10 Days – Marrakech + Morocco’s Wild South

Your two day Marrakech experience is a unique guided experience of Marrakech as we unearth its hidden gems, take a glimpse at its beautiful traditions and taste some of its delicious food offerings. 

Today’s insight into Marrakech orientates you around this vibrant city as we discover the beautiful Majorelle Garden, with its French-influenced architecture and connection to the French designer Yves Saint Laurent. Afterwards, we will take a look at Morocco’s unique traditions from its colourful souks (markets), tanneries and its unique ovens that create the heat for a Hammam spa and also bake the daily bread for the local community. 

We will then rest our feet with a bite to eat and afterwards you have the opportunity to relax or explore the bustling streets of Marrakech.  

This morning, part 2 of our guided tour of Marrakech takes a look at its spectacular architecture from the ancient ramparts to the incredible Bahia palace with its Moorish iconic architecture and the Saadian tombs. 

After a bite to eat, take the opportunity to relax or explore the bustling streets and markets of Marrakech or even try a relaxing Hammam to feel revitalised.  

We depart the vibrant city of Marrakech and make our way off the beaten track over the Atlas mountains towards the amazing setting of Ait Benhaddou. 

Along the way, we will have lunch and explore Telouet, a renowned town that was once the route of merchant caravans as they passed from the desert over the Atlas mountains down to Marrakech. We will take a visit to the famous Telouet kasbah.

Afterwards, we continue our journey south to Ait Benhaddou, a renowned destination that is located in the foothills on the southern slopes of the High Atlas and is famed for being a World UNESCO Heritage site, having incredible architecture and a location for filming movies such as Gladiator. Take the time to explore this very unique setting in southern Morocco. 

Today, we leave the beautiful setting of Ait Benhaddou to venture further south to the incredible setting of the Dades Gorge, a dramatic landscape of rugged wadi gorges carved out by the Dadès River which originates in the High Atlas range. 

We will have lunch in a unique village called Bou Tharar before taking a 12km hike through a breathtaking valley that connects to the Dades Gorge. On route we will stop off to have afternoon tea with a Nomadic family of the region before arriving in the impressive valley of the Dades Gorge. 

This morning you have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Dades Gorge or just relax in the amazing surroundings of this unique destination. 

After lunch, we head south passing the valley of roses towards the town of Agdz, an oasis in the heart of the Draa valley with a still-pristine palmeraie (palm grove), ancient mudbrick kasbahs and a strong tradition of carving, pottery and basket-weaving. The town is also famous as it is located along the old caravan route linking Marrakech to Timbuktu, and played an important role in the exchange of goods across the Sahara.

That evening, we will dine and relax in its picturesque surroundings. 

We set off this morning in a southerly direction to the wild sandy landscapes of the Sahara for your magical desert experience.  

On route we will visit Tamgrout, a small village which historically served as a hub of learning and religion through its famous Sufi zawiya. This was a historical center of the Nasiriyya order, one of the most influential and largest Sufi orders in the Islamic world. Afterwards, we continue towards a small oasis town called Mhamid, where we will have lunch before we begin our desert experience. 

Our journey will take us deeper into the heart of the Sahara to a place called Chegaga. When we arrive at our camp you can enjoy a Saharan cup of tea before we set off on a camel ride to see the sunset from the golden sand dunes of Chegaga. We will have dinner that evening and enjoy the rhythms of local traditional music beside our campfire underneath a majestic starry sky.

Wake up to a majestic sunrise (optional if you are not an early morning person) and wet your appetite for a memorable breakfast overlooking the Sahara desert.

Afterwards, we meander our way out of the desert towards the town of Foum Zguid and then by normal road to Taliouine. The town is famous for its production of saffron and is one of the main exporters of this spice worldwide. 

Take the opportunity to soak in the rugged and wild landscapes as we eat lunch before continuing our journey west to Taroudant, a bustling market town with red-mud walls known as ‘Little Marrakesh’ and with picturesque views of the snow capped peaks of the Atlas mountains calling beyond. It is much less tourism orientated but it is a unique destination where the Berber culture thrives as they trade the produce of the rich and fertile Oued Souss plain.

Today, we depart the bustling market town of Taroudant and make our way west to the setting sun and the magic of Morocco’s coastline. Once we hit the coast, we continue our journey north along Morocco’s wild coastline towards Imsouane, a colourful fishing village, where you can take the opportunity to experience surfing in this spectacular town famous for incredible waves, take a stroll along its sandy beaches or savour the town’s unique culinary delights. 

Later that afternoon, we make way to Essaouira, an enchanting, laid-back and colourful port town which means “little picture” in Arabic. It has a vibrant blue-and-white “medina” which is enclosed by fairy-tale, sand-coloured ramparts and imposing stone gates. The perfect place to relax, unwind or take an adventure.

Today, we depart the bustling market town of Taroudant and make our way west to the setting sun and the magic of Morocco’s coastline. Once we hit the coast, we continue our journey north along Morocco’s wild coastline towards Imsouane, a colourful fishing village, where you can take the opportunity to experience surfing in this spectacular town famous for incredible waves, take a stroll along its sandy beaches or savour the town’s unique culinary delights. 

Later that afternoon, we make way to Essaouira, an enchanting, laid-back and colourful port town which means “little picture” in Arabic. It has a vibrant blue-and-white “medina” which is enclosed by fairy-tale, sand-coloured ramparts and imposing stone gates. The perfect place to relax, unwind or take an adventure.

Today, we depart the bustling market town of Taroudant and make our way west to the setting sun and the magic of Morocco’s coastline. Once we hit the coast, we continue our journey north along Morocco’s wild coastline towards Imsouane, a colourful fishing village, where you can take the opportunity to experience surfing in this spectacular town famous for incredible waves, take a stroll along its sandy beaches or savour the town’s unique culinary delights. 

Later that afternoon, we make way to Essaouira, an enchanting, laid-back and colourful port town which means “little picture” in Arabic. It has a vibrant blue-and-white “medina” which is enclosed by fairy-tale, sand-coloured ramparts and imposing stone gates. The perfect place to relax, unwind or take an adventure.