Itinerary
Morocco Highlights
13 nights / 14 days
Day 1 – Marrakech to Agafay Desert
Upon arrival at Marrakech Airport, you will be met by an Avventura representative and assisted through customs to collect your luggage. You will be introduced to your driver who will drive you 50-minutes to Agafay Desert.
Agafay is on the edge of the Atlas Mountains and at the heart of a sublime desert landscape. Enjoy your luxurious tented camp overlooking the moon-like rocky dunes of the desert before heading for a sunset camel ride through them.
Tonight, dinner is set up privately for you at a nomadic tent where you will be welcomed with authentic Moroccan entertainment.
Accommodation: Inara Camp in an Emotion Tent.
Meal Plan – Dinner.
Day 2 – Agafay Desert to Marrakech
This morning, experience the thrill of a dune buggy ride through the Agafay Desert. Afterwards, choose to have lunch (at own expense) in a Berber village or back at the lodge before meeting your driver for the journey to Marrakech.
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the elegant Villa des Orangers where you will be staying for five nights.
Accommodation: Villa des Orangers in a Private Villa.
Meal Plan – Breakfast.
Day 3 – Marrakech
After breakfast, you will explore Marrakech on an historical tour of the city including a visit to the impressive Majorelle Gardens and the Yves Saint Lauren Museum.
The rest of the day and evening is at leisure.
Accommodation: Villa des Orangers in a Private Villa.
Meal Plan – Breakfast.
Day 4 – Marrakech
An early start for a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the desert landscape. As this activity is weather dependent, if conditions do not allow for a sunrise flight, then it may be possible to do a sunset ride instead.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure where you can relax by the pool, take a spa treatment or explore the medina’s souks.
Accommodation: Villa des Orangers in a Private Villa.
Meal Plan – Breakfast.
Day 5 – Marrakech
A free day to explore Marrakech at your own pace and enjoy the luxurious surroundings of your accommodation.
This evening, you will be taken on a tasting trail with a local Moroccan food expert. En route, you’ll experience a wide range of tastes, a variety of active ancient communal cooking facilities, and see how the food is sourced and prepared.
Accommodation: Villa des Orangers in a Private Villa.
Meal Plan – Breakfast & food on the tasting trail.
Day 6 – Marrakech
This morning head to the outskirts of Marrakech to the Amizmiz Valley for a traditional cooking class. Afterwards, enjoy the meal you have helped prepare at the farm before heading back to your haven in Marrakech.
Rest of the day and evening is at leisure.
Accommodation: Villa des Orangers in a Private Villa.
Meal Plan – Breakfast & meal during cooking class.
Day 7 – Marrakech to Essaouira
Today, you will leave the red city of Marrakech for Essaouira. On the way you will stop for a cheese tasting and lunch at La Fromagerie.
Essaouira is situated on the Atlantic coast, 2.5 hours from Marrakech. It is a laid-back fishing community and famous for its Gnaoua music and artistic scene. Many local and foreign artists have settled here continuing the vibe that attracted visitors such as Jimmy Hendrix and Cat Stevens (Yousuf Islam) in the 1960s.
Accommodation: L’Heure Bleue Palace in a Deluxe Room.
Meal Plan – Breakfast and lunch.
Day 8 – Essaouira
This morning, join a local guide for an historical tour in the medina of Essaouira to learn about its history, art and music scene.
Your afternoon is at leisure to relax at your villa or wander through the souks where wooden carvings are a popular purchase. Perhaps stop and enjoy fresh seafood and local wine whilst watching the fishermen come in with their daily catch. One of the best things about Essaouira is watching the sun set over the ocean with the echoes of the call to prayer drifting through the warm evening breeze.
Accommodation: L’Heure Bleue Palace in a Deluxe Room.
Meal Plan – Breakfast.
Day 9 – Essaouira
Enjoy a fantastic experience horse riding through the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean on Berber horses before enjoying an exclusive picnic lunch.
Rest of the day and evening is at leisure.
Accommodation: L’Heure Bleue Palace in a Deluxe Room.
Meal Plan – Breakfast & Picnic Lunch.
Day 10 – Essaouira
Today is all about relaxation. Enjoy your free day at leisure in your private villa or swimming in the heated pool. The villa’s kitchen is fully equipped if you would like to practice your recently acquired Moroccan cooking skills. Your driver is also at your disposal should they be needed.
Accommodation: L’Heure Bleue Palace in a Deluxe Room.
Meal Plan – Breakfast.
Day 11 – Essaouria to High Atlas Mountains
After breakfast you will leave Essaouria and head into the High Atlas Mountains. You will be staying at Kasbah Bab Ourika, where you can enjoy lunch overlooking the mountains.
In the afternoon you will head off for a 4×4 adventure through the Berber villages.
Dinner this evening will be at the hotel.
Accommodation: Kasbah Bab Ourika in a Garden Pool Villa.
Meal Plan – Breakfast & Dinner.
Day 12 – High Atlas Mountains and Marrakech
This morning, you will take one last visit to Marrakech for an exhilarating sidecar ride through the medina and the palm grove. Visit Jean-Francois Fourtou’s sculpture park in Dar El Sadaka, where the artist’s pieces are on display, such as ‘The House Fallen from the Sky’ and ‘The Giant’s House’. Lunch will be at Dar El Sadaka.
After lunch, meet your driver to return to the mountains where your afternoon and evening is at leisure.
Accommodation: Kasbah Bab Ourika in a Garden Pool Villa.
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 13 – Depart Marrakech
This morning, your Morocco adventure comes to an end. Upon arrival at Marrakech International Airport, you will be met by an Avventura representative who will assist you through customs for your flight home.
Meal Plan – Breakfast.
Accommodation options
AGAFAY
INARA CAMP
Set amongst 21 hectares of desert landscape, Inara Camp provides the ultimate escape from city life. Each Emotion Tent has an en suite bathroom with shower, a lounge area and a private terrace. During the day an air cooler provides a respite from the heat of the desert or, between activities, you can take a dip in the Desert Lagoon Pool. At night, as the temperature drops under clear skies, to create a cosy atmosphere, the tents have the benefit of a wood stove.
MARRAKECH
VILLA DES ORANGERS
Villa des Orangers is a luxurious boutique hotel in the heart of Marrakech. Located between the Royal Palace and bustling Jmaa El Fna Square, it is a beautifully restored riad, maintaining many original architectural features including open courtyards. A member of Relais & Chateaux since 2001, there are 27 beautifully furnished rooms and suites, some with private terraces. Facilities include Nuxe Spa and a restaurant serving Mediterranean and Moroccan cuisine.
ESSAOURIA
L’HEURE BLEUE PALACE
L’Heure Bleue Palace is a charming riad and a wonderful base for exploring Essaouira. As a member of Relais & Chateaux, you can expect a warm Moroccan welcome from the moment you arrive. There are 33 rooms and suites spreading out from the central courtyard, each individual in size and décor. After exploring the city, head to the swimming pool or take a treatment in the spa. During your stay, make time to head to the rooftop terrace for views of the city, particularly special at sunset.
ATLAS MOUNTAINS
KASBAH BAB OURIKA
Kasbah Bab Ourika has an enviable position overlooking the Ourika Valley and the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. The 360-degree views of the mountains, Berber villages and river valley are simply breath taking. Bab Ourika is one of Morocco’s eco-friendly properties with solar panels to heat the water. Made in a traditional Berber style the earth walls provide natural cooling methods, avoiding the need of air-conditioning. The rooms are all individually decorated with Berber influences throughout. Arabic and international dishes are created in the restaurant using seasonal ingredients straight from the kitchen garden.
Activities options
AGAFAY – DESERT DUNE BUGGY RIDE
This morning, drive through the rocky dunes at a comfortable speed to explore the beautiful landscapes of Marrakech desert in a dune buggy. Your guide will gradually guide you to increased speeds as your confidence behind the wheel increases. With plenty of photo opportunities along the way, it’s one of the best ways to experience this beautiful natural landscape.
MARRAKECH – HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE
Drift gently over the incredible desert landscape and capture the sunrise while floating over secluded Berber villages and the snow-capped Atlas Mountains on this magical balloon flight. Dependent on weather conditions, you will start at high altitude to get a panoramic view of the whole region before sinking to a lower altitude for closer views of the villages, farms and Jnilet Mountains. If the weather is unfavourable at sunrise, it may be possible to do a sunset flight instead.
MARRAKECH – HISTORICAL TOUR INCLUDING MAJORELLE GARDEN AND YSL MUSEUM
French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886–1962) dedicated forty years of his life to the creation of the luxurious gardens and Berber Museum. An amateur botanist, Majorelle included plants from all five continents in the gardens. Marjorelle’s studio, a Cubist-style villa constructed by architect Paul Sinoir, has since been transformed into the museum. Since 1980 the garden was owned by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. After Yves Saint Laurent died in 2008 his ashes were scattered in the gardens. The garden also houses the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech, whose collection includes North African textiles from Saint-Laurent’s personal collection as well as ceramics, jewelry, and paintings by Majorelle.
MARRAKECH – FARM TO TABLE COOKING CLASS
The cooking class takes place in the Amizmiz Valley, populated by Berbers who still maintain their traditional way of life. Just a short ride from Marrakech this valley has been little affected by tourism. Your host has an elegant eco-farm set amongst 15 hectares of olive groves, vegetable gardens and orchards in a traditional Berber hamlet set against the backdrop of the High Atlas Mountains. He will teach you how to utilise herbs and spices as well as prepare a typical Moroccan meal including bread making Moroccan style.
MARRAKECH – TASTING TRAIL
Join a foodie expert for an evening tasting experience through the heart of Marrakech at Jmaa El Fna Square. The tour is private and customised to suit your appetite and palate. Dine with the locals while sampling regional specialties at the most popular food stalls in the market while soaking up the night-time ambiance in the famous square.
MARRAKECH – BY SIDECAR
Ride a vintage sidecar through the lively alleys of Marrakech’s medina on this fun and exciting way to explore a secret Marrakech not normally accessible on foot. Your motorbike will be either a Ural or a Mash. Up to two passengers are taken on the bike, one on the back, one in the sidecar – but whichever seat you’re in, you’ll discover Marrakech from an unusual point of view.
ESSAOUIRA – CITY TOUR
Once an old Portuguese fishing village, Essaouira is known as the city of art and music. This morning, join a local guide for an historical tour in the medina of Essaouira learning about its history, artistic vibrancy, and musical uniqueness. Wander around the ramparts and watch the fishermen at work doing what they do best: providing the locals with the freshest of sea food.
ESSAOUIRA – CHEESE TASTING
Enjoy cheese tasting and lunch at La Fromagerie where Jaouad Hbib and Abderrazzak Khoubbane run a seriously good dairy. The cheeses are made from old Berber techniques and each cheese reflects the unique vision of the farm in offering bio-made produce at high quality levels.
ESSAOURIA – HORSE RIDING
Enjoy a thrilling experience with gentle and well-trained Berber horses riding through the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean. All levels are catered for as the guide will adapt to your riding experience from a gentle ride for beginners to galloping through the sands for the more skilled riders. The ride will take you along the beach of Diabat, past a fisherman village and a forest of eucalyptus and mimosa trees.
HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS – 4X4 EXCURSION THROUGH BERBER VILLAGES
In the afternoon you will head off for a 4×4 adventure through the valleys. Visit some of the surrounding Berber villages to look at some of the working co-operatives. These co-operatives set up through independent and government funding allow the women of the region to support themselves and be sustainably independent, as well as providing the opportunity for literacy education. Experience traditional rural life with local women and enjoy baking your bread in the Berber way in clay oven that is still used and operating to this day.
