Guest post written for Travel the Home Exchange Way by The Adventure Company: I was thinking about killing two birds with one stone this spring by organising a house swap and enjoying a Moroccan holiday at the same time. There can’t be many countries better for stimulating activity holidays than Morocco, but many of the traditional homes in the mountains are extremely remote and not really suitable (or available) for swaps. You can however still experience this beautiful unspoilt wilderness and the simple but charming types of accommodation with an adventure holiday in the Atlas Mountains. This has to be the most memorable adventure holidays to date. From the moment we left Marrakech in April and ventured towards the expansive Atlas Mountains, I felt a sense of relaxation. The silence as we approached the foothills served as a sharp contrast to the manic, vibrant city we had left behind. I have been drawn back to these Mountains a few times over the last few years; quite often on foot trekking with friends. We arrived at the range on our second day the friendly guides also had a decent command of English, this helps to make a trip like this run smoothly.We headed into the foothills just below the High Atlas Range and soon settled into the scenic surroundings. This area was draped with emerald forests interspersed with wide open spaces and stunning views. A high point was a picnic by a mountain lake. The Muleteers had gone ahead with the heavy baggage and much needed water to set up lunch. The food was good; the lunches being the most enjoyable, consisting of a spread of salads, sardines, cheese, bread, lentils or pasta, which we ate under the shade of a tree. Trekking through this region enables you to see mountain villages up close and in depth, I felt in tune with the simplicity of the daily routines; these remote mud hut villages were enchanting. We stayed a night in a "Family" house which was great fun, we were well looked after and entertained with Berber drums and singing! The inhabitants’ hospitality was amazing, and they were as eager to learn about our lives as we were about theirs. We also spent 3 nights in a rustic Auberge which was very simple but comfortable. I would suggest taking extra layers of clothing as we are not used to the cold nights and even in April the temperature drop dramatically in the late afternoon. The walk through the Olives groves of the Asni region on the fourth day of the holiday was superb. We passed more mud villages as we ventured around the fabulous Kik plateau; especially picturesque during the spring as the run off from the higher mountains feeds the flora and the area was carpeted in colourful alpine flowers. My personal highlight was the trek to Ouirgane, and the beautiful village itself nestled in the Mountains with lovely restaurants and fantastic views. This was a great place to finish our trek and relax before I headed back to Marrakech! This was a getaway with a difference, definitely worth a go.
This post was written by The Adventure Company. Visit our website to find out more about Morocco Holidays and other adventure holidays.
never been to Morocco..but this place sounds mysterious to me..i think they have interesting culture and people
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