Heading North East to the oases of Skoura...

We visit a local Berber house in the village of Haddida

Photos of Berber villages on the road to Ouarzazate-High Atlas mountains

Heading into our Desert expedition

We head off into the south from Marrakech into Berber country. Travelling through the High Atlas Mountains we pass many traditional Berber villages amongst the valleys and hills. There is only one main road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate, the next big town. Most of the villagers need to be self sufficient. It can take many days of walking just to get to the next village. They need to grow their own vegetables or they don't get any. It is amazing to see such harsh terrain and then turn the corner to see a patch of green with corn, pomegranate trees and other vegies growing.

We find a nice green spot for a picinic lunch amongst the rugged mountains.


Driving on our way it is not surprising to see goat herders with their goats climbing high into unmanageable walking areas.

Driving the Tizi'n Tichka pass and the Telouet track

Lucky I felt safe with our driver Zaid, me being scared of driving on high roads did not do very well on the Tichka pass. This is the main road which leads through the mountains to Ouarzazate and the dert fringes. We were traveling the two way road at a height of 2260m high. At many times with no guard rail and a sheer drop.



I thought that was the worst of it was over until we took the road to Telouet. Not really a road, a piste as they call it here. A dirt track which doesn't take long to turn into rubble and at times a mess of fallen rocks with a cliff edge just centimetres from the wheel. This is pure Kasbah country. Governed by the Glaoui clan hundreds of years ago. The Glaoui clan governed this area and controlled the only caravan route that carried spices, slaves, from Africa to Europe.

Ait Ben Haddou

The very famous kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. Many films have been made here, from Laurence of Arabia to Gladiators. There are even two film studios that have been built in the area to service all the filming. Most people in the area are employed in the film industry of the tourism insustry.

The kasbah still has about 10 families living in it. This consists of the whole extended family. Mum, Dad, grandparents, the sons and their families.

Carriage ride through the medina