Taking in the Ourika Valley

We were lucky enough to have a friend who knows the area take us up through the High Atlas and into the picturesque Ourika Valley, about an hour from Marrakech. The heart of the valley is a river, around which tiny Berber villages have sprung up with houses made from mud, taking advantage of the water in a very dry area.

I was so engrossed that I forgot to take a lot of pictures! Oops. But I have some below that show the mountains, the villages, and the river. Also along the river are numerous Moroccan restaurants, where you can sit at a plastic table by the water and eat some delicious tagines. Which of course we did. Some of the restaurants have rickety rope bridges taking you across the river to a shady seating area. We felt like Indiana Jones while crossing (it was actually a bit nerve-wracking).

The drive takes you by quite a few pottery and rug places as well. Prices are lower than in Marrakech so it's a great place to stop and shop.