This itinerary combines the bustling souks of colourful Marrakech with the timeless Berber culture and stunning views of the High Atlas Mountains. So you blend a vibrant city with mountain calm. It is a perfect week-long introduction to Morocco. As ever, the whole trip is private, with personal guides and drivers.
You begin in Marrakech, one of the closest places to find a truly different culture. The city grew along the ancient route linking the Sahara with the Mediterranean ports. Within the medina lies a maze of souks, selling almost anything imaginable. So you explore them with an expert guide. Along the way, we show you the hidden, secret corners too. You stay two nights in a boutique riad, the Riad Kaiss or Le Farnatchi.
Next, venture into the High Atlas, a drive of only about an hour. These peaks overlook Marrakech and stay snow-capped from November to March. Here live the Berber people, on hillsides farmed for centuries. So we tailor your two nights to how active you wish to be. For example, take lovely day walks through remote villages. Equally, visit a local Berber home for mint tea. You stay at Kasbah Tamadot or Domaine Malika.
Afterwards, return to Marrakech for three final nights of rest. On this second visit, we suggest the Palmeraie, just outside the city. There the hotels sit in verdant gardens, with larger pools and space to relax. So it makes a suitably restful finale. You stay at the Mandarin Oriental or Dar Zemora.
These final days bend entirely to you. So we can add experiences to match your interests. For example, return to the souks and the quirky museums, or visit the gardens of Marrakech. Equally, dig into the historical highlights. For an early thrill, drift over the Agafay Desert by hot-air balloon.
The charm lies in the contrast. First, Marrakech dazzles with colour and noise. Then the mountains soothe with space and silence. Meanwhile, the return to the city ends things gently. So you get energy and calm in one week. As a result, it suits first-time visitors beautifully.
Naturally, the hotels are lovely throughout. In the medina, the Riad Kaiss or Le Farnatchi. In the mountains, Kasbah Tamadot or Domaine Malika. Finally, the Mandarin Oriental or Dar Zemora in the Palmeraie.
Generally, spring and autumn bring the most comfortable weather. Winter, meanwhile, is mild and sunny, with snow on the peaks. By contrast, high summer can be very hot. So we tailor the timing to your plans. Either way, we advise on the ideal window for your dates.
The beauty of a week is the breathing room. So you never rush from sight to sight. Meanwhile, there is always time for the pool. Because it is private, each day bends around you. As a result, you return genuinely refreshed.
The mountains are the emotional heart of the trip. So you walk among villages farmed for centuries. There, a mint tea in a local home is a real privilege. Meanwhile, the views stretch for miles. As a result, the culture feels close at hand.
Finally, this route pairs well with more of Morocco. For example, add the Atlantic coast at Essaouira. Equally, extend into the Sahara. As ever, we shape the whole journey around you.
For a first trip, this is ideal. So you gather the highlights without rushing. Meanwhile, the comforts stay high throughout. As a result, you leave already planning to return.
As ever, this is only a starting point. So we shape the pace, the hotels and the experiences to suit. In the end, the week is entirely your own.
In the end, the magic is the mix. So you blend the city’s energy with mountain calm. Meanwhile, the return to Marrakech ends things gently. As a result, you enjoy both worlds in a single week.
Above all, the trip feels effortless. So the short drives keep the days relaxed. Meanwhile, your guides bring each place to life. As a result, you simply enjoy Morocco.
In the end, few combinations work so well. So the souks and the summits balance each other. Meanwhile, the week never feels stretched. As a result, it remains one of our most popular Moroccan trips.
The Palmeraie makes a restful close. So you swap the medina’s bustle for green gardens. Meanwhile, the larger pools invite long, lazy afternoons. In the end, you leave thoroughly relaxed.
It works beautifully over about a week. Of course, it can be extended. We will shape the length to suit you.
We suggest a medina riad first, then the greener Palmeraie to finish. So you enjoy both the buzz and the calm. We will advise either way.
Generally, spring, autumn and winter are most comfortable. We will advise on timing for your dates.
Entirely. The pace, hotels and experiences are all shaped around you. Simply share your dates and interests, and we will craft the rest.
| £2250P.P | - | £3995P.P |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Gold |
| Days | Location | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 - 3 | Atlas Mountains | Kasbah Bab Ourika Kasbah Tamadot |
| Day 4-6 | Marrakech | Riad Kaiss Le Farnatchi |
| Day 7-9 | Essaouira / Atlantic Coast | Dar Maya La Sultana Oualidia |
| Day 10 | Marrakech Airport | Fly Home |
Arrive in Marrakech, with a fast-track arrival service. Once through customs, you are met and privately transferred to the Atlas Mountains, a drive of about an hour.
Tailor these two days to how much you want to walk, or simply relax. Take a short amble to a local village for mint tea in a Berber home, or stretch your legs on a more challenging trek through the natural landscapes.
Return to Marrakech, about an hour, then spend the afternoon at leisure.
Meander through the medina, exploring the souks, mosques and medersas. Just before sunset, reach the Djemaa el-Fna, an atmospheric wonderland of torch-lit food stalls, snake charmers and storytellers.
Today is tailored to you. Relax, or head out to the quirky museums, hidden souks and gardens of Marrakech, a hot-air balloon flight or mountain biking.
Drive to the fishing town of Essaouira, set on a windswept peninsula. Everyone from the Phoenicians to the French has left their mark; Orson Welles filmed Othello among its ramparts.
Enjoy a leisurely time in Essaouira. We can arrange a half-day walking tour of the medina and souk, leaving the afternoon to explore under your own steam.
Your driver collects you for the two-hour drive to Marrakech for your flight home. Alternatively, we can drop you in Casablanca or Agadir if these suit your connections.
We can tweak and change any element of this itinerary and you can depart on any day you want, add nights here and there, and we can fully customise your day-to-day experiences depending on your interests. Here are just a few ideas of many that we can look at and discuss when we come to plan your tailor-made itinerary.
Firstly, we can change the number of nights at any location, and you can depart on any day of the week. Secondly, we can adapt the day-to-day experiences to suit your interests. Thirdly, we can add or remove any of the destinations featured. This might be adding a trip to the desert, or visiting the city of Fez for instance. Needless to say, do let us know and we build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
Fez and Marrakech are undeniably Morocco’s most iconic and evocative cities, packed with all the magical charm that makes Morocco so mesmerising. This itinerary allows you an immersive experience of both, and additionally, some gentle R&R in the mountains to conclude your trip.
Combine the bustling souks of colourful Marrakech before experiencing the timeless Berber culture and stunning views in the High Atlas Mountains.
Marrakech makes for a beautiful long weekend from any European city. With five days, you will have plenty of time to both explore and relax. The weather is perfect in the winter, and you can also immerse yourself in a fascinating culture.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.