For me life is about experiences and memories, often shared with other people so you can spend a lifetime reminiscing. Little snapshots in day-to-day life that bring you back to a previous moment.

I can't fully convey how amazing this trip really was - life changing is the best phrase. I highly recommend visiting Morocco, and off-road driving!

Along with 10 other women, I flew out to Marrakesh and drove 1500km over 4 days. Being part of a group of like-minded but inherently different people brings the best experiences. I'd never really travelled on my own before, never done any off-road driving, and never driven abroad! Let's just say this trip was me pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and the reward was GREAT.

I think I could write a guidebook on all the places we visited and things we saw. I had completely underestimated what Morocco had to offer. From the multiple UNESCO sites - the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, a fortified village on a hill dating back to the 17th century and now often used in movies, and the amazing Medina in Marrakesh - through to the unbelievable landscape of mountains, sand dunes and rock formations like I'd never seen before.

Our convoy of 5 Land Cruiser Prados was driven over tarmac, dirt, sand and stony terrain to take in just a sliver of what Morocco had to offer.

Highlights

Winding mountain roads, climbing to 2260 metres above sea level

The roads were in very good condition - fewer potholes than the UK! Out of the blue we would come across bustling villages with cars parked everywhere. It would become an assault course of dodging parked cars and moving pedestrians, as mostly there were no pavements.

Crossing a raging ford

After not seeing much water for some time, we turned the corner to be presented with a fast-flowing river! Thankfully the Prados made easy work of it.

Driving around enormous rock falls

...and past boulders twice the size of the cars. This is something I hadn't foreseen! We'd be driving good roads when suddenly the road in front of us would be gone, buried in rocks piled as high as a house.

Leading the convoy through the first off-road section - and no one got stuck

It was a brand new experience to be driving where there was no visible road. It took my eyes some time to adjust to looking for subtle tyre tracks in the dirt. Directions from the lovely guide were certainly a bit frantic at times (IYKYK). One minute we were on hard ground, the next we were on soft fine sand, picking our way through dunes between spiky bushes and rocks.

A Top Gear style race across a dry lake bed

I'm a fan of Top Gear adventures and The Grand Tour, and this adventure across Morocco was my own version! The instruction came over the radio to fan out and go for it! I was a passenger at this point, which was absolutely fine with me - I got to take in the experience whilst also keeping an eye out for "fences" (a row of large rocks marking out territory boundaries, with only a small gap for a vehicle to get through). All 5 vehicles spread out in a line, driving at 80mph and creating huge dust clouds behind us.

Driving up hillsides, feeling on top of the world physically and mentally

This is where photos can't really convey the depth and beauty of what you're seeing. I also had the fascinating experience of driving into a dust devil. For a few moments we couldn't see a thing and the whole car shook!

Camping in a tent in the desert and watching the sun rise

This really was a fantastic experience - after driving for hours you suddenly come across a collection of tents in the desert. We were fed and watered in a large dining tent, then partook in some hilarious entertainment of instrument playing and dancing. The sort of evening that makes your cheeks hurt from laughing so much. Early the next morning a handful of us made it outside to watch the sun rise out of the dunes - another breathtaking moment.

Dancing in the desert

What else do you do when a car gets stuck in the sand? Not everyone can help dig out, so we had the music blaring and danced around.

Staying in beautiful hotels with the best bunch of women

We didn't rough it on this trip. The accommodation and food were excellent, which was just what you needed after being on the road for 7 hours.

Seeing camels

In their natural environment, with their calves at their side - a good reason to stop the cars and observe from a distance.

Driving over monstrous sand dunes

With Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer blasting out, whilst our guide hung on to the outside of the vehicle - that really was something. I didn't know sand dunes could be so big. Driving on sand is a nerve-wracking and exhilarating experience.

"Push push push" - meaning keep your foot down on the gas - will forever remind me of this amazing experience. It also serves as an appropriate phrase to push yourself to try new things. That is what these experiences are all about - memories that will never leave you.

Watch the reel

Can't see it? Watch it on Instagram.

Thanks !

A big thank you to Laura Harris at Be Right Back for organising - I can't wait to go on another adventure.