Morocco family tour - Souks - Surf - Trek

Meet & greet at MARRAKECH airport and transfer to your riad – a guesthouse converted from a traditional Moorish-designed family home centred around a small courtyard patio or inner garden. You can choose to stay in the old city medina, in a hotel in the modern new town outside the ramparts, or a few kilometres out of town in a boutique hotel or villa in the exclusive palmeraie. Boisterous families may prefer modern hotels which tend to have larger pools and outdoor space for letting of steam. Riads tend to be more intimate and less soundproof! Depending on your arrival time you will then have the rest of the day to explore the vibrant city of Marrakech unguided or just enjoy the facilities of your hotel. The old medina of Marrakech is a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys, with different neighbourhoods and streets specialising in various arts, crafts and produce. Take time to relax in your traditional guesthouse, enjoy the roof terrace and soak up the sounds and smells of Morocco’s favourite city. Dinner will be served at your riad/hotel this evening.

Stay: Traditional riad or hotel in Marrakech Meal plan: Dinner

Half-day morning walking tour with city guide of Marrakech – also known as the ‘red city’ for its famous pink-hued ramparts. Our English-speaking city guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning and take you through the souks of the medieval medina, introducing you to artisans, bakers, carpenters, spice merchants, apothecaries and also including visiting the landmark monuments of Ben Youssef Medersa, the Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque. Your tour ends at the famous Place Jemaa el Fna square where you can enjoy lunch from a roof terrace overlooking the bizarre activities of the acrobats, storytellers, musicians and snake charmers. Rest of the day is at leisure or we suggest you take a horse-drawn carriage around the ramparts or to the new town are of Gueliz to visit the exquisite Majorelle Gardens, owned by Yves St. Laurent and originally private home of the painter Jacques Majorelle. We suggest you return to the square for an evening dinner at one of the outdoor food grills to sample anything from grilled meats, fried fish, fried aubergines, boiled snails, harira soup, spiced ginger tea, boiled sheep’s head and other local delicacies. Even if you decide to eat elsewhere, the experience of the Place Jemaa el Fna at night is an intoxicating one – with smoke swirling up from the grills, the pounding rhythms of the street musicians, the call to prayer ringing out from the mosques as the excited crowds gather for this nightly ‘circus’.

Stay: Traditional riad or hotel in Marrakech Meal plan: Breakfast

Morning departure from Marrakech and you head into the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. The route passes through low-lying agricultural areas before twisting into the Moulay Brahim Gorge leading to the village of Asni. On Saturdays there is a lively local market here and well worth stopping to see local Berbers buying and selling everything from livestock to teapots. You pass through orchards of cherries, apples and apricots and the road leads along the river’s edge to the trekking centre of Imlil village. This picturesque village is the start point for the ascent to North Africa’s highest peak – Jbel Toubkal. NB If you wish to include an ascent of Toubkal in your family adventure we can arrange this from Imlil only and by adding at least 3 extra days for the return trip to the summit – but you must be physically very fit! You can choose to stay in a quirky stone-built guesthouse with pretty rooms and terraces and a great view over the Imlil Valley, or else a boutique hotel in the Ouirgane Valley, with an outdoor pool. You arrive in time for lunch at your chosen accommodation (not in price) and the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the magnificent surroundings.

Stay: Riad/guesthouse or boutique hotel in Imlil or Ouirgane valley Meal plan: Breakfast & dinner

Spend a leisurely day with easy hiking and stunning rugged scenery in the Toubkal National Park. You climb across streams, groves of walnut trees and almond trees, fruit orchards and gardens of fig, berries, cherries, kitchen vegetables. On reaching a small village (with only footpaths to get there) you will enjoy a simple lunch of salads, tajine or couscous and fresh fruit at the home a Berber family amongst their free-range chickens and goats! Mule trekking to the village is also an option.

Stay: Riad/guesthouse or boutique hotel in Imlil or Ouirgane valley Meal plan: Breakfast & dinner

After breakfast at your hotel, our driver will come to take your family to the next stage of your adventure holiday. Travelling back through the Imlil Valley towards Marrakech, you then cut across to join the main highway that leads to the Atlantic Coast. You notice the scenery change, the road is edged by groves of olive trees and chalky earth. As you get nearer to the picturesque fishing town of Essaouira you will see Morocco’s famous argan trees along this final stretch of road. The region of the Souss Valley from Essaouira to Agadir is the only natural habitat for the prized argan tree. In its thorny branches are the fruits which fall as nuts in autumn. Inside each argan nut, the kernel possess a magical oil which is extracted through a laborious manual process. The argan oil is famous for its health-giving and cosmetic properties and is known as ‘liquid gold’. You can stop along the way to sample it in both its culinary and cosmetic forms. Kids will love the peanut butter, made with argan oil and almonds. If you wish, you can request also to visit an organic local cheese maker to sample fine goats cheeses and local wine, Val d’Argan. The ‘fromagerie’ visit needs to be booked 24 hrs in advance and will add an extra 2 hrs to your transfer time to the medina of Essaouira. Essaouira is a small and laid-back fishing town, with a walled medina, ramparts, sandy beach, water sports, restaurants, cafes, art galleries and intriguing small shops. It’s a great place to relax for 2-3 days and inside the medina itself it is free from cars. You will arrive in Essaouira in time for lunch in one of the cafes around the Place Moulay Hassan and the evening is free for you to sample the day’s catch from near the fishing port.

Stay: Riad in the old medina or 3-star guesthouse/hotel with pool close to beach Meal plan: Breakfast

A free day in Essaouira and we can reserve for you a day or half day of water sports instruction – surfing, kite surfing and wind surfing. Alternatively you may just like to relax and explore on your own today. Other options for activities while in Essaouira are: hiking, horse riding, camel riding, quad biking or even a family cookery class. We will be happy to make reservations for you at 48 hrs’ notice (all activities subject to availability).

Stay: Riad in the old medina or 3-star guesthouse/hotel with pool close to beach Meal plan: Breakfast

Free day for your own exploration and activities upon request.

Stay: Riad in the old medina or 3-star guesthouse/hotel with pool close to beach Meal plan: Breakfast

Depending on your flight departure time, we will transfer you directly by main road from Essaouira to Marrakech airport. The journey requires a minimum of 3 hrs. If you have a departure time before 2.00 p.m., then it is advisable to book an extra night in Marrakech or to leave Essaouira a day early and spend the night of Day 7 in Marrakech. You can also choose to continue your holiday in Morocco with us by adding on one of our Suggested Morocco Adventure Tour Itineraries.

Stay: Riad/hotel/boutique guesthouse Meal plan: Breakfast