Your Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive in Marrakech
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, one of our favourites is Riad Hikaya.
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.
Day 2 - Exploring the Souks
Spend the next day 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.
Day 3 - Over the Atlas
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 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.
Day 4 - Into the Dunes
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 assigned sleeping quarters, 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.
Day 5 - Desert Crossing
Wake up to watch the sunrise and take a camel trek for an hour or so. Then it is back in the 4×4 for the trip north west across Lake Iriqi (it is dry most of the year) to the frontier town of Foumsguid. Here you will stay at the simple Bab Rimal and if not too late maybe even do a quad bike tour of the dunes nearby.
Day 6 -7 - Back to Base
Today you head out to the Palmeraie for the next two nights but it is only a few minutes away so you can spend the morning in the Medina and head off in time for lunch. A lot of clients like to combine this day with an excursion to one of Marrakech’s gardens or even out to the mountains.
However the end point is worth getting to. Les Deux Tours is our favourite place in the Palmeraie (actually one of our favourites anywhere in the world…) with its beautiful gardens, great chef and lovely pool. There is also a beautiful spa here and if you haven’t already experienced it we recommend the sensational Moroccan hammam scrub.
Day 8 - Head for Home
Time to head home, the driver will pick you up in time for your flight.
Details -
This itinerary costs from £970 per person B&B based on 2 sharing and including all private transfers but not flights.
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.
What's included?
Included:
- Prices start from £970 per person
- Accommodation on B&B basis
- Private transfers (air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking driver)
- Local taxes
- All trips are ATOL protected or ABTA bonded to ensure you are fully covered
