Conquering Fears, Food for Days & Forming Friendships - Day Two in Marrakesh
After our first busy day in Marrakesh, we woke early to sunshine pouring onto the rooftop terrace and the smell of fresh coffee and breakfast waiting for us upstairs. Warm breads, honey, dips, fresh fruit, juices, coffee, eggs and cakes were all beautifully presented on the table. It was a gorgeous start to the day and was very much needed as we were about to set off on one of the most exhilarating adventures of the trip.
Once dressed we climbed aboard our private minibus for the day and immediately took what would become the first bus selfie of many.
Our guide for the day was Abdul and he was absolutely fantastic. Friendly, funny and incredibly knowledgeable, he spent the journey telling us all about Moroccan history, local traditions and the places we were passing through as we gradually left the city behind and headed towards the Atlas Mountains.
The further we travelled, the more dramatic and beautiful everything became, with stunning mountain views appearing around every corner. We stopped at Tahnaout where we took in the incredible scenery and admired the breath-taking views of the Atlas Mountains stretching into the distance. Then it was time to head towards our main destination for the day: Terres d’Amour nature reserve and, more specifically, ziplining.
After donning the rather sexy protective hats and gloves, we were given our helmets and harnesses and off we went. We lined up and strapped ourselves onto the ropes ready to begin - starting with a small rope bridge. “Small” being a relative term considering it was suspended high above the above stunning scenery, while the tiny planks of wood we used to cross the 105m long trail wobbled alarmingly beneath our feet. Of course the views were absolutely spectacular… if you were brave enough to look away from your own death grip on the ropes.
What I loved most throughout the whole experience was how supportive everyone was of each other. Some people were genuinely terrified of heights but every single achievement was cheered on by the group. Videos were taken constantly so people could send proof back home to disbelieving family members that they had actually done it, and no one rushed anyone or hurried them along. Everyone was free to go at their own pace.
After crossing the first bridge, it was a short walk to the first zipline and everyone was a buzz with excitement. At 145m long, it was fast, exhilarating and gave us the most incredible views across the reserve below. Once the initial terror passed, it was impossible not to absolutely love it. Landing at the other side was entertaining too, with varying degrees of gracefulness depending on the person involved.
We then tackled three more ziplines, each one longer, higher and slightly more terrifying than the last until the final zipline which was a whopping 315m long. Then finally came the last bridge. And when I say bridge, what I really mean is a 165m tightrope-style crossing - with only a few planks placed along the track - suspended very high over a ravine that genuinely made some of us question our life choices.
Whilst some chose to skip that last hoorah (which was completely understandable because it was genuinely scary), a good handful of the group braved it and even stopped halfway across for dramatic leg-up photo poses for the camera, because apparently dangling above a ravine was not enough excitement on its own.
After surviving our mountain adventure, we climbed back aboard the minibus and headed to one of the local villages in the region where we were treated to a second breakfast - traditional bread and oils alongside Moroccan tea.
Served on another beautiful rooftop terrace overlooking the surrounding scenery, we shared warm breads, dips and sauces while soaking up the incredible mountain views.
We were then given a fascinating talk about how argan oil is made and even had the chance to have a go ourselves. After purchasing some locally produced products, which quite literally made our skin feel brand new, we then headed inland to one of the oldest Berber villages in the region.
Walking through the village with our guide was one of the most eye-opening parts of the day. He explained all about Berber life, traditions and the history of the area as we made our way towards a beautiful hidden waterfall tucked away in the mountains.
Some members of the group even took the opportunity to ride donkeys up one particularly steep section of the hill, which provided plenty of entertainment for the rest of us watching.
After another scenic stroll, we arrived at a lovely local family restaurant where we were served traditional tagine for lunch. The food tasted incredible after such an active morning. By the time we eventually returned to the riad that evening, everyone was exhausted in the best possible way.
Originally we had discussed going back out into Marrakesh, but after such a full day we unanimously decided staying in sounded far more appealing. And it turned out to be one of the loveliest evenings of the whole trip.
Mohammed and the team prepared the most beautiful dinner for us on the rooftop terrace while we all dressed in white for the occasion, complete with matching headscarves which somehow made us look like either a very glamorous girl band or members of a slightly chaotic cult.
Naturally, the bubbles made another appearance too.
We spent the evening laughing, joking, sharing stories and really getting to know each other properly around the dinner table while enjoying the gorgeous food prepared for us. At one point, while I innocently went to the toilet, several of the group decided it would be hilarious to hide from me, resulting in me returning to what appeared to be an entirely abandoned rooftop. The fact they all failed miserably at hiding only made it funnier.
It was one of those evenings that you can't really plan but that end up being one of the memories you treasure the most. There was nothing overly extravagant about the evening. There was no huge event. It was just good food, endless laughter and wonderful company.
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