Come and stay at a traditional (Berber) built 'gite' in the Atlas mountains of Morocco, For a unique Moroccan holiday expierience You will be staying by the edge of Bin el Ouidane, a six mile long lake where you can go Kayaking, fishing or exploring.		The Hart family have teamed up with the The GOUJILI family (Local berber family) to provide you with a warm welcome and an enviroment that is both traditional and ethicaly sound . Take a look around our site, and if the you feel inspired then give us a ring on 0044 (0)1239 820951 or email us at chezlesberber@hotmail.co.uk

Atlas Mountains: eco-friendly activities

The Atlas Mountains stretch for approximately 1,500 miles, cutting through the North African countries of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. This magnificent natural landscape reaches a peak of 4,167 metres at Jbel Toubkal in the Toubkal National Park, Morocco, some 70 kilometres away from the historic city of Marrakech.

As Marrakech is set against the backdrop of the stunning Atlas Mountains, there are a number of natural wonders in its vicinity that are certain to catch the eye. Notably, the Ourika River, 30 kilometres from central Marrakech, cuts through a valley of the same name and plays host to curious plant life, salt production and a small population of Barbary Macaques – the endangered primate most commonly known to inhabit Gibraltar.

The Atlas Mountain range attracts a considerable proportion of the tourism in Marrakech, with trekking among a number of popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. Indeed, there are a number of Atlas Mountain walking holidays that base themselves in and around Marrakech. For instance, 2 or 3 day walking holidays are available that comprise of a pleasant stay in a Berber (referring to the indigenous mountain villagers) guesthouse, from which daily guided walks of the surrounding area, including picnic lunches, operate.

The Berbers themselves are another source of attraction for tourists to Marrakech and the nearby Atlas Mountains. Berbers are among the oldest peoples in the world and their origins can be traced back at least 4,000 years, whilst their cultural heritage and language have been preserved despite numerous invasions by the Romans, Arabs and French. Today, most Berbers live in farming villages scattered across the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, although small pockets of Berber traders exist in valleys and main towns. Berbers are renowned for their warm hospitality and any trek across the Atlas Mountains will invariably involve these people in some way – be sure to try their splendid Moroccan mint tea!

Marrakech and its surrounding landscapes typify good living that is friendly on the environment. Another source of attraction in the area is that of mule trekking, which is essentially the same as the walking variant but with the advantage of some poor ass having to lug around your gear!

Please note that, with the exception of some of the more gentle walks, trekking the Atlas Mountains is no easy feat and will require a reasonable level of fitness and good health. For the more adventurous tourists, camel treks operate across the mountains and into the Sahara desert! Do bring plenty of water with you… Additionally, for those with a good fitness level and thirst for adrenaline, there are tours up the Toubkal summit, which take a number of days to fully ascend and will demand several whole days of actual walking/climbing time. In winter, there is also a ski resort set up at Oukaimeden, which is about 5 or 6 days from the summit!

The benefits associated with these tours are difficult to appreciate until they have been experienced – just standing on the side of an African mountain whilst savouring the warm air (or cold!), rugged landscape, quaint Berber villages and their cereal, mint and alfalfa crops is truly remarkable. The sense of freedom is overwhelming and visitors to these ancient lands are virtually guaranteed to be profoundly affected by them.

Marrakech is also famed for its fishing spots, which are set across a number of lakes, ports and farms in the area. Trout is the most readily available fish, although the lakes surrounding Marrakech are also populated by pike, black bass, carp, perch, and many more. For the skilled, experienced or more adventurous fishermen, heading out to the open ocean will invite the possibility of catching swordfish, tuna and barracudas! There are also various hunting activities in Marrakech and numerous other outdoor pursuits.

Arguably one of the best routes to Marrakech is via the Spanish border, across the Mediterranean. Once in Marrakech, the most available form of transport is taxi, which is cheap. Marrakech hotels include the Agdal, Al Kabir, Amine, Angsana Riad hotels. One of the most luxurious stays can be found at the five star Atlas Medina and Spa Marrakech hotel.

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