Part II - Morocco : Skoura Valley , Fint Oasis & Getting invited for lunch at a village home

Day 3

Next morning, I took a taxi to the Skoura Valley. Due to heavy rains a few weeks ago, there was a flooded river acting as a barrier between us and the Kasbah. I considered crossing it, but it would have been a terrible idea because of the strong currents. However, the distance was sufficeint to get a good view of the Kasbah from afar

The majestic Kasbah and the flooded river

Fint Oasis

My driver, Hussain, was initially shy but opened up after a few conversations. We got along so well later that he invited me for lunch at his home, which was near our next destination, the Fint Oasis. I fell in love with this oasis the moment I set my eyes on it. I told Hussain that I wanted to explore the area on my own for a while and that I would find my way to his house, which wasn’t far away.

I walked through the date trees, and it was a unique experience as it was the first time I had ever seen an oasis in real life. As I wandered, local fauna began revealing itself. I saw frogs roaming beneath the trees, and while strolling along a stream, I noticed a small creature crawling beneath my feet. It was a Mediterranean freshwater turtle. I gently touched its shell, but it wasn’t very comfortable, so I quickly took a video and left it alone. It was gorgeous. As I headed back, I saw another specimen on the shoreline. At first, I thought it was another turtle, but a closer look confirmed it was a scorpion. Of course, I didn’t put my hands anywhere near it. There’s a difference between thrill-seeking and stupidity, and I knew which side of the line I was on. I was lucky to spot such wildlife, as it’s not easy to come by.

Hilltop view of the Fint Oasis

Date palm trees surrounded by rugged cliffs

The Fint Oasis

The turtle I spotted near the oasis

On my way to Hussain’s home for lunch, I met an old man in traditional clothing who showed me the directions . When I arrived at his village, nestled deep in the Fint Valley, his whole family was waiting for me. They offered me freshly picked dates as an appetizer and welcomed me into their home. Hussain’s sister had cooked couscous along with freshly picked legumes for me.  To add context, they expected absolutely nothing in return from me. Everything he and his family showed towards me was genuine compassion for their guest

The old man who showed me the way to Hussain's home

Hussain's village

Couscous and legumes that was prepared for me

Me along with Hussain, his sister and the village kids

After the meal, Hussain eagerly showed me around his village. There was this small makeshift structure which I learnt was the bakery for the whole village. Their life was so beautifully simple.

The bakery for the whole village

A Donkey

He then took me to his grandmother's old house. It was a traditional Berber style house built with clay. The rustic aura of the place still captivates me.

Hussain's brother showing me how the local bread is cooked

One of the entrance into the house

The Kitchen setup

A lady doing household work

A flock of curious sheep

I bid him goodbye after he dropped me off at Ouarzazate. I bought some chocolates at a local shop for the kids I met at his village.

After the drop off, I headed to the CTM station as I had a bus to catch at 18:00 to the desert town of Mhamid. After a 4-hour journey through a scenic sub-Saharan landscape, I reached M'hamid el Ghizlane, the gateway to the Sahara desert. It was a tiny hamlet in the middle of nowhere. When a local saw me, a lost tourist with a heavy backpack roaming the streets at 10 PM, he kindly offered me a bike ride to my lodge.

I was starving, and the caretaker generously gave me some leftover Moroccan bread (khobz) and cheese. As they were also having a late dinner, we all ate together and chatted for a while. Then, I called it a night since I had to wake up early the next day.