Morocco holiday, tailor made
| country: | Morocco |
| location: | Mount Toubkal |
| departures: | This trip can be tailor-made and departures can be arranged all year. The sample itinerary below can be modified to your personal wishes including departure date, duration, accommodation used & how long you spend in each destination. |
| price: | From £1100 (8 days) including flights from the UK, private transfers, accommodation and services of an experienced driver/guide. This trip can also be booked without flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is a great, shorter break and a fantastic introduction to Morocco. Marrakesh is one of the most fascinating cities in Africa and for a four hour flight, you will not be able to find yourself anywhere more exotic.
The old ochre walls still encircle the medina, a warren of side streets and souqs. At the heart of the medina lies the Koutoubia Mosque, with its iconic minaret, and the Djema El Fna square, an open space where jugglers, mime artists, actors, story- and fortune-tellers, amateur boxers, acrobats and musicians all compete for attention in a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds and smells. Marrakesh also boasts several wonderful gardens to relax in, not least the Jardin Majorelle, filled with exotic blooms and now owned by Yves St Laurent.
Marrakesh is a surprisingly short distance from the High Atlas, and after just half-an-hour you begin to climb into the hills before coming to Imlil, the trekking centre of the High Atlas. Just beyond here you abandon the car for the last 100-or-so metres up to the restored tribal castle that is the Kasbah Du Toubkal.
Beyond the Kasbah, the valley winds up towards the foot of Jebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa, at 4,167 metres. From the Kasbah you can organise walks out into the hills, varying in difficulty and length, and offering the chance to enjoy the remarkable scenery as well as meet some of the Berber villagers from the area.
The old ochre walls still encircle the medina, a warren of side streets and souqs. At the heart of the medina lies the Koutoubia Mosque, with its iconic minaret, and the Djema El Fna square, an open space where jugglers, mime artists, actors, story- and fortune-tellers, amateur boxers, acrobats and musicians all compete for attention in a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds and smells. Marrakesh also boasts several wonderful gardens to relax in, not least the Jardin Majorelle, filled with exotic blooms and now owned by Yves St Laurent.
Marrakesh is a surprisingly short distance from the High Atlas, and after just half-an-hour you begin to climb into the hills before coming to Imlil, the trekking centre of the High Atlas. Just beyond here you abandon the car for the last 100-or-so metres up to the restored tribal castle that is the Kasbah Du Toubkal.
Beyond the Kasbah, the valley winds up towards the foot of Jebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa, at 4,167 metres. From the Kasbah you can organise walks out into the hills, varying in difficulty and length, and offering the chance to enjoy the remarkable scenery as well as meet some of the Berber villagers from the area.
best time to travel
Late spring – around March to May, and early autumn – around September is the best time of year to travel. The summer can get very hot in Marrakesh, whilst the winter in the High Atlas is cold – although with a bit of snow lying around, the mountains are at their most beautiful in the winter.day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly from London to Marrakesh, transfer to your riad. |
| Day 2: | Full-day tour of Marrakesh. |
| Day 3: | At leisure. |
| Day 4: | Transfer to the Kasbah Du Toubkal in the High Atlas. |
| Day 5-6: | Activities from the Kasbah. |
| Day 7: | Transferred back to Marrakesh for a final night. |
| Day 8: | Transfer to the airport for a flight back to London. |
travellers' tales
Arriving at the village of Imlil and loading our bags on to a mule was certainly a highlight and set the tone of things to come. When we reached our room and looked out over our balcony to the snow capped mountains above we knew we were in for a fabulous stay. (more)
tailor made holidays
This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more individual trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments, with the flexibility to plan a trip at your own pace. Quality and value are the hallmark of these trips, with most services being provided on a private basis.how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment:
Stay at the Kasbah Du Toubkal, winner of the Best Mountain category in the Responsible Tourim Awards 2004 (run in conjunction with www.responsibletravel.com). The Kasbah Du Toubkal is at the forefront of responsible tourism in Morocco, and has been recognised as such by the Responsible Travel Organisation. Community: As well as using only traditional material and methods in the reconstruction of the Kasbah, all the staff come from the local area and the Kasbah is very active in the local village association, which is funded by the Kasbahs accommodation 5% levy. With the funds the association has purchased, and shipped from the UK, a vehicle to use as an ambulance and has also been able to build a hammam (steam bath) in the village which is used by the surrounding communities. More recently the association has assisted in the construction of a school for 80 children in a nearby village. It has also instigated a much needed rubbish disposal system. |
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. |