Imlil

29 September 2022

Moroccan tourists on a day trip to the mountains.

It was great fun doing this journey with a jolly group, winding upwards into remarkable countryside, passing Richard Branson's kasbah on the way.

My home this evening was in the Berber Family Lodge, in a smaller Berber village below Imlil. I had a wonderful room on the top of the family home with a balcony looking over the valley. The couple who run this guest house are remarkable business people. It took them eight years to complete the accommodation section of their home and they now provide a unique experience of Berber village life in comfortable rooms, an authentic living space and with home cooked meals. Mohammed, provides excellent advice on how to arrange treks and day trips in the area.

I spent the afternoon arranging a trek through the Guides’ Bureau and after some negotiating and checking with a couple of providers, chose a 6 day trek. Payment is all a bit unclear - I paid a deposit, the rest payable at the end with tips for the mandatory guide and mule handler, who also is the cook. The whole arrangement seemed a bit over the top considering a usually carry all my own stuff and hike with maps. Nevertheless, these arrangements are the main source of income for the families of these villages and I'm more than happy to contribute.