Marrakech, Camels & the Sahara – Family Adventure

The tour starts in Marrakech, an electric city with a Unesco-listed medina and plenty of landmarks to explore. If you have time after your flight, you may want to splash in the hotel pool or take a taxi to the nearby Djemaa el Fna, the busy central square where street vendors sell freshly squeezed orange juice. The welcome briefing with your leader will either be this evening or tomorrow morning depending on flight arrivals. Stay: Opera Plaza Hotel, Red Hotel (or similar).

With time to explore Marrakech at the end of our journey, we leave the Red City and head into the Atlas Mountains. Partway through, we stop to embark on a fun mule ride and walk to the village of Tighza where we will have a lunch prepared by a local family to learn more about life in the mountains. Returning to our bus by mule, we transfer over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, the highest in Morocco at 7,235ft (2,205m), enjoying views of the rugged mountains as we go.

Tonight we stay near the Unesco-listed Ait Benhaddou, which we visit at sunset tomorrow, a mesmeric ksar (fortified village) where red-clay buildings layer a hillside. It has been used as the filming location for several Hollywood movies, including The Mummy (1999) and Gladiator (2000). Stay: Ksar Ljanoub (or similar) Drive time: Six hours (B/L).

Today we travel to Ouarzazate, nicknamed the door to the desert because it used to be a crossing point for African traders on their way to Europe. It is now the site of the Atlas Film Studios, the setting for the Hollywood film Disney's Aladdin (2019), and the series Game of Thrones. We take a guided tour of the studio and see filmsets in situ, including Egyptian-style statues. After lunch, we have free time before a tour of Ait Benhaddou, in which we navigate the labyrinthine streets of the ksar. We time our visit for sunset, when the buildings turn a deep ochre, which makes for great family photographs. Stay: Ksar Ljanoub (or similar) Drive time: One hour and twenty minutes (B).

Leaving Ait Benhaddou, we journey to the Sahara, heading south along the Draa Valley, admiring Amazigh villages and palm trees as we go. At the edge of the sands, we embark on what will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable experiences of the trip: a one-hour camel ride over and through the dunes. Our destination is a simple but atmospheric Bedouin camp, where we spend the night.

The accommodation is a ring of mud huts, though we’ve found many travellers prefer to sleep under the desert sky, watching shooting stars and naming the constellations. Please note: You are requested to bring only an overnight bag and leave your remaining luggage with the vehicle. Stay: Camp Chez Le Pacha or similar (full-service camping) Drive time: Four hours and a half (B/D).

It's fun time again as we embark on another one-hour camel trek back to our bus. We then travel to the city of Zagora, stopping at the Tamegroute village pottery works where a collection of seven families use traditional methods to create beautiful ceramics with a signature green glaze. While there, we watch the talented artisans at work and even get to try throwing a bowl on the potter's wheel. After, it's to our hotel in Zagora, where we have time to unwind in the flower-filled gardens and take a dip in the hotel pool. Stay: Auberge Chez Ali (or similar) Drive time: Two hours and a half (B).

Today we head back to Ouarzazate where we visit Taourirt Kasbah, once the palatial home of the powerful Glaoui family and, more recently, the backdrop for movies including Gladiator and Prince of Persia (2010). Here we tour the labyrinthine passages to visit the still-spectacular reception, dining room and private apartments. We also head to the roof to look over the palm tree oasis and river valley below. After our visit, we enjoy free time to relax at our hotel and take a dip in the kidney bean-shaped pool. Stay: Club Hanane (or similar) Drive time: Three hours and a half (B).

After breakfast, we drive back to Marrakech. This afternoon, we take a tour of the city by calèche, a traditional horse-drawn carriage and a classic Marrakech experience. Our sightseeing tour, which lasts two to three hours, starts at Jemaa el-Fna and takes in the Agdal Gardens, the city walls and glimpses the old medina.

We end the day back at Jemaa el-Fna, which comes alive with food stalls, and musicians in the evenings – a great place to enjoy our farewell dinner (not included) and soak up the atmosphere. Stay: Opera Plaza Hotel, Red Hotel (or similar) Drive time: Four hours and a half (B/D).

Our journey comes to an end after breakfast. Hop onto your free transfer to Marrakech Airport to catch your flight. Alternatively, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in the Red City (B).