The perfect remedy to grey winter days, this winter holiday takes you from the snowy peaks of the Atlas Mountains to the bustling souks of Marrakech's medina and finally to the endless sandy beaches of Morocco's quiet south coast, staying in the very best boutique hotels along the way.
Tailor-made 2 weeks
'From Price' is the average price per person for ground arrangements for two people sharing.
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This holiday is made special by the accommodation, which has been personally visited and selected by a member of the Tourdust team. In Marrakech & Mirleft, we have chosen boutique hotels, which offer something very special. In the mountains, you will have a more rustic experience, staying in simple Berber homes and a local guest house, giving you experience of Morocco's different sides.
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: MARRAKECH - MIRLEFT
This morning you will be transferred to the airport to pick up your hire car. You will then begin your journey to the south of Morocco, driving to the Atlantic village of Mirleft.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Hanane / Riad Tzarra / Dar Vedra / Dar One
Transport (where relevant): Private Transfer / Hire Car
DAY 9: MIRLEFT
Today is a day at leisure to relax in the sunshine around your infinity pool, or to take a stroll on the beautiful, deserted beach
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Najmat
Transport (where relevant): Hire Car
DAY 10: MIRLEFT
Today is a day at leisure to relax in the sunshine around your infinity pool, or to take a stroll on the beautiful, deserted beach
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Najmat
Transport (where relevant): Hire Car
DAY 11: MIRLEFT
Today is a day at leisure to relax in the sunshine around your infinity pool, or to take a stroll on the beautiful, deserted beach
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Najmat
Transport (where relevant): Hire Car
DAY 12: MIRLEFT
Today is a day at leisure to relax in the sunshine around your infinity pool, or to take a stroll on the beautiful, deserted beach
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Najmat
Transport (where relevant): Hire Car
DAY 13: MIRLEFT
Today is a day at leisure to relax in the sunshine around your infinity pool, or to take a stroll on the beautiful, deserted beach
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Najmat
Transport (where relevant): Hire Car
DAY 14: MIRLEFT
Today is a day at leisure to relax in the sunshine around your infinity pool, or to take a stroll on the beautiful, deserted beach
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Dar Najmat
Transport (where relevant): Hire Car
DAY 15: DEPARTURE
You will drive back to the airport to catch your flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a
Transport (where relevant): Hire Car
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
In Marrakech & Taroudant, you can expect mild days, with temperatures in the high teens - mid 20'sC It can get chilly at night. In the mountains, you can expect pleasant day time temperatures, but it can drop to around 0C at night. In Agadir, you can expect pleasant temperatures of low - mid 20'sC
This holiday is designed for those looking to experience some of the highlights of Morocco, whilst staying in beautiful places. The accommodation selected for Marrakech, Taroudant & Mirleft is of a boutique standard, but the accommodation in the mountains is much more rustic. Whilst out on the trek, you will be staying in very basic accommodation with shared facilities.
The trek is suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness levels, the average daily walking time is .4 - 6 hours.
Tourdust trek grading: Moderate
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
Our customers agree - a conversation with an expert makes for a better trip. Call us now or request a call back out of hours.
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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
We had a wonderful time! Our transfers (besides a bit of a wait when we arrived) were smooth. The gentleman that drove us to and from the airport also drove us to our hike and he was very nice and helpful, clean car and very accommodating.
Our tour guide on the first day, Mandy, was charming and insightful. It was a slow day in the markets but we appreciated the space and gave us a chance to hear all about the Souks. The gentlemen who was with her was a wealth of knowledge and both did a very nice job!
Our hike was awesome and our guide was great- he even took us to a cool waterfall and took great care of us; lunch in the mountains was delicious!
The hotel was so lovely and the staff was very accommodating and helpful. The food was great and the rooms very comfortable!
I did a good amount of damage in the market (often accused of being Berber;) and truly hope to be back next Spring... maybe a girls trip or perhaps I’ll bring my kiddos!
Thank you for organizing such a nice getaway for my husband and I; we will confidently recommend Tourdust to our friends!!
Jennifer H reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 12 June 2019
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