Walk from Setti Fadma to Tadrant

We had already seen part of the The Ourika Valley on our way to the hotel from Marrakech. We then saw the upper part as we drove to Setti Fadma for the start of our walk. It is a very green valley with red slopes on either side. At this time of the year, the valley is sprinkled with white-flowered fruit trees - we gather that they are peach and possibly some plum. Setti Fadma is a large village at the end of the road with a pink minaret. It is situated on either side of the river and has a few cafés and hotels.

We were introduced to today's guide who set of up the hill at quite a pace and didn't really stop until lunch time.We walked along a rough stone track by or in the river bed, passing many small fields and terraces and then ascended a mule track for the rest of the walk. We picnicked (on sardines, oranges and arab bread) by some tiny terraces and a stream and then went on up to the small berber village of Tadrant. The stone houses are clustered below the path and colourful children and women came out to see us. We were told that most of the men work in Marrakech during the week. The mountains at the head of the Ourika valley are dry brown-red rock with little growth apart from the small cultivated terraces. Three teachers passed us on the way to their school in a remote berber village - they teach the children arabic (the berber language has no written form).

We watched the sunset from the hotel terrace and listened to the frogs' evening chorus.The nearby slopes are covered by red earth which seems to get redder as the sun goes down. The distant mountains of the High Atlas have a patchy covering of snow.

Supper was Morrocan salad and a tagine of beef, courgettes, carrots and potatoes. The hotel sells bottles of red and white moroccan wine - about 100 dirhams each. It was quite cold by bed time.

First dose of 'Moroccan whisky' on arrival at the hotel	The walk above Setti Fadma
	The berber village of Tadrant

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