Berber Life

Welcome to Marrakech and Morocco!

Your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel, where you can settle in.

Rest of your day would be free in Marrakech. Perhaps you can visit the Jamna El Fnaa which is the hub of the old medina or medieval part of the city. At night time the square is lit up with food stalls, street entertainers and story tellers. Alternatively you can take a wander in the new town of Gueliz, along the rose gardens of the Mohamed VI Boulevard, or amongst the upmarket cafes in the Hivernage next to the medina.

Night in the Riad Imilchil, Marrakech or similar.

After breakfast a morning guided tour of Marrakech - with a chance to see the different souks, madrassa and palaces of the old city. The souks tend to be divided into areas selling the same things, so making it easier to haggle! There are the gold and silver souks, magic souks, spice souks and iron-monger souks, in fact you can just about buy anything somewhere. Start by buying some dried fruit at the entrance to the souks to nibble on while walking…

Outside the souks the medina has beautiful Islamic and Berber architecture in the Bahia palace and the madrassas. We recommend a visit to the tanneries if you have time.

In the afternoon perhaps you could visit the Jardins Majorelle, a vibrant oasis of plants and pools near the medina. A 12 acre botanic garden designed in the 1920’s by the French painter, Majorelle has many different plants including a bamboo and cactus garden which is set off by the bright colours and the water features and pools.

Overnight in your Marrakech hotel.

Optional extra:- for those interested in Moroccan cuisine - we can offer a one day cookery course – start by meeting up in the souks at 10am to buy your ingredients and then go back to the kitchens for a lesson on how to prepare a traditional Moroccan dish or two which you can then try out for dinner! (extra charge)

After breakfast drive from Marrakech to Ourigane and visit a Berber farm and meet the family.

Take tea with them and then learn how to make some Berber bread.

Night in Hotel Tatfi, Ourigane or similar.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Take a morning walk around the village in the Toubkal National Park and in the afternoon help with the harvest of olives (depending on season) and see how the olives are pressed into oil.

Overnight in your hotel in Ourigane.

Breakfast in your hotel.

Today help the family with livestock - feed and milk the cows or look after the sheep. Learn a bit about Berber cooking and make some lunch.

In the afternoon go out into the fields to pick fruit or to help with the harvest/planting (depending on season).

Overnight in your hotel in Ourigane.

Breakfast in your hotel.

Morning to say goodbye to your hosts, before taking the road down to Marrakech via an Argan oil cooperative where the women of the village all get together to process the nuts and oil in to a variety of products. It is possible to see the methods of grinding and try some of the delicious oil on fresh bread.

Evening arrival in Marrakech and overnight in your Marrakech hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Transfer to the airport for departure.