Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Morocco. Marrakech is a feast for the senses, a world of spice markets, Berber music, carpets, delectable foods, acrobats and perfumed gardens. You can arrive at any time today as there are no activities planned. If you have an arrival transfer booked, please look for a representative with an Adventure Company or Peak Marrakech sign when you arrive at the airport. Your hotel is located just outside the city walls around the old Medina. It is about a 30-minute walk to the main square, Djemaa el Fna (or a short calesh/taxi ride). It's also near a lot of local shops and restaurants. Settle in and relax – you won't meet your leader until tomorrow morning.

Meet your leader and group at 9 am and begin your adventure. Take a bus across the Atlas Mountains (approximately 6–7 hours), rising to a height of 2,092 metres at the Tizi-n-Test Pass. Along the way you can visit the 12th-century mosque of Tin Mal. Your destination is Ifergane, a pleasant village in the foothills of the mountains. It's home to Berber people who inhabited the land centuries before the Arabs arrived (some 1,200 years ago). These proud people still speak a separate language which comprises three main dialects. While Arabic is gaining an ever-increasing foothold, most people, especially the young, know a few words of French too. As the sun dips below the mountains, you can perhaps enjoy a traditional sweet mint tea while waiting for your dinner. The sound of the muezzin can often be heard giving the call to pr...

Enjoy a day of free time. You might like to take a walk with your family through the oasis and explore the local villages. The oasis is full of palm trees and streams of water, giving it an exotic atmosphere. Perhaps have a go at riding a donkey around the fields. Afterwards, it's time for a short trip to Taroudant city (approximately 30 minutes). This pretty, conservative town (often called 'Little Marrakech') has a tannery which you will visit and spend some time at. Moroccan leather goods are very popular, and here you can learn how the animal skins are cured to produce the leather. It's an interesting snapshot of old-fashioned local craft, and a chance to souvenir a slice of hand-made Morocco.

Continue driving through the fertile Souss plain along many fruit and vegetable farms. You'll pass some lovely colourful orchids and rolling hills along the way. Crossing through the argan forest, you might see goats climbing the trees, sometimes several at once! It's a distinctly Moroccan phenomenon with a simple explanation: the goats here have adapted to seek food up the argan trees in times of drought. Continue to Taghazoute Beach on the Atlantic Coast (approximately 3.5 hours). Soak up the sun and sand in your free time for the rest of the afternoon. You will stay down in Agadir, a picturesque and laid-back coastal destination, one of Morocco's very best.

Travel up the coast to Sidi Kaouki (approximately 1.5 hours). Mount a camel and ride across the expansive sand dunes, taking in the awesome scenery as you plod along. This may well be one of the highlights of your trip. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach, then board the bus again and head to Essaouira (approximately 30 minutes). This delightful artists' town is a former Portuguese trading colony and was once home to sizeable British and Jewish populations. The town faces a group of rocky islands called the Mogador and is surrounded by an expanse of sandy beaches and dunes. It's still a busy fishing port, and its pretty harbour is filled with tiny colourful fishing boats which go out early every morning.

Today is free for you to explore Essaouira as you please. Everything in the small centre is within walking distance, and the beach is nice and clean, great for strolling along. Why not wander the harbour and its adjacent fish markets where you can witness the daily auction. A fresh-cooked plate of the day's catch is highly recommended. Perhaps browse some of the many shops and art galleries where unique local pieces are on display. The town is becoming renowned for its burled Thuya wood, delicately formed and inlaid in tiny shops. The scent from the oils used to polish the richly coloured wood permeates the air and makes walking through the streets incredibly pleasant.

Leaving Essaouira behind, journey inland to Marrakech (approxmately 3 hours). Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of the city centre, taking in the main sights on your way to the sprawling Djemaa el-Fna main square and souq. As is usual in a souq, individual trades and crafts are concentrated in one street or area, so the shoemakers are all next to each other, as are the jewellers, potters and weavers. This is the best place in Morocco to sharpen your bargaining skills, and you are almost certain to be tempted by some of the extraordinary variety of merchandise on display – perhaps a pair of traditional Moroccan slippers or some spices. The market almost has the atmosphere of a medieval fair. Snake charmers and jugglers are among those who vie to entertain you. In the evening, wonderful smells waft by as food stalls cook up thei...

Your trip comes to an end this morning. There are no activities planned for the final day and you are free to depart the accommodation at any time.