Morocco has a wide variety of historical and cultural sites from the Roman ruins at Volubilis to the Royal palaces at Meknes. The Medinas of Marrakech and Fez are unchanged from centuries ago and the souks are alive with the sights, sounds and smells that conjure up a bygone age.
In Marrakech, the Koutoubia Mosque looks over the famous Place Djem el Fnaa where storytellers, magicians, musicians and snake charmers vie for your attention with the juice sellers and food stalls. Enjoy a meal at the stalls or at one of the many cafes and restaurants around the perimeter. The Palais de la Bahia and the Saadian tombs are classic examples of Islamic architecture whilst the Jardin Majorelle is an oasis of calm in this vibrant city. Relax and be pampered in your luxury Riad and hunt for bargains in the souks or visit the modern shopping area in Gueliz.
For those wishing to be more energetic there is excellent walking and wildlife watching to be had in the High Atlas mountains and in the coastal areas. Essaouira is a great place to relax after some serious trekking with its bars, beach, cafes, restaurants, galleries and relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Often only seen for a short time by day trippers from Marrakech it is well worth a few nights to explore its many charms.
There is good walking and horse riding to be had in the gorges around Ouirgane and the more famous Todra and Dades gorges further south. The more energetic can reach the summit of Jebel Toubkal and explore the Berber culture and villages of the surrounding area on foot with our expert local guides.
The drive from Marrakech south through the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass is spectacular and brings you to Ouazarzate and the land of the Kasbahs. The film studios at Ouazarzate have seen many famous films created including Star Wars and Gladiator. Many of the Kasbahs are still inhabited and you can spend the night in style at several along the route.
Continuing south you come to Zagora the last town before the Sahara starts. Here you really start to get the feel of the frontier as nomads come in from the desert to trade at the markets. There is a certain redolence of early westerns when the sky changes to purple and the sand blows up the main street along with the tumbleweed. From here you can head into the desert with our local guides and experience the calm and solitude as well as get to know the life and culture of the nomads. Trekking for several days with camels to the big dunes at Ch’gaga and in the evening lying by the campfire, looking up at a million stars in a pure black sky, whilst listening to the nomad's songs is one of the best things you could ever do.
For those wishing to discover the secrets of the fabulous local cuisine we can arrange cookery classes both in Marrakech and the desert and can cater for all your other interests.
