Marrakech-Atlas mountain tour
- Tara Larkai
- Aug 25, 2015
- 4 min read
We had to be at the waiting area for the bus to the Atlas mountains tour at 7am. That was super early for us but we managed to get up. We had told our host to have our breakfast ready early the night before so we were down in the dinning area at 6:40 am. Breakfast spread was delicious once again but we had to rush and eat so that we could get to the waiting area on time.
The night shift staff at the Ryad offered to walk us to the waiting area. He was so polite and handsome. Calling us madam and stuff. Lol He got one of his friends in the area to walk with him to the medina area, only about 8 minute walk and it was super quiet compared to what we had seen the day before in the medina. The bus was late but they didn't leave us until they saw us get on the bus. True gentlemen unlike the ones in town catcalling us every minute they got. So the bus took us to another stop where we were all ushered off into a bigger bus and then waited for some more people to board. After 30 minutes of waiting, it was now time to embark on this journey. Chloe went on this tour last time she was in Marrakech so she pretty much gave us the info how long it would take to get there etc.
So immediately after take off, the 3 of us fell asleep. We didn't get enough sleep the night before so this was our opportunity to do so. About 30 minutes or so into the ride, we came to a stop at what seemed like a rest stop on the mountain but that was not the top of the mountain. Apparently, we were just beginning to ascend up the mountain. This location was a great picture stop so they gave us 15 minutes to take pictures, use the bathroom or get coffee. Yooo!!! the wind that hit us in the face immediately when the doors opened, was no joke. Now mind you we checked the weather the night before and the morning of before getting dressed and it said it would be in the 70s but this didn't feel like the 70s, it was more like the 50s. We immediately rushed into the rest stop which had a fireplace thankfully.
It seemed like everyone else was not expecting this cold as they were all camped right next to it and drinking hot tea and coffee. We gathered up some courage and decided to go out and take a couple of pictures because that view was to die for. I was soo cold I wanted to cry.
Have you ever been so cold that it hurts? Well that's how I felt and I could tell Chloe was feeling it too but as for Kofo, she didn't look too bothered after all she's Canadian and used to below freezing type of weather. You should have seen what we had on...people were looking at us like "where do these chicks think they going". The 15 minutes couldn't come soon enough...I left them and jumped back on the bus but it didn't even make a difference because the driver kept the door opened for others to come on too. I was shivering so hard all I could think was, if it's this cold here I can only imagine how cold it was going to be at the top. I was starting to dread going on this tour but I remembered that this is a once in a lifetime experience so I was going to make the best of it even if I have to freeze my butt off. As we moved up the mountain, we started seeing snow at the top of the mountain. It was very bizarre to me because I would have never thought Morocco would be this cold. I think of desert and summer all year round when I hear Morocco so this was far from my imaginations.
Our second stop was by some camels. We did not even get to ride them so honestly I think it was kind of pointless.
The next stop was the main event..the actual tour. There were a couple of other tour buses waiting for us to start the tour. A Berber man came by the buses and gathered us all around and basically gave us the round down on how things were going to go. He let us know that we were going to go to the Berber village where the local people have been living for many years and this location is also where "game of thrones" and some other movies were filmed. (I wasn't really paying attention).
So this is us crossing the "river" into the village area. It looks scary but it is a breeze although the local boys will be crowd you in the beginning to help you cross over for a small fee. Do not fall for it because I did and later realized I wasted money.
It was very insightful to see how the Berber people came to be and how they live. We saw a couple of souvenirs shops but their prices were too high. I guess their used to seeing tourists so they hike up their prices.
We ended at the top and took several pictures before breaking for lunch. Our tour guide was in love with Chloe so he kept talking our head off about how many camels he would offer for her hand in marriage. She was not amused. And ohh he wanted her to be his 5th wife..lol
Lunch was included with our tour at one of the restuarants in the new town. So basically we crossed the river (using a bridge this time) to get to the "new town" where our tour began.
We thought the tour had ended when we started descending but noo...we had a couple more stops.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend this if you ever visit Marrakech. We were dropped off in the center of the medina and left to find our own way back to our hotels. We walked through the chaos in the medina and got back to the Ryad very late and were super hungry but that's nothing Ryad Amiran couldn't fix. We ordered lamb and chicken tajine...So delish!!! I still crave their food every now and then.
One more night left in Marrakech! Stay tuned.
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