After a very peaceful and relaxing 2 days at Ouirgane, we were off on our way to the Sahara, but not before a couple more stops, and 2 hyperthermic hikes.

The first stop was Ksar ait N Ben Haddou, a UNESCO world heritage site and the backdrop for countless movies incl Lawerence of Arabia, Gladiator 1 and soon to be #2. The site is an ancient Kasbah on the main caravan trading route between Mali and Marrakech. Once the home of 200 Berber and Jewish families, only 5 Berber families remain. It was also our first encounter with flag waving and umbrella holding tour groups.

The road continued over the Atlas Mountains crossing the highest pass in Nth Africa. The road was surprisingly good, with passing lanes at critical points and a breathtaking series of switchbacks to get to the top. Once there the road continued across an incredibly fertile plateau, contrasted with steep rocky walls, 100s of metres high.
After an hour of driving, we dropped 2000m to the river bed below and followed it through still more green valleys to our destination for the night, Skoura, another magnificent Ksar, filled with gardens and trees.

Another day and another adventure as headed down narrow road to our lunch stop in the Bou Deghrar Valley, and of course, another 2 hour hike to the nearest high hill. The views were amazing and the info from a local guide equally so. Returning to our starting point, there was another Moroccan lunch, but this time in a cave where the air was cool and food was welcomed.
A few more hours on the road and we arrived at our hotel for the night in the Dades Valley.

Here we had the first of our typical encounters that so often are a feature of our travels.
After settling into our room, it seemed entirely appropriate to strip down to the underwear and stretch out on the bed. What we hadn’t countered on was the friendliness of the guests, one of whom burst, and I mean burst, though our door to be met with a sight worthy of any tired and weary traveller. The speed in with he propelled himself backwards through to door and the look on his face was priceless.

Somehow or other, for reasons I can’t explain, we seem to attract these sort of situations when we travel.

So it’s off to the dessert tomorrow and a night in a desert camp, complete with camel rides. Stay tuned.