Exploring Ourzazate and Dades Gorge

Finally with a half-empty car we crossed the highest asphalt pass in Morocco, where tops of mountains are so close and there is an impression that you can reach them by hand, but unfortunately we missed the great views as we travelled by night. We found a campsite in Ouarzazate and next day we were exploring the sprawling Taourirt kasbash, which was built on prime commercial real-estate. The entrance fee was about 20 dirham per person, however we still don’t know why we were let in for free (probably our poor backpacker outfit helped). The Kasbash was really great; you could feel exactly like Prince of Persia, who was looking for his Princess – so many closes, hidden corridors. Next thing we did was not really planned. Local boy offered us his time and showing us around the Old town. It was nice experience, to hear something interesting about Berber people life and their daily duties from local person. We also visited the local “Bakery” with huge clay ovens where women bake the tasty traditional bread.

We couldn’t miss exploring Atlas Mountains at all, so we decided to visit Dades Gorge. Many guides say that after 15 km people should turn around and head back as you have seen all there was interesting to see, but please DON’T DO THAT!!! Just after those 15 km the views are reallllyy amazing. First attraction in Dades Gorge are views on small settlements built from intensively red clay. Second one a small pass, which looks like a snail from top. Third attraction is great, huge, colourful canyon which looks like Colorado in The USA. Most people do not know about it as they turn back after “a snail”. The asphalt road finishes a few km later, around 30km from the main road, in small village called Msemrir, where we decided to stay for the night. There was actually no choice where stay as camping in the car was impossible because of really cold air. We stayed in a small bar-hotel dubbed El-Ouarda. Ada was only one girl there again Local men were eating, watching TV, chatting and two tables were joined as some of them playing cards. Those nice men noticed we were travellers and bought Charlie a drink (no, not alcohol drink just a Hawaii Tropicana sparkling juice) Charlie was positively shocked and nevertheless guys didn’t speak any English, he joined them playing cards. This situation confirmed that language barrier can be overcome. The owner of the bar-hotel didn’t understand us as well, but he prepared a great tajine and delicious tea and even offered his own garage for our car.