SOUTHERN MOROCCO

SOUTHERN MOROCCO TOUR

This tour is designed for travelers who have already been to Morocco though everyone is welcome. It is for those 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.

For those who have not been before on Day 2 a guide will take you to the major sites of the city, its architectural wonders, the souks and central Medina, and give you an intro to Morrocan culture.

Day 1: ARRIVE MARRAKECH

Welcome to Morocco! Today you arrive in Marrakech and settle into your accommodations. Activites will depend on time of arrival.

Day 2: MARRAKECH

Today will be about getting to see behind the curtain of Marrakech and experiencing authentic Moroccan life in its neighborhoods and seeing the special places locals know and love in their city. All things most tourists miss.

First time visitors to Morocco will see the major sites with a guide and get a solid introduction to Morocco and reunite with the group for lunch and dinner. The itinerary on this day will depend on the interest and past travel experiences of the group.

Included Breakfast

Day 3: MARRAKECH

Today you will continue exploring behind the scenes in Marrakech with your guide. Possible visits might be with a modern calligraphy artist, special selected quality artisans, a traditional herbalist and hidden special gardens. For lunch you will visit an alley of the Medina where vendors specialize in slow roasted lamb,or Mechouis, a Moroccan speciality.

Dinner will be prepared at the riad with a special performance of possibly Sufi dancers and/or Arabic traditional storytelling.

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 on towards the Sahara and the lovely region of 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 can wander the green canopied palm grove, 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.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 6: SKOURA - ZAGORA

Today you will head towards Zagora, a Saharan desert outpost town. Your route will take you through the Draa Valley and what is know as The Land of a Thousand Kasbahs. You will drive through scenic palm valleys with ancient kasbahs and sleepy villages where life has not changed for generations.

In Zagora you will learn about the culture and traditions of the desert nomad Tuareg people. You will visit a silver and leather artisan or camel herder depending on what is possible that day. Late afternoon you will ride out to your desert camp in a 4 x 4 and go for a short camel ride if you wish.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 7: ZAGORA - AIT BENHADDOU

Those who wish can get up early for the sunrise over the desert. After breakfast you will ride back to town and visit a nearby town to possibly see desert women doing goat hair weaving, nomad tent making and making traditional pottery. Leaving the desert behind you will head back east to the town of Skoura. Lunch enroute will be in a private kasbah garden for a traditional tagine meal.

You will end the day in Ait Benhaddou, a remarkable old fotified fort 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, enjoy the panoramic view from the top and water through its mae-like streets. You will spend the night in a wonderfully restored neraby kasbah guest house and hear an Ahwach traditional performance of lively music, dance and colorful costumes.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 9: AIT BEN HADDOU - TAROUDANTE

In 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.

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. You will enjoy walking its ramparts, chatting with locals, and wandering its markets which are wonderfully local with no tourist sheen.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 10: TAROUDANT AND NEARBY VILLAGES

Now you make a shift to the modern port city of Agadir with its wide beaches and relaxed seaside vibe. You will have lunch by the sea and climb some kasbah ruins for a panaromic view of the city. You can stop at their Museum of Berber culture and for lunch eat at an Argan cooperative collective run by local women with a tasting and learn about the work they do.

When you are ready to unwind you can go to a beachside cafe where musicians jam informally. For dinner you will be the guest of a local family where the mother will give you a cooking class of special Moroccan dishes that you will then enjoy.

Included: Breakfast & Dinner.

Day 10:TAROUDANT - AGADIR

Now you make a shift to the modern port city of Agadir with its wide beaches and relaxed seaside vibe. You will have lunch by the sea and climb some kasbah ruins for a panaromic view of the city. You can stop at their Museum of Berber culture and for lunch eat at an Argan cooperative collective run by local women with a tasting and learn about the work they do.

When you are ready to unwind you can go to a beachside cafe where musicians jam informally. For dinner you will be the guest of a local family where the mother will give you a cooking class of special Moroccan dishes that you will then enjoy.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 11: AGADIR-ESSAOUIRA

Enroute to Essaouira you will make a detour off the route to Tagazout, a village famous for beekeeping. You will 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. Taghazout also has a community of ceramic and woodworking artists and have a visit to the home of a local artisan. 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 is 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 see art everywhere. You will explore the port, sample fresh caught fish and soak in the salty Atlantic breeze. In the late afternoon to relax if you want you can visit a traditional Moroccan bath house called a hamman. Dinner will be at restaurant with local character and musicians playing.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 13: ESSAOUIRA - MARRAKECH

This morning you will continue to enjoy the relaxed vibe of the town wandering its market and narrow streets. You will have lunch in a small cafe. After lunch you will head back to Marrakech at an easy pace and relishing your last day in Morocco stopping at a famous garden outside the city before you arrive. Then have a special final dinner in a special hidden courtyard.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 14: MARRAKECH

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

Included: Breakfast.