This action-packed two week holiday starts in the High Atlas Mountains, where you will embark on a three day trek. You will then spend a few days in Marrakech, exploiring the souks and learning to cook Morrocan cuisine. Your second week is spent on the Atlantic Coast: the perfect place to hone your surfing skills, or start from scratch!
Tailor-made Classic 1 week
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The classes are run by Azhar and his team. Azhar has over 7 years experience of teaching surfing and is a qualified instructor. Each learner will discuss their individual objectives from the week, so you will have your own personal plan. The teaching does not focus purely on the practical, however you will also have be taught how to understand and respect the ocean - getting to grips with tides, winds and currents and how to choose the right wave to ride. Once the theories have been discussed, you will move on to the practical side. Novices will be taught the basics, how to paddle and mount the board. You will then move on to fundamental surfing actions, controlling the board and how to read the waves.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
You will be picked up from Marrakech airport and transferred to the small town of Imlil in the Atlas Mountains. Your first night is spent in a friendly family run guest house where you will enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner on the roof terrace (weather permitting)
Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Adrar
Transport (where relevant): Private Transfer
DAY 2: TREK DAY 1
Imlil – Tizi n Mzik –Tizi Oussem After breakfast, you will meet your guide and muleteer. Once you have loaded up your bags, the mule and cook set off together, taking a head-start to pick a perfect picnic spot and start cooking your lunch. Your walk starts with a fairly stiff climb up towards the pass at Tizi n Mzik (2489m), which offers dramatic mountain views. From here, the trail descends down into the spectacular Azzadene valley, known locally as the valley of colour. Your day of walking ends in the small Berber village of Tizi Oussem where you will spend the night in a gite. If you’re feeling energetic, you can take a slight route detour to include the D’Irhoulidene waterfalls, this adds a couple of extra hours walking but is worth the effort. Approx. 4-5 hours walking, 6-7 hours walking including the waterfalls. (749m ascent & 649m descent)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Village Gite
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 3: TREK DAY 2
Tizi Oussem – Tinzert After breakfast you will set off walking through the Azzadene valley, passing traditional Berber mountain villages. The view behind you is of the peaks of the High Atlas, whilst the valley ahead offers beautiful scenery with a rushing mountain stream surrounded by lush walnut groves. As you descend you will eventually enter the Ouirgane National Park, a protected area of natural beauty. Tonight you stay in Tinzert, a rustic Berber village. Approx. 5-6 hours walking (640m descent)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Village Gite
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 4: TREK DAY 3
Tinzert – Imi Oughlad – Imlil Today is the gentlest day of walking; there are fewer steep inclines and descents so you can really enjoy the Mediterranean-esque scenery. Shepherds tend to their goats amongst the pretty valleys dotted with juniper trees, rosemary and thyme. You will be walking towards Imi Oughlad where you will have lunch before saying goodbye to your cook, guide (and mule). After lunch, you will be picked up and driven to your accommodation in Imlil where you can enjoy a hot shower followed by an afternoon of relaxation. Approx. 4 hours walking (200m ascent)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Adrar
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 5: MARRAKECH
You will be transferred back to Marrakech after breakfast. (approx. 1 ½ hour drive) Once you have settled into your riad, we suggest you set off and explore Marrakech's medina. You can spend all day pounding the souks and taking in the atmosphere or you could relax on the roof terrace on one of the sun loungers. In the evening, be sure to head down to the main square here food stalls, acrobats, snake charmers and story tellers congregate creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Dar Hanane / Riad Tzarra / Dar Vedra / Dar One
Transport (where relevant): Private Transfer
DAY 6: MARRAKECH
Today you might want to see some of the main cultural sights of Marrakech, including the Medersa Ben Youssef, Palais el Badi and the Bahia Palace, interspersed with a leisurely lunch watching the storks nesting on the ramparts of the ancient city or perhaps some people watching at a cafe in the Spice market. In the evening, you might want to enjoy dinner in one of the restaurants over-looking the main square, or perhaps ask your host to book you a table at the atmospheric Foundouk restaurant, serving up delicious French & Moroccan fusion food.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Dar Hanane / Riad Tzarra / Dar Vedra / Dar One
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 7: MARRAKECH - 1/2 DAY COOKERY COURSE
This morning you will have a cooking class at the world famous Maison Arabe. Your cookery class will start with an introduction to Moroccan cuisine and the part it plays in society. Your teacher will talk you through the various spices and ingredients traditionally used and will also explain how different dishes are prepared. Depending on your location - some of the classes are in the medina some are just outside of Marrakech - you may visit a local spice shop to taste and smell the different spices used in traditional and modern kitchens across Morocco.
Back in the kitchen, all of the ingredients will have been laid out for you. Every participant is given an apron, utensils and ingredients to use and the cookery teacher stands at the head of the table demonstrating how to prepare and cook the meal. The atmosphere is informal and participants are encouraged to ask as many questions as they like. Cooking will last about an hour after which the class sits down to together to enjoy the meals they have all just created.
What you actually cook on the day can vary, usually the first people to book on to a workshop decide on the dish for the group to cook.
In the afternoon, you might want to catch a petit taxi out to the Majorelle Gardens, designed by Yves Saint Laurent. The gardens are beautifully laid out and offer a welcome respite to the chaos of the medina. (There is also a lovely cafe there)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Dar Hanane / Riad Tzarra / Dar Vedra / Dar One
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 8: TRANSFER TO SIDI KAOUKI
You will be picked up after breakfast and transferred to Sidi Kaouki, a small village south of Essaouira. The afternoon is yours at leisure, to go rock-pooling on the beach, or relax around the pool. The drive takes around 3 hours, with a comfort break along the way.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Windy Kaouki
Transport (where relevant): Private Transfer
DAY 9: SURFING
This morning you will have your first surf lesson. After a safety briefing and warm up, your teacher will assess your skills and will plan your week's sessions accordingly. After a break for lunch, you will have a further surfing session in the afternoon.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Windy Kaouki
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 10: SURFING
Full day of surfing
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Windy Kaouki
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 11: SURFING
Full day of surfing
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Windy Kaouki
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 12: FREE DAY
Today is a day off from surfing. You might want to go to nearby Essaouira, a laid-back city offering a relaxing medina with none of the stresses of the chaotic imperial cities. A bustling fishing port, this windy city is something of an artist's hub, with a thriving music and art scene. The large bay attracts wind and kite surfers and the vast sandy beach is a popular promenading spot. Because of the wind, this is not somewhere that you come to sunbathe and soak up the rays, but somewhere to breathe in the ocean air, eat freshly caught fish and enjoy the relaxed vibe.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Windy Kaouki
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 13: SURFING
Full day of surfing
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Windy Kaouki
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 14: SURFING
Full day of surfing
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Windy Kaouki
Transport (where relevant): n/a
DAY 15: DEPARTURE
You will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation:
Transport (where relevant): Private Transfer
Guide price is based on recommended accommodations. Alternative accommodations and upgrades are available. Please get in touch for alternatives and upgrade options.
Flying from the UK... Marrakech has an international airport (RAK) which is serviced by several airlines flying direct from the UK. The flight time is around 3.5hours. On average it takes around an hour to clear airport security and then around 15 – 20 minutes to drive to the Medina or 1 – 1.5 hours to reach the Atlas Mountains.
From the South East:
Gatwick: Easy Jet, British Airways, Royal Air Maroc &Thomson
Luton: Ryanair
Stansted: Ryanair & Easy Jet
From the South West:
Bristol: Easy Jet
From the Midlands:
Birmingham: Thomson
From the North:
Manchester: Easy Jet and Thomson
From Ireland:
Dublin: Ryanair
This price INCLUDES transfers, accommodation, meals (typically B&B in hotels and full board on treks), activities and tours as specified on the itinerary.
This price EXCLUDES international flights, travel insurance, tips and any incidental expenses in destination.
We will check and confirm accommodation availability once you have confirmed your intention to book
This holiday is available from April until October. The trekking and Marrakech parts are possible during the winter, but the surfing is best enjoyed in the warmer months.
Weather wise, the winter average day time temperature is around 20C, with colder nights, around 8 - 10C In the summer, temperatures can rise to the high 20'sC during the day. It can rain sometimes in the winter, but the showers are short and sharp.
The sea temperature will be around 16C in the winter months, increasing to 22C during July / August.
This surf camp in Morocco is suitable for surfers of all abilities and ages. You will have a surf lesson each day, but there will also be time for you to explore locally, or practice your technique. Children are also welcome, as long as they can swim.
Surf classes combine a technical training and teaching with individual support in the water, with photos and videos to debrief after your surf sessions.
Each class is organized according to the tides and weather conditions and generally includes the following:
- choose the board and wetsuit most adapted to your size and level,
- observe the surf spot and weather conditions,
- define individual targets for the class,
- do a complete warm-up and stretching exercises,
- get in the water with the instructor, who gives you personal feedback,
- debriefing time at the end of the class.
The treks are designed to be suitable for those who’d rather see more of the villages and valleys than tackle the high peaks. The treks are suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and children are welcome (assuming they are used to walking). Please note that the accommodation used is simple, with shared bathroom facilities. If you would prefer day treks, whilst being based at a more comfortable guest house, this can be arranged.
Tourdust trek grading: Moderate
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
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I'd be lying if I said our holiday started of in the smoothest of ways (with a phone call telling us that high winds and stormy seas looked set to spoil our week at the surf camp) but it was with this news that the proffesionalism and customer service skills of Tourdust really shone through! Within the hour the guys at TD had arranged to put us up in the most beautiful of Riads (Rhiad Dar Thania) in the busy city of Marrakesh. This Riad proved to be the perfect oasis to escape from the excitment of the city at the end of the day. I'm pleased to say that we did make it to coast eventually where we spent 3 incredible days learning to surf with 'Blue Morroco' a surf school expertly ran by Azhar and Alice in the tiny town of Sidi Kaouki. Azhar's passion for the sport and the ocean is evident in his teaching style and I can honestly say that he and his wife Alice made us feel more like friends rather than guests in their beatiful Berber beach front home. I for one will certainly return to Morroco and Sidi Kaouki in particular in the future and will have no hesitation in using Tourdust to do so. If anyone would like to see photos of our trip please find these in the album named Morroco 2012 on my facebook page at the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150606289819288.413565.818599287&type=1
As a final note I would suggest to anyone who plans to go to Morroco that mastering a few basic phrases in french or Arabic would improve their experience. These are by no means essential as nearly everyone in the tourist industry speaks English but I found my basic knowledge of Arabic and my girlfriends ability to speak french certainly came in handy on the odd occasion!
Rob D reviewing Trek, Cook & Surf in Morocco on 29 February 2012
Trip was great and all the arrangements were excellent so thank you for all the help!
Drivers and transfers were all good - on time and very good service on each trip.
Accommodation was lovely - Douar Samra was amazing (weather could have been better but lovely regardless). Riad in Marrakesh was also great!
All in all a great trip and we loved the variety of the mountains, Marrakesh and the coast.
Thanks you once again!
Hardeep S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 15 April 2024
Dear Lisa
Well, we are back and still buzzing. We have had a marvellous time. The weather helped. We left Manchester in the snow and arrived in Marrakesh at 30 degrees. We were well looked after in the Riad. I'm glad we booked a meal for the first evening - ate it on the roof terrace. We can recommend that. It was delicious. We ate at the Foundouk, as per your recommendation and on the following night we ate at Le Jardin - got lost on the way to it!. We can really recommend Le Jardin.
The following day we went to Majorelle gardens. Fortunately we had looked it up before we travelled because you have to book in advance online only from Jan 2023. We found our own way to the Medera Ben Yousef and Latifa took us to Bahia Palace - both were stunning.
The following morning our lovely taxi driver Mohammond collected us to go to the EcoLodge. Yet another Mohammond made us very welcome. Again we ate well! You were right, the pool was freezing, but I can't sit next to water and not get in. Once you're in you forget how cold it is! I wasn't the only person to try the pool.
Rashid, our guide for our walk collected us. He was brilliant. It was hard work, but worth it. I was determined I would make it. Kevin is fitter than me! The Berber family were lovely. We stopped when we were nearly there to see how rag rugs were made. When we got back Rashid and Mohammond confessed that Mohammond had said to Rashid that he should get us to a road if we got too tired and they would send a taxi (or a mule!) to collect us - or me, but Rashid was sure that I'd be OK. He was right. I think they wondered about these 2 70+ year olds. We can't praise Rashid enough. He had walked over from Imlil in the morning and was going to walk back after he left us.
Thank you so much for putting our holiday together. We never thought it would be 3 years before we went. We are so glad we persevered. We did wonder what we had let ourselves in for as 2 oldies!
Fiona and Kevin
Fiona B reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 21 April 2023
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