Location is an approximation

Morocco

Marrakech's beautiful palaces
Kasbahs and the stunning Atlas mountains
Comfortable overnight stay in the Sahara desert

 

Thank you for visiting us here at Oak Hall!

This holiday is in the past now but please click here for our programme for this year:

  Oak Hall Holidays

To view upcoming holidays, please view our calendar

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Vibrant Marrakech

Imagine looking out of the window as the plane descends towards the sandy expanses of North Africa. As you step off the aircraft into the warm Moroccan sunshine under a blue sky, you find yourself in a country where ancient ways of life rub shoulders with the new. Look forward to experiencing the narrow alleyways, colourful merchandise and aromatic fragrances of the ancient Medina.

Our intriguing tour of Morocco starts in Marrakech and heads out to the east of the country to explore the Sahara desert, before returning to Marrakech and heading west to experience the attractive coastline at Essaouira.

 

A medieval, bustling city

Prepare to be amazed at the snake-charmers, acrobats and al-fresco grills on the famous Jemaa el Fna square. Camels are parked alongside tourist coaches outside the city's famous medieval monuments, including the Koutoubia Mosque and Bahia Palace.

You might choose a ride back to your hotel in a horse-drawn carriage. All this and more can be part of your wonderful time in the bustling North African city of Marrakech, which is the start and end point of this eye-opening tour.

 

Inspiring landscapes

We will see an amazing variety of landscapes as we travel through the country on a comfortable, air-conditioned coach. From Marrakech we climb over the awe-inspiring Tichka pass, zig-zagging high over the Atlas Mountains before descending into the desert terrain of southern Morocco. A vast rocky plain akin to a lunar landscape stretches into the distance punctuated by oases of palm trees. We visit medieval fortresses and ancient adobe villages, meeting a wide range of people from Berbers to Tuareg to Arabs.
 

A comfortable desert stay

Our tour then heads north and the landscapes continue to change. When we reach Erfoud, one of the highlights of this tour will be a trek in 4x4 vehicles into the Sahara. Here we stay overnight in the desert in en-suite, air-conditioned rooms and there is the option of a camel ride into the sand-dunes to watch the sunset.

We return south, stopping at the impressive Dades gorge and staying in Ouarzazate before heading out to the Atlantic coast, via Marrakech. At Essaouira, we enjoy a different feature of Morocco, with a chance to relax on its sandy beaches.

 
"It's been brilliant - thank you! I've loved every minute of it and 10 days is perfect too. "
Jude, Aug 2016

Wonderful hospitality

At our hotels we will enjoy a buffet breakfast and also an evening meal with both international dishes and traditional Moroccan cuisine. Our evening meetings provide the opportunity to listen to an interesting Bible talk.

 

and the shopping...

There will be plenty of opportunities to hone your haggling skills as you negotiate in the shops and markets for the purchase of a vast array of locally crafted items: ceramics, shoes and clothing, perfumes and potions, even artefacts fashioned from fossil-encrusted rocks. Or just enjoy a coffee and soak up the sights and sounds!
 

This is a tour packed with sights - to make the most of our time away we will be travelling on a number of the days. The amazing views along the way mean that the journeys are an important part of the experience.

If you are looking for an exciting cultural experience then Morocco is the place for you this summer!

Thank you for visiting us here at Oak Hall!

This holiday is in the past now but please click here for our programme for this year:

  Oak Hall Holidays

To view upcoming holidays, please view our calendar

  Calendar

Itinerary

Day #1
Please find below the provisional itinerary for the tour. Arrive at Menara airport, where we will be met by our local guide and transfer to our first hotel.
Day #2
Today our guide will take us on a tour to explore the sights of Marrakech including the beautiful Bahia palace, the Koutoubia Mosque and and the Saadian Tombs. In the afternoon we will explore the attractive and colorful souks in the medina and the famous Jemaa El Fna square, always alive with artists performing in this open-air theatre.
Day #3
Drive to Ouarzazate over the Tichka mountain-pass (approximately 4 hours). A spectacular route offering wonderful scenery of the Atlas as the roads winds its way up through the mountains to a height of 2260m and then down to Ouarzazate at a height of 1160m. En route, we visit the fortified village of Aït Benhaddou which has been classified by UNESCO as one of the world’s cultural treasures and has been used as a location in films such as Gladiator and Jesus of Nazareth.
Day #4
Today we will drive to Erfoud via Tansikht and Alnif, with stops to take pictures of the wonderful and unique landscapes (approximately 6 hours). Part of our journey takes us along the Draa valley, which is punctuated by oases and kasbahs harmoniously respecting the landscape.
Day #5
After breakfast, we travel to Rissani with its colourful open air market. In the late afternoon we take a scenic 50km journey in 4x4s to Merzouga. We stop en route to enjoy traditional green tea with a nomad family. In the Saharan sand dunes you can take a walk to admire the sunset or an optional camel ride (approximately £15). At our desert camp, away from the light pollution we will have an amazing view of the stars. Our rooms are en-suite with air conditioning.
Day #6
After breakfast, depart for Ouarzazate via Tineghir with stops to take pictures of the breathtaking scenery of oases and Kasbah (approximately 6 hours). We pass through Todra Canyon and the valley of Dadès, known as “the valley of roses and a thousand Kasbahs”. We continue on to the the magnificent oases of Boulmalne and El Kelaa Mgouna before arriving in Ouarzazate.
Day #7
Morning sightseeing tour of Ouarzazate. Many of Morocco’s Kashbahs (fortified villages) are now in ruins but Kasbah Taourirt has undergone a programme of renovation, giving us a clear picture of its original appearance. Part of the Kasbah is open to the public and there are interesting views from the decorated windows of the surrounding countryside. We return to Marrakech via the impressive Tichka pass mountain
Day #8
In the morning we travel to the coastal town of Essaouira (approximately 2.5 hours). Protected by tradewinds and surrounded by flowers, Essaouira is an attractive coastal town with a number of interesting sights, including the Medina.
Day #9
Free day in Essaouira to explore the town or enjoy the sandy beaches
Day #10
Free morning in Essaouira. Transfer to airport for return flight to UK