MARRAKECH & THE HIGH ATLAS

8 days from GBP839 to GBP1,049 including flights

Tripcode: AMG

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Marrakech. Transfer to Riad Hotel.
Day 2: In the morning, we set off on a guided tour (on foot) of some of the sights of Marrakech. Our city guide will walk us from the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque through the souks and old streets of the medina to the Koranic School and the Museum of Marrakech. There should be time to visit a traditional Berber pharmacy before we finish around lunchtime near the Djemma el Fna. In the afternoon we have free time and there is no shortage of things to do. You might like to return to the souks and try your hand at bartering for souvenirs. Alternatively visit the Bahia or Badia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. In the evening we can visit the Djemma el Fna, the open-air central square around which Marrakech revolves. The name literally means 'place of death' as it was the place where the Sultans used to display the heads of their enemies. Now, with the food stalls, snake charmers, travelling acrobats and musicians, it is a noisy and lively place of entertainment at night and contrasts delightfully with the tranquil calm of our Riad Hotel.
Day 3: We drive for 3 hours on good roads to Essaouira, a pleasant old Portuguese fishing port by the Atlantic Coast where we will have time to explore this charming old town. There is time for some shopping in the heart of the old walled city, or to wander along the picturesque beach. There are also many pleasant cafes and some outstanding seafood restaurants to sample. We stay overnight in a traditional Riad Hotel.
Day 4: This morning there is a guided tour (on foot) of the town of Essaouira, the settlement dates back to the fifteenth century, but the present town was constructed around 1760 by Sidi Mohammed ben Abdullah, who needed a base from which to suppress a revolt from Agadir. Today, Essaouira is extremely relaxed and its whitewashed houses with painted shutters, artisan's workshops, boatyards and fishermen provide a marked contrast to Marrakech. The afternoon allows time for some shopping, a relaxing walk (or camel ride!) along the beach, a walk to the harbour and ramparts and perhaps a boat trip.
Day 5: We drive back to Marrakech for lunch and afterwards (time-permitting) we pay a brief visit to the Terre des Jeunes project. We drive for a further 2 hours through stunning mountain scenery to the roadhead village of Imlil, in the High Atlas Mountains. Here we leave the bus, put on our walking boots, and enjoy a walk of about an hour and half on well-defined paths to the small Berber village of Tamatert. We enjoy this peaceful and beautiful landscape in the shadow of Mount Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa. We spend the night in a beautifully restored and comfortable mountain lodge. The bedrooms sleep up to 4 people, the welcome is warm and this is a truly authentic rural experience in a traditional Berber village.
Day 6: Today we enjoy a full day's walk through the beautiful valleys of Ait Mizan and Ait Souka. We take a slow ascent to the Tamatert col which offers rewarding and breathtaking views over this magnificent mountain range. We stop for delicious picnic lunch en-route, enjoying some shade and the calm and peace of these beautiful mountains. In the afternoon we walk back to Imlil driving back to Marrakech and arriving in the early evening.
Day 7: Today is a free day in Marrakech to relax in its peaceful gardens or return to the labyrinthine souks to barter for souvenirs. Why not enjoy a freshly squeezed orange juice in one of the many rooftop cafés overlooking the Djemma El Fna, or perhaps take a Calèche ride (a bright green horse drawn carriage) to the Majorelle Gardens. These small but tranquil gardens are decorated throughout in Indigo Blue and house a small Museum of Islamic Art in the grounds. A final treat would be to go for a hammam, a traditional Moroccan steam bath.
Day 8: Fly to London.