- Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou, Taroudont, Essaouira
This tour is for travelers with limited time who want to experience unique Moroccan points of interest in Marrakech and the surrounding region, including the famous goats, with their cloven feet, clambering up and down trees, eating fruit and discarding the hard nuts at the center. These same nuts are made into the famous Argan oil, perfect for cooking and luscious locks.
You will commence your Moroccan experience in Marrakech taking in the intoxicating sights and sounds of this exciting city. Your journey continues through the stunning High Atlas Mountains, up and over the spectacular Tiz-n-Tichka pass until you reach the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. This Kasbah is the most famous in Morocco and has been the set of many movies and TV series, including Game of Thrones. The Kasbah is now a UNESCO protected monument.
Stay the night in Taroudant. Enclosed by ramparts, Taroudant is the epitome of a Moroccan market town. Engage in friendly bargaining at a souk in one of the two main squares, and then spend a restful evening at a local farm come guesthouse, surrounded by lush grounds and friendly animals.
Depart the next day towards Essaouira which offers great views of the coastline, along with the ‘real’ Morocco. Pass through villages lined with roadside stalls selling fruit, vegetables, terracotta tagines and more adorable goats in trees. Pass through the village of Taghazout, known as Morocco’s surf mecca, with wave-riders from Australia, Europe and the USA. Arrive in the charming hippy, beach town of Essaouira. Meaning ‘beautiful picture,’ it’s a city known for art, inspiration, music, and history. It attracts flocks of visitors for its bi-annual music festivals. The city’s architecture and feel is quite different from others in Morocco, perhaps because it was designed by the same Frenchman who designed Saint-Malo in Brittany. It’s such a vibrant place. Tucked on side streets are incredible pieces of street art, while windows were decorated with rich blue and patterned tiles. It is a town that Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Orson Welles all visited. It is a great town to get lost in the medina, eat fresh fish for dinner and finish the night at one of the casual beach bars listening to live music.
Return to Marrakech the next day for your departure.
