- EXPLORE FURTHER: Travelers Share the Top Countries to Visit When You’re On a Tight Budget
Looking out over the arid land towards the village of Ait Ben-Haddou, one could easily picture the sound of clashing swords from times gone by.
Located at the base of the Atlas Mountains in southern Morocco is Ait Ben-Haddou.
Numerous travelers undertake a four-hour journey from Marrakesh, but I opted to fly directly from Stansted to the neighboring city of Ouarzazate, which is merely a 30-minute drive away.
It marked the beginning of my seven-day journey through southern Morocco as I retraced the steps of ancient caravans heading towards the vast Sahara Desert.
Right outside Ait Ben-Haddou, the Riad Caravane hotel provided a distinctive mix of traditional Moroccan design and contemporary amenities, complemented by outstanding cuisine and hospitality.
Ait Ben-Haddou, now a Unesco The World Heritage Site, which previously earned its revenue through salt trade.
However, nowadays Ait Ben-Haddou and the neighboring town of Ouarzazate have gained fame for an entirely distinct reason.
Locally referred to as Ouarzazatewood in honor of its cinematic reputation, this area has served as the setting for numerous popular movies and television shows. including Ridley Scott’s Gladiator and its sequel, which is set for release on November 15th as "Gladiator 2" .
In the film Gladiator, Maximus is enslaved and compelled to undergo training as a gladiator.
The initial battle took place at Ait Ben-Haddou. To ensure harmony with the surrounding structures, an amphitheater was built specifically for the movie using conventional mud bricks.
Not only did Gladiator film scenes here, but parts of Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones, and The Mummy also utilized its clay structures and pathways.
As I stepped into the village under the intense rays of the August sun, seeking shelter among its tall enclosing walls proved straightforward enough. The area was a complex network of narrow passages housing numerous stores peddling goods similar to those found in the markets of Marrakesh.
These stand alongside conventional houses and spaces where animals are kept.
Similar to many residents of the area, my village guide, Mohammed, also takes up acting roles as an additional performer whenever film production teams come around. During a brief visit inside his home, he enthusiastically displayed the sword and shield he used in "Game of Thrones."
A thirty-minute drive from Ait Ben-Haddou, beyond the edges of Ouarzazate, you'll find the Atlas film studios, among the largest globally, which were inaugurated in 1983.
Notable figures from the entertainment industry such as Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, and Leonardo DiCaprio have shot scenes here. Most recently, the cast of Gladiator 2 has been filming at this location.
After bidding farewell to the film industry, I departed from the urban area towards Fint Oasis.
Despite the severe summer drought, this peaceful and verdant area still contained sizable bodies of water within its leafy river channel. Women from nearby homes could be seen washing their laundry, hanging some pieces sporadically among the shrubs for drying. I felt delighted upon seeing turtles and frogs swimming in the pool.
In the coming days, as we journeyed onward, I was slowly moving towards the eastern direction, drawing nearer to the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert.
Several notable stops occurred along the journey. The Dades area, also called the Valley of the Roses, features charming pink-hued villages scattered throughout.
The aroma of the locally cultivated roses permeates the atmosphere.
Many women from this region work together in cooperatives and collectively harvest around 700 tons of rose petals annually. These petals are then processed into rose water, which finds applications in skincare products, culinary uses, and aromatherapy.
Moving forward, we arrived at the stunning Todra Gorge, characterized by its limestone river valleys and towering cliffs that soar up to 300 meters high.
Later that day, I reached Merzouga, which serves as the entrance to the Sahara, shortly before dusk.
Our magnificent hotel – Riad Serai – was situated right at the boundary of a section of the desert known as Erg Chebbi.
The vast expanse of wind-formed sand dunes extended endlessly within my sight.
I strolled for a short distance and then sat down. The only thing I could hear was the sound of the wind, which had begun to intensify.
From afar, I could discern the outlines of camels carrying riders over the crests of the sand dunes.
The following day, a four-wheel drive vehicle transported me further into the desert. My plan was to spend the night at a Luxurious Desert Camp.
The driver made his way through the vivid orange sands as though he were tracking an invisible road.
We halted to search for fossils.
The air was scorching as we strolled along, heads lowered to examine the rugged terrain. In mere moments, I spotted an ammonite. Soon after, several others came into view.
Upon reaching the camp, I was welcomed with a cup of traditional Moroccan mint tea.
The tents were remarkable – equipped with air conditioning, a standalone bathtub, and an extremely comfortable bed, this represented top-tier luxury camping.
However, the finest was still to follow.
As the sun started to descend, I clumsily got atop a camel and was guided towards the sand dunes to witness the sunset.
During those brief moments as twilight descended, the sand appeared to change color from orange, to pink and finally to red.
Upon returning to the campsite, all the visitors gathered around the fire pit engaging in conversations and enjoying traditional live music.
Once everything had settled down, I reclined on my back and gazed up at the pristine nocturnal heavens. I had been informed that the likelihood of spotting a shooting star that evening was quite substantial.
Minutes later, a shooting star traced a path directly above.
An appropriate conclusion to an exceptionally glamorous journey.
Read more
Posting Komentar