Camels, Kasbahs & Beach Family Tour – 12 Days

Start and finish in:
Marrakech
From: 1.148,00$
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Duration

12 days

Age Range

5 to 99

Group Size

16 people

Tour Operator

Nomadic Tours

Highlights

  • Visit Todra Gorge and learn Berber carpet making
  • Relax on the beaches of scenic Essaouira
  • Discover Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of North Africa
  • Trek through the Sahara on a camel at sunset
  • Explore ancient Ait Benhaddou and its Kasbahs

Tour Languages

English (US, UK)

Itinerary

Feel at Home in Morocco!! Following your transfer from the airport to our joining hotel, you can relax by the hotel pool before the pre-departure meeting at 18:00 hrs where you will meet your guide and fellow travellers. Overnight Marrakech (Dinner included).

Straight after morning meal, we will drive crossing the High Atlas Mountains. On arrival in Ait Benhaddou, we will have midday meal and relax by the pool before we go for a guided tour of the village to learn about its rich history. Ait Benhaddou is one of the oldest villages in the south of Morocco and used as a backdrop for many international movies like Gladiator. Probably most famous of all are its old and splendid Kasbahs.

Overnight in Ait Benhaddou (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included).

Our journey today takes us to the Berber Oasis of N’kob. We will be driving through the Anti Atlas ranges to cross The Draa Valley which is one of the most famous places in Morocco for dates; we can stop and try some fresh ones if you like (season dependent). N’Kob is one of Morocco’s best kept secrets, nestled amongst the exotic Palmeries and sat at the foot of the Jebel Saghro mountains. We will have time today to explore some of N’kob’s 45 mudbrick ksour’s (fortified village). We will learn about Ait Atta Nomad’s and their way of life. There will be some time to walk through the Palmerie and soak up the stunning views around followed by having tea in a local family’s home or head back to the hotel to relax for the afternoon.

Overnight in N’Kob. (Breakfast and Dinner included).

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Excitement is in the air as we head towards the mighty Saharan Dunes. En-route we stop off for midday meal and in the summer, we may even have time for a relaxing swim. It is then time to head towards the great desert dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga where we transfer to our camels and trek into the vast Sahara Desert in time for sunset. We then return to our authentic Berber Camp on the edge of the desert to spend the night enjoying local food, music, and an amazing night out under the Saharan stars.

Overnight Berber base camp (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included).

Leaving the desert, we move on to Todra Gorge. This 1000ft gorge is hemmed in on all sides by vertical limestone cliffs and is also called Morocco’s Grand Canyon. From its plunging depths to dizzying heights. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west.

We will have time this afternoon to explore the Gorge with a visit to a traditional Berber cooperative for Berber carpets owned by local people. We will learn how the Berbers make their carpets and you will have chance to try your bargaining skills if you are interested in buying one.

For those that fancy a cooking lesson, we will have an option to do this today to prepare and cook your own Moroccan midday meal.

Overnight Todra Gorge (Breakfast and Dinner included).

After morning meal, we head off through the road of The Valley of Roses, famous in Morocco for roses. We will have a stop if you want to see a variety of different rose products (season dependent). Our journey continues to Ouarzazate (the Film Capital of North Africa), which African traders once used on their journeys up to Europe. We can make an optional visit to the famous film studios which have been used for films such as The Kingdom of Heaven, Alexander the Great, The Last Temptation of Christ and The Living Daylights.

Overnight in Ouarzazate (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included).

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Today, we will drive back to Marrakech crossing the High Atlas Mountains and enjoying its’ magnificent views en-route. After checking in at our Marrakech hotel, you will have a free afternoon. This evening is a chance to enjoy the exotic ambience of dinner in the famous square of Djemaa El Fna.

Overnight in Marrakech (Breakfast and Dinner included).

This morning, why not book our optional guided city tour of Marrakech which includes the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia palace, and the Jewish quarter?

In the afternoon, there will be time to explore the city independently. Within the rose-coloured walls of the medina, you find a reality that is not that far removed from a film set and ancient history; winding streets that open onto lush gardens and dark alleyways that lead to bustling souks. The focal point is the central square, the Djemaa el Fna, an extraordinary gathering point and marketplace. Full of colour, spicy aromas and traders, it is best seen in the evening when overflowing with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians and henna artists.

Overnight Marrakech (Breakfast included).

We will be leaving those on the 9-day tour behind this morning as we take a leisurely drive to Essaouira; a colourful fishing town situated within 15th century Portuguese fortifications, where great beaches and surf beckon. Relax on the beach or alternatively explore the UNESCO-listed medina with its various souks and woodcarving workshops. Any city gate leads to the medina, so you’re unlikely to get lost. The beach is in front of the Medina and there are plenty of cafés with terraces, both ideal for relaxing for a few hours. Blue doors and window frames abound as do the artists shops – buy a carpet or Thuya wood carving or sit on the beach sipping a mint tea as the sun sets, an antidote to the hustle and bustle of the Imperial cities. There is the opportunity to do some optional activities, such as quad biking, surfing, horse trekking and wind surfing or you can just simply sit on the beach and relax!

Overnight Essaouira (Breakfast included).

Enjoy the beach and our optional activities again!

Overnight Essaouira (Breakfast included).

We use the Supratours public bus to head back to Marrakech mid-morning, before heading to the famous Djemma el Fna square for an optional group meal in the evening.

Overnight Marrakech (Breakfast included).

The tour ends after morning meal. (Breakfast included).

Tour Destinations on the Map

This map itinerary may be inaccurate, Please check below for more accurate info.
- Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Nkob - Merzouga - Todra Gorge - Ouarzazate - Essaouira

Tour Includes

•3* to 4* accommodation including 1 night in an authentic Berber Camp

City /Town - Hotel Name

Marrakech - Hotel El Andalous

Ouarzazate - Hotel les Jardins de Ouarzazate

Sahara Desert - Berber base camp

Todra Gorge - Hotel Kasbah Amazir

N’Kob - Kasbah Ennakhile

Ait Benhaddou - Hotel La Rose du Sable

Essaouira - Hotel Miramar

NB: The hotels listed above are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard when necessary.

•1 x Guide and 1 x Driver

•11 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 7 Dinners

HIGHLIGHTS

Marrakech - Djemaa-el-Fna square, UNESCO-listed medina

N’Kob – Berber Oasis of 45 fortified villages

Todra Gorge - Morocco’s “Grand Canyon”

Sahara Desert – Authentic Berber Camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes with camel ride

Ait Benhaddou – UNESCO listed ancient Kasbah city

Essaouira – colourful fishing town and beautiful beaches

•Transport by air conditioned 4x4 or minibus (public bus between Marrakech and Essaouira)

•arriving transfer from Marrakech Airport on day 1 of the tour or if pre-accommodation is booked directly with Nomadic for our joining hotel (Should for any reason you take a local taxi, please check the sign with prices before you arrive at the taxi rank).

DRIVING TIMES

Day Number of hours travelling

Day 1 0 hours

Day 2 4 hours

Day 3 2.5 hours

Day 4 4 hours

Day 5 4 hours

Day 6 3 hours

Day 7 4.5 hours

Day 8 0 hours

Day 9 3 hours

Day 10 0 hours

Day 11 3 hours

Day 12 0 hours

NB: Driving hours include necessary toilet stops, photo stops and midday meal breaks.

Tour Excludes

Flights are not included

Travel insurance is not included but is compulsory to join our tour.

Optional Services

Single Supplement: £239.

Pre/Post accommodation: SGL £80: DBL/TWN £110: TPL £150: Family £220

Optional Activities (DH = MOROCCAN DIRHAM)

•Guided city tour of Marrakech 3 hours (2-4 Pax 200 DH, 5-9 Pax 150 DH, 10 Pax 100 DH)

•Bahia Palace Entry Fee (100 DH)

•Hammam in Marrakech (prices from 150 DH)

•Hot air balloon ride over the High Atlas Mountains (2000 DH)

•Movie Studio visit in Ouarzazate (30 minutes = 80 DH)

•Cooking classes in Todra (300 DH)

•Quad biking in Ouarzazate AGE 16+ ONLY (2 hours = 590DH, 2 hours for 2 pax = 690DH)

•Rock climbing in Todra Gorge - Adult must be present (1 hour = 300 DH)

•Quad biking in Essaouira AGE 16+ ONLY (2 hours = 590DH, 2 hours for 2 pax = 690DH)

•Horse riding in Essaouira (1 hour = 250 DH, 2/3 hours = approx. 300 DH/390 DH approx.

•Windsurfing in Essaouira (2 hours = approx. 600 DH)

•Surfing in Essaouira (2 hours = approx. 350 DH)

•Kayaking in Essaouira (2 hours = approx. 350 DH)

•Kite surfing in Essaouira (2 hours = approx. 700DH)

•Tipping kitty 2024 = $60 per adult only (used for hotel porters, waiters, local guides used for city tours, airport drivers, restaurant tips and Tour driver).

.Tipping kitty 2025 = $70 USD per adult.

•The gratuity fund does not cover your Nomadic guide, so please feel free to offer a tip at the end of the tour if you are happy with the service provided.

•Single Supplement (optional)

•Flights

•Drinks

•Lunch x 7 and Dinner x 4

•Spending money and optional activities

From: 1.148,00$

Know Before Your Trip

Time Zone: GMT+1 (UTC+1)

Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)

Emergency: Police: 19, Ambulance: 15

VISA: Check if you need a visa to enter Morocco here. (Citizens from the US, EU, UK, Canada usually have visa-free access.)

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