Most Inspirational Moment
So many. Negotiating the souks - still not sure how I managed to find my way out! The amazing mosaics on the walls and floors of the kasbahs and palaces. Haggling over the price of a taxi journey to save maybe 50p! Walking in the mountains. The delicious al fresco lunches prepared and delivered by one man on his donkey on two of the walking days. Spotting birds I'd never seen before (it helped that there was a great great birder on the trip - thankyou Joe!). Eating Christmas cake on the terrace as the sun went down (brought by one of the group to share).
Thoughts on Group Leader
Hassan wonderful. He was very welcoming and friendly from the moment he met us all at the airport. As well as guiding us on the walks he worked hard in the gite, serving us meals, arranging a heater and in lots of subtle ways was genuinely kind and helpful throughout the trip. He made sure that everyone was catered for.However, the guide in Marrakesh (Mohammed) was not so impressive. There was no "orientation" included as part of the guided tour. Very disappointing. We were taken to two retail emporiums - one a pharmacy were we were given a hard sell demonstration of various lotions and potions - the other a carpet place where they trapped a number of the group and tried to sell their wares. I can only assume that these were the places that offered the best commission to the guide.
Advice for Potential Travellers
There isn't that much walking - only 2.5 days of walking in the mountains plus an hour up to the gite and back again on the first and last days. A lot of spare time in Marrakesh, but that may have been down to the flight times. Some of the group managed to fit in a massage and hammam on return to Marrakesh. Haggle everywhere. Cold in the gite at night. We saw very little of the community; a few people working in the fields and children playing on their way back from school. Go for tea at the Berber house. It gives you the opportunity to see into a typical yard and understand a little of what goes on behind the locked doors and gates. Bonus - we sampled some delicious cakes and fresh local nuts.Take earplugs. Go soon.