Mountains & Deserts Discovery Tour: Explore Morocco's Hidden Gems

We will pick you from Marrakech airport and take you to your locally owned riad in the magical medina of Marrakech.Founded in the 11th century and renowned for its treasure trove of mosques, palaces, and museums, Marrakesh is the most visited of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities. At its heart is the medina, the original walled settlement around which the rest of the city was built. A maze of narrow streets and magical souks, its cobblestone streets are traversed by pedestrians and donkey carts instead of cars, and have changed very little in the hundreds of years since they were first laid out. Feel like you have stepped back in time!Depending on your arrival time you may either wish to relax this afternoon on your riad’s sundrenched terrace, or wander around the souks and Jma al Fna this evening. Everything comes to life at nighttime in Marrakech!Get some rest before our real adventure starts tomorrow!Overnight in Riad Irhalne, including breakfast and dinner.

Today is a High Atlas Discovery Day to learn more about the Amazigh (Berber) way of life in the remote villages surrounding Marrakech.We will leave Marrakech, driving through the stunning Atlas Mountains to arrive to your guide’s village and drink tea with her family at her home.After tea, head further up the mountains and arrive to the spectacular Azzaden Valley, close to Mount Toubkal, and the mountain lodge that will be your home base for the day.You will take part in a cooking class with a local village women and learn how to make a traditional Moroccan tagine and salad – enjoy your hard work for lunch!In the afternoon, take a walk around village with your guide, visiting the fields and river, then visit a local woman’s house who will teach you to make tannourt, traditional Amazigh bread.You will be accompanied the entire day by a local guide who grew up in the village. Whilst enjoying a day of adventure and discovery, you will also be supporting the local economy through responsible tourism. Tonight will be spent in the rustic mountain lodge. Breakfast and dinner included.

Full day in Marrakech: after a delicious traditional Moroccan breakfast in your riad, we will head out to our first NGO visit at Association Amal.In Morocco, women make up only 25% of the workforce. Women’s labor is largely unpaid and undervalued. Amal is working to change that, and works to provide a safe and loving space where strong, resilient women can rewrite their narratives.Amal offers a unique training program for women to learn the ropes of cooking in a professional setting, earning a valuable skill-set that helps them secure their first job in the local food sector. We will make a visit to Amal’s beautiful training centre in Targa, and take part in a 3 hour cooking class, where you will learn about Moroccan culture and cuisine as well as the work of the NGO.You will make your own Moroccan dish from scratch as well as taking part in a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony, before finally eating the results of your hard work!After lunch, we will enjoy a walking tour of some of Marrakech medina’s historical and cultural sites with a guide, including the Koutoubia Minaret, the beautiful Palace of Bahia and the Ben Youssef Quranic School.This evening there are options: wander around the souks for a shopping experience like no other, relax on your terrace, or go for a traditional Moroccan spa treatment such as hammam or massage. Spa treatments will incur an additional cost.Overnight in Riad Irhalne, including breakfast and dinner.

We will leave our accommodation in the mountains after breakfast and head Southeast, going through the Tizi N Tichka pass with stops for panoramic views and taking pictures of the small Amazigh villages that dot the landscape.Then, we will continue south to the ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou where we will visit the famous Kasbah (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). After lunch, we will continue to Ouarzazate, also known as “The Gate of the Desert.”In Ouarzazate, we will have the choice between a fun and interactive guided tour of the Atlas Studios. Famous films have been shot in this spectacular stage, including Gladiator, Sahara with Penélope Cruz and Game of Thrones.If you prefer to be active, we have a 2 hour horseback riding option through the palm grove surrounding your hotel (additional charge).

After breakfast we will depart for the Draa Valley where you can see one of the longest rivers in Morocco. On the way we will make a few stops to enjoy the view of the spectacular kasbahs that dot the road, as well as the beauty of the Draa valley.We will have lunch in Nkob or Alnif and then continue driving to reach the wonderful Merzouga dunes.Here, we will swap our motorized transportation for a 4-legged one (camel!) to enter inside the heart of the desert.When we reach the camp, you will enjoy sunset and then dinner before spending the night in the dunes, listening to traditional Amazigh music, or stargazing. Our luxury desert camp has cosy beds, hot water, showers and private bathrooms in each tent.Camp: Sahara Sunny Luxury Camp

To get the most out of your desert experience, we recommend you wake up early in the morning to watch the splendid sunrise over the Sahara dunes.After breakfast in the camp, we will head out into the heart of the desert. This is a really magical day, and a very unique experience. We will stop in Ramlia, a sleepy desert village and the end of the tourist trail.Along our way today your guide will stop to share with you his local knowledge of the desert, from edible desert plants and tree sap, to the signs left behind by desert creatures moving at night. We will take a picnic lunch before continuing our exploration of the surrounding settlements.In the evening, we have a very special experience planned for you. You will spend the night in the sand in a traditional nomad tent made of goat hair, surrounded by nothing but the desert.Unlike other camps, there are no other camps around – this is a truly authentic desert experience.You can learn more about the nomadic way of life, and how families survive out here in the desert.We will enjoy a candlelit dinner cooked over a wood fire outside, before spending the rest of the evening relaxing under the stars and soaking up the silence of the desert.

After waking up to catch another splendid sunrise over the Sahara dunes, we will head to Agdz off road via the famous moto-rally road connecting Paris to Dakar.In the afternoon we will arrive to Agdz. With endless palm groves and beautiful earthen clay architecture, the fortified ksour village of Agdz is located on the old caravan route connecting Marrakech to Timbuktu and played an important role for merchants carrying goods across the Sahara.We will take a drive to visit the Tizgui Pools, a magnificent natural pool surrounded by palm and fig trees, where you can take a dip if you are feeling brave. We will return to spend the evening in a beautiful kasbah nestled in the palm groves, where you will enjoy dinner.There is also the option to have a traditional Moroccan hammam and/or massage tonight at the kasbah.Hotel: Kasbah Azul, breakfast and dinner included

We will make our way back to Marrakech through the stunning mountains. We will stop for  lunch in Ighrem n’Ougdal, a spot high up in the mountains with stunning panoramic views.We will arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon, where today you have the option to go shopping in the souks, take part in a traditional Moroccan painting activity led by a local artisan, or simply spend the afternoon relaxing at the hotel.Tonight we will stay in a beautiful small, locally owned hotel with an outdoor pool.Hotel: Abraj Bladi Resort, with breakfast and dinner

Today your adventure with us ends! We will pick you up from your riad and take you to the airport after what we hope has been an unforgettable adventure!