Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
ARTISANS ONLINE
Inhabitants in Aït Bougomez are a surprisingly resourceful bunch. Take, for example, the launch of
Anou
(
www.theanou.com)
, a new artisan-managed online platform that enables illiterate artisans to
sell their work independently.
Unlike Etsy or eBay the resource isn't open to anyone, but rather is limited to locally recognised ar-
tisans peer-verified by Anou's leadership team, the benchmark being the quality of the products pro-
duced and the motivation of the artisans to expand and develop their product line.
Anou then assists artisans in creating a profile page with a biography of each member, photographs
of their studio and tools, and GPS coordinates of their workshops. Each piece created is subsequently
approved by Anou's administration team before being posted to the site, ensuring that every product
you see is exactly the item that will be shipped to you. When products sell, artisans pop the purchased
item in the post and, voila
,
in two to three weeks your new handcrafted carpet/bag/sculpture will ar-
rive on your doorstep.
It's a great resource for travellers, as Anou's primary buyers so far are conscientious tourists keen to
ensure that they are buying direct from artisans. At the time of writing there were 200 artisans on the
site and 35 cooperatives and associations now extending well beyond Aït Bougomez across the whole
country.
Sleeping & Eating
The valley is dotted with a network of
gîtes d'étape
(hostels or homestays). Many of them
are located within a 30-minute walk west of Tabant in the villages of Imelgas and Ikhf-n-
Ighir. Closer to the M'Goun trailhead is Agouti, which is the favoured base for trekkers.
Most establishments offer half-board lodging, although basic cafes and restaurants can
also be found in Tabant.
Flilou
( 0524 34 37 98; tamsilt@menara.ma; Agouti; dm/d incl half board Dh130/180, d with bathroom incl
half board Dh460; )
The first
gîte
on your left offers clean dorm rooms, doubles with
hand-painted beds around the rear courtyard, savoury meals and clean, updated bath-
rooms. Climb the ladder to the roof terrace, where Berber tents beckon and mirrored wed-
ding blankets reflect sunsets. Hot showers cost an additional Dh10.
GÎTE D'ÉTAPE
€
Chez ben Ali
( 0523 45 87 26; Agouti; s/d/tr/q with shared bathroom Dh90/160/230/290; )
A large pinkish re-
treat with welcome amenities at the northeast end of Agouti. Cheerfully painted rooms
share clean bathrooms, washing machine, terrace, three kitchens for guest use, and a com-
GÎTE D'ÉTAPE
€
