Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Marrakech - Toubkhal
100% customisable for you
Just four hours after leaving the UK, arrive in Marrakech this afternoon, where you’ll be greeted by your driver and whisked straight to your hotel in the city centre. Check in and take some time to settle into your surroundings – a mint tea on the terrace is rarely a bad place to start.
If energy levels allow, take a first gentle wander through the nearby lanes, enjoy a traditional warming tagine, and watch the bustling Red City wind down. Otherwise, keep it relaxed – it’s all waiting for you tomorrow.
Today is all about getting to grips with the hustle and bustle of Marrakech’s medinas and vibrant history. Start at the central Djemaa el-Fna and then get pleasantly lost among alley after alley of fragrant spice stalls and locals selling enticing trinkets, fabrics and jewellery – why not start early on the souvenirs? As you wander, stop and soak in the ornate architecture found all over the city: in carved doorways, patterned archways, and flashes of tilework in tiny backstreets.
This afternoon, meet your private guide at your hotel for a deeper exploration of the city’s past. As one of Morocco’s former imperial capitals, Marrakech has a rich architectural history, much of it concentrated in the Jewish Quarter. Visits include the Koutoubia Mosque and minaret, the Saadian Necropolis, El Badi Palace, Bahia Palace, and the Lezama Synagogue, with plenty of time to admire the artisanal design and dedicated worship behind each site.
Mix things up (literally) during your stay in Marrakech with a traditional Moroccan cookery lesson. In the company of an expert local chef get to know the fragrant spices that underpin the country’s cuisine – cumin, saffron, ras el hanout and more – and learn how they’re used in everyday dishes, before putting theory into practice as you make your very own tagine. Succulent, spicy, and expertly seasoned – hopefully – your lunch will taste all the better when you know what hard work has gone into making it.
This morning, leave Marrakech behind and journey south into the High Atlas Mountains on an hour-and-a-half private transfer. The drive is a gradual one, with the city giving way to fertile plains before the road starts to climb, revealing steeper slopes and increasingly dramatic scenery.
Arrive at the village of Imlil, set at the foot of Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak and the focal point of life in this part of the Atlas. Check into your mountain lodge, taking time to enjoy the cooler air and slower pace, and meet your personal mountain guide to discuss your preferences for walks and treks. If you like, head out on an introductory walk through the village where terraced fields, walnut trees and mule tracks define daily life . In the evening, enjoy a hearty dinner back at the lodge and appreciate the stretching silence of the Atlas as the light fades over the surrounding peaks.
To allow you time to acclimatise before your mountainous adventure tomorrow, today is deliberately unhurried. Take the day to relax and enjoy the mountain scenery, whether that means going for a short wander around the kasbah (historic fortress), finding a shady place to settle in or doing another spot of souvenir shopping. For a unique dining experience, take the evening to dine on authentic Berber food under the star-studded sky...
Set out on your hike through the High Atlas this morning with your guide, as a donkey carries your bags ahead along the trail. The trek threads through open valleys and beautiful mountain scenery, so keep your eyes on the views and your cameras handy to snap some epic shots.
With a picnic lunch enjoyed en route, the walk culminates after around three to four hours in the Azzaden Valley: a quietly beautiful setting that feels untouched by modern life. This evening’s accommodation is a remote trekking lodge, simple but comfortable and with a hammam on hand to soak tired muscles in before a well-earned dinner is served.
After breakfast, spend the day exploring the stunning Azzaden Valley in the company of your private mountain guide. Choose from several treks of varying lengths, tailoring the route to your fitness level and interests. Opt for a moderate walk among the valley’s villages or a more taxing seven-hour circular route passing the Lepiney Refuge and over the Tizi n’Tzikert col (pass) at over 9,000ft. An alternative of a similar length includes the slightly easier seven-hour circular walk passing the Tizi n’Teouti and Tizi n’Tougdalt cols, each over 8,000ft.
A picnic lunch is enjoyed along the way – the perfect opportunity to stop and admire the beauty of your surroundings. Return to the lodge in the afternoon and relax as dinner is prepared (if you didn’t enjoy a dip in the hammam yesterday, your aching body will thank you for it today).
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to your mountain hideaway and begin the trek back to your original lodge. You can retrace your steps or ask your guide to vary the route, drawing on what they’ve learned about your pace and preferences over the last few days.
Back at the lodge, settle in for a final dinner under the mountain stars, complete with celebratory cheers for several rewarding days traversing Mount Toubkal’s trails.
This morning, leave the Moroccan mountains behind as a driver transfers you directly to Marrakech Menara Airport. From here, board your four-hour flight home and find yourself back on British soil – rather flatter and decidedly less dramatic – later the same day.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
