Rafting Expedition Ahansal River
Day 1 – Lunch and Dinne
rYou will be met at your hotel or riad around 10am by your guides and whisked away from the madness of Marrakech to begin your three day adventure into the heart of Morocco. A lunch stop in the small village of Ouzoud will allow you to stretch your legs and and meander along the various souqs stalls, making your way down to the picturesque restaurants, where you’ll be served a traditional Moroccan lunch of tajines, brochettes and couscous with the backdrop of the breath-taking 110 metre Cascades D’Ouzoud. After lunch a quick walk to the bottom of the cascades to take in the grandeur of the setting and watch as the Barbary Apes, a species of tailless monkeys, entertainingly jump and swing from tree to tree or sit in the spray of the cascasdes, as curious about you as you are them.
From Ouzoud you will drive further into the Atlas Mountains and it’s hidden secrets. Up and over the crest of one of the many hills reveals the panoramic view of Bin El Ouidane, a spectacular crystal blue lake framed by the majestic red mountains of Morocco. Get your cameras out for this stop! It’s the perfect photo opportunity. A drive around the lake and over the engineering feat of the El Ouidane dam, will put you in the town of Ourouizarte. Here you will make a brief stop to pick up and organize the final few items before heading into the heart of the river and your first evening in a Berber camp.
Day 2 – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Wake up at your leisure to the sun shining, birds singing and freshly brewedcoffee. Breakfast of fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereal, granola and toast is served shortly thereafter. A leisurely pack of camp and loading the rafts follows breakfast then a rafting safety brief. We will take the time to explain the equipment and the fundamentals of rafting. The briefing finished, we begin our adventure down the river. Lunch is served about 3 hours downstream. Enjoy fresh sandwiches, cold drinks and biscuits as you lounge on the rocks bask in the afternoon sun.
After lunch, you immediately paddle into the next section of this fast-flowing river and make your way to the the first rapid of the afternoon. You’ll continue to cruise by some spectacular scenery and through rollercoaster wave trains arriving at our camp mid to late afternoon with time to sit back and read a book or explore the area.
After lunch, you immediately paddle into the next section of this fast-flowing river and make your way to the the first rapid of the afternoon. You’ll continue to cruise by some spectacular scenery and through rollercoaster wave trains arriving at our camp mid to late afternoon with time to sit back and read a book or explore the area.
Day 3 – Breakfast and Lunch
As the sun hits camp, awaken to the smell of freshly brewed coffee once again. It’s an earlier start to the day with camp packed and on the river for 9am. ‘Morning Surprise’, the first rapid of the day greets you around the corner from camp and from there you cruise down the river, through magnificent gorges and incredible rock formations, the real hidden treasures of Morocco. On this section of river you will truly feel you’re in the middle of nowhere. It’s almost impossible for anyone to venture into this part of the country except by river, unless of course you’re a wild monkey. Look up high for them, they’re watching you paddle by from above. You will be amazed and astounded by the beauty surrounding you. The final leg of the journey is not for the faint paddler. It’s time to really hone your skills and dig deep. In order to get to the pristine waters of Bin El Ouidane you will need to first navigate through ‘The Soup’. The confluence of where the river meets the lake is home to a very large and thick amount of debris. This is where the dead wood ends up so buckle down and paddle hard. Once you’re through it, you’re home free and the crystal clear waters of the lake are a welcome sight and our pontoon boat is a rafters reward. Hop on the boat and let it do the work as it tows your raft to the take-out while you lie in the warm afternoon sun and sample an exquiste ‘floating lunch’.
Take in the views of this extensive lake and reflect on the past days adventure. We arrive at our vehicle where you can continue to sit back and relax and probably fall asleep, as we take you back to Marrakech to your hotel and riad.
Three full days where you’ll have experienced the beauty of Morocco which very few people will ever see!