One Week in Morocco

Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco. This adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at around 6 pm. After meeting your fellow travellers and the group leader, why not get to know each other while exploring the city’s main square – Djemaa el-Fna – or get lost exploring the city’s spice souks or bazaars. For dinner, load up on some delicious street food. Be warmed – the eggplant fritters are addictive and the barbeque smells around the city will be sure to make you hungry (even when you’ve just eaten!).

Wake up in the morning and catch a private bus towards Imlil, high in the Atlas Mountains. Calling dibs on a window seat would be a smart move – the drive features some great scenery to keep you occupied on the way. Arrive at Imlil, a little village that sits at the foot of North Africa’s highest peak, and then lace-up your shoes for a scenic 1-hour trek to the mountain village of Aroumd. Tonight’s stay is in a family-run gite (mountain home) in the village. The Amazigh people are famous for their hospitality, so make the most of this opportunity to sit down, break bread with the family and learn about their culture. Facilities at the homestay are shared (both the bathroom and sleeping arrangements) but they’re cosy, comfortable and offer an experience that is so much more memorable than a hotel.

This morning, travel to Taghazout. This cool, laid-back fishing village has quickly gained a solid reputation as one of the country’s best surfing locations. The waters stay warm all year round and the surf is top notch for both rookies and adept wave riders. If there’s time this afternoon, perhaps head down to the local beach, dip your toes in the water and tuck into a seafood dinner – be sure to ask your leader for their hottest restaurant recommendations.

Kick off your adventures in the sleepy town of Taghazout with an early morning yoga session, helping you relieve any tension before diving into the water later in the day. Oddly enough, the skills required for both surfing and yoga complement each other through the principles of concentration, flexibility and balance. Good news if you were planning on hitting the waves! Don’t know how to ride a board? No stress. Today includes a half-day surfing course to teach you the basics, and if you already know the ropes, there’s always time to refine your skills in unfamiliar territory.

You’ve got a free morning in Taghazout, so why not get up early and watch the sunrise, then take an optional yoga class or rent out a surfboard and hit the waves? Later, travel to the old fishing town of Essaouira, a place where the medina brushes up against the Atlantic Ocean. Its name translates to ‘little picture’, and it’s safe to say you’ll be taking many pictures during your time in this picturesque place. This artists’ town has attracted visitors like Orson Welles and Jimi Hendrix who (according to local legend) spent a lot of time here in the 1960s. Join your local leader for a walking tour through the old medina, Jewish mellah, port and by the skala (sea wall). Tonight’s accommodation is a real treat and certainly one of the more stylish stays of your Moroccan adventure – enjoy!

Yesterday’s walking tour should have you well up to scratch with the ins and outs of Essaouira, so now’s your chance to go exploring. Have a traditional Moroccan breakfast and maybe wander to the harbour and its adjacent fish markets. You’ll have to be up bright and early if you want to see the daily catch being auctioned off. There’s also an opportunity to head back to the markets for a fresh seafood lunch. Get lost (not literally, of course) wandering through the medina, check out the colourful spices and traditional ingredients on display. Or perhaps grab your camera and spend some time snapping shots of the iconic blue doorways, white-washed lanes and traditional architecture this seaside village does so well. If you feel like something more active, why not go on an optional horse ride along the sandy beaches of Atlantic Ocean? Simply ask your group leader for more info.

Chat with locals on a shared bus ride back to Marrakech. Once the bus arrives back in the city, enjoy some time to explore, and later on, tuck in for an awesome included dinner experience at the famous Djemaa el-Fna. This square is known as one of the largest public spaces in the world – it’s truly an unmissable part of the city. As soon as the sun sets, the square comes to life with henna-painters, performers and storytellers sharing the space with street food stands. The smells of the stalls will lure you in and the tastes will keep you coming back for more. There are all sorts of excellent pastries, fresh juices, teas and even bowls of snail soup to go round if you’re feeling a little adventurous! As the evening closes in, enjoy the company of your new friends over some of these delicious snacks as you overlook the bustling city hub.

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave your accommodation at any time. Check-out time is usually around midday. But this doesn’t mean your Moroccan adventure has to come to an end! There are a range of in-depth Urban Adventure tours that may take your fancy, and continue your exploration of this engaging country. See urbanadventures.com/destination/Marrakech-tours for more information. If you wish to spend more time in Marrakech, we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).