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 we will start the day exploring the old medina and the souks with visits to a traditional herbalist and to some of the major sites. To relax in the afternoon we will visit one of Marrakech's lovely tranquil urban gardens. Dinner will be prepared at the riad.

Included Dinner

Day 2: MARRAKECH

Today we 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 at his riad. For lunch we will visit an alley of the Medina where vendors specialize in slow roasted lamb,or Mechouis, a Moroccan speciality.

Included: Breakfast

Day 3: MARRAKECH

Today we will explore modern Marrakech outside of the medina with our driver and bus for the tour. Visits will include a famous urban garden, some interesting gallery spaces in the design district with artists doing exciting work and possibly anything we weren't able to get to in the medina.

Included: Breakfast

Day 4: MARRAKECH - OURIKA VALLEY

Today we will travel just an hour east of Marrakech to explore the lovely relaxing Ourika valley at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. You will be struck by its stunning beauty and rich local culture. We 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. We will also visit a saffron farm and a breathtaking garden made by a famous artist and a village wehre they do traditional pottery.

For the evening we will stay in a comfortable riad where we will have a delicious traditional meal.

Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5: OURIKA VALLEY - SKOURA

After breakfast we will head east traveling across the Atlas Mountains and then enter the Draa valley and the land of a thousand kasbahs. We will have lunch in a Berber village then drive on to the town of Skoura and see a famous historic Kasbah and explore its many floors and rooms. late afternoon we will check into our riad where the owner will cook us all a delicious meal.

Included: Breakfast & Dinner.

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. We will drive to a green canopied palm grove with a local guide and visit a date and pomegranate farm. Here we can also see traditional Moroccan bread making in an outdoor oven. Then we will drive on to a town where we will meet with an African Moroccan Gnawa musician who will talk with us about the religion and music of the Gnawa. He will do a demostration and then serve us lumch. After returning to the riad and relaxing a bit we will have dinner with a special performance of local Berber musicians that you will really enjoy.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 7: SKOURA - ZAGORA

Today we will drive through the Draa 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 we will drive on to the town of Tamegroute. We will explore the underground kasbah and learn about the traditional ceramic work they are known for with its lovely green glaze. We will then back track and spend the night outside Zagora in a lovely accomodation set in a palm grove.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 8: ZAGORA - SAHARA

In the morning we will visit a Berber historical museum in Zagora with a great collection of artifacts. During the day we will visit a town where a lot of artisan work is done and meet with the artists. We will then head to the town of M'Hamid which is on the edge of the Sahara and has a great wild west feel to it. We will walk the streets of its old town and meet with some local people.

At the days end we will drive to our pick up point to be taken out to the desert camp in 4 x 4s. We won't be roughing it though and will be staying in very nice luxury tents. We 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 & Dinner.

Day9: 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 again at the accomodation set it a palm grove for an evening of relaxation. In the evening the host will cook a special meal of barbequed lamb and there will be a performance of Gnawa musicians, a group of people who are decendants of slaves.

Included: Breakfast.

Day 10: ZAGORA - TAROUDANT

n the morning we will head south towards the city of Taroudant, the hidden pearl of Morocco. Enroute we will make a stop in the town of Tazenakht. Here we will visit a women's carpet cooperative and learn about the traditions of carpet making and also stop in a town where you can buy inexpensive high quallity saffron.

You will drive through the rugged beauty of the region and when we arrive enter into the walled city of Taroudant. You will find it is a deeply rooted, smaller and more peaceful version of Marrakech. When we arrive a charming local guide will give us a short tour of the nearby Souk. We will then have dinner in our riad where the host is a wonderful cool.

Included: Breakfast

Day 11: TAROUDANT-ESSAOUIRA

In the morning we will explore Taroudant with our local guide who will take us to some lesser known special markets. Here you will explore 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 silver work. We will enjoy wandering its markets which are wonderfully local with no tourist sheen.

Then after a delicious lunch at a restuarant near our riad we 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. We will explore its winding Medina streets, enjoy shopping in its low key shops, see the picturesque blue boats tied up in the harbor. We will explore the port, sample fresh caught fish and soak in the salty Atlantic breeze. Dinner will be at a restaurant with local character and musicians playing.

Included: Breakfast

Day 13: ESSAOUIRA

This morning we 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. Essaouira is an easy place to spend a couple of days.

Included: Breakfast

Day 14:ESSAOUIRA - MARRAKECH

Mid morning will head back to Marrakech at an easy pace and relishing your last day in Morocco. We may do something we missed before we left and then have a nice group farewell dinner.

Included: Breakfast

Day 15: MARRAKECH

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

Included: Breakfast.