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The Magical Kingdom of Morocco

Staff member Sophie Hawkes recently returned from Morocco, having travelled on our Privately Guided Marrakech & Atlas Short Break with her parents. Read on to hear about her experiences…

Walking in the mountains is magical. Ilyas, our guide, called Morocco a magical kingdom – and it really is. There’s something wildly enchanting about turning round and seeing the path you’ve walked along disappear into the distance. Everywhere you look there’s something new to see – be it mountain goats grazing, the zig-zagging mountain passes high above you or the local Berbers going about their daily lives.

Moroccan food

The food in Morocco was simple, healthy, fresh and delicious. Dishes consisted of meat and vegetables with couscous or rice. Our cook while trekking served an incredible meal at 2,900m – homemade lamb meatball tagine, fresh Moroccan Salad, bread, tuna, cheese, and homemade mustard (more like our mayonnaise!).

You can’t beat a mint tea at a rooftop cafe in the Djemma El Fna. High above the chaos of the square, you can sit and relax in almost silence. Plus – don’t miss out the square at night. The Djemma El Fna is known for its street food – not only great food but an incredible experience. Wander through the different restaurants that are set up each evening with fresh produce. Watch your meal being cooked before your eyes and people-watch as the locals try to tempt in passers-by.

Marrakech – so much to explore

Most of our trips in Morocco offer time to explore in Marrakech. We managed to squeeze some fantastic sightseeing into a busy few days in the red city.

One of the places I was most excited to visit was Bahia Palace. I’d read about how beautiful the palace was and it did not disappoint. The walls were adorned in intricate mosaic patterns, the curved archways led through to the magnificent multi-coloured courtyard with various fountains and the bright surrounding gardens smelled and looked warm and inviting – we even saw a lone tortoise wandering the grounds.

We stood in awe of the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, just off the Djemma El Fna square. It was the first thing I saw when getting out of the taxi on our first day in the city. We explored the ruins of El Badi Palace by accident – stumbling upon the historic site while wandering around the area. We couldn’t believe how many stork nests there were high on the palace walls.

We also spent time at the Saadian Tombs and explored the Museum of Marrakech. On our final day, we visited the tranquil and vibrant gardens of Jardin Majorelle – the 12-acre botanical garden contains the Berber Art Museum and a mirage of over 300 plant species from five continents.

Accommodation in Atlas Mountains

Tigmi Tacchedirt

After a long day walking, arriving at the sun terrace of Tigmi Tacchedirt was a blessing; mint tea and snacks were served almost immediately. Boots off and tea in hand, I sat looking at the panoramic view of the Atlas Mountains around me – what an incredible way to end the day. The rooms were basic but there was a hot shower, electricity and a bed – what more could you want?

Hotel Aremd

The terrace of Hotel Aremd overlooks not only the peak of Mount Toubkal but a beautiful view over the village of Aremd – clusters of sandy-coloured houses on the hillside. Most rooms here have a small balcony overlooking the village too. Dinner was served in the dining room – a private dinner as we were the only guests in the whole hotel. The hosts lit the fire and we enjoyed a feast of traditional soup, tagine with couscous and vegetables followed by a selection of fresh fruit.

Kasbah du Toubkal

Tranquil is the word that comes to mind when visiting the iconic Kasbah du Toubkal. Sitting high on a hilltop, 100m above their reception building in the village of Imlil – it’s a beautiful property with a rich and interesting history. The Kasbah offers fourteen comfortable en-suite rooms and countless gardens and terraces to relax and soak up your surroundings. Lunch at the Kasbah is a must – possibly the highlight of my whole trip was the delicious meal here. A fresh and traditional Moroccan salad to start, followed by a tasty lamb tagine with fresh vegetable and chicken couscous. Finished off with orange slices sprinkled in local cinnamon – yum! The Kasbah purify their own water so the tap water at the property is safe to drink. I’d recommend a visit to anyone travelling to the mountains.