Itinerary ideas for your Morocco Holiday

If you only have a few nights to spare then a trip to Marrakech offers the perfect short-break, only 3 hours from London yet a time-warp away. Step off the plane and back in time to a medieval city of bustling souks, snake charmers and story-tellers enveloped in the heady smell of incense and spices. For those wanting to fully immerse themselves in this unique environment, a stay in a traditional Marrakech Riad within the medina is best, where an unexpected tranquillity lies behind thick walls and heavy wooden doors. Or else stay just outside the medina walls in a more rural location in a boutique villa or hotel or even a luxurious 'posh' tent.

Marrakech Medina  - 3 nights in a traditional riad within the medina makes you perfectly situated to enjoy all the cultural, historical and sensuous experiences of vibrant Marrakech. This trip allows you to spend time exploring the souks and sample the endless variety of traditional foods at the Place Jemaa el-Fna. A firm favourite in the mid-range and boasting one of the largest pools in the medina is Riad Chergui. Or for those wanting a bit more luxury, in a super stylish and romantic setting, Riad Adore comes highly recommended.

Marrakech Rural -  Enjoy greater space and tranquillity in one of the rural areas on the outskirts of Marrakech. Choose to stay in a 'posh-tent' perfectly positioned between Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains at Jardin D'Issil or for pure indulgence and escapism, stay in the romantic Dar Zemora - one of our favourite places anywhere in the world.

With each of these option we recommend spending a day in the Atlas Mountains for a complete change of pace and enable you to see another side of Morocco even in a short trip.

As always these are just suggested itineraries to give you an idea of what is available and what can be achieved. For expert personal advise please give us a call on 0207 112 0019 or email us.

A week is a perfect length of time to visit Morocco and allows you to experience a great variety of Moroccan life. We highly recommend a two-tiered stay, combining the unmissable Marrakech with some time to relax either somewhere in the Atlas Mountains or by the coast in Essaouira. Or if Marrakech really appeals and has gotten under your skin, why not spend the entire week there, but mixing a stay in the medina with a stay in one of the rural outskirts, such as in the Palmeraie.

Marrakech and Essaouira - This is our number one combination for a week. Can be done either way round but in our view the best is to go straight down to the coast on arrival and relax in close to the beautiful town of Essaouira for 3-4 nights. Then back up to Marrakech for the second half of the stay and combine with a day in the Atlas Mountains. Click for example Marrakech and Essaouira itinerary

Marrakech, Atlas Mountains and Desert - Spend your first few nights exploring the medieval city of Marrakech, soaking up its vibrant African-Arab-European culture. From there head up across the mountains and into the desert staying in small guesthouses or even under canvas only reachable by camel or 4x4. Click for an example Marrakech, Mountains and Desert itinerary Also you may like to visit our section focussed entirely on the enjoying the Morocco Desert.

Marrakech Medina and Rural - This is a double-dosage of Marrakech but why not when there is so much to experience and discover and keep the travelling to a minimum? Spend the first half of your stay soaking up the atmosphere of the medina. For the second half relax by a pool and in gorgeous gardens, knowing the centre is not far away should you wish to take one more visit to the souks. For the more adventurous split the stay with a night or two in the Atlas Mountains. Click for Marrakech Medina plus Palmeraie itinerary

All of these are comfortably doable in 6 - 8 nights and remember they are just examples. For free expert advice please give us a call on 0207 112 0019 or email us.

If you have 10 days or 2 weeks other areas of Morocco become possible or you can just take more time to see and experience everything. The coast around Essaouira in particular has loads of things to do and you can easily do a week there alone. The other option of course is to use the time to go further afield and include Fes to the north and Taroudant to the south and indeed link them all up for a grand Moroccan tour.

The Essaouira Sandwich -  For anywhere from 10 days up to 2 weeks, this is great option particularly in the summer when it is too hot to do much travelling. Arrive in Marrakech and have 2 or 3 days in a medina riad, then down to the coast for 5 days or a week, and finally into the Atlas Mountains to finish off. Click for Essaouira Sandwich itinerary.

Marrakech, Taroudant, and Essaouira -  This is for those who want to see as much as possible and experience as many different sides of Moroccan life. It also has the advantage that you can start and finish the trip in Marrakech or Agadir so giving you more flight options. In summary you start in Marrakech and then into the mountains and down to the Sahara Desert. From there you visit the beautifully walled city of Taroudant and then down to the coast around Agadir. The last stop is Essaouira where you can relax for a few days before returning to Marrakech and then home. Click for Marrakech - Taroudant - Essaouira itinerary

Fes - Marrakech - Atlas Mountains - Desert- Essaouira -  This is the most varied of the itineraries where you get to experience the diversity of Moroccan life and landscapes. Rich culture and history, vibrant city life, mountain treks, camel rides in the Sahara and lazing by the coast are all on the agenda in this two-week trip. This trip includes your own personal English-speaking driver for the mountain and desert part of the tour (though personal car hire can also be arranged). Click for Fes-Marrakech-Mountains-Desert Itinerary

As always these are just suggested itineraries to give you an idea of what is available and what can be achieved. For expert personal advice please give us a call on 0207 112 0019 or email us.