Trip Summary
From the colourful, chaotic Marrakech medinas to the vast, serene Sahara Desert, this tour immerses you in the rich cultures and landscapes of South Morocco. Stay in traditional accommodation like riads and a desert camp and explore villages off the beaten track like Aroumd in the Atlas Mountains. Feast on tagine and couscous, visit the grand Ait Benhaddou kasbah, travel through the Sahara on a camel’s back during sunset and relax in seaside Essaouira. This ten-day tour is perfect for travellers looking to discover the diversity of Morocco’s south in a short amount of time.
Why You’ll love this trip
- Take a guided hike through the High Atlas Mountains and spend a night with an Amazigh family in the traditional village of Aroumd.
- Travel in a camel convoy and a 4WD to Erg Chigaga in the Sahara Desert – the most majestic place to watch the sunset – and spend a night in a Bedouin camp under the North African stars.
- Recharge with two days in seaside Essaouira where Jimi Hendrix spent time in the 60s, and explore the whitewashed houses, lively port and tiny picturesque alleyways.
- Explore Ait Benhaddou, a World Heritage site with a grand history and a long list of film and TV credits, on a walking tour with a local guide who knows all the local insights.
- Visit an Argan oil women’s coop and duck in and out of souqs to haggle with traders as your local leader helps you to navigate the 16th-century walled city of Taroudant.
Is this trip right for you?
- In 2024, Ramadan will take place from 10 March to 08 April. Travelling during this holy month can be a rewarding cultural experience, however some regular services may not be available during the daytime, such as restaurants or coffee bars, and occasionally travel can be disrupted by events. Your leader will adjust the itinerary accordingly, but please consider your travel arrangements carefully before booking travel for this period.
- Some of the accommodation on this trip is more basic, like the desert camp and the homestays, but these will be great opportunities to gain a deeper insight into local life.
- When travelling in Morocco, temperatures can get very hot in the summer while in the desert, so ensure you bring appropriate sun protection. At night and in the mountains, temperatures can drop to freezing, so ensure you also bring layers. Please refer to our Essential Trip Information for more details.
Trip Overview
- Start Marrakech, Morocco
- Finish Marrakech, Morocco
- Theme Explorer
- Destinations Morocco
- Physical rating
- Style Original
- Ages Min 15
- Group size Min 1 – Max 16
Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Marrakech in Morocco. This vibrant city has a myriad of things to see, do, taste, smell and enjoy! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. There’s not much time to explore Marrakech this, but if you arrive early there’s plenty to see and do. Just speak to your booking agent to organise extra accommodation.
Accomodation
|
|
MealsThere are no meals included on this day. |
Add on activities
|
Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and emergency contact information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
This morning, take a short drive into the High Atlas Mountains to the village of Imlil. When you arrive, store your main luggage and load your overnight bags onto pack mules. Make the 1-hour trek to the peaceful village of Aroumd. Perched on a rocky outcrop, the remote village offers stunning views across the High Atlas Mountains and a unique opportunity to experience traditional Amazigh culture. Spend the night in a family-run mountain gite where, surrounded by the smell of woodstoves and bread, you’ll enjoy traditional hospitality and homecooked food. Use the rest of the day to explore the village and the surrounding farmlands. If the group is up for it and weather permits, there will be a chance to hike to the pilgrimage shrine of Sidi Chamharouch (approximately 4 hours return). Regardless of your fitness levels, the gentle pace of Aroumd makes it a special place to explore beyond the reach of the modern world.
Accomodation
|
Included activities
|
Meals
|
Special information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. The optional hike to the Sidi Chamharouch shrine requires appropriate footwear. A pair of good walking shoes with rigid and grippy sole will be sufficient. You will walk over well-trodden paths that may be muddy and unstable.
Facilities at the homestay are shared (both the bathroom and sleeping arrangements) but cosy, comfortable and definitely a unique and rare opportunity to stay with a local family.
This morning, journey along mountain roads and over Morocco’s highest pass, Tizi n’Tichka (2260 metres above sea level), to Ait Benhaddou on the edges of the Sahara. Perched on a hilltop and almost unchanged since the 11th century, Ait Benhaddou is one of Morocco’s most iconic sites and a World Heritage site. It was once an important stop for caravans passing through as they carried salt across the Sahara, returning with gold, ivory and slaves. Does it look familiar? The town has a long list of film and TV credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator! Enjoy a leader-led walk through the winding streets of the Old Town, making your way to the top of the hill, from where you can enjoy the views across the surrounding plains. Your evening is free, with the option of partaking in a local cooking demonstration and meal of Morocco’s most famous dishes: couscous and tagine.
Accomodation
|
Included activities
|
Meals
|
Add on activities
|
Special information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
This morning you’ll journey south towards the Sahara Desert, stopping in the regularly used film location of Ouarzazate along the way. Continue to travel through the lush Draa Valley to Zagora, a small oasis town on the Sahara fringe that is perfect for an overnight stop. Here, take a stroll through the palm groves, explore the ksars and wander around the surrounding countryside.
Accomodation
|
Add on activities
|
Meals
|
Special information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
After breakfast today, you’ll drive along the rugged and desolate Jbel Tadrart ranges and through seas of sand past the occasional desert oasis of date palms, to the township of Tamegroute. Here, you’ll visit an intriguing library filled with ancient scripts of science, literature, the Koran and stories of the prophet Mohammed (subject to unregulated opening times). After, join a local guide to uncover the underground Kasbah. Enjoy a hearty lunch of Medfouna – nicknamed the ‘Amazigh Pizza’ – a crispy flatbread filled with a variety of smoky ingredients like beef, egg and vegetables. Then, carry on driving to the frontier town of M’Hamid. From here, your group will jump into 4WD vehicles and drive to the massive Erg Chigaga dunes. This is the largest dune in the Moroccan Sahara and one of the less asited – meaning your experience will be further from surrounding towns and villages, making for a unique experience. Arrive in the late afternoon and then all aboard for the experience of a lifetime – riding on the backs on camels into the Saharan sunset. Tonight, enjoy a night under the stars at your desert camp.
Accomodation
|
Included activities
|
Meals
|
Special information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
The camel trek through the Sahara is a highlight of the trip, but if you’d rather, you can walk alongside the camels instead. The trip takes about an hour. The camp is simple, with bedding and basic shared toilet facilities. The blankets provided are warm enough between April and October, but you may like to bring your own sleeping sheet or jumper for extra warmth during the months between November and March. Electricity is not available in the camp, so it’s recommended you come prepared with fully charged phones, cameras and everything else you may need.
Travel to the market town of Oulad Berhil today after breakfast, stopping along the way to stretch your legs and take in some epic views. Today will be a long travel day, so stock up on snacks, your favourite playlists and your go-to book. Enjoy desert scenery along a route that’s actaully a reserve for the Indigenous argan trees. You’ll make a pitstop at a local woman’s cooperative specialising in argan oil production. This coop provides women and their families in the rural area with extra income for their community, promoting independence. You’ll learn about how the argan is extracted from the trees, how it’s produced and then have the opportunity to try the Amlou paste – a common dip in Morocco made with almond and argan oil. Arrive at your accommodation by the early evening. Your riad for tonight has a steam bath and a pool – the perfect way to relax after a long day of travel!
Accomodation
|
Included activities
|
Meals
|
Special information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours.
In the morning, take to the souqs of Taroudant and haggle with local traders for silver jewellery or colourful Moroccan ceramics and mosaics. After, head west to the coastal town of Essaouira. The name Essaouira means ‘pretty picture’, which is appropriate, since it’s such a picturesque town! Within the stone ramparts, you’ll find whitewashed houses with bright blue shutters, art galleries and wood workshops – ironically, the perfect spot for photos! This evening is free for you to explore or relax.
Accomodation
|
Meals
|
Special information:
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Today after breakfast, join a local guide for a walking tour through the old medina, Jewish mellah, port and skala (sea wall). Essaouira is one of the oldest port cities in the country, and fishing here is still quite traditional. You’ll have the chance to meet one of the expert fishermen in the port, who will tell the group all about their story and show you some of the tricks they use, what type of fish to catch and what seasons mean to them. After, enjoy free time for the rest of the day. Jimi Hendrix spent a lot of time here during the 60s, so you know this is a great spot to sit, people watch and listen to the sound of the ocean. Maybe grab a freshly cooked plate of the day’s catch at the port or browse the plentiful shops and intriguing art galleries. This is also a hotspot for surfing, so consider taking a lesson if that’s your thing. If you’d prefer to relax, don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in a hammam (Moroccan day spa) or local-style bath.
Accomodation
|
Included activities
|
Meals
|
Add on activities
|
Enjoy a free morning in Essaouira, then catch a bus back to Marrakech in the afternoon. Enjoy free time when you arrive, to explore or partake in optional activities. Walk around the famed Jemaa el-Fnaa Square – one of the largest public squares in the world – and take it all in. From fire dancers to performers and street food carts, this is somewhere you actiually want to get lost. Maybe check out the Palais Bahia, a superb example of Muslim architecture, or the ruins of the Palais Badi. Join your group tonight for an optional farewell dinner.
Accomodation
|
Add on activities
|
Meals
|
Special information
Your travel time today is approximately 3 hours.
Your adventure ends after breakfast. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Marrakech (subject to availability). Just speak to your booking agent.
Meals
|
Meals
9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
4×4, Private vehicle, Public bus, Taxi
Accommodation
Camp site (1 night), Gite (1 night), Hotel (4 nights), Riad (3 nights)
Activities
- Aroumd – High Atlas Mountains guided hike
- Ait Benhaddou – Leader-led ksar walk
- Tamegroute – Ancient Library
- Tamegroute – Underground kasbah guided tour
- Tamegroute – Medfouna lunch (Amazigh pizza)
- Sahara Desert – Sunset Camel Ride
- Taroudant – Argan oil women coop visit
- Essaouira – Guided walking tour
- Essaouira – Local fisherman visit
Add on activities
- Marrakech – Marjorelle Gardens – MAD165
- Marrakech – Palais Bahia – MAD70
- Marrakech – Palais Badi – MAD70
- Marrakech – Saadian Tombs – MAD70
- Marrakech – Medersa Ben Youssef – MAD40
- Marrakech – Museum of Marrakech – MAD40
- Marrakech – Hamam (public baths) – MAD250
- Marrakech – Photography Museum – MAD40
- Ait Benhaddou – Cooking Demonstration & Dinner – MAD313
- Ait Benhaddou – Henna Tattoo – MAD50
- Ouarazate – Atlas Movie Studios – MAD80
- Ouarzazate – Kasbah Taourirt – MAD20
- Essaouira – Hamam (public baths) – MAD200
- Essaouira – Amazigh Massage – MAD400
- Essaouira – Horse Riding – MAD300
- Essaouira – Seafood Market Lunch – MAD100
- Marrakech – A Taste Of Marrakech: Inside the Medina Urban Adventure – MAD605
- Marrakech – Tajine Cookery Class Urban Adventure. – MAD640
- Marrakech – Cascades d’Ouzoud Day Tour – MAD2207
- Marrakech – Hot Air Balloon Ride – MAD2090
- Marrakech – Luxury Spa Hammam & Massage – MAD750
- Marrakech – Heart of the Atlas Mountains cycling day trip with lunch – MAD2000
- Marrakech – Medina, Palaces & Tombs Urban Adventure – MAD650
- Marrakech – Palmery Cycling Tour – MAD540
- Marrakech – Magical Marrakech City Cycling Tour – MAD438
Tour Reviews
There are no reviews yet.
Leave a Review