From £650pp
Fixed until 31/12/22
Majestic Marrakech - 7 days
Take flight in Marrakech
Available every week throughout the year on your chosen dates
The Majestic Marrakech Tour is the quintessential Moroccan experience, guaranteed to awaken all your senses and bring you a taste of the exotic. Marrakech is a heady mix of cultures and has a rich history spanning the ages. Wander the ancient souks in search of Moroccan lanterns, ceramics and artisan products, relax in the hammam or walk through the vibrant gardens. Sample the gastronomic delicacies in Jemaa al Fna square and marvel at the street performers and animals. Hear the call to prayer from Koutoubia Mosque with the Atlas Mountains in the background. This tour offers you an opportunity to explore Marrakech and the surrounding area to truly give you a feel for the authentic Morocco and allow you to visit some incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can even opt to join a cookery class to learn how to recreate authentic Moroccan dishes at home. To place a booking, click the Request to Book button at the bottom of the screen.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 - Upon arrival at Marrakech Airport you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or independently explore Marrakech. Perhaps head to Djemaa el Fna, the city's vibrant main square or the Menara Gardens. Dinner will be at Chez Ali - Fantasia Dinner with a traditional show (including horsemen, dancers, acrobats) to enjoy the perfect evening out with (or without) children.
DAY 2 - Excursion: Ouarzazate – Kasbah Ait Benhaddou
Departure to Ouarzazate via the Tizni-N-Tichka Pass to discover the beauty of the Moroccan landscape. We'll pass small Berber towns dotted amongst the breathtaking landscape, inhabited by the local Berber (Tamazight) people, the indigenous population of Morocco. The trip takes about 3 hours and will be done in three parts:
First stop at the top of Tizi-N-Tichka , the second stop at Kasbah Ait Benhaddou (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the 3rd stop is Ouarzazate (The Hollywood of Africa) where you can visit the film studios in the afternoon before returning to Marrakech for dinner.
DAY 3 - Excursion: Imlil - Asni - cooking class (optional)
After breakfast at your hotel, depart Marrakech by 4x4 or a minivan and head south toward Imlil, a small, peaceful village in the High Atlas Mountains. Due to its unique position, this quaint town has become the centre of mountain tourism. At 1740 meters above sea level, Imlil sits just below Djebel Toukbal the highest peak in North Africa. As your driver travels towards Imlil, just 1 ½ hours outside Marrakech, the road narrows considerably after the turn-off from the market town of Asni, and we'll arrive into Imlil, where we either travel on foot or by mule (depending on physical ability). Your guide will take you on a small tour of the village which is fertile in spring and summer with waterfalls surrounded by greenery.
Optional cooking class 250 MAD
We demonstrate cooking traditional Moroccan dishes such as couscous and tagines, then we visit the local souk with a guide to buy all the fresh groceries we need. Once back at the Berber house, we'll start preparing our traditional Moroccan dishes. Once complete, we'll explore the waterfalls and walk throughout the Berber village, experiencing true Berber hospitality. Then we go back to the house to eat our magnificent dishes and learn how to brew mint tea. After lunch we'll head back down to the town centre of Imlil and return to Marrakech for dinner.
Day 4 - Excursion: Essaouira
Essaouria is a fun-filled yet relaxing day trip from Marrakech. After breakfast at your hotel, depart for Essaouira. The journey to this former Portuguese fishing village offers up only a few roadside towns and the occasional Berber village. On the way we stop at an Argan Cooperative to see how women extract oil, produce nut butter and cosmetics from the Argan nut (this tree is native to Morocco). Visit this seaside medieval town and get ready to enjoy lovely white-washed and blue-shuttered houses, thuya wood workshops and mouth-watering seafood. We'll take a stroll along the town’s sunlit pedestrian main square, Place Prince Moulay el Hassan and the Skala du Port, the fishing harbour, offering breath-taking views of the Portuguese ramparts. Explore the ramparts and the spice and jewellery souks of the medina. Have lunch at the fish-grill cafes, with wooden tables and benches laid out overlooking the sea that was, in the 19th century, the only Moroccan port south of Tangier. After lunch in Essaouira consider a visit to Ranch de Diabat, located in the small village of Diabat. Ranch de Diabat arranges high quality tours with quads on the beach, camels or horses for up to 2 hours. Back to Marrakech for dinner.
Price list of activities :
2 hours horse riding 300 MAD: 1h 150 MAD
2 hours camel riding 300 MAD: 1h 150 MAD
2 hours quad tour 450 MAD: 1h 300 MAD
DAY 5 - Excursion: Cascades d’Ouzoud (waterfalls)
Breakfast and then departure from your hotel to the Cascades d’ Ouzoud to experience one of the most spectacular sights in Morocco. Located in a lush valley, within a friendly Berber village are three beautiful tiered waterfalls with a series of spectacular wide to narrow plunges that drop 110m into the river below. Trek along the river up to the caves or Gorges d'Oued el-Abid or you can sit and enjoy the natural scenery. Take pictures of the rainbows that often appear near the bottom of the falls. Lunch at one of the wonderful restaurants in Cascades D’Ouzoud surrounded by lime-trees. Alternatively, enjoy Moroccan specialties and freshly squeezed orange juice at one of the many cafes along the terraces on the path to the falls. Then we take a boat trip to get even closer to the waterfalls. Enjoy the fresh smell of the pomegranate and oak trees. If we’re lucky, we'll have the opportunity to see some Barbary apes, that sometimes make an appearance before the sun sets, to drink from the river. Return to Marrakech for dinner.
Day 6 - Marrakech
After breakfast we visit Majorelle Gardens, the the 12th century archaeological site of the Koutoubia Mosque which stands on the spot where Marrakech originated. We go through the Bab Agnaou (gate) and visit the historical 16th century Saadian Tombs. We'll invite you to visit the 19th century Bahia Palace. We continue our tour with a stroll inside the Jewish quarter to visit the historical synagogue (if open) built in 1492. After an optional break for lunch, our guide will help us to navigate the maze of colourful streets to discover a multitude of traditional crafts that are made in Marrakech and the surrounding area. Free time for shopping. We'll end our stroll at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jemaa El Fna where you will discover some of the local folklore traditions such as musicians, dancers, acrobats and snake charmers. Dinner in Marrakech.
Day 7 - Depart Marrakech
Our amazing tour of Morocco ends today after hotel check out. An included onward departure transfer to the airport will be provided.
Included: 6 nights accommodation at 3* riads, hotels or similar with breakfast; 1 lunch and 2 dinners as specified in the itinerary; Transportation for 7 Days in a minibus/4X4 + driver & fuel; Local Official Guides; ; Assistance 24/7; Airport Transfers for arrival/departure.
Excluded: Flights; All lunches, drinks & tips; Personal travel insurance; Gratuities/personal expenses; Dinners and lunches (except those specified in the itinerary); Optional desert activities and cooking class.