Tour Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVAL IN MARRAKESH

Upon arrival your specialist tour leader will be waiting to welcome you at Marrakech Menara Airport ready for transfer to your overnight accommodation in Marrakesh.

After you have settled in to your accommodation, the rest of the day is completely free for you to enjoy at your leisure.  Your hotel has a pool, so feel free to indulge in some well deserved rest and relaxation.

This evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner.

Day 2 MARRAKESH

After a restful night’s sleep and a traditional Moroccan breakfast you will enjoy a full day guided tour of Morocco’s Red City where you will visit some of Marrakesh’s most historical monuments including Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs and the famous Jamaa El Fna square and market place which lies in the shadow of Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakesh.   Here on the square of Jemaa El Fna you’ll find hawkers, entertainers, snake charmers, dancers, story-tellers and henna ladies.   You’ll find countless stalls selling freshly squeezed orange juice and an abundance of dried fruit and nuts.  We will pause here for a spot of lunch before heading into the souks.

Did we mention the souks?  Undoubtedly the beating heart of Marrakesh and the largest market in the whole of Morocco.  Just about anything your mind can conceive can be found within these labyrinthine shopping lanes.  As you pass through the narrow streets jam packed with produce, you’ll witness the comings and goings of everyday life of these market traders.  Your senses will likely be knocked sideways, especially if you follow the distinctive odor of the leather tanneries.  And, a top tip, if you are handed a sprig of mint, take it!  It’s not for making tea but to hold beneath your nostrils to distract you from the pungeant smell of the tannery pits!  You’ll have plenty of time to haggle for your souvenirs in the souks of Marrakesh.   It’s all part of the fun and culture and it’s expected.

To round off the day, you’ll participate in a Moroccan Cooking Workshop where you’ll learn how to make a traditional dish with tasting at the end.

As the sun sets and darkness falls upon Jemaa El Fna square you can enjoy a coffee or glass of mint tea overlooking the square.

Later you’ll retire for the night at your hotel in Marrakesh before your onward journey to the port city of Essaouira in the morning.

Day 3 MARRAKESH - ESSAOUIRA

After breakfast you will make your way to Essaouira, stopping along the way for a refreshment break and to visit one the Berber women’s prized Argan Oil Cooperatives where you’ll learn about Argan oil production.

Upon arrival in Essaouira, also known as the ‘Windy City’ you will enjoy lunch at a restaurant overlooking Essaouira’s impressive Bay Beach. The town’s name means ‘little picture’ in Arabic and it is not hard to see why.  It’s a photographers and painters paradise with picturesque blue and white houses and a working fishing harbour adorned with colourful boats.  On the beach you’ll witness a hive of activity.  Watch surfers, wind surfers, kite surfers, kite fliers, camel drivers, horse riders, dog-walkers, local lads playing football on the cool wet sand and hawkers selling their “happy cakes” (made with cannabis).  The rolling waves whipped up by the almost constant tropical trade winds make Essaouira one of the world’s great surf spots.  So if you ever fancied learning to surf, now’s your chance.

Once you have settled in to your accommodation in the medina you will embark upon an afternoon’s guided tour of Essaouira’s 18^th century seafront ramparts and kasbah fortifications known as skalas, where scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed.

Later you’ll witness the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean.

This evening you will enjoy a wonderful welcome dinner at a delightful Moroccan restaurant in the medina.

Day 4 ESSAOUIRA

After breakfasting at your Riad, you will enjoy a half day guided tour of Essaouira’s fishing port and harbour, visiting the Citadel, medina and souks before breaking for lunch.

This afternoon is free for you to enjoy at your leisure.  Wander through the more laid-back lanes of the medina browsing the many art galleries, carpet shops and boutiques.  Sip refreshing mint tea in the street cafes and watch on as the world passes by.  You may wish to experience a traditional hammam cleansing ritual and massage or you may like to try your hand at kitesurfing or horse riding on Essaouira’s Bay Beach.  We would be happy to offer suggestions and make any arrangements for you.

Our driver will be on hand should you wish to visit the small beach town of Sidi Kaouki, popular with surfers and just 25 km from Essaouira.  The beach is wide and long with a vast expanse of ginger-coloured sand.  There is the opportunity to take a horse or camel ride along the beach (but remember to agree on the price first).  At the windsurfing and kitesurfing school centre there is a cosy bar/cafe serving refreshments with a terrace overlooking the beach that has a chilled-out hippy vibe.   Our driver will drop you off in the afternoon and return to pick you up approximately 3 hours later.

This evening you will enjoy another relaxing dinner at a local restaurant in Essaouira’s old town.

It is worth noting Essaouira harbour is bustling with activity at sunrise as the daily catch comes into port.  The harbour is packed full of brightly painted boats.  You’ll need to be up early with the seagulls and the local cats if you want to witness all the goings on.  It’s a fantastic opportunity to get some great action shots with your camera.  You’ll find the cats around the harbour are well looked after, content and generally friendly.  The estimated 3000 strays cats in Essaouira are supported by CAT Essaouira, the first charity of its kind to have been set up in Essaouira, founded jointly by Moroccans and non-Moroccans, with its aim to protect animals, especially cats.

Day 5 ESSAOUIRA - MARRAKESH

After breakfast this morning, you will say goodbye to the Windy City of Essaouira and head to ANIMA Andre Heller Garden and Berber villages of the Ourika valley situated 40 minutes outside of Marrakesh in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.  ANIMA has been described as one of the most beautiful and imaginative gardens in the world.  Created by Austrian artist Andre Heller, ANIMA is a two-hectare Botanical Garden paradise with shady paths between sumptuous trees and shrubs, blossom and fragrant wonders, pavilions and sculptures, and breathtaking views of the often snow-capped Atlas Mountains featuring the 4167 metre high Mount Toubkal.

Later, you will return to Marrakesh and your accommodation where you will stay for one further night.

Tonight you will enjoy a farewell dinner on the Jemaa El-Fna square and have the opportunity to explore freely and shop for souvenirs.  Marrakesh’s most famous square comes alive at night and the square and surrounding souks do not close until the early hours.  And if you missed your chance to have a hammam and massage whilst in Essaouira, some establishments are open until late.

Day 6 MARRAKESH - HOME

This morning, after breakfast, you will check-out of your accommodation in Marrakesh.  Your private taxi will be on hand to transfer you to Marrakech Menara Airport in accordance with your flight departure time.  Should you have an afternoon or evening departure, you can rest assured your luggage can be stored safely at your accommodation until your taxi transfer to the airport.

At this point we say Bislema (‘goodbye’ in Arabic) and a bon voyage, and hope very much that you have enjoyed your time in the Kingdom of Morocco as much as we have enjoyed guiding you.

Accommodation

We source hotels and guest houses throughout Morocco that can fulfil our guests’ needs .  All our accommodation is chosen for its location, styling, comfort, and exemplary service. You can expect 3-4* standard accomodation on this tour.  All rooms are spacious with en suite as standard, often including a seperate sitting area, terrace or balcony.

READY TO BOOK?

Our booking process is simple.  Just fill in the form below and we will get straight back in touch.  Our tours are not inclusive of flights and these will need to be booked and paid for separately.   Once we have confirmed availability for your chosen tour and its start date, we will hold your booking for a period of 5 working days to allow you time to arrange your flights.    When you have notified us of your flight details, your booking will be confirmed and only then will your deposit become payable. Payment can be made via bank transfer or by use of credit and debit card.  The final balancing payment for the tour will be payable on arrival in Morocco.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is essential when visiting Morocco. As Morocco is outside of the EU there are no reciprocal healthcare agreements and you will not be covered by an EHIC if you have one. A travel insurance policy that covers emergency medical assistance and repatriation, and also covering all activities you are planning to participate in is a mandatory requirement for all our tours and we reserve the right to ask for proof of such.

It is wise to buy your Travel Insurance at the same time as booking your flights and tour as you will be covered from the outset.

Top Tip

Through experience we have found travellers with pre-existing medical conditions may find cheaper comprehensive travel insurance through specialist insurers such as staysure.co.uk, insurancewith.com and bootstravelinsurance.com.

For further travel and safety advice we would suggest reviewing the following websites:  www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco

Customised Morocco does not sell Travel Insurance and has no affiliation with any of the insurance companies referred to above.

Financial Protection for You

The final balancing payment for your tour is due only upon arrival in Morocco.  Deposits can be made via bank transfer

Should you need to cancel your trip, your deposit, whilst non-refundable, can be credited to the cost of an alternative trip, less any costs incurred, i.e. hotel reservations, etc, if taken within six months of your original booking.  We are committed to being completely honest and transparent with our customers and places integrity at the forefront of everything we do.  Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.