Family Marrakech, Atlas & Essaouira Adventure

Our tour of Morocco starts in the Red City. With its dusty rooftops, maze-like streets and bustling souks, Marrakech encompasses the essence of Morocco. Head to the medina and people watch while you sip a mint tea in Jemaa el-Fna (the main square) or visit the Jardin Majorelle, just a short walk from our hotel.

There are no activities planned for today, so you're free to arrive at any time and explore the city or relax by the hotel pool. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), which is around a 20-minute drive from our hotel. Our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and then an optional dinner. If you arrive later, they'll catch you up as soon as possible. Stay: Hotel Bleu Sea Le Printemps (Comfortable)

Today we dive straight into the heady delights of Marrakech with a guided walking tour. We'll pass by the rose-coloured Koutoubia (booksellers) Mosque on the way to Bahia Palace, an open-air museum that's famous for its decorated stucco walls and marble floors. We'll fuel up on fresh pastries from a traditional bakery before continuing to the medina on foot. There, we'll be guided through the labyrinth of spice-scented souks, passing by craftsmen selling rugs, leather goods and crockery before dropping by a spice shop to sample ripe dates and almonds. Finally, we'll navigate our way out into the energetic Jemaa el-Fna Square. Leaving the city behind, this afternoon, we'll drive south towards the craggy peaks and the plunging valleys of the Toubkal Massif in the High Atlas. Crossing the Haouz Plain, we'll pass through the town of Asni, from where we'll begin to climb toward the foothills of the Massif. Below us, the valley of the Oued Rhirhaia stretches out before us and small villages cling to the sides of the steep hills as we meander our way towards Ouirgane. The High Atlas is North Africa's greatest mountain range and has been a barrier between the northern plains and the pre-Sahara for centuries. Up here in their mountain stronghold, the fiercely independent Berbers - the Lords of the Atlas - live by their own traditions. The Berber way of life is unique and lost to most of North Africa - here, music, dance, language, and religion are far removed from the rest of the Arab world. February 2024 departure: After our city tour of Marrakech we will drive to Imlil, a journey of around 90 minutes, for a two night stay at the Riad Atlas Toubkal instead of staying in Ouirgane. Stay: La Bergerie (Comfortable) (B)

After a leisurely start to today, we'll head out for a walk in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to take in the natural scenery and surrounding villages. There will be mules for younger children who might not want to walk. For lunch, we'll visit a local Berber family and learn about their unique lifestyle before walking back to our hotel via a different, panoramic route. Today's walk will last around four hours and can be adapted to meet the needs of the group, local areas of interest and weather conditions. The rest of the afternoon will be free to spend by the hotel pool or relaxing in the gardens overlooked by the mountains. February 2024 departure

This walk will take place from Imlil, a village surrounded by multiple Berber villages nested on the mountain sides of the high Atlas peaks. The village itself is well known as the starting point for the trek to north Africa's highest peak, Mount Toubkal. Our walk will take us along mule paths passing cultivated terraces to the village of Aremd where we will get great views of the snow capped majestic peaks. We will then cross the valley to the village of Mzik where we get panoramic views, looking back down to Imlil in one direction and the high peaks on the other. After a well deserved lunch in a Berber house, we descend back down to our hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the market stalls and craft shops in Imlil. Stay: La Bergerie (Comfortable) (B/L)

Heading south today, our first stop is the Tin Mal Mosque. Built in 1156, it was once considered the centre of the Almohades dynasty and is one of the only mosques open to non-Muslims. After our visit, we'll drive across the Tizi n'Test pass down into the region of the High Atlas where we'll have sweeping scenery across the Toubkal Massif and down into the Souss Valley. We'll journey on down the exhilarating 1600-metre descent before driving past the orange grove-lined roads that lead us to Taroudant, the old capital of the Souss region. We'll arrive in plenty of time to relax in the hotel pool. February 2024 departure Drive to Taroudant via Marrakech, a journey of some six hours to avoid the provincial road that was worst affected by the earthquake, we will be making stops along the way. The re-route means we are unable to visit the Tin Mal Mosque. Stay: Riad Hida (Comfortable) (B)

This morning, we'll drive to the oasis town of Tiout on the edge of the Anti-Atlas. There, we'll meet with a local family and learn how to cook a traditional tagine of meat, poultry, or fish with mixed vegetables. We'll also take a walk across the town to visit an oasis that treats us to panoramic views of the local village and old kasbah. Again, mules will accompany us to carry younger children who might now want to walk.

After lunch, we'll carry on our drive across the High Atlas towards Chichaoua and join the new road to Essaouira. We'll stop by an argan oil cooperative and learn about how women from different villages work together to produce the precious oil.

Finally, we'll arrive in Essaouira, a resort town and mecca for water sports. The port town is lively yet relaxed with its whitewashed houses and traditional fishing boats. British, French, Arab and Jewish influences from the 18th and 19th centuries are still reflected in the architecture and town's layout today. Stay: Riad Al Madina (Comfortable) (B/L)

Today, we'll explore the old medina of Essaouira and its vibrant fishing port with a local guide. Walk through the narrow alleyways lined with traditional craft stalls and finish up on the historic ramparts for panoramic views of the old town and surrounding coastline. The afternoon is free to enjoy as you wish. There are a range of water sports to try out, including surfing, or you might like to wander back into the medina to shop for souvenirs. Alternatively, there are the galleries and cafes of the souk or the fresh fish stalls of the harbour front to explore. At the end of the day, we'll come back together for a camel ride along the beach as the sun sinks into the Atlantic Ocean. Stay: Riad Al Madina (Comfortable) (B)

Today, we'll drive back to the Red City of Marrakech. This afternoon will be free to explore at your own pace before we toast to an adventurous trip for our final evening. There's also an optional trip to a local hammam - a true Moroccan experience. Stay: Hotel Bleu Sea Le Printemps (Comfortable) (B)

Our tour of Morocco ends at our hotel in Marrakech. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer, you need to depart from Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK). (B)