English
Fatma Moussem is a local religious festival that is normally held in late August for 3 days in the Ourika Valley (south of Marrakech). This is a magnificent experience that you don’t want to miss. Open your eyes and ears and let yourself experience the Setti Fatma.
Photo: Josep Renalias
The Setti Fatma moussem is one of the most popular celebrations in Morocco. Although this is a religious festival, non-Muslims are welcome to come. However, the only place where you won’t be able to access, if you aren’t Muslim, is the Koubba of Setti Fatma, where the religious events take place. Most of the festival’s program takes place in Ourika Valley, a village 60 kilometers south of Marrakech, where no one will ask you for a “Muslim card”. This is a wonderful experience that is becoming increasingly popular among tourists around the world.
Ourika Valley, located on the east of Jebel Toubkal, is well known for its magnificent green grass and also because of the famous Setti Fatma village where the August’s moussem takes place. This is a paradise destination. Next to this beautiful village you’ll find the famous Toubkal; there you’ll have the chance to climb the Toubkal, which is the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains and one of the most prominent mountains in the African continent. There you could even ski in winter; have you ever imagined skiing in Africa? Yeah, it is actually possible.
Due to its second to none 7 waterfalls, this town attracts hundreds of tourists looking to connect with nature every summer. During the winter this area is only inhabited by Berbers, but during the summer things change. This is one of the favorite holiday destinations for Moroccans, besides the beach, because of the mild temperatures in comparison to the rest of the country. This is a great place to escape from the heat waves in Morocco.
In that area you’ll have the chance to eat delicious beef or chicken tagines, cous cous with all kinds of vegetables and lamb (which is usually locally produced), as well as sweets made with honey, spices and nuts, which by the way, are perfect to get extra energy, if you are planning to climb the Toubkal.
Along the way, you will meet many women offering henna tattoos (the original orange one); don’t use any other color if you don’t want to get any allergy. I recommend that if you want to get a henna tattoo, to make it with the authentic Arabic henna, the orange one.
The best way to get to Setti Fatma is by taking a “Grand Taxi ´that departs from Marrakech central bus station. This is a great option to save time and money. The other option is to rent a car, but the roads are not in the best condition and there is no chance to go by train. Take the “Grand Taxi ´and you’ll enjoy a few kilometers, with air conditioning.
DianaRPretel
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