Active Morocco

With its rich atmosphere, fascinating history and Berber culture, the city of Marrakesh encapsulates what draws people from around the world to Morocco. Near one thousand-year-old red walls surround the historic medina, with monumental gates leading through to a warren of winding alleys. Awaken your senses with a tour of Djemaa el Fna, a magical place full of market stalls and entertainers. During the day it’s a bustling marketplace and as evening approaches the entertainment changes with Chleuh dancing-boys, story-tellers and magicians entertaining the crowds.

An early morning hot air balloon flight a short way outside of Marrakesh is the perfect way to prepare for the next leg our your journey. Back on solid ground, you’ll be whisked off to explore the rocky, lunar-like landscapes of the Agafay Desert where adventure is the order of the day. This region is great for starry skies and cultural experiences too. Sip on a glass of delicious Moroccan mint tea as the sun dips below the horizon.

Essaouira is a laid-back port town cooled by the vents alizés trade winds gently blowing in from the ocean on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Once known as Mogador, the town took its current name from the 18th century medina – ‘souira’ meaning small fortress – with crenelated walls enclosing a handful of palmed-lined avenues and connecting atmospheric alleys. Sandy beaches extend for miles out from either side of the town, swept by near perfect breezes.

Roads follow green valleys dotted with mud-built Berber villages, up through forest and over winding passes then down to wadis and old caravan trading posts on the edge of the Sahara. It is a haven for hikers of all levels from spring through to autumn. The Atlas Mountains are a rugged chain that span North Africa from the Atlantic coast through Algeria and Tunisia, an imposing barrier between the fertile Mediterranean coast from the vast Sahara Desert.