| Marrakech, Atlas Mountains and Coastal tour | ||||||||||||||||||
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Marrakech Souks, Mountain Air & Lazy Beach Days |
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8 days / 7 nights (*see notes) - can be done in reverse |
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Cultural Tours Handcrafted in Morocco
Tour summary
This 8-day tour is a perfect trip for families, couples or friends to discover Marrakech and the surrounding mountains and coast. The itinerary includes walking and trekking in the High Atlas Mountains as well as the option to relax or learn water sports at the coast. Combined with haggling in the souks and a guided city tour of Marrakech, this trip can be as active or relaxed as you wish!
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 in the medina (old city). Afternoon at leisure. Depending on your arrival time you will then have the rest of the day to explore Marrakech city. You might try to navigate the souks and grab a bargain or simply relax at your riad. We suggest you head to Place Jemaa el Fna 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 and the call to prayer ringing out from the mosques as the excited crowds gather for this nightly ‘circus’.
Stay: Riad/hotel/boutique guesthouse in Marrakech (standard or luxury)
Meal plan: None
Day 2
Marrakech
Half-day morning 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 Madrasa, 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. If you didn’t visit the square last night, you may wish to return to see the spectacle tonight.
Stay: Riad/hotel/boutique guesthouse in Marrakech (standard or luxury)
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 - Mount Toubkal. NB If you wish to include an ascent of Toubkal in your 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 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 Ourigane 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 Ourigane 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 shopping for 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
Essaouira
After breakfast, we will head down the mountains to the Atlantic coast by road to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast (approx. 3.5 hrs’ drive). We will reach Essaouira, with its fishing port and picturesque medina by lunchtime. You may wish to grab some fresh fish off the quayside or in the fish market and have it grilled for your lunch. The afternoon is free for you to explore the medina, the beach and the port.
Stay: Riad in the medina of Essaouira or guesthouse near beach (with pool)
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 6
Essaouira
You have the day free in Essaouira. We can arrange cultural, sporting, active or culinary activities and excursions for you - please refer to the list. If you have plenty of energy, we can arrange hiking, water sports instruction or quad biking, camel or horse riding. A sunset camel, horse or quad bike ride around the Cap Sim promontory and the ruined Sultan’s Palace is not to be missed! We will be happy to make reservations for you at 48 hrs notice (all activities subject to availability).
Stay: Riad in the medina of Essaouira or guesthouse near beach (with pool)
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 7
Essaouira
A second free day in Essaouira to relax and enjoy the chilled out vibe, shopping, cafes, art galleries, restaurants and fresh fish! Perhaps you would like to take part in a cookery class, take a half-day walking tour in the countryside or have a guided tour of the UNESCO-registered medina? Or is a stroll on the beach followed by a hammam or spa more appealing? We will be happy to make reservations for you at 48 hrs notice (all activities subject to availability).
Stay: Riad in the medina of Essaouira or guesthouse near beach (with pool)
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 8
Marrakech - Transfer
- After breakfast, we transfer by road back to Marrakech (approximately 3 hours) or to Agadir (approximately 4 hours along the Atlantic Coast). We can drop you directly to your departure airport, or to your accommodation if you will continue your journey in Morocco. Early morning departures will require an additional overnight stay in the city of the airport. We can arrange accommodation if required. You can also choose to continue your holiday in Morocco with us by adding on one of our Suggested Morocco Adventure Tour itineraries.
Stay: N/A
Meal plan: Breakfast
- Itinerary can be adjusted to start or end in Agadir or to run in reverse order.
- For a more challenging trip, ask about including the ascent of Mt. Toubkal (2-3 days required)