Travelpack

Highlights: Marrakech - High Atlas Mountains - Sahara desert - Ait Benhaddou kasbah - Essaouira

💷Deposit £250pp

From souk to Sahara, see the best of Morocco’s south
From the colorful, 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 and explore villages off the beaten track. Feast on tagine, visit the grand Ait Benhaddou kasbah, travel through the Sahara on a camel and relax in seaside Essaouira. This ten-day tour is perfect for travelers looking to discover the diversity of Morocco’s south in a short amount of time.

Day 1:
Welcome to Marrakech! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm - check at reception for information on where this will take place. There's not much time to explore Marrakech after the meeting, but if you arrive early there's plenty to see and do. We've compiled a list below of suggested activities for those who arrive
early.

Accommodation:
● Hotel (1 night) (There are no meals included on this day.)

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.

Day 2:
Take a short drive into the High Atlas Mountains to the village of Imlil (approximately 2 hours). On arrival, 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 of Aroumd offers stunning views across the High
The Atlas Mountains and a unique opportunity to experience traditional Berber (Amazigh) culture. Spend the night in a family-run mountain gite where surrounded by the
smell of woodstoves and bread, you will enjoy traditional hospitality and 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 around eight kilometers 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.

Accommodation:
● Gite (1 night)

Included Activities
● Around - The high Atlas Mountains guided hike

Optional Activities
● Around - Mule Ride from Imlil to Aroumd - MAD80

Meals Included
● Breakfast
● Lunch
● Dinner

Special Information:
The optional hike to the Sidi Chamharouch shrine requires appropriate footwear. A pair of good walking shoes with rigid and grippy soles 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 cozy, comfortable, and definitely a unique Intrepid experience.

Day 3:
This morning, journey along mountain roads and over Morocco's highest pass, Tizi n'Tichka (2260 meters), to Ait Benhaddou on the edges of the Sahara (approximately 6 hours). Perched on a hilltop and almost unchanged since the 11th century, Ait Benhaddou is one of Morocco's most iconic sites. It was once an important stop for caravans passing through as they carried salt across the Sahara, returning with gold, ivory, and slaves. 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.

Accommodation
● Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities
● Ait Benhaddou - Leader-led ksar walk

Meals Included
● Breakfast

Day 4:
This morning you'll journey south towards the Sahara, stopping in the regularly used film location of Ouarzazate along the way (approximately 5 hours in total). 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. On arrival, take a stroll through the palm groves, explore the ksars and wander around the surrounding countryside.

Accommodation
● Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included
● Breakfast

Day 5:
Drive along with the rugged and desolate Jbel Tadrart ranges and through seas of sand and past the occasional desert oasis of date palms to the township of Tamegroute. On arrival, visit an intriguing library filled with ancient scripts of science, literature, the Koran, and stories of the prophet Mohammed (subject to unregulated opening times). Afterward, join a local guide to uncover the underground Kasbah. Then carry on driving to the frontier town of M'Hamid (approximately 1 hour). From here, take a short camel ride through the dunes, then jump into 4WD vehicles and drive to the massive Erg Chigaga dunes. Arrive in the late afternoon. Enjoy a night under the stars at your desert camp.

Accommodation
Desert camp (1 night)
Included Activities
Tamegroute - Ancient Library
Sahara Desert - Camel Ride
Sahara Desert - 4WD to Erg Chigaga dunes
Tamegroute - Underground kasbah guided tour

Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner

Day 6:
Travel to the market town of Oulad Berhil by minivan. The journey should take around 8 hours in total, including several stops. This drive goes through the desert the scenery and along a route that's a reserve for the indigenous argan trees. If you're lucky, the group might come across the famous image of goats climbing these trees
in search of nuts. Arrive at your accommodation in the early evening and relax after a long day of travel.

Accommodation
● Riad (1 night)

Meals Included.
● Breakfast

Day 7:
In the morning, take to the souqs of Taroudant and haggle with local traders for silver jewelry or colorful Moroccan ceramics and mosaics. Afterward, head west to the coastal town of Essaouira (approximately 5 hours). The name Essaouira means image, which is appropriate since it's such a picturesque town. Its charm is undeniable; within the stone ramparts, you'll find whitewashed houses with bright blue shutters, art galleries, and wood workshops. You’ll arrive in the early evening, so there won’t be much time to look around today.

Accommodation
● Riad (1 night)

Meals Included
● Breakfast

Day 8:
Today, join a local guide for a walking tour through the old medina, Jewish mellah, port, and Skala (sea wall). Afterward, enjoy free time for the rest of the day. Maybe grab a freshly-cooked plate of the day's catch at the port, or browse the plentiful shops and intriguing art galleries. If you’d prefer to relax, don't miss the opportunity to indulge in a hammam or local-style bath.

Accommodation
● Riad (1 night)

Included Activities
● Essaouira - Guided walking tour

Meals Included
● Breakfast

Day 9:
Enjoy a free morning Essaouira, then catch a bus back to Marrakech in the afternoon (approximately 3 hours). Enjoy free time on arrival to explore or partake in optional
activities. Maybe check out the Palais Bahia, a superb example of Muslim architecture, or the ruins of the Palais Badi.

Accommodation
● Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included
● Breakfast

Day 10:
Your adventure ends after breakfast. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Marrakech (subject to availability).

Meals Included
● Breakfast

Prices are subject to change and availability!
Please send in your enquiries to holidays@travelpack.com

Offer Includes

Meal Plans