Journey to the Kingdom of Morocco
- Michael Guerreiro
- Jul 30, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 3
By: Michael Guerreiro, edited by Catarina Araújo
In this post I will talk about the trip I took to Morocco, in March 2024, with a group from Quimera. This was the second time I went to Morocco with Quimera Travel Experiences. The first time, in 2022, we did a more cultural circuit, in Fez, Tangêr and Chefchaouen. But we wanted to know more, especially the region of the Berber people. We then chose to organize a trip to the Atlas Mountains and the Desert. The group was incredible and the experience was totally engaging and memorable.
This trip was planned remotely, and for this we counted on the fundamental support of a very experienced local partner. We started planning 18 months in advance.
In October 2023, a large earthquake shook the Atlas Mountains, precisely in the place where we had planned the trip. We felt the terror, we cried for these dear people... Fear and worries set in, but the desire to help these brotherly people prevailed and, in an exemplary way, they did not lower their arms and stood up again. We think that, as tourism is essential for the economy of this region, if it were to stop, that is when the calamity would set in. We kept in touch with our partner and decided to go ahead and reassure those who followed us and trusted us.
On the day of the trip there was the usual rush and nervousness of these situations, but I always maintained a calm and serene state of mind. At the airport, I meet old friends from other adventures and meet new people who, in a short time, also became friends. The trip went without any setbacks and I tried to convey calm to the entire group.
Arriving in Marrakech, I met our partner and we prepared all the logistics. The first group dinner was very important and where we started to bond. From then on, we would be like a little family.
The first day of hiking in the Atlas was a day of adaptation. We met our local guide and the rest of the team, the cook, porters and muleteers, who accompanied us on the following days on the mountain. We had a welcome tea and started walking. The realization of the reality of the earthquake's devastation did not take long. We passed some devastated villages, some people displaced and living in tents. But we could also see the hope present in the smiles of the children we met. We were always received with enthusiasm, as if we were heroes…
During those days of trekking in the Atlas, the weather was unstable and a storm was passing close to us. We overcame some physical and mental challenges and found ourselves in a country of contrasts, with a very raw and asymmetrical reality, in which luxurious palaces coexist alongside situations of extreme poverty. But, without a doubt, a very beautiful country!
Over the days, ties between the group's members grew closer and a general feeling of friendship and mutual support was established. The landscapes we passed through were surreally beautiful and exceeded all expectations. What we experienced was different, real and beautiful: the customs, the meals they prepared for us, the accommodations we stayed in.
On trekking days, our lunches were prepared by a cook who was also crossing the Atlas, along with the mules that carried our bags. They arrived at the lunch spot, unloaded the pots and the gas stove and prepared a meal for us made with local products: lentils, salads, tuna, etc. When we arrived at the place, a large blanket was already laid out on the floor with pillows and lunch was served. In the end, the famous mint tea couldn’t be missed…
On the last day of the trek, we were treated to snowfall, which gave me a feeling of happiness and took me back to my childhood. After three days walking through the Atlas Mountains, we arrived in Imlil, the center of mountain tourism in Morocco, where many mountaineers who are going to conquer Toubkal gather.
We couldn't go to Morocco without witnessing a sunset and sunrise in the desert. So, the day after our adventure in the Atlas, we headed to the desert in a comfortable minibus. Along the way, we passed through the impressive Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass, visited a riverside oasis and photographed the Kasbahs - a group of adobe dwellings that house families and livestock. We also visited the Ouarzazate Cinema Studios, where some productions such as the Jewel of the Nile, Gladiator, Alexander the Great and Babel were filmed.
Our overnight stay was in the impressive Dades River Gorge. The zigzag road winds up the mountain, from where wonderful landscapes can be seen. Below, close to the river, a narrow canyon is formed, with rocky, reddish walls. The inhabitants of the Berber villages are very welcoming and we always feel welcome.
From the Dades river valley, we leave for Merzouga, the gateway to the desert. We stopped at the Todra River Gorge, with its 300m canyons that formed a lush landscape. In these gorges there are some climbing and trekking trails.
In Merzouga, after stocking up on some desert supplies, we went for a sunset camel ride to a camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes. After a typical Moroccan dinner, we slept in accommodation in the style of a typical nomad tent, which was quite comfortable. The next day we woke up early, before sunrise, to return by camel to Merzouga.
Everything was magical, from the trip on camels to the night in tents in the desert.
In Erfoud, we visited the Macro Fossils Kasbah. There are thousands of fossils in this area, of trilobites and other fossilized creatures. Here fossils are cut into various shapes, polished and sold in the store.
We arrived at our Riad in Marrakech at the end of the day. The riads are typical Moroccan homes, with an internal garden and lush colorful tile decoration.
In conclusion, it was a very complete experience, with breathtaking scenery. The group was united and friendly. Soon Quimera will return to this country, where we feel so good.
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