Travelling only a short distance north-eastwards from Marrakech (about 35 kms; about 45 minutes), across the Marrakech Plain, spending a day amongst the villagers and village activities of Douar Oulad Elguern is most enlightening and very stimulating.

This small, traditional village is little changed since its founding about 200 years ago. Farming the main economic activity here but changing climate and recent years of successive droughts has made survival here more and more marginal. There is evidence of this all around.

Spending a day with the village community is very special. Nothing is "put on" for visitors, all that you see and experience is as it would be on a normal day; it is all totally real.

Travelling from Marrakech, you travel across the Marrakech Plain, passing several traditional villages on the way. On arrival in Douar Oulad Elguern, you will be welcomed with the traditional tea ceremony in a typical village home's salon.

There are many opportunities to engage with the very warm and welcoming villagers and to also participate in several of their daily activities.

You first enjoy a traditional "second breakfast" in the salon, typically consisting of delicious home-made bread, olive oil, olives, honey and butter (all foodstuffs from the land around).

After all the introductions and eating, it is then time to participate in some of the village's daily activities; time to roll up your sleeves … and trouser legs!

For females: Bread making, couscous making, vegetable preparation with some of the ladies of the village (no doubt with many children around so lots of informal fun) are the main activities. These are done in the ladies’ homes.

For males: Fetching water from the village well (with a donkey) perhaps, making traditional mud & straw bricks, making charcoal, taking a walk around the village and the land of the community are the main activities.

Everyone reconvenes back in the salon in early afternoon, with many stories to tell eachother of their varied morning’s village activities. Then your group enjoys a large and sumptuous lunch, traditionally eaten in a salon, around a round table and using fingers (traditionally washed first using a basin and kettle; forks and spoons available too!).

After some small siesta time, there is the opportunity to ask questions, discuss and otherwise evaluate what the day has provided for everyone. Perhaps too there might be time for taking a further stroll around the village, to see and learn of the challenges facing the community. If any artisans are working then their little workshops might be visited.