A trip to Morocco evokes sun and relaxation in a mystical setting of perfumed gardens, colorful markets and incredible Moroccan cuisine.
Marrakesh is a very safe destination with an ancient tradition of hospitality, so travelers feel secure and very welcome by some of the friendliest people in the world. It is a true paradise for shopping at absolute bargain prices, winter sunbathing – with beautiful weather almost all year round, especially in winter.
Day 1: After an overnight flight to Morocco, land in Marrakesh. A private driver will meet and escort you to your hotel accommodations for the evening. The hotel is situated in the royal district of the medina called the Kasbah. The two royal palaces of Marrakesh are situated at either end of this district. The Kasbah is located in the southern part of the medina and is only a fifteen minute walk from the main square, Jemaa al Fnaa. The hotel offers year round swimming with its heated pool and the roof top jacuzzi, cloaked in a bedouin tent for added intimacy, soothes aching limbs after a hard days shopping in the souqs. Pamper yourself in a hammam – steam bath – and let the in house masseuse give you a traditional moroccan massage using natural products.
Relax at the hotel this evening. In addition to many restaurants in the area, dining is available on the roof terrace which in addition has its own tagine oven and grill. Enjoy the delights of Moroccan cuisine while soaking up the exotic and unique atmosphere of the Kasbah.
Day 2: After your made to order breakfast at the hotel, a personal guide will escort you through the city of red walls, winding souks and tangled streets that define Marrakech. Against the impressive back-drop of the snow-capped Atlas mountains, the imperial city of Marrakech offers a wealth of sightseeing and fun activities.
Tour the Saadian tombs, one of the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture. Also see the Bahia Palace famed for its 50 marble columns.
Stroll through the Jardin Majorelle, a beautiful exotic park. Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought the Jardin Majorelle in 1980 and saved it from falling victim to a real estate project and becoming a hotel complex.
At 6pm prepare for an amazing three and a half hour journey deep into the heart of the Medina to experience the unique and exotic street food culture of Marrakech. Accommodated by a friendly foodie and fully licensed guide, you will eat where locals eat.
Day 3: Today a private English speaking guide & driver will take you on a unique journey from Marrakech to the seaside city of Essaouira. The drive is just over two and half hours. Explore the sights and sounds of this vibrant city, soaking in hundreds of years of culture and history.
Along the way stop to see the Argan trees where small goats clamber up the low branches and feed. Sometimes there are as many as 20 goats sitting in one tree. After a full day in Essaouira, relax while being transfered back to the hotel.
Day 4: Enjoy another delicious breakfast before a driver takes you to the very beautiful La Maison Arabe. You will be hosted to traditional cookery classes! Their legendary restaurant offers cooking workshops designed for the amateur and professional alike. At the end of the session, indulge in eating the food you prepared.
Late afternoon, you’ll be driven an hour to the Sahara desert. Don’t forget the camera for an hour long camel ride at sunset followed by dinner in a traditional and private Berber tent.
Day 5: Today is another fabulous day in Morocco. A comfortable private vehicle and driver will whisk you away to the Atlas Mountains. Visit a Berber village before seeing the argan oil cooperative to see how the oil is extracted manually from the kernels of fruit. Pass the cascades of Setti Fatma, a series of seven beautiful waterfalls. Lunch is served here with restaurants that set up their tables and chairs on boulders in the Atlas Mountain streams.
If possible, plan this excursion on Mondays and Fridays since those are Berber market days in the Atlas Mountains. Watch as livestock is traded, food cooked in traditional ovens under the ground and a wide variety of hand made Berber merchandise being bought and sold. There are also many artisanal workshops and galleries. On the way back, visit a saffron garden where the owner will give a demonstration of the curative and palliative effects on the body of the various herbs that are grown there.
Day 6: After breakfast it will be time to say good bye to colorful Morocco for your flight home.
Cairn Travels 