01 The "Real Morocco" Holiday

Suggested Itinerary Number : 01

The "Real Morocco" Holiday - Taroudant

We have been running this small group, highly acclaimed, ecotourism holiday since 1996. We strive to give you a visit which is organised without being over-organised, with opportunities to mix yet have your own space and freedom too.

Suggested length of 5-7 nights, all year round with flights into Agadir (or possibly Marrakech):

Transport options: Transport included for Real Morocco; coach from Marrakech to Essaouira; Taxi or car (self-drive or with driver) for other journeys.

Extension options: 2-4 days Marrakech, Essaouira, High Atlas or Anti Atlas Mountains.

Activity options: Treks on horses, camels or on foot; surfing in Essaouira; bird watching. 

The full 5 - 7 day programme, nominated on 3 occasions for the Responsible Travel Awards, and awarded the 3* "exceptional" rating in the Frommers 2008, offers a range of authentic activities and outings.

Our outstanding local staff are charming, helpful, generous, kind, humorous and welcoming, and enjoy sharing their heritage, their knowledge and their time with you. The programme gives you a chance to:

• see interesting "real" places and meet local people with our trustworthy educated guides;
• eat excellent fresh locally produced food and discover local recipes. Special diets catered for, especially vegetarian and vegan;
• enjoy an excellent climate: warm and dry all year round, it is the warmest part of Morocco in winter when even then you'll usually enjoy around 7 hours sunshine daily!
• stay in an authentic, superbly located market town, from where it is easy to access the coast, airport, mountains and oases. Often known as the "Little Marrakech", Taroudant has the best preserved town walls in Morocco, a very good souk and few tourists;
• receive advice on local cultures and customs: both before and during your visit;
• have no health worries: safe water, no compulsory vaccinations, malaria free region and good medical facilities locally; and
• enjoy complimentary use of a swimming pool in the gardens of the old palace hotel in town.

Taroudant

Just 1 hour east of Agadir, Taroudant is often known as “Little Marrakech” due to the backdrop of the High Atlas Mountains and its red town walls, which are more complete than those of any other Moroccan town. This Berber market town is little frequented by tourists,  providing an authentic experience of everyday life. It is much closer to two mountain ranges and the sea than Marrakech, making it an ideal base from which to explore Berber countryside.

Activities and Outings on offer

Standard activities include:

• Caleche Trip: a ride in a a horse drawn carriage to see the town, walls and tanneries
• Excursions: to see Berber villages and an oasis (option for other excursions)
• Trekking: on foot or on mule in the spectacular High Atlas Mountains
• Hammam: the local "Turkish" baths, using rhassoul mud, henna and soft soap to improve your skin and hair
• Massage: an excellent follow up to the hammam using the local, highly therapeutic argan oil or, if desired, any of the essential oils you may have purchased when exploring the souk
• Cookery: Moroccan cookery lessons, with a cook book for sale to support community projects
• Crafts: learn about the local materials and techniques and be hands-on if you wish
• Language: Arabic or Berber language lessons and a chance to practice your French
• Mint tea and Berber meal: a tasty traditional tagine taken in a Berber house in the High Atlas Mts
• Henna Tattoos: non-permanent tattoos using natural ingredients that are beneficial to the skin
• Feast for the Senses: a wonderful celebration of your experiences in Morocco (minimum group size 8). Best that we keep the details a secret, so as not to spoil your enjoyment!
• Music: Live Moroccan music - a nationally acclaimed Berber women's band from the town. Likely to induce dancing, certainly amongst the staff! Not available during the month of Ramadan

Specialist activities include:

• Architecture: Berber houses and castles, riads, kasbahs and old palaces
• Geology: fabulous fossils, rocks and minerals may be found locally
• Photography and art: wonderful opportunities due to the superb light, landscapes and colourful scenes
• Wildlife: very diverse, especially birdlife, and includes wild tortoises! Choose trips guided by Said, our very knowledgeable biologist guide. The Souss Massa National Park is renowned worldwide for birds
• Dolphin and Whale Watching and Fishing trip: from Agadir (1 hour away), and best in June-Sept

Other local activities include:

• Hair conditioning and/ or colouring: henna adds rich, semi-permanent reddish highlights, leaving your hair very glossy and manageable
• Swimming: choice of 3 lovely pools nearby, all amongst beautiful gardens. Option of a trip to an unspoilt beach
• Shopping in an excellent souk for lovely hand crafted goods: lanterns, rugs, jewellery, mirrors, leather, wood, pottery, metalwork and clothing. Help given with bargaining, and what and where to buy
• Cycling: mountain bikes for hire in town or guided trips in the mountains
• Crafts: observe their production or even to learn sandal making, stone carving and henna tattooing. You are unlikely to resist the temptation of buying handicraft in the souk
• Community projects: we support local projects financially and practically, e.g. the local orphanage, Environmental Group, School for the Blind, and the Soap Making (set up with UK expert assistance) and other projects. For example, you might like to help care for, and play with, the children at the local orphanage

Accomodation in Taroudant

We are able to offer three accomodation options in Taroudant as part of the Real Morocco Programme:-

Request a Quotation or Tel: UK: 0845 345 7195 (local rate) or 01239 710 814