If adventure and remote mountain villages are your thing, then this 4x4 ride into the High Atlas Mountains ticks all the boxes. You'll head into the rugged terrain just a short drive from Marrakech and discover typical Berber villages. Yasmine, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘My family owns a large olive grove in the Asni valley. It used to be enough to support my extended family, but due to lack of rain the harvests got smaller and smaller until we had to move to Marrakech. Now, I'm a tour guide, and I'm proud to show guests around the Berber villages I know so well.'
Hop into an air-conditioned 4x4 and start your journey into the High Atlas Mountains. Swap city streets for palm-lined valleys, rose gardens and scented fruit trees as we head out into the wilderness. Photographers will love the widescreen mountain panoramas, and you'll have the chance to see local pottery being made in the traditional way, and buy some items if you like.
We'll stop for a break to sip on a mint tea and try fresh local bread in a typical Berber house, before enjoying some free time to explore the village. Next, we'll take the scenic route through rust-coloured mountains and into the Asni valley, where we'll break for a traditional lunch of local specialities. Jasmine says, ‘I like to check that local olive oil is always served with lunch, and I love to see our guests enjoy it.' You'll round off your 4x4 adventure with a stop at the Tahanaout gorges on the return trip.
Transport