After a pretty good night’s sleep last night, we got up around 8:00 am this morning, got organised, and headed downstairs for a nice breakfast.

Breakfast.
Breakfast.

At 9:00 am we set off with Mohamed and Dawad on a drive of about and hour and a half, to the small town of Imlil in
the Atlas Mountains.

Separating the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlas Mountains extend over 2,500 km through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest mountain in the range is Toubkal, nearly 4,200 metres above sea level.

We arrived mid-morning in Imlil and met up with a local guide, Abdul, who took us a few more kilometres up the road in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. We then hopped out to walk to the home of a local family, to enjoy a traditional meal.

A mule in Imlil.
A mule in Imlil.
Walking up into the village of Imlil.
Walking up into the village of Imlil.
Walking up into the village of Imlil.
Walking up into the village of Imlil.
Walking up into the village of Imlil.
Walking up into the village of Imlil.
Looking to the peak of Toubkal, the highest mountain in Africa.
Looking to the peak of Toubkal, the highest mountain in Africa.

We entered a small house and met a lovely local Berber family. Thirteen people lived in the house, which was made mostly of mud and rock. We met three generations of the family, all of whom welcomed us warmly. Hafida, the wife of the house, made us a beautiful meal, which included freshly-baked bread that we watched her make in a small clay oven.

A traditional meal (including bread, olives, honey, biscuits).
A traditional meal (including bread, olives, honey, biscuits).
Keith enjoying mint tea.
Keith enjoying mint tea.
Andrea and Keith enjoying the traditional Berber meal.
Andrea and Keith enjoying the traditional Berber meal.
Keith, Hafida, and Andrea.
Keith, Hafida, and Andrea.
Andrea in Hafida's house.
Andrea in Hafida's house.
Amira.
Amira.
Andrea, Hafida, Keith, and some of Hafida's family.
Andrea, Hafida, Keith, and some of Hafida's family.

We said goodbye to Hafida and the family, and set off back down the hill to the road. We have commented many times on this trip and other trips that there are some places that need to be visited while you are fit and able. This is one of those places! The mountainside on which the houses in Imlil are built is very steep, with narrow and uneven paths that demand concentration as they are being walked.

The minaret of the mosque in Imlil.
The minaret of the mosque in Imlil.
Houses in Imlil with terraced crops below.
Houses in Imlil with terraced crops below.
A local mule.
A local mule.
Local woman and her daughter in the village of Imlil.
Local woman and her daughter in the village of Imlil.
Our guide, Abdul, and Andrea.
Our guide, Abdul, and Andrea.

When we got back to the road, we hopped back into the car and headed back to meet Mohamed and Dawad. We said goodbye to Abdul and then set off back down the road to Sir Richard Branson’s Morocco hotel, Kasbah Tamadot, to have lunch.

Kasbah Tamadot.
Kasbah Tamadot.
Andrea on the terrace for lunch at Kasbah Tamadot.
Andrea on the terrace for lunch at Kasbah Tamadot.
Keith on the terrace for lunch at Kasbah Tamadot.
Keith on the terrace for lunch at Kasbah Tamadot.
The view from the terrace at Kasbah Tamadot.
The view from the terrace at Kasbah Tamadot.
Three types of freshly-baked bread.
Three types of freshly-baked bread.
Pumpkin and ginger soup.
Pumpkin and ginger soup.
Salad.
Salad.
Lamb kebabs.
Lamb kebabs.
Chips.
Chips.
Ice-cream (chocolate, salty butter caramel, orange, strawberry, and cinnamon).
Ice-cream (chocolate, salty butter caramel, orange, strawberry, and cinnamon).

After a wonderful lunch, we had a nice chat with Sir Richard Branson, before going for a walk around the property.

Sir Richard Branson and Andrea.
Sir Richard Branson and Andrea.
Keith, Sir Richard Branson, and Andrea.
Keith, Sir Richard Branson, and Andrea.
Keith and Andrea in the gardens of Kasbah Tamadot.
Keith and Andrea in the gardens of Kasbah Tamadot.
Keith and Andrea in the gardens of Kasbah Tamadot.
Keith and Andrea in the gardens of Kasbah Tamadot.
A nice view at Kasbah Tamadot.
A nice view at Kasbah Tamadot.
A nice view at Kasbah Tamadot.
A nice view at Kasbah Tamadot.

Having enjoyed a thoroughly enjoyable time at Kasbah Tamadot, we hopped back into the car for the drive back to Marrakesh. We stopped along the way to buy some apples from a roadside vendor, just outside the town of Asni.

A roadside stand selling apples and apple vinegar.
A roadside stand selling apples and apple vinegar.

We got back to the hotel around 4:30 pm and made a booking for dinner. Since the restaurant didn’t open until 8:00 pm, we spent a few hours relaxing in our room.

At 8:00 pm, we headed downstairs for dinner. Since it was such a beautiful night, dinner was being served outside by the pool, under a magnificent starry sky.

Dinner by the pool.
Dinner by the pool.
Amuse-bouche.
Amuse-bouche.
Freshly-baked bread.
Freshly-baked bread.
Dinner is served!
Dinner is served!
Fillet of beef on sautéed spinach.
Fillet of beef on sautéed spinach.
Dauphine potatoes with truffle.
Dauphine potatoes with truffle.
Poached pear with spices, gingerbread, almond, and honey.
Poached pear with spices, gingerbread, almond, and honey.
Tart of pineapple, coconut, and lime.
Tart of pineapple, coconut, and lime.

After a lovely dinner, we headed back upstairs to our room.

Back in our room (with the fez on the door to indicate "do not disturb").
Back in our room (with the fez on the door to indicate "do not disturb").