Discover with your loved one the highlights of Southern Morocco. This trip includes a few nights in the medieval city of Marrakech, soaking up its vibrant African-Arab-European culture. Once drunk with the heady atmosphere of city life, head out towards the mountains and desert to experience a much simpler and rural way of life. Immerse yourself in Berber culture among some fantastic scenery and enjoy a camel trek in the Sahara dunes and a night under the stars. Finally head to the mountains and enjoy a lovely time in a relaxing environment before heading back home.
Arrive at Marrakech airport where your driver will meet you and take you straight to your riad. After checking in and enjoying a mint tea, take a horse and cart trip around the city as a fun way to help you get your bearings. We have loads of fantastic riads but Riad Adore speaks for itself.
Spend the next 2 days enjoying everything Marrakech has to offer. Take an early morning visit to the Majorelle gardens before it gets too hot and all the bus loads of tourists arrive. Spend afternoons visiting the various mosques and historical sites, not forgetting to indulge yourself with a traditional Moroccan exfoliation and massage in a local hammam.
Lastly, and not to be missed is the main square at night where you can wander amongst the snake charmers, storytellers and henna tattooists before sitting atop a rooftop bar with a chilled glass of wine watching the action unfold beneath you.
You will leave Marrakech early and within 30 minutes be winding your way up the Atlas Mountains to the Tizni-Tichna pass and the gateway to the desert in the south. A good lunch-time stop is the World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou – a rock fortress and village carved into the mountains. In the afternoon you head south to the quiet town of Agdz for the night. Kasbah Azul is a perfect place to unwind after the travelling.
From Agdz, you travel along the Draa valley, famous for its oases and pottery until you reach the end of the road at M’hamid. From here it is 4×4’s (and camels only) and you have an hour or so to reach the desert camp in the massive dunes of Chiggaga. Here you will be sleeping in tented accommodation. Maybe climb a dune to watch the sunset and then settle to watch your nomad hosts prepare dinner and entertain you while you eat. Then to bed under the stars.
The next morning it is worth waking early for a short camel trek to watch the sunrise and then a leisurely breakfast. Once packed up it is a gentle day’s travelling across the desert and iriqi dry lake bed to exit the desert at Foum’sguid where you pick up the road again. From here it is around 4 hours driving along the southern flank of the Atlas Mountains. You pass through first Tazenacht which is the centre of the Berber rug making industry so a good shopping point if luggage allowances permit. You also pass the main area for growing saffron, more expensive by weight than gold and it can be possible to visit one of the farms up in the valleys. You finish for the night in Taroudant, one of the prettiest towns in the south, and you should have a chance for a quick tour before heading to Dar Zitoune for the night
Travel from Taroudant up the winding coast road to Essaouira to relax for 3 days.
There is loads to do in the area around Essaouira: camel trekking or quad-biking on the massive beaches, loads of watersports and the town itself has fabulous souks and loads of places to eat.
Stay in a lovely riad in the old town of Essaouira at classy Villa de l’O
Within around 3.5 hours you enter the mountains and Kasbah Bab Ourika where you can soak up the views. Many people visit the Atlas Mountains just to relax but for those who want exercise, there are a number of trekking trails directly from the Kasbah and trips can be arranged from starting points deeper in the mountains.
Your driver will collect you for the trip back to the airport and your flight home, assuming you manage to get all your souvenirs and memories within your baggage allowance
Total cost for this trip based on 2 people sharing is £ 1200 per person including accommodation on B&B(8 nights) or half board (3 nights) basis. Also included are all transfers in a private vehicle with English-speaking driver who will do his utmost to ensure you get the most out of your trip. The Luxury Desert Camp costs an extra £150pp.
You can get flights from as little as £100 per person return and do ask us for advice. Alternatively we can book the flights for you but a booking fee may apply.
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