Morocco tours

country:	Morocco
location:	Essaouira
trip type:	Moderate walking holidays
departures:	Selected Saturday departures available throughout the year
price:	From £395 (18 days) excluding flights. Local payment €450. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed

read 1 travellers review

Morocco holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

Expand your travel horizons with snow-capped mountains, desert oases, camels and kasbahs.

Morocco is a country of startling contrasts with a long history and fascinating traditions. From the vibrantly evocative city of Marrakesh to the splendours of the Atlas Mountains, the drive through dramatic scenery to reach the oases of the desert fringe is a sight to behold. Venture into the Sahara on camels for an unforgettable night under the starry desert sky. Immerse yourself in the landscapes, natural history and fascinating cultures of this stunningly beautiful region of North Africa.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1-2:	Casablanca. Discover the sights, including the extraordinary Hassan II Mosque, which boasts the world's highest minaret.
Day 3-4:	Tangier. Enjoy piping hot croissants on the beach promenade.
Day 5-6:	Chefchaouen. Charming Chefchaouen delivers a Spanish ambience with its striking white houses and blue-washed streets. Trek into the surrounding Rif Mountains or browse for local crafts.
Day 7:	Moulay Idriss. Wander the sacred hilltop village of Moulay Idriss and discover the mosaics of ancient Volubilis.
Day 8:	Meknes. In its heyday, this Islamic imperial city rivalled Versailles for opulence and grandeur.
Day 9-10:	Fes. Wander through the twisting alleyways where donkeys are the main form of transport and follow the smell to the colourful medina tannery. Search for a magical genie lamp, visit the richly decorated Medersa Bou Inania or sit back in a cafe with a mint tea and watch the passing cavalcade.
Day 11:	Merzouga. Forge into the undulating Erg Chebbi sand dunes. Tonight, join friendly locals at their nomad-style desert camp and enjoy a hearty meal.
Day 12-13:	Todra Gorge. Climb the sheer rock faces of Todra Gorge, explore the surrounding palmeraies, walk beside the river, or simply relax on the hotel terrace.
Day 14-15:	Valley of the Roses. Trek through this scenic valley to meet local Berber people.
Day 16:	Ouarzazate. Stop by the inspiring Project Horizon which helps the physically disabled. Perhaps visit the astounding kasbah of Ait Benhaddou.
Day 17-18:	Marrakech. Finish the epic journey among the entertainers and hawkers of the Djemaa el-Fna market square.

travellers' tales

Great country, fantastic sights, met wonderful people, Summer was an amazing guide, we were very lucky to get her. A wonderful experience. I wish it never had to end. (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.

how this holiday makes a difference

The mixture of the French language and the religion of Islam make Morocco a unique destination for us. It is important for travellers to learn as much as possible in advance about the many cultural differences so that we can travel respecting these differences and minimising any negative impacts. Your group leader and the local guides we use along the way will help to break down barriers in your interactions with local people.

Modest dress and a few words in the local language (either French or Arabic) are the keys to unlocking the doors of local interaction in Morocco. A respect and understanding of the differences between yourself and the other citizens of the world will make for beneficial interaction for all parties, which is what we at Intrepid hope to facilitate and inevitably become the lasting memories our passengers take home with them.

In particular your visit to the small village Imlil in the High Atlas Mountains and the experience of camping in the Sahara with the Berber people allow you the opportunity to share the best of yourself and receive the best the locals of these environs have to offer.

In Marrakesh there is an opportunity to visit the SPANA organisation that is dedicated to the protection of both animals and the environment. Check out www.spana.org.ma for more info.

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.