Real Morocco

Our guide will meet you at Marrakech airport and transfer you to the Riad in the Medina near the main square. We will have a big welcome dinner of traditional Moroccan food from Amal; a non-profit dedicated to supporting women in need with culinary skills and job placement.

We will have a guided tour of Marrakech’s old Medina, including Jemaa Elfna Square, the Koutoubia Mosque (outside), Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and Ben Youssef Madrassa. Your guide will also show you different places in the medina such as a public bakery (Ferran), a Fernatchi, and a Foundouk or Caravansera. After lunch, you will have a walk through the Souks and finish with a “Berber whiskey” – which is another name for a traditional Moroccan mint tea.

On day three we’ll drive through the beautiful High Atlas Mountains to reach the spectacular Ait Benhadou village where they filmed Game of Thrones. We’ll tour the ancient Kasbah, have lunch, explore the tiny alleyways, and then we will start driving through Rose Valley and arrive at the hotel in Dades Valley in the late afternoon.

On day four, we’ll head towards the Sahara Desert after breakfast. We’ll stop to take pictures at Monkey Toes rock formation in Dades Valley and visit Todra Valley and Gorges in Tinghir. You’ll then continue to Merzouga Desert, where you’ll ride camels to the middle of the dunes to watch the sunset. You’ll ride again to reach the desert camp, where you’ll be welcomed with tea and shown to your tents. After dinner, local Berbers will entertain the group with drumming music around a bonfire under the stars before you enjoy the silence of the desert. The camel riding is optional but they are extremely well looked after and are much loved by the nomadic people of the desert.

We suggest waking up early on this day to witness the sunrise near the camp and take part in a little sunrise meditation. After breakfast, we’ll embark on a 4wd tour of the Merzouga Desert. We’ll visit the fossil area and nomadic families to learn about their cattle-based lifestyle and enjoy tea with them. Then, we’ll head to Mifiss Mines, a ghost-town old coal mine that was active during the 1900s under French companies. A unique experience. Next, we’ll stop by Khamlia, a small village known for its Gnaoua music, performed by people originally from sub-Saharan countries. In this village, we will have lunch with a local family and learn how Berber pizza is made. This is a real day of cultural immersion. Once we’ve said goodbye to the local people, we’ll drive back to the camp and go sandboarding down the dunes in the cool of the late afternoon

After breakfast at the camp, we will start our journey with a visit to Rissani Market. An authentic traditional market that takes place on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Here we will explore the bustling local market and immerse ourselves in the Berber culture, bargain with vendors, and shop for traditional handicrafts, clothing, and jewelry. Also, we will buy our fresh food from here and have a picnic lunch on our way in the middle of acacia trees. After lunch, we continue our way through the Draa Valley to Ouarzazate.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will stop by Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, which was used for various movies, such as The Mummy, Gladiator, the Hills have eyes…etc. We will have a tour inside the studios and see different filming locations for movies and tv series. Afterward, we will continue through the high Atlas mountains to the quiet village of Imlil. Arrive at our guest house in the late afternoon and settle into our homestay.

On the 8th day of our tour, we will spend the day in Imlil village. Enjoy a guided hike to the Imlil waterfalls, which cascade down the mountainside in a series of pools. After the hike, return to the village and have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, explore the village of Imlil and visit a local market then gather at a local family’s house and have a cooking class where they will show you how to make the most famous Moroccan dishes, Tagine and Couscous. We’ll then all eat our creations together, family style

Depart from Imlil in the morning and head towards the seaside town of Essaouira, which is approximately a 3.5-hour drive away passing groves of olive and argan. Once we arrive, explore the old town and visit the Skala de la Ville, the fishing port, and the old medina. It is just like stepping back in time. We will then head to the sandy beach, visit the bustling market, and enjoy fresh seafood for lunch. In the afternoon, we have a surf lesson in one of the best surf spots in the country before heading to a rooftop restaurant for dinner and drinks.

Free day

Guests will have the chance to get some last-minute shopping in and we will all meet for one final farewell dinner and drinks.

Depending on your departure time, you may have some free time for last-minute sightseeing or shopping in Marrakech before transferring to the airport for your onward journey.