Southern Morocco Discovery

Short drive tovil the High Atlas Mountains to the village of Imlil (approximately 2 hours). Upon arrival, drop off your main luggage and load your overnight luggage onto mules.

Make the 1-hour walk to the peaceful village of Aroumd. Located on a rocky outcrop, the remote village of Aroumd offers breathtaking views of the High Atlas Mountains and a unique opportunity to learn about traditional Berber (Amazigh) culture.

Spend the night in a family-run mountain hut where you can enjoy traditional hospitality and food, surrounded by the smell of wood stoves and bread. Use the rest of the day to explore the lage and surrounding fields. If the group is up for it and the weather permits, there is the option of taking a hike of about eight kilometers to the pilgrimage site of Sidi Chamharouch (about 4 hours round trip).

Regardless of your fitness level, Aroumd’s gentle pace makes it a special place to explore away from the modern world.

Accommodation
Gite (1 night)

Included activities

Guided hike Aroumd – High Atlas Mountains

Optional Activities

• Aroumd – Mule ride from Imlil Berber village to Aroumd
• Meals Included
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

The optional hike to the Sidi Chamharouch shrine requires suitable footwear. A pair of good walking shoes with firm and grippy soles is sufficient. You will hike over well-trodden paths that can be muddy and unstable.

The accommodations are shared (both the bathroom and sleeping areas), but are cozy and comfortable and definitely a unique Intrepid experience.

This morning, drive over mountain roads and over Morocco’s highest pass, Tizi n’Tichka (2260 m), to Ait Benhaddou on the edge of the Sahara (about 6 hours). Ait Benhaddou is located on a hill and has remained almost unchanged since the 11th century and is one of the most famous places in Morocco. It was once an important stop for caravans transporting salt across the Sahara and returning with gold, ivory and slaves.

The city has a long list of film and television credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator. Enjoy a guided walk through the winding streets of the old city and make your way to the top of the hill for views of the surrounding plains. Visit the Tawesna teahouse on the banks of the river.

This community-run establishment provides local women with an income to feed their families, who in turn make delicious baked goods and teas with locally sourced ingredients. Chat with the women about their stories and perhaps enjoy a sweet treat while you’re there. The evening is at your leisure.

You will have the opportunity to participate in a cooking demonstration and eat Morocco’s most famous dishes: Couscous and Tagine.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Included activities

• Ait Benhaddou – Guided Ksar walk
• Ait Benhaddou – Tawesna tea break

Optional activities

• Ait Benhaddou Berber village – Cooking demonstration & dinner – MAD100
• Ait Benhaddou – Henna tattooing – MAD50
• Meals included
• Breakfast

This morning, drive south into the Sahara, stopping en route at Ouarzazate, a frequently visited filming location (about 5 hours total). Continue through the lush Draa Valley to Zagora, a small oasis town on the edge of the Sahara that is perfect for an overnight stay. Upon arrival, take a walk through the palm groves, explore the ksars and hike through the surrounding countryside.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Optional activities

• Ouarazate – Atlas film studios – MAD80
• Ouarzazate – Kasbah Taourirt – MAD20

Meals included : Breakfast

Along the rugged and desolate mountain range of Jbel Tadrart, drive through seas of sand and past occasional desert oases of date palms to the town of Tamegroute. Once there, visit a fascinating library filled with ancient writings of science, literature, the Quran, and stories about the Prophet Muhammad (subject to indefinite opening hours). Afterwards, explore the underground Kasbah with a local guide. Afterwards, continue to the border town of M’Hamid (about 1 hour). From here, you will take a short camel ride through the dunes, then board a 4WD vehicle and drive to the massive Erg Chigaga dunes. You will get there late after the noon prayer. Enjoy a night under the stars in your desert camp.

Accommodation
Desert camp (1 night)

Included activities

• Tamegroute – Ancient library
• Sahara Desert – Camel Ride
• Sahara Desert – 4WD to the Erg Chigaga dunes
• Tamegroute – Guided tour of an underground Kasbah

Meals included

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Special Information

The camel trek across the Sahara is a highlight of the trip for many. If you are uncomfortable, you can also walk alongside the camels to camp for an hour. The next morning you will have to walk the same distance back, but it is a gentle and relaxing walk. The camp itself is a simple affair, with beds and basic toilets. The blankets provided are adequate for most travelers between April and October, but if you get cold easily, you should bring your own sleeping bag for extra warmth, especially in the months between November and March. There is no electricity at the camp, so it is important that you arrive with fully charged cell phones, cameras, and anything else you might need.

You will travel by minivan to the market town of Oulad Berhil. The drive takes about 8 hours in total, including several stops. The drive takes you through desert landscapes and along a route that is a reserve for the native argan trees.

If you are lucky, the group may see the famous image of goats climbing these trees in search of nuts. In the early evening you will reach your accommodation and you can rest from a long day of traveling.

Accommodation
Riad (1 night)

Meals included : Breakfast

Special Information

Please note that this is a long day of travel and you will not arrive at your accommodation today until late afternoon/early evening. The riad (house) you will stay in today is located 45 km outside of Taroudant and offers you the opportunity to relax by the pool or take a steam bath.

In the morning, stroll through the souks of Taroudant and haggle with local merchants for silver jewelry or colorful Moroccan ceramics and mosaics. Then drive west to the coastal town of Essaouira (about 5 hours). The name Essaouira means picture, and it’s a good thing, because the town is very picturesque.

Its charm is undeniable: within the stone city walls you will find whitewashed houses with bright blue shutters, art galleries and wooden workshops. As you arrive in the early evening, you won’t have much time to look around today.

Accommodation
Riad (1 night)

Meals included : Breakfast

Today you will take a tour of the old medina, the Jewish Mellah, the port and the Skala (sea wall) with a local guide. After that, you will have free time.

Pick up a freshly prepared plate of the day’s catch at the port or browse the many stores and fascinating art galleries. If you prefer to relax, don’t miss the opportunity to take a hammam or a local-style bath.

Accommodation
Riad (1 night)

Included activities
Essaouira – Guided tour

Optional activities

• Essaouira – Hamam (public baths)
• Essaouira – Berber massage
• Essaouira – Horse riding
• Essaouira – Seafood market lunch

Meals included : Breakfast

Enjoy a free morning in Essaouira and then take the bus back to Marrakech in the afternoon (about 3 hours). Upon arrival, you will have free time to explore the city or participate in optional activities. Perhaps visit the Palais Bahia, an excellent example of Muslim architecture, or the ruins of the Palais Badi.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

• Marrakech – A Taste of Marrakech: City Adventure in the Medina – MAD605
• Marrakech – Tajine cooking class – city adventure – MAD640
• Marrakech – Day tour to the waterfalls of Ouzoud – MAD2207
• Marrakech – Hot Air Balloon Ride – MAD2250
• Marrakech – Luxury Spa Massage & Hammam – MAD750
• Marrakech – Atlas Mountains Ourika Valley Day Tour – MAD1817
• Marrakech – Oukaimeden Day Tour – MAD1882
• Marrakech – Asni & Ouirgane day tour with lunch – MAD1806
• Marrakech – Cycling day tour in the heart of the Atlas Mountains with lunch – MAD2000
• Marrakech – Medina, Palaces & Tombs City Adventure – MAD630
• Marrakech – Palm Tree Bike Tour – MAD350
• Marrakech – Magical Marrakech City Bike Tour – MAD350

Meals included : Breakfast

Your adventure ends after breakfast. If you would like more time to explore Marrakech, you can book additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Meals included
Breakfast