About this website
Our philosophy is that it is much better to work directly with Moroccans than to go through some agencies, which often benefit European-based businesses more than local people. Not only is this a form of fairer trade and ecotourism, but it also allows you a deeper opportunity to discover the real Morocco...
About Us
‘Michael and Helen Colley’
We live in Manchester, in the often cold and rainy north of England, so the climate of Morocco holds definite attractions for us! Michael is a semi-retired history teacher, but his passion is black and white landscape photography, using medium format film and the traditional craft of the darkroom. Helen works as a university researcher, and loves languages. She is working hard at learning Tachelhit (the Berber language) so she can talk with local women.
Mountains and desert
In 2000, we came to Morocco together for the first time, and fell in love with the country – its cities, its mountains, its deserts – and the Berber people, with their tremendous warmth and hospitality. Since then, we have returned many times, and have now leased and renovated an old Berber house, ‘Taddart Taourdiyt’ (‘The Rose House’), in the calm of the lush Dades Valley. This is a very beautiful area to explore, but also the perfect centre for 4x4 excursions and trekking into the High Atlas or the Sahara Desert, just half a day’s drive away.
Culture and friendship
From the High Atlas to the dunes of the Sahara, there has been so much for us to discover and enjoy. Not only can you find stunning landscapes, as you will see from our Photo Gallery, but also insights into a rich cultural world of heritage, music, dance, crafts, cuisine and – most important of all for us – friendship between peoples. Through this website, we want to share a little of our Moroccan experience and encourage more people to visit this beautiful country and get to know its people and their culture.
Ecotourism benefits local people
We aren’t tour organisers or operators, and we don’t rent our house out. But we can tell you how to avoid ‘middle men’, and book 4x4 excursions or tours directly with a wonderful Berber driver and guide. In this way, you can:
- visit remote and unspoiled areas
- meet with nomads and villagers
- enjoy evenings with local musicians
- even get an invitation to dine with a Berber family in their home.