Experience three very different sides of Morocco in one week – taking a relaxed pace to give each the attention it deserves. In Marrakech, we uncover royal history with a local expert and admire the artistic side of the city. Then trade bustling streets for quiet High Atlas trails, staying two nights in the Amazigh (Berber) village of Imlil. Finish with two nights at a stylish desert camp in the Agafay Desert, with a pool overlooking the stony landscape and a full day to enjoy camp life at leisure.
Activity Areas
Cultural Heritage
Culture
Region & Country & City
Africa: Atlas Mountains, Marrakech, Morocco
Included in the Price
All accommodation: 5 Superior Comfort nights (3 hotel, 2 desert camp), 2 Comfort nights (High Atlas guesthouse) - All breakfasts, one lunch and six dinners - Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities - Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure - Arrival and departure transfers
Not Included In The Price
Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.
Itinerary
Day 1 Adventure starts in Marrakech
The adventure begins in buzzy Marrakech, a whirlwind of tradition and culture and an invigorating introduction to Morocco.
If you arrive early, we recommend lunch at the Amal Gueliz Center. Run by the Amal Association, the restaurant supports culinary training for local women, so your first taste of Moroccan cooking can help others build a career.
Around 6pm, say salaam alaikum (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Your tour leader then ensures a big Moroccan welcome by arranging a group dinner.
Day 2 Explore Marrakech’s ancient medina on foot • Enjoy a traditional dance show
Join a local expert for a walking tour of Marrakech’s ancient medina, which includes visiting two monuments that reveal the ambitions and artistry of Morocco’s rulers. At the 19th-century Bahia Palace, we pass through courtyards and salons decorated with mosaic tiles, carved wood and intricate plasterwork, with our guide explaining the history behind the craftsmanship.
We also visit the Saadian Tombs, the royal burial complex where Sultan Ahmed el Mansour rests in the elaborately decorated Hall of Twelve Columns.
We finish around lunchtime, leaving the afternoon free to explore the city a little more or relax at the hotel.
In the evening, we gather for a traditional dance show, adding music and movement to our introduction to Morocco.
Day 3 Admire Marrakech’s creative side at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and Majorelle Gardens
If you’d like to begin the day in spectacular fashion, there’s the option of an early morning hot-air balloon flight outside Marrakech – see Extra Expenses for more information.
Later, we turn our attention to art and design with a visit to the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, dedicated to the work of the French fashion designer. We also visit the Majorelle Gardens, created by painter Jacques Majorelle and later rescued from redevelopment by Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Among the bamboo, palms and cacti, the intense blue buildings make the garden feel as carefully composed as a painting.
This evening is free to relax or explore Marrakech independently. For a taste of the city after dark, you may wish to visit lively Jemaa el-Fna, which is just a short cab journey from our accommodation. Here, you can enjoy dinner or mint tea on a rooftop terrace overlooking the medina. Alternatively, your tour leader can recommend a nearby restaurant.
Day 4 Head into the High Atlas • Browse Tahanaout’s weekly souk
Bid farewell to Marrakech and transfer (two hours) to the village of Imlil, our serene mountain base for the next two nights. En route, we stop at the weekly market in Tahanaout, where people from the surrounding area gather to buy and sell local produce. It’s an opportunity to see the everyday exchanges that bring this rural market town together.
After arriving in Imlil, our tour leader chooses a hike suited to the group’s fitness and preferences, introducing us to the mountain surroundings at a comfortable pace. Alternatively, settle into our accommodation and relax before dinner.
Day 5 Hike the High Atlas trails • Picnic in the mountains
Pull on your hiking boots to explore the High Atlas, following our tour leader on a 4.5mi (7.5km) route. Our trail follows established mountain paths through the Imlil Valley, passing terraced fields, walnut groves and traditional Amazigh homes.
We pause at the Imlil/Aroumd Waterfall before continuing to Aroumd village, where we enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the valley or near the village. The hike itself is around 3hr to 3hr 30min, with additional time allocated for the lunch break and short stops along the way.
We return to our accommodation for dinner and a second night in the mountains.
Day 6 Discover an innovative community project • Settle into our camp in the Agafay Desert
Bid a fond farewell to Imlil and head to our third and final destination, the Agafay Desert. En route, we visit the Akrich Community Tree Nursery. Founded by the High Atlas Foundation, it provides the space and equipment needed for local farmers, cooperatives and schools to produce more than 100,000 saplings a year, including olive, pomegranate and argan.
We then continue to the Agafay Desert, a landscape of stony hills and open expanses, where we settle into MIA Camp for two nights.
Day 7 Watch the desert sunrise • Unwind at MIA Camp
It’s your first morning in the desert, so you may wish to wake early to watch sunrise and the first light spread across Agafay’s stony hills.
The rest of the day is free for you to make the most of your time enjoying the stunning location and the camp’s excellent facilities. Spend time beside the camp pool, settle down with a book or simply watch the changing light across the desert. With another night here, there’s no need to hurry.
There are also several optional activities available, including exploring the desert by camel, quad bike or buggy.
Day 8 Adventure ends at Marrakech Airport
You’ve uncovered Marrakech’s royal history, walked in the High Atlas and enjoyed camp life in the Agafay Desert, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.
Our adventure ends with a free transfer to Marrakech Airport, where you’re free to catch your onward flights.
Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.
