Caleche Ride -a guide tour by a traditional taxi – a horse-drawn carriage. See places of interest in the town & its walls. | Pick up outside the front gate. | See the most complete town walls anywhere in Morocco, the tannery, the main squares, the Berber souks and much more as well as many of aspects of daily life. | A laminated card is provided for you to use during the ride so that you can follow read about the points of interest. | Early during your stay, perhaps around sunset |
Cookery lesson | Kitchen | Ingredients, cooking methods and vessels explained. Hands on experience. | Option to buy our electronic cook book (suggested donation100 MAD) which benefits charitable causes in the Taroudant area. | Some days |
Craft workshops (henna artistry, leather, jewellery, bamboo crafts and stone carving) | In the souk & other workshops in town or if henna in the courtyard. | Sessions usually last 2-3 hours. You learn a little about the history, cultural & economic significance of the trade as well as making an object. | Generally limited numbers for each craft due to the small workspace that the artisans have. For larger groups artisan comes to the ecolodge. | Any day, usually mornings. Not normally on Fridays. |
Feast for the Senses | In the Activity Room | That’s a secret, but it’s great fun, relaxing and enjoyable | Minimum group size of 12 | Evening after dinner, usually on your last evening. |
Hammam Visit: our own or the local hammam | Dining room for briefing. | The process will be explained beforehand. You will be covered in soft soap, then henna & rhassoul mud in hot steamy room(s). Instructions to remind you in our hammam. Someone will be appointed to help you in the public hammam. | Take underwear to wear in the hammam, toiletries, towel and a bottle of drinking water. | Usually 10 am or 4 pm |
Henna tattoos | Outside, often in the courtyard | Decorate the top of your feet, hands or arm. Effectiveness depends on skin quality. | Henna can stain – avoid wearing white clothes! | Afternoon – to dry in sun before you eat. |
Language lesson (Moroccan Arabic/Berber/French) | Activity room or dining room. | We usually teach words & phrases used as greetings & when shopping. | Moroccan Arabic normally taught. Let us know if you’d like to learn anything particular | Available if staffing allows it. |
Lunch served in a traditional village house in a Berber village | In the High Atlas in a Berber village – part of the outing that all clients are offered. | An opportunity to have a taste of simple village fare & dining – mint tea, fresh bread and a lightly spiced but tasty tagine or a traditional barley couscous. | The meal is suitable for vegetarians & vegans. | Any day that the Berber Village excursion is timetabled. |
Music and/or Dancing (Arabic, Berber, Classical Moroccan, Sufi or Gnawa) | Usually in the Activity room or in the courtyard, | You listen to a local live band. If it is dance music (most of it is) some of the band and our staff dance and they hope you will join in. | Minimum group size of 12. | Late afternoon before dinner or evening after dinner. |