Northern and southern Morocco offer two distinctive hiking experiences. In the south, the Draa Valley, near Ouarzazate, is an oasis of palm trees and adobe kasbahs. In the north, the Happy Valley in the Atlas Mountains reveals Berber life through a succession of picturesque villages.
A great trip. is not linked to a duration, a particular destination or means of transport, but one that poses a challenge. On a night like tonight, we remember three travellers who set off on a great journey following a star: Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar. A journey through the desert to bring gold, frankincense and myrrh to a newborn.
We do not know for sure whether they crossed the desert of Namibia, Gobi, Wadi Rum and Sahara. What we do know is that each of you, as travellers, has a challenge when setting off on an adventure, whether following a star, a dream or a desire to discover new places…
Who among you has never seen Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Babel, Prince of Persia or The Mummy. Older productions filmed here include classics such as Jesus of Nazareth, Marco Polo and Sodom and Gomorrah. And take note, fans of Game of Thrones: this is the city that Daenerys Targaryan Released in the final episode of the third season.
All were filmed in a magnificent setting with an exotic name Ait Ben Haddou, a place that is much more than a film set: it is a ksar, a fortified village with a history stretching back almost a thousand years. The maze of narrow, crenellated towers visible today dates mainly from the seventeenth century. This ancient fortified town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
«When elephants fight, it is grass that suffers»
– African proverb
With this African proverb today we want to join the celebration of the International Day of the African Child, and of girls too. We know we are all a little tired of “days of...» but here is our small tribute, because we love Africa and supporting their children means investing in their future.
An alternative way to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Toast the New Year in faraway lands and replace the traditional grapes with olives, nuts or whatever you can find along the way.
Even if just for once, we suggest 12 destinations, or in other words, 12 trips to leave the fading year behind and start a new one doing one of the things you enjoy most: travelling.
Look at the travel selection in small groups, with itineraries designed to spend Christmas and/or New Year’s Eve in truly special places.
It’s not the first time our colleague Isi Juvé He rides the Atlas by mountain bike, and we're not wrong to say he'll probably do it a few more times. There's something about this part of Morocco. that draws you in and keeps you coming back.
Our dear and tireless friend and collaborator Isi Juvé sends us these photographs from Morocco.
Isi joined our Christmas groups and is now travelling around Morocco to improve our bike routes.
Travel that add depth to the destination’s tourist attractions: as well as visiting the national parks, Kenya We will observe a solar eclipse; an astronomer will show us the stars from the summits of the Himalayas; photographer I. Rovira will help us take great pictures on a fantastic trip to Ethiopia...
See trips for October on our website
NORTHERN LIGHTS
In Spitsbergen (High Arctic). Cruise on the sailboat Noorderlicht. Price: 1800 € (no flights)
ETHIOPIA – PHOTOGRAPHY
Special photography trip led by Ignasi Rovira. Price: 2620-3055 €
For those who have not yet decided on their holiday, we have added two new departures with destination Morocco for the second half of August:
He set off at 9h 14min 46s and reached the finish line at 21h 42min 11s. Don’t take my word for it, as I’m more of a humanities person, but I make that a total of 12 hours, 27 minutes and 45 seconds. Exactly. That is how long the unstoppable Pere took to cover 82 km of desert.
After the first stages, the runners would casually mention a sore foot, a painful knee or a blister... Yesterday the pain had spread throughout their bodies, making it easier to ask: “Where doesn't it hurt?”
Apparently, this is the main topic of conversation among the 849 participants of the 26th MDS.
The runners from the Iberian Peninsula left on Saturday on the Madrid–Errachidia flight. Buses then took them from oasis to oasis to Erfoud and on to Rissani, 15 km from the Dar Kaoua dunes, where the race would start. Honestly, I do not even know how Pere manages to remember all these names.
It sounds like the start of a joke, but it is absolutely true. I'm Victor. Less than two months ago, I started working at Tuareg, and I never imagined that five weeks later I would be reporting on an event as amazing as the 26th Marathon des Sables.
At the Barcelona office they wanted to say goodbye and I took advantage of it to show them the equipment and luggage.
Joan B. couldn’t resist trying on the glasses, cap, backpack and drinks harness. Now we can imagine what the inhabitants of the Moroccan Sahara must think when they come across four hundred people dressed like this, running through the desert.
At the Barcelona office they wanted to say goodbye and I took advantage of it to show them the equipment and luggage.
Joan B. couldn’t resist trying on the glasses, cap, backpack and drinks harness. Now we can imagine what the inhabitants of the Moroccan Sahara must think when they come across four hundred people dressed like this, running through the desert.
I've been injured for a week, a week of absolute rest, a week of vacation or punishment...
With little time left before I leave for Morocco, I have developed a muscle strain. I have seen a couple of doctors, and the second has left me feeling more reassured than the first.
On the left of the image, breakfast: an energy bar, a Viennese coffee and cereal to mix with the cappuccino.
In the centre, the snacks to eat during the race: more energy bars, gels, nuts and a sachet of isotonic drink powder.
On the right, dinner: freeze-dried meals and soups instant.
If we asked people in the street what an exercise stress test is, many would give the same definition: the medical examination footballers undergo when they sign for another team. We can all picture it: shorts and a treadmill to run on.
I have read in a document from the Marathon des Sables organisers that they recommend a minimum of 3,000 to 4,000 kilocalories per day per participant. 4,000 kilocalories is a lot! I have no idea how many calories or kcal I consume every day, but I will have to find out.