SOUTHERN MOROCCO

SOUTHERN MOROCCO TOUR

This tour is designed for travelers who want to experience a more deep dive into this magical land and explore less traveled areas. The theme of this tour is to go off-script and get immersed in the unique cultures, foods, arts, music and natural landscape of Morocco and have direct interactions with its people.

Day 1: ARRIVE MARRAKECH

Welcome to Morocco! Today you will start the day exploring the old medina and the souks with visits with skilled artisans, a traditional herbalist, and to some of the major sites. For lunch you will visit an alley of the Medina where vendors specialize in slow roasted lamb,or Mechouis, a Moroccan speciality. To relax in the afternoon you will visit one of Marrakech's lovely tranquil urban gardens and end the day at a rooftop cafe sunset tea or coffee.

Day 2: MARRAKECH

Today you will continue to explore the medina with your guide. Visits will include a modern calligraphy artist, an amazing museum of both contemporary and early Moroccan photography, and see works by dynamic contemporary photographer. Dinner will be prepared at the riad with a traditional cooking class. Following dinner we will have an engaging performance of some traditional music done with clapping and chanting. It will be in a home and very improvisational and a lot of fun. Be prepared to join in!

Included Breakfast

Day 3: MARRAKECH

Today you will explore modern Marrakech outside of the medina with our driver and bus for the tour. Visits will include two famous urban gardens, some interesting gallery spaces in the design district and as well as anything we weren't able to get to in the medina. Included Breakfast

Day 4: MARRAKECH - ATLAS MOUNTAINS

Today you will travel just an hour and a half east of Marrakech to the Three Valleys of the Atlas Mountains. You will be struck by its stunning beauty and rich local culture. You will drive through Berber villages and see their lovely terraced gardens, visit a home and see how the locals live and learn about their lifestyle.

For the evening you will stay in a comfortable Berber riad where you will have a cooking class and any women who want can have their hands painted with henna. You will enjoy a delicious home cooked meal with the family and be entertained with a performance of traditional Berber music as you watch the sunset with a spectacular mountain view.

Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 5: ATLAS MOUNTAINS - SKOURA

At breakfast you will enjoy the views at sunrise and then head east towards the Sahara. After you leave the atlas mountains you will enter the Draa valley and the land of a thousand kasbahs. You will stop and visit two of the most famous enroute. The first will be the lovely Telouite and then the legendary Ait Ben Haddou,a remarkable old fortress from the 11th century on the original carvan route from the Sahara to Marakech known for its stunning mud brick architecture. It has been the site of many Hollywood productions from Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator to Game of Thrones. You will explore the kasbah which is a small village, enjoy the panoramic view from the top and wander through its maze-like streets. We will then drive on to the town of Skoura where the owner will cook us all a delicious meal.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 6: SKOURA

Skoura is known for its palm grove with an oasis of over 1,000 palms, 100 bird species and 20 varieties of date trees. You will wander the green canopied palm grove with a local guide and visit a date and pomegranate farm. Here you can also see traditional Moroccan bread making in an outdoor oven. You will have a relaxing dinner at your accomodation with local musicians.

Included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 7: SKOURA - SAHARA

Today you will drive through the valley filled with sleepy villages stuck in time and abandoned kasbahs. You will drive past Zagora and stop in the historical village of Amzrou, famous for its bud-brick architecture, former Jewish quarter and continued tradition of silver work made by Berber artisans. From there you will drive on to the town of Tomegroute and learn about the traditional ceramic work they are known for with its lovely green glaze.

At the days end you will drive on towards our pick up point to be taken out to the desert camp in a short 4 x 4 ride. You won't be roughing it though and will be staying in very nice luxury tents. You will enjoy sunset over the desert, a lovely meal, music by the campfire, a star filled sky and the total silence of the Sahara desert night.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 8: SAHARA - ZAGORA

Those who wish can get up early for the sunrise over the desert. After breakfast you will ride back to town and then and head back to Zagora where you will stay at a large riad set in a palm grove for a day of relaxation. During the day you may visit a town where a lot of artisan work is done and meet some locals. In the evening the host will cook a special meal of barbequed lamb and there will be a performance of Gnaoua musicians, a group who are decendants of slaves, with an explanation of their culture, religion and music.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 9: ZAGORA - TAROUDANT

n the morning you will head south towards the city of Taroudant, the hidden pearl of Morocco. Enroute you will make a stop in the town of Tazenakht. Here you will visit a non-touristy carpet cooperative and learn about the traditions of carpet making and also stop to see a saffron farm.

You will drive through the rugged beauty of the region and when you arrive enter into the walled city of Taroudant. You will find it is a deeply rooted, smaller and more peaceful version of Marrakech.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9: TAROUDANT

Today you will continue to relax and explore Taroudant and experience its local ambience. Here you will explore its souk of artisan shops.Known for its high quality leather work especially of saddles and slippers you will stop by an artisan leather workshop. It is also an excellent place to see and buy quality silter work. You will enjoy walking its ramparts, chatting with locals, and wandering its markets which are wonderfully local with no tourist sheen.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11: TAROUDANTE-ESSAOUIRA

Enroute to Essaouira you will first stop at a women's collection that prduces Argan oil. You will make a detour off the route to Tagazout, a village famous for beekeeping and see the monumental primitive structure of an age old apiary that looks like an ancient ruin and nothing like our western hives. You will visit with a beekeeper and learn about their multi-generational history of beekeeping and the role of honey in Moroccan culture.Then you will drive North to to seaside town of Essaouira and relax before dinner.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 12: ESSAOUIRA

Essaouira will steal your heart and you will not want to leave as you relax into its small town charm. You will explore its winding Medina streets, enjoy shopping in its low key shops, see the picturesque blue boats tied up in the harbor and art by local artists everywhere. You will explore the port, sample fresh caught fish and soak in the salty Atlantic breeze. Dinner will be at restaurant with local character and musicians playing.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 13: ESSAOUIRA

This morning you will continue to enjoy the relaxed vibe of the town wandering its market and narrow streets. Essaouira is great for shopping and just relaxing.In the late afternoon to relax if you want you can visit a traditional Moroccan bath house called a hamman. It is an easy place to spend a couple of days.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 14:ESSAOUIRA - MARRAKECH

Today after lunch you will head back to Marrakech at an easy pace and relishing your last day in Morocco and have a nice group farewell dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 15: MARRAKECH

Today you will say good bye to Morocco and head for home.

Meals Included: Breakfast.