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Souks, Surf and Trek |
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8 days / 7 nights |
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Cultural Tours Handcrafted in Morocco
Tour summary
An 8-day family adventure holiday straddled between the bustling city of Marrakech, the outstanding natural beauty of the High Atlas Mountains and the windswept Atlantic coastal fishing town of Essaouira. This week-long adventure has plenty to entertain all members of the family. From the excitement of haggling in the ancient medina of Marrakech with its snake charmers and maze of souks, to riding on the back of a mule through the High Atlas Mountains and then finally to unwind on the beach at Essaouira with loads of options for extra family activities including surfing, kite surfing, camel riding or galloping on horseback along the edge of the waves. The tour also allows for free time for your own exploration and relaxation. With stays in traditional riads and small guesthouses, this Morocco family adventure holiday is perfect for families with children aged 5 yrs upwards and parents of all fitness levels.
Or call us now on +212 (0)615 647918 (Morocco) or +44 (0)208 123 7969 (UK)
Please note: All our Morocco tours can be customised to allow extra days for shorter daily car journeys, extra activities, relaxation days, exploration days etc. We can also adapt tours to connect with different start/end locations in Morocco. Let us know your wishes and we will build your perfect Morocco tour itinerary.
Price: Contact us for a personalised quotation.
Prices will vary according to number of people travelling in vehicle, number of days, time of year, category of accommodation chosen and activities requested.
NB Our Morocco tours are private tours organised upon request.
Day-to-day tour itinerary
Day 1
Marrakech
Meet & greet at MARRAKECH airport and transfer to your riad - a guesthouse converted from a traditional Moorish-designed family home centred around a small courtyard patio or inner garden. You can choose to stay in the old city medina, in a hotel in the modern new town outside the ramparts, or a few kilometres out of town in a boutique hotel or villa in the exclusive palmeraie. Boisterous families may prefer modern hotels which tend to have larger pools and outdoor space for letting of steam. Riads tend to be more intimate and less soundproof! Depending on your arrival time you will then have the rest of the day to explore the vibrant city of Marrakech unguided or just enjoy the facilities of your hotel. The old medina of Marrakech is a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys, with different neighbourhoods and streets specialising in various arts, crafts and produce. Take time to relax in your traditional guesthouse, enjoy the roof terrace and soak up the sounds and smells of Morocco’s favourite city. Dinner will be served at your riad/hotel this evening.
Stay: Traditional riad or hotel in Marrakech
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2
Marrakech
Half-day morning walking tour with city guide of Marrakech - also known as the ‘red city’ for its famous pink-hued ramparts. Our English-speaking city guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning and take you through the souks of the medieval medina, introducing you to artisans, bakers, carpenters, spice merchants, apothecaries and also including visiting the landmark monuments of Ben Youssef Medersa, the Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque. Your tour ends at the famous Place Jemaa el Fna square where you can enjoy lunch from a roof terrace overlooking the bizarre activities of the acrobats, storytellers, musicians and snake charmers. Rest of the day is at leisure or we suggest you take a horse-drawn carriage around the ramparts or to the new town are of Gueliz to visit the exquisite Majorelle Gardens, owned by Yves St. Laurent and originally private home of the painter Jacques Majorelle. We suggest you return to the square for an evening dinner at one of the outdoor food grills to sample anything from grilled meats, fried fish, fried aubergines, boiled snails, harira soup, spiced ginger tea, boiled sheep’s head and other local delicacies. Even if you decide to eat elsewhere, the experience of the Place Jemaa el Fna at night is an intoxicating one - with smoke swirling up from the grills, the pounding rhythms of the street musicians, the call to prayer ringing out from the mosques as the excited crowds gather for this nightly ‘circus’.
Stay: Traditional riad or hotel in Marrakech
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 3
Marrakech - High Atlas Mountains - Toubkal National Park
Morning departure from Marrakech and you head into the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. The route passes through low-lying agricultural areas before twisting into the Moulay Brahim Gorge leading to the village of Asni. On Saturdays there is a lively local market here and well worth stopping to see local Berbers buying and selling everything from livestock to teapots. You pass through orchards of cherries, apples and apricots and the road leads along the river’s edge to the trekking centre of Imlil village. This picturesque village is the start point for the ascent to North Africa’s highest peak - Jbel Toubkal. NB If you wish to include an ascent of Toubkal in your family adventure we can arrange this from Imlil only and by adding at least 3 extra days for the return trip to the summit - but you must be physically very fit! You can choose to stay in a quirky stone-built guesthouse with pretty rooms and terraces and a great view over the Imlil Valley, or else a boutique hotel in the Ouirgane Valley, with outdoor pool. You arrive in time for lunch at your chosen accommodation (not in price) and the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the magnificent surroundings.
Stay: Riad/guesthouse or boutique hotel in Imlil or Ouirgane valley
Meal plan: Breakfast & dinner
Day 4
Toubkal National Park - day-trek with mules
Depending on your choice of accommodation in Imlil or Ouirgane, you will either trek as a family to the mountain village of Aremd or the village of Anraz. A local English-speaking Berber guide will meet you in the morning with the mules and muleteers to set off for a mountain adventure which includes passing through small villages built of mud and stone, forests of conifer and walnut trees, crossing rivers and eventually reaching a traditional mountain family home to have a typical Berber lunch. In both Ouirgane or Imlil valley, the treks take in astounding panoramic views, unspoiled countryside and along the way you will meet local children riding on mules to get to school or to go s for shopping basic supplies. There are no roads up here and life is lived at a gentle, natural pace with children playing their part in the daily tasks. You will also see women working in the small fields, cutting grass by hand and carrying huge loads on their back to feed the domestic animals they keep - chickens, goats, cows and mules. After a hearty lunch in the tranquility of the mountains, you trek via an alternative route to return to your guesthouse/hotel by around 5 p.m. The rest of the afternoon you can relax and dinner will be served at the hotel. NB The trekking from Ouirgane is less strenuous and at lower altitude than Imlil.
Stay: Riad/guesthouse or boutique hotel in Imlil or Ouirgane valley
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5
High Atlas Mountains - Essaouira
After breakfast at your hotel, our driver will come to take your family to the next stage of your adventure holiday. Travelling back through the Imlil Valley towards Marrakech, you then cut across to join the main highway that leads to the Atlantic Coast. You notice the scenery change, the road is edged by groves of olive trees and chalky earth. As you get nearer to the picturesque fishing town of Essaouira you will see Morocco’s famous argan trees along this final stretch of road. The region of the Souss Valley from Essaouira to Agadir is the only natural habitat for the prized argan tree. In its thorny branches are the fruits which fall as nuts in autumn. Inside each argan nut, the kernel possess a magical oil which is extracted through a laborious manual process. The argan oil is famous for its health-giving and cosmetic properties and is known as ‘liquid gold’. You can stop along the way to sample it in both its culinary and cosmetic forms. Kids will love the peanut butter, made with argan oil and almonds. If you wish, you can request also to visit an organic local cheese maker to sample fine goats cheeses and local wine, Val d’Argan. The ‘fromagerie’ visit needs to be booked 24 hrs in advance and will add an extra 2 hrs to your transfer time to the medina of Essaouira. Essaouira is a small and laid-back fishing town, with a walled medina, ramparts, sandy beach, water sports, restaurants, cafes, art galleries and intriguing small shops. It’s a great place to relax for 2-3 days and inside the medina itself it is free from cars. You will arrive in Essaouira in time for a lunch in one of the cafes around the Place Moulay Hassan and the evening is free for you to sample the day’s catch of the day from near the fishing port.
Stay: Riad in the old medina or 3-star guesthouse/hotel wth pool close to beach
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 6
Essaouira
A free day in Essaouira and we can reserve for you a day or half day of water sports instruction - surfing, kite surfing and wind surfing. Alternatively you may just like to relax and explore on your own today. Other options for activities while in Essaouira are: hiking, horse riding, camel riding, quad biking or even a family cookery class. We will be happy to make reservations for you at 48 hrs’ notice (all activities subject to availability).
Stay: Riad in the old medina or 3-star guesthouse/hotel wth pool close to beach
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 7
Essaouira
Free day for your own exploration and activities upon request.
Stay: Riad in the old medina or 3-star guesthouse/hotel wth pool close to beach
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 8
Essaouira - Marrakech
Depending on your flight departure time, we will transfer you directly by main road from Essaouira to Marrakech airport. The journey requires a minimum of 3 hrs. If you have a departure time before 2.00 p.m., then it is advisable to book an extra night in Marrakech or to leave Essaouira a day early and spend the night of Day 7 in Marrakech. You can also choose to continue your holiday in Morocco with us by adding on one of our Suggested Morocco Adventure Tour Itineraries.
Stay: Riad/hotel/boutique guesthouse
Meal plan: Breakfast