Morocco activity holiday
| country: | Morocco |
| location: | Atlas Mountains, Marrakech |
| trip type: | A small group adventure Moderate trekking holidays Moderate mountain biking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 20 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 29 May, 12 Jun, 26 Jun, 4 Sep, 18 Sep, 2 Oct, 16 Oct, 30 Oct, 13 Nov 2011: 2 Apr, 16 Apr, 30 Apr, 14 May, 28 May, 11 Jun, 25 Jun |
| price: | From £695 (9 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| offers: | Save 15% on all trips to Europe and the Middle East if you book by 9th April |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Morocco activity holiday
Don't just sit back and admire the exotic treats of Morocco - leap into this land of extraordinary beauty on a nine-day adventure through crisp mountain scenery, spectacular sheer gorges and picturesque towns. Be beguiled by the lively souqs and tumultuous market squares of Marrakech, exhilarated by cycling trips, mule treks and canyon explorations, and touched by the warm hospitality of Moroccan villagers and nomads. The more energy you put in, the more rewarding this eye-opening journey will be.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Marrakech. Ringing with the sounds of musicians, storytellers and snake charmers, Marrakech's famous market square, Djemaa el-Fna, is a dizzying spectacle. Perhaps enjoy a Moroccan feast and try a thirst-quenching freshly squeezed juice from a market stall. |
| Days 2-3: | High Atlas Mountains. Cycle past ancient villages, terraced crops and snaking rivers on a route through the spectacular High Atlas Mountains. From the base among the farms and orchards of Aroumd, join the faithful on a trek to the medieval shrine of Sidi Chamharouch. |
| Day 4: | Ait Benhaddou. The intricate clay architecture of the World Heritage-listed fortified village of Ait Benhaddou has graced the silver screen in numerous Hollywood films. Tonight, take an optional cooking class to learn the secrets of Moroccan cuisine, including tajine and couscous. |
| Days 5-6: | Rose Valley/Dades Gorge. Visit Project Horizon, an organisation helping physically disabled locals. Spend two days trekking in the peaceful Rose Valley and the starkly beautiful Dades Gorge. There's even an opportunity to ride a mule in search of nomadic friends, before enjoying a hearty feast around the campfire. |
| Day 7: | Todra Gorge. For those searching for more adrenaline, Todra Gorge's sheer walls are ideal for rock climbing. Otherwise, enjoy cycling and hiking through the gorge or the surrounding palmeraies or rest weary legs at the hotel. |
| Days 8-9: | Marrakech. After an exhilarating adventure, return to the streets of Marrakech where there's free time to explore or pick up a bargain or three at the souqs. |
traveller reviews for Morocco activity holiday
Many memorable experiences, overnight stay in caves with a Nomad family, interactive drumming sessions with the local hotel staff, rock climbing... (more)
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. The central tenet of the Awards, in which winners are nominated by tourists, is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.
how this holiday makes a difference
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On this short trip through Morocco, you will have the chance to experience the best of Morocco’s active pursuits, while really getting to know the people and making a difference to various communities. In Imlil in the High Atlas Mountains, we will stay with a local family and learn about life in the mountains. There is a chance for women to have henna, a regional art form, done on them and later in the evening there is an opportunity to see some locals perform traditional music. While staying in the Dades Gorge, we spend a night in a nomad’s tent, learning about the Berber way of life and enjoying some fine Berber drumming and dancing.
Morocco is well known for its food and we have the opportunity to sample the best on offer by participating in a cooking demonstration of couscous and tajine at our friend, Houssein's home. We believe it's the best couscous in Morocco and combined with the pleasant company of Houssein and his family, it is one of the hidden highlights of our journey. Either at the start or end of our journey in Marrakech, you will also have the chance to visit SPANA - an animal hospital that cares for hurt or sick animals from the local area. Donations are most welcome to assist them to continue to provide their services. Wherever possible, we contract local indigenous suppliers and assist them to improve the quality of their services. By booking this tour, you'll be helping us to support Moroccan service providers, artists and performers, small businesses, van owners and other poor people in communities throughout Morocco. We use local freelance guides with wide experience and knowledge of cultural traditions and an ability to interpret the cultural heritage of the people in the places visited. For this tour, you'll have several different guides from various provinces of Morocco. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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