Le Jardin aux Etoiles
Riad between Agadir and Taroudant, in southern Morocco
Holiday rental with a resident of Swiss nationality
De bois et de pierre. Photo Salima Naji
De bois et de pierre. Photo Salima Naji
Discoveries: above 20 (very) good addresses
The exceptional Valley of Paradise is hidden in the depths of one of the last foothills of the Atlas before it descends into the Atlantic, at Agadir. It is reached by a sometimes bumpy road that winds through the mountain. You have to earn it and then take a marked footpath.
The Valley of Paradise was made famous by chance. A German couple stricken with the disease went through it and left cured six months later.
Having become a gathering place for hippies in the 60s and 70s, the aptly named Paradise Valley is still shrouded in this atmosphere today. Jimi Hendriix has left his mark in the region. Myth or reality ?
Two possible routes
The most used road to reach the Valley of Paradise passes through the locality of Aourir, located by the sea. About fifteen kilometers after this locality, whose crossing has been enormously improved, a road sign indicates the direction of a pedestrian path which leads tonatural pools with turquoise waters.
Reed huts
Arrived at destination, you leave your car in the parking lot, which will require you to return a few dirhams to the caretaker. We take a path that climbs first, before descending. Then begins the parade of reed huts which welcome the visitor, here for a tajine, there for a drink or a mint tea, known as "Moroccan whiskey" (see the animated gallery below on the left).
The landscape is superb, punctuated by the maze of date palms and abundant flora. At the edge of the wadi, whose banks become more and more rocky, we come across tables and chairs sunk in the water. It is a refreshing invitation when the temperature rises.
In less than an hour, by a path rising on the hillside, which becomes panoramic in its upper part, you reach the confines of the Valley of Paradise, where the natural pools are as many places for games, even sports, as shown in one of the videos below.
SOS cleanliness
Let's not hide a big black spot: rubbish of all kinds, in particular plastic bottles, too often litter the ground, destroying the sublime beauty of the place. Signs encouraging cleanliness have been placed along the path anda page has been created on Facebook in order to fight this scourge. Finally, nature's surest allies are still the heavy rains of late autumn, when they come and wash away everything in their path...
However, initiatives have been taken within the framework of theMarrakesh COP22. The 1st Environment Day at the end of August 2016 saw a regular operation ofgarbage hunt, on the theme "Keep it clean, keep it zouin". Now 20 waste bins and awareness panels dot the course.
Leave early in the morning
One can devote half a day, even a day to the discovery of the "Valley of Paradise". It is also possible to continue until Imouzzer, then until the natural swimming pool of Win-Timdouine, before returning to our rental villa. Be careful though: this program is ambitious and supposes leaving the Jardin aux Etoiles early!
Finally, let's point out to horse lovers the three-day hike to the Valley of Paradise proposed by Amodou Horse.
 Land of...All around the Jardin aux Etoiles, lands of flavour, escape, leisure, know-how, coastline and welcome. |  Tafraout via TizourganeIn the heart of the Anti-Atlas: the restored village of Tizourgane and its table d'hôtes, before setting off again for Tafraout the rose. |  From painted rocks to Aït MansourAn artistic installation near Tafraout, followed by an extraordinary journey through the Aït Mansour palm grove. |  Secret AtlasA vertiginous track takes you to Imilmaiss, then to Amassa, a charmingly unspoilt town where tourism is unheard of. |  Claudio Bravo PalaceThe palace built near Taroudant by the great hyper-realist painter Claudio Bravo is now open to visitors. His memory floats in the air... |
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 Sahara Desert at M'HamidVia Ouarzazate and Zagora, arrive in the desert sands at M'Hamid. Try a bivouac. What a fascination! |  Tiznit: walls and heart restoredThe town of Tiznit is surrounded by 19th-century walls. Its blue spring and its heart have been magnificently restored. |  Great south : sublime seas and other secretsThe Khnifiss National Park is unique in the world: a strip of coastal sea, a lake area and a vast stretch of desert. |  Legzira archesThis unparalleled wild beauty has been given to Morocco by the ocean. One of the most incredible walks by the sea! |  Amtoudi and its fortified granariesIn the Anti-Atlas, two fortified granaries (igoudar) perched on rocky outcrops have been restored. |
 Little-known and fascinating IgilizThese ruins, the trace of which has been lost, are perched on a spur designed to resist attackers and from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view. |  To Marrakech via the Tizi n'TestA magnificent and epic journey to the foot of Toubkal! It's a good day's drive, and there's so much to see that you can stop whenever you like. |  Legendary Marrakech30 assets and weaknesses of the Ochre City! It takes around 3 hours by motorway to get to the Jardin aux Etoiles. |  Essaouira the jew under the windEssaouira is the last Jewish city in Morocco. Swept by the trade winds, it also boasts a rich architectural and maritime past. |