Day 7 (May 6)

We hired a cab/taxi (Dh 650/US$80 and US$400 if its 4XD – which would cover more places but bumpier and Jean-François, the usual driver got other commitment) to go to Mountains Atlas. The journey took nearly three hours. Shortly before reaching our destination we stopped by and toured the Kasbah Tamadot*, a five-star spa owned by Richard Branson. Then we proceeded to the High Atlas. We were told to take an hour trek to the Kasbah du Toubkal** and via a local village for lunch. It took us an extra half hour to get there as we took some wrong turns and had to seek help from two local kids (with very gentlemanly manner) and a local guide touring four American ladies. Since we didn’t made advance booking and order so we’d to settle for the standard three-course set lunch costing US$40 per head. The food was about average but the vista spectacular and weather great. Further there’re no bees, flies (just one or perhaps two), mosquitoes, etc. It was totally an unforgettable experience.

We returned to Marrakech around 16:00. At the suggestion of Jean-François, we had French cuisine at Jbel Toubkal for a change. We were seated (luckily) at the roof terrace; and the dinner cost us only US$150 since we didn’t order any alcoholic drinks. My foie-gras & duck breast was quite good and so was Maggie’s kabab but Michelle’s shrimps were rather flat. As desert I ordered crème brûlée which was ok but M&M’s chocolate fondant was rather so so.

* http://www.i-escape.com/hotel.php?hotel_key=MC016

** http://www.kasbahdutoubkal.com/