Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tency. You can watch the harvest take place during the first three weeks of November, al-
though you'll need to get here between 4am and 5am. At other times of the year, guided
tours are given by staff who reiterate key points on explanatory placards.
Tours end with a complimentary mint tea and a soft-sell of Safranerie saffron (Dh13 per
gram) and estate-grown herbal tisanes (Dh20 to Dh40).
Ecomusée Berbere
(
MUSEUM
0524 38 57 21;
www.museeberbere.com
;
Douar Tafza, Km 37 Rte de l'Ourika, Tafza; adult/under 16yr
Dh20/free; 9.30am-7pm)
Four kilometres after Tnine a discreet sign points up a dirt
path into the Berber village of Tafza: here, the three-storey mudbrick
ksar
(fort) that once
housed the local
caid
(chief) is now a museum. Enthusiastic guided visits cover every de-
tail of household life, from symbols carved in door frames to silver dowry jewellery. Call
ahead to reserve meals on the terrace (Dh60) or arrange to visit Tafza pottery workshops.
Sleeping & Eating
ECOLODGE
€€€
Kasbah Bab Ourika
( 0668 74 95 47;
http://kasbahbabourika.com
; Tnine Ourika; d Dh1695-2825; )
Occupy-
ing an outstanding location in the Ourika Valley, this rammed-earth kasbah puts Richard
Branson's bombastic Kasbah Tamadot in the shade. Understated luxuries include uninter-
rupted views of snowy Atlas peaks, top-quality meals any time anywhere, superbly fin-
ished interiors, sleep-inducing orthopaedic mattresses and underfloor heating powered by
solar panels. The kasbah's dedication to sustainability is serious (water is recycled, electri-
city is produced by a biodigester and solar panels provide heat and hot water), and
everything contrives to highlight the beauty of the surrounding environment.
Information
From December to March, flash floods can make hiking dangerous and render parts of
Ourika Valley inaccessible - in 1995, winter floods nearly wiped out the village of Oul-
mes.
Centre d'Informations Touristique Ourika
( 0668 46 55 45; 8.30am-7pm Mon-Sat, 8.30am-1pm
Sun)
Just outside Tnine, this local NGO-operated information office provides maps of val-
ley vista points and updates on trekking conditions.
