Morocco Day 2 : Atlas Mountain, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate , Rose Valley

Day 2 :Atlas Mountain, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate , Rose Valley

Next day morning we had breakfast at the Riad and checked out to leave for Dades Valley.

Orange trees are grown everywhere.Moroccan Oranges were very famous. Public Smoking is allowed.Bollywood influence seems to be everywhere.An old man near our Riad started singing Yeh Dosti song, after seeing us.Everyone is recognizing us as Indians and seems to know  Shah Rukh Khan.

We crossed the High Atlas mountain Range. We had few stops to have some wonderful landscape views and pictures.We could see the snake like roads from above the mountain on the lower ones.Minerals found in the area were being sold by Berber men.Minerals stones, when opened into 2, the colour of the minerals inside is  different and  sparkling  We also stopped at Argan oil cooperative society , to buy some Argan oil. We were explained on the process of Argan oil preparation .We also tasted some Argan nut butter,edible  Argan oil, Argan honey.We bought 100 ml cold pressed Argan oil for 220 MAD after bargaining.They were selling many Argan oil Cosmetic Products,Cooking Argan oil.We stopped at Tizi and Tichka pass with elevation 2260 m.

We visited the Kasbah called Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah.This place is in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.We first stopped at a far away place to see the full view of the Kasbah.Then we went nearby and visited the Kasbah.You can climb different levels and have beautiful view of the place and Arena.Many Hollywood films and series were filmed here.








Few families still live here.Also painting with green tea , saffron and then firing the painting to make a beautiful shade was demonstrated here.

We then had lunch nearby  at Seville which was ok.The soup was good , but when we asked for another bowl, it was over.We also asked for pizza, which was the worst kind of pizza we ever had.Boiled vegetables with tagine gravy  and unmelted cheese pieces was the pizza.We had French fries and fruits as that was the only vegetarian option .

We later left for Ouarzazate nicknamed as Door of the Desert or Hollywood of Morocco.Here we visited the Atlas Studios.This is a studio where many films, shortfilms, series, ads were filmed.Still the sets used are seen here. The entry ticket is 80 MAD.There is another studio called Kingdom of Heaven a km away , entry ticket is 40 MAD.Combination ticket for both is 110 MAD.A Guide approached us  with charge of 5 Euros. We went inside with guide, who explained everything so well .Without guide, you can still go around, but we would not have understood, which film, which scene was shot in each of the studio..We visited the Cleopatra,Mummy ,Monastery sets.

There were many places to take beautiful profile pictures.

We left for the Dades or Rose valley . Rose distilleries are seen everywhere.There are many shops with Rose Products, but they were costly  so we didn’t buy . 100 ml Rose water costs 150 MAD,100 ml Rose oil costs 120 MAD after discount.


We checked in Panorama Dades. Hotel looked old but well maintained.Rooms were spacious with balcony.We  enjoyed the biscuits and tea during check in.Dinner was served in courses and also very good.There was soup, cutlet, chicken, rice, veggies, dessert.


Please read my reviw aout the accomodation here.