We landed in the city of Marrakesh where our guide, Mohammed, greeted us with open arms. Our journey had begun. With no time to waste we hit the road, the drive would take us three days to complete. Our first destination? The city of Ouarzazate. Travelling from the warmth of the city, we manoeuvred through narrow hillside roads frosted with pearl white snow. Eventually we arrived at the High Atlas Mountains which reach a peak of 2260m in Tizi n‘Tichka.
After two hours we made our first stop on a small, winding road that looked out onto the hillside town of Al Haouz - Zerkten. It was there that we met Omar, a trader who sold minerals from the Atlas Mountains. We were told that these rocks were a traditional way to make a living in the area, holding great value despite their humble price in local currency.
Our break for lunch took us to a small settlement of businesses that looked like a sparse collection of houses at the side of a narrow road. Beside a restaurant - where we shared the most amazing Moroccan tagine - was a small and locally-adored shop. It was the original and authentic home and workshop of the world-famous Moroccan argan oil. Inside, one of the workers guided us through the delicate process of how argan oil is made.
After lunch we continued our journey, travelling over the High Atlas Mountains for several hours in pursuit of the orange and red landscapes that we had come for. Before arriving at our destination for the night, we visited the Ksar of Aït Benhaddou. We climbed to the top of the small hill to enjoy a beautiful Moroccan sunset, our journey was unfolding in spectacular fashion.
Once we had arrived in Ouarzazate we enjoyed a traditional Moroccan meal at our hotel before heading to bed, ensuring that we got a good night’s rest before the early rise that lay ahead.