return to the first hotel we took first day "Ecolodge la Palmeraie" and we took over this hotel for two reasons: the first is that we really liked the hotel and really meets our expectations and the second reason is that this hotel and 15 minutes drive from the airport.
We are on the road and the night begins to fall and we take the opportunity to test the hotel restaurant, on the road we make a quick phone call to the hotel and our table is reserved in less than two minutes. Arrived at the hotel at 8:30 p.m., our table set awaits us and the smiling staff too and as the reputation says "we eat like kings with top service and a quality of meal served at the top."
After more than 7 hours of driving in the middle of the mountains, fatigue is very present and the dodo is calling us.
Our fourth day
For our fourth and last day we take the time to have lunch and enjoy our last morning in Morocco. Our plane takes off at 10 a.m. and we have the car at get to the airport before leaving, the appointment is scheduled for 9:00 am to return the car, so here we are left at 8.45 a.m. to be there at the scheduled time. Once arrived on site, we are joined by the person who rented us the car we take a little ride of the vehicle, a tight wrist and here we are section for check-in at the counter boarding, everything is going very very quickly and very well. You should know that Ouarzazate airport has a single boarding gate and two check-in counters so don't panic, there is no risk of getting lost.
Conclusion
What to say about our 4 day trip, it was a simply perfect trip, we aim to cross the Atlas Mountains and we can say that it was done. We might have liked to do a short hike in the mountains of Imlil but that will be for next time. What can I say about this country except that it is simply stunning its people and simply awesome. So some would say that 4 days is not a lot and it's true but we spent 4 intense days, 4 days of discovery and above all 4 days of sharing, exchanges but also pure happiness. We can only recommend that you take the same trip as us and why not follow the same route as us because, clearly, "it's a safe bet!!"
