Mysterious spices, dazzling colors and captivating music: Morocco is an experience that will awaken all your senses. Add to that a friendly people always ready to explain the traditions of the country to you, you will have a memorable trip. Less worldly and hectic than its big sister Marrakech, the city of Ouarzazate is a strategic point to continue your adventure in the land of the Thousand and One Nights. Of course you won't be able to resist the urge to venture into one of the most intriguing places on our planet, the Sahara Desert.
TOP 5 OUARZAZATE
1. Crossing the Atlas
After bidding farewell to alluring Marrakech, head south where the city of Ouarzazate awaits you. For transportation, you will have the choice between the fast plane or the slow and uncomfortable bus. The author’s suggestion… the bus obviously! On the menu: cars overturned on the side of the road, dangerously close cliffs and a bus that will make you nauseous.
But, there is a but, you will also have the chance to see striking landscapes pass before your eyes. On this road, you will feel like you are entering the real Morocco. That of nomads and the desert. The peaks of the Atlas are white, the earth is red and the palm grove of the Draa Valley is a striking green. This mix of colors will largely make you forget that the journey is perilous. Bring yourself some anti-nausea medication and trust your driver.
If I thought I had a somewhat traumatic experience with the bus in Morocco, it was before taking it in Cambodia. A full night of transport, a driver who abused rice wine, karaoke at maximum volume, a few narrowly avoided accidents, I remember thinking that these were my last moments in this world. Fortunately, I survived and this allows me to put into perspective the dangerousness of other transport in the world. Indeed, when I think about it, the Moroccan bus with the beautiful landscape… it was pretty cool! And then, it makes for good stories to tell on the way back…
2.Be amazed by the souks
Getting lost in the Moroccan souks, being amazed by the treasures found there... this is the very essence of a trip to this North African country. The first advice for you future traveler, leave yourself space for memories. You'll want to bring EVERYTHING back. As in any good market, negotiation is required. On the other hand, negotiation is different in Morocco, negotiation is a cultural thing. You can easily divide the asking price by ten, just follow a few basic rules.
Remain respectful at all times despite the seller's insistence. These men and women may seem annoying at times but you have to understand that for them, it is a question of survival.
Taking your time is the key. Slowness is something great that we have forgotten in our Western societies. There is nothing better than wandering around the different shops without the stress of wanting to do everything as quickly as possible. Sellers will also be more inclined to lower their prices.
If you have managed to lower the price of your scarf by 10 euros, please don't start going after the Moroccan seller for a few extra dirhams. What does a euro mean to you? And what does this mean for them?
3. Behind the scenes
Located 3 kilometers west of Ouarzazate, the Atlas studios are an interesting activity for film buffs. Even though the site needs a little brushing up and a makeover, it's still impressive to see the sets of such well-known films as Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra and two memorable Ridley Scott films: Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven.
“The filming of films in Ouarzazate is responsible for the creation of thousands of jobs. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 people, extras, technicians but also hoteliers, traders or craftsmen live directly or indirectly from the cinema industry. Atlas Studios (Atlas Corporation) was created in 1983.”*
Another notable moment of our trip, a restaurateur we knew one evening offered to use his kitchen to prepare a typically Quebecois dish. The result surprised him to no end. As most of you know, in Quebec we cook “poutine”, a dish made of potatoes, sauce and cheese. The funniest thing in the story is that our Moroccan friend really liked it. If you ever see poutine on a menu in Ouarzazate, think of us!
4. Camel or dromedary?
This is the moment you've been waiting for, the moment you imagined when you dreamed of going to Morocco. Like swimming with dolphins or riding on the back of an elephant, a camel ride is a must. Although many believe that it is a tourist trap, rest assured that you will have a lot of fun riding these strange beasts. For a little information, do you know the difference between the dromedary and the camel? The dromedary has a single hump while the camel has two humps and is mainly present in Asia.
A man we met in a bar offered to eat at his place the next day. An eternal skeptic, I followed my friends a little reluctantly. Well I had my lesson that evening.
The man in question was part of the royal family of Ouarzazate and we ate like kings. This man's generosity was only matched by his kindness and he offered to take us early the next morning to Zagora, the last stop before the Sahara.
The moral of this story: Trust the locals, there are still good people in this world! This will help you avoid missing out on memorable experiences/people.
5. A night in the desert
Probably the activity that will cost you the most, it is nevertheless worth all the dirhams you will spend. After the camel ride, your guides will take you to the Berber camp. Sitting comfortably around a fire, you will enjoy a barbecue while contemplating the stars. If you think you have seen a starry sky in your life, wait until you see the one that the Sahara has in store for you. Your guides will be happy to accompany you throughout the evening, music and Berber history on the program. There are two options for sleeping: in a tent or directly under the stars. I'll let you guess our suggestion.
In the Sahara, time is no longer calculated in days, hours or years. The time is that which we spend, here, now, in the company of the guests. You look up to the sky. The Milky Way smiles at you. In the silence of the night, you may hear the stars twinkling. –Bruno Blanchet
For a night in a bivouac, you will be spoiled for choice for guides. It’s important to be well informed before choosing one, so you can avoid being “deceived”. The best thing is to choose it on site but in the meantime, we suggest you browse the forums that cover the subject.
While waiting to venture to Morocco, check out our other destinations on our travel blog 🙂
