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berberlands - ecotourism
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    • Argan Forest and Cooperative
    • Cascade walk & tea at a local family
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    • Riverside walk "Oued Ksob" (half day)
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    • The Sunday Market in Had Draa & Local Food Tasting
    • Wednesday market & Argan cooperative
    • Take a traditional Berber Cooking Class
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    • Walk with the Donkeys
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    • Desert Retreat April/May 2021 *postponed
    • Yoga Nature Culture June 2023
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    • Eco Textile Workshops *postponed
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Berber Market in Ida Ogourd & Visit of an Argan cooperative

HALF DAY 

Rural markets usually take place once a week. On Wednesdays in the village of Ida Ogourd locals do their weekly shopping and meet ‘n’ greet friends. This market is a friendly, family affair which takes place on a small hill in a fertile area only 20km southeast of Essaouira.

Market-goers traditionally travel by donkey to get the goods they need for the forthcoming week: the “Donkey Parking Lot” surrounding the market is a sight to behold!

At the market you find vegetables, fruits, spices, housewares, tools, and construction materials as well as various services that are offered: a blacksmith putting new horseshoes onto donkeys’ hooves; a welder repairing pans, kettles, and teapots; a cobbler resoling shoes.
Of special note are barbers under tents - amusing barber shops, indeed!

As we stroll through the market we pick up interesting details about farmers’ lives in this region accompanied by background information on Berber culture in the Haha province. We finish our tour of the market with tea as we observe the busy scenery.

Afterwards we visit an Argan cooperative to learn about the production of precious Argan Oil - in all of the world this is a product unique to this area. We watch the Berber women at every step in extracting oil from the kernels of the Argan fruits using a delicate, traditional process done by hand. Of course, we taste this delicious oil that bears the name “Morocco’s Gold”.
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DETAILS:
  • The tour starts at 9:00h and ends at 12:30h. Pick up from one of the Medina gates.
  • Level: Easy.
  • Tea and transport included.
  • Price: 35€/350DH per person. Kids from 3-12 years 25€/250DH.
  • ONLY on WEDNESDAYS!
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