Days 1 - 2: Welcome to Morocco!
Welcome to Morocco! Be sure to arrive in time for your pre-departure meeting at 6:00pm. Your first night will be spent at our pre-expedition hotel in the centre of town. Departing the colourful chaos of Marrakech, we head to Aït Benhaddou, a ‘fortified city’, situated along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. It is situated on a hill along the Ouarzazate River and boasts some beautiful examples of kasbahs, some of which remain inhabited. Granted UNESCO World Heritage listing, the site had been the setting for many films including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Continuing, we drive through the Gorges du Dades, an awesome valley which extends from the High Atlas to the Jebel Saghrou range in the south. Berbers built many kasbahs in the vicinity of gorges for defence purposes. These many kasbahs combined with the stunning natural beauty make this a beautiful region through which to travel.

Days 3 - 4
Crossing the Jebel Saghrou, we head down to Erg Chebbi sand dunes, which signify the commencement of the mighty Sahara Desert. Transferring to camels, we trek into the desert to a berber camp, enjoying local food and a night under the Saharan stars. Leaving the desert on day 4, we spend the day travelling to Todra Gorge, in anticipation of our gorge exploration the next day. This 1000ft gorge is hemmed in on all sides by vertical limestone cliffs and is also known as Morocco’s Grand Canyon.

Days 5 - 6
Day 5 is spent exploring Todra gorge, from its plunging depths to its awesome heights. Discover the charm of Todra on your trek. Witness it’s changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west. Or alternatively, you could choose just to chill out for the day. On day 6, we spend most of the day crossing the High Atlas mountains. Stretching 2,400kms through Morocco to Tunisia, the range includes the Rock of Gibraltar. The trekking ranges from a stroll to a strenuous trek to the highest summit in North Africa, Jebel Toubkal. The Moroccan Grand Atlas includes the Middle Atlas, High Atlas and Anti-Atlas. Mountain villages of Berber people still exist today, living a simple life and it’s a way to experience a side of Morocco that many travellers don’t see. We arrive into Marrakech late this evening.

Days 7 - 8
Glowing red, like a welcoming campfire, against the snowcapped High Atlas Mountains, the very name Marrakech conjures up images of an exotic, distant city, of magic carpets and snake charmers and of frankincense and myrrh brought in by camel trains. Set within the rose-coloured walls of the medina lies a reality that is not that far removed from an exotic film set – a tangle of winding streets that open onto verdant gardens and dark alleyways that lead to bustling souks. The focal point is the central square, the Djemâa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place. Full of colour, spicy aromas and traders it is best seen in the evening when overflowing with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians and henna artists. If planning on being a retail star, bargaining is expected. And towering over all this is the Koutoubia mosque, the tallest building in the city, and a reminder of the importance of Islam to the lives of the city’s residents. Try a traditional hamman, a steam bath followed by an exfoliating massage - its the ideal end to the day. The expedition ends after breakfast on day 8.