Days 1 - 3: Marrakesh, Riad Imilchil
Explore this fascinating city with all its delights where it is an assault on your senses. Experience the famous Djemaa el Fna square where entertainers perform and there is a myriad of lit up food stalls. Enjoy a riveting tour of the ancient streets of Marrakech; kaleidoscopic souks, breath-taking palaces, see the metalworking and woodworking areas, and perhaps a visit an underground communal bakery.
Days 4 - 5: Skoura, Kasbah Ait Ben Damiette, Kasbah Amerdhil
Travel to the High Atlas Mountain ridges over the highest pass of 3000m at Tizi n Tichka pass. Visit the palace of Telouet before the descent to the southern parts of Morocco and the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. Spend time in one of the most impressive kasbahs of its kind in Morocco, Kasbah Amridil, is a historic fortified residence in the oasis of Skoura.
Days 6 - 7: Demnat, Tizouit B&B, Demnat
Travel from Skoura to Demnat by a little-known road through the Mountains. You are unlikely to meet any other visitor, just small Berber villages with children playing on the road and flocks of sheep and nomadic shepherds. At the end of the road the valley opens and the gorge of Imi n Infri comes into view. Visit the local potteries of Demnat and learn how to make a tagine dish or perhaps a bottle to store your olive oil in!
Days 8 - 10: Dar Itran B&B, Ait Bougemez
Journey through vineyards before reaching a small village with wonderfully preserved dinosaur tracks and see some ancient rock carvings, thousands of years old, with depictions of the large animals that used to be in the area. Take a short walk around Ait Bougemez and through the orchards, to the small hill of Sidi Moussa. Spend a day with the women of Ait Bougemez learning about the involvement of women in local development projects giving a new view of their local heritage that reinforces identity representations.
Day 11: Marrakesh, Riad Imilchil B&B
Return to Marrakesh travelling past deep gorges, and oak woodland scrub on the sides of the mountain.
Days 12 - 13: Essaouira, Riad Zahra B&B
Travel towards the Atlantic coast and see the terrain change from dry desert to lush green fields and orchards of argan trees. Explore Essaouira, an old, fortified town which has its origins from Berber, Portuguese, and French architecture, and possibly the Phoenicians. This trading port is still has a thriving fishing harbour. Relax on the beach, discover wooden boat building in the harbour, wander through the fish market, relax in a hammam or try a traditional Moroccan cookery course.
Day14: Marrakesh, Riad Imilchil B&B
Travel from the coast and climb up into the hills that border the town of Essaouira before travelling inland, away from the Argan forests and to the plains. Pass the rocky desert of Agafay and into Marrakech. Enjoy a traditional dinner whilst admiring spectacles such as Berber dancing and horsemanship.
