The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco

Tripoto
1st Jul 2011
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 1/21 by Danielle Donker
The beautiful kasbah Amahidil
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 2/21 by Danielle Donker
Essaouira
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 3/21 by Danielle Donker
Essaouira
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 4/21 by Danielle Donker
Essaouira
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 5/21 by Danielle Donker
Essaouira
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 6/21 by Danielle Donker
Essaouira
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 7/21 by Danielle Donker
Essaouira
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 8/21 by Danielle Donker
Essaouira
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 9/21 by Danielle Donker
Essaouira
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 10/21 by Danielle Donker
Young Women in Traditional Clothes
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 11/21 by Danielle Donker
People returning home with new stock
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 12/21 by Danielle Donker
Lake Islit.
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 13/21 by Danielle Donker
Oukaimeden
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 14/21 by Danielle Donker
Oukaimeden
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 15/21 by Danielle Donker
Oukaimeden
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 16/21 by Danielle Donker
People returning home with new stock
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 17/21 by Danielle Donker
Semi nomadic Berber woman
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 18/21 by Danielle Donker
Spectacular views of the High Atlas Mountains
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 19/21 by Danielle Donker
The beautiful kasbah Amahidil
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 20/21 by Danielle Donker
The fortified city (ksar) Aït Benhaddou
Photo of The Roads Less Travelled in Morocco 21/21 by Danielle Donker
The kasbah in Tamdaght

Morocco is a magical and exotic country with a rich culture and lots of places to explore. But there are some beautiful places that are often neglected by many people who visit here. Below are some of the places worth exploring. 
 

Magical Essaouira

Mystical and magical Essaouira, history breathes hauntingly through the streets of this town. Dark, small alleys and the many arches whisper tales of times long gone by and it only needs a little imagination to visualise the caravan trade from sub-Saharan Africa that once arrived in this eighteenth century port. Essaouira has inherited a wonderful blend of cultural influences from the diverse ethnical groups that have inhabited the town. The Arabs, Berbers, Jews, Africans and Europeans have all contributed to the rich heritage of old traditions and the artistic spirit of this town.Essaouira is one of the most photogenic towns of Morocco, colourful, dramatic, enchanting and always ready for the perfect pose!


Diversity of Morocco

Did you know that you can ski in Morocco? It takes about an hour and a half to drive from the heart of Marrakech to the ski resort of Oukaimeden. From Dar Zohra it is just forty minutes but you may want to make a few stops to marvel at the fantastic scenery along the way! For those not so much into skiing it is still a very worthwhile day trip to this beautiful winter wonderland. On a clear day the horizons of the High Atlas Mountains are spectacular.


Imilchil Wedding Festival, Myth and Truth

It is said that the history of the Imilchil wedding festival begins with the tragic love story between a young man from the Ait Ibrahim tribe and a young girl from the Ait Azza tribe. The two rivalling tribes did not allow the young couple to be married and they cried endlessly until their bitter tears turned into two lakes, ‘Isli’ (bridegroom) and ‘Tislit’ (bride). In their despair they drowned themselves into the two lakes.Some believe that the Imilchil wedding moussem was established to commemorate the unfortunate lovers by allowing young men and women to marry the partner of their choice. I really love a romantic story but the version of several local people just sounds a little more likely! A long time ago (nobody seems to know when), a village chief realised that many families could hardly afford the cost of a wedding ceremony for their sons and daughters. He decided that a communal ceremony would reduce the costs substantially and that the annual moussem would be the ideal time for the festivities.

The annual moussem is held after the harvests when people have earned their profits from the harvest sales. It is the time of year to celebrate and to purchase new tools, new animal stock and sufficient supplies for the long and harsh winter. It is the occasion for young women to dress up in their beautiful handiras and exchange glances with potential suitors.The festival or more correctly the year market lasts three days. It is held at an open space twenty three kilometres down the road from the village of Imilchil. People from the surrounding villages near and far come to this market. Trucks stuffed with people, supplies and animal stock drive to and from the market. It is a lively event, hectic, noisy and incredibly colourful. 

Once you understand the remoteness of these villages and the limited access to this area due to the extreme poor condition of the roads (it is not a journey for the faint hearted!), the social importance of the annual moussem of Imilchil becomes obvious.

The Beautiful South, Skoura And A Thousand Kasbah's

Far beyond Marrakech and across the High Atlas Mountains lies a world of a thousand Kasbah’s, green palm oases and yellow desert sand. Once upon a time, oh so many years ago, the younger version of me fell in love with the beautiful south. I hadn’t been to the south for a while and until last week I had forgotten what I know. A short visit to Skoura reminded me of the magic of the valley of a thousand Kasbah’s, the picturesque scenery of the landscape and the sweetness of the friendly locals. It reminded me that I am still so in love with the beautiful south.

Mystical and magical Essaouira, history breathes hauntingly through the streets of this town. Dark, small alleys and the many arches whisper tales of times long gone by and it only needs a little imagination to visualise the caravan trade from sub-Saharan Africa that once arrived in this eighteenth century port. Essaouira has inherited a wonderful blend of cultural influences from the diverse ethnical groups that have inhabited the town.
Photo of Essaouira, Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco by Danielle Donker
Did you know that you can ski in Morocco? It takes about an hour and a half to drive from the heart of Marrakech to the ski resort of Oukaimeden. From Dar Zohra it is just forty minutes but you may want to make a few stops to marvel at the fantastic scenery along the way! For those not so much into skiing it is still a very worthwhile day trip to this beautiful winter wonderland. On a clear day the horizons of the High Atlas Mountains are spectacular.
Photo of Oukaimeden, Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco by Danielle Donker
Imilchil is a village where Imilchil Wedding Festival takes place every year .The collective wedding ceremony takes place on the first day of the market. It has become a widespread myth that the woman of the surrounding Berber clans come to the wedding ceremony in search of and to choose a husband. Perhaps the bitter-sweet legend of the two young lovers and the mythical (unthinkable) female liberty to choose a husband has encouraged the international fame and allure of the Imilchil wedding festival from which this desolate region greatly benefits. Nevertheless, the marriages are pre-arranged by the families according to tradition.
Photo of Imilchil, Tadla-Azilal, Morocco by Danielle Donker
Far beyond Marrakech and across the High Atlas Mountains lies a world of a thousand Kasbah’s, green palm oases and yellow desert sand.The picturesque scenery of the landscape and the sweetness of the friendly locals is enough to win you over.
Photo of Skoura, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco by Danielle Donker