Companion Tours

Below are the descriptions for the 6 tours being offered. Text kindly provided by Morocco.

Tour schedules and prices: click here

1. Berber country in 4WD with lunch in Lalla Takerkoust Lake

The most exciting trip to disover Berber life takes us to the beautiful and picturesque Ourika Valley, continue driving up to the ski resort of Oukaimeden. Along this road you will admire the beauty and the exotic of the Berber villages and hamlets scattered in the mountains sides as well as subsistence farming terraced fields where you can see locals busy most of the day. Few kilometres from the ski resort we will take the dust road to wild scenery of the Atlas Mountains: crossing of pine, oak, carob tress woods. From high up in the peaks, you will have an impressive view overlooking the Haouz plain where sets the city of Marrakech. Descending the slopes dominating the Tahanaout valley, continuation until Lalla takerkoust valley to for lunch before starting off to Marrakech.

2. Essaouira with lunch

This trip includes lunch in the harbour. Handcrafts city where the Gnaoua music has a very important place. This popular resort town dates from the 18th century, and is easily reached by bus from Marrakech . The town is encircled by a fortified wall and faces the sea, featuring a beautiful stretch of beach, some pretty whitewashed houses, boat builder's workshops and art galleries. what makes it popular is the laid -black atmosphere and the characteristic wind that makes it a popular centre of wind-and kite surfing. it is also famed for it's wood carving tradition, particularly with the local fragrant thuya wood. The harbour is a hive of activity at all the times, but particularly during the daily fish auction that attracts as many seagulls as buyers, sellers and onlookers.

3. Marrakech Gardens & Palm groove visit by caleche

• Menara Garden This attractive pavilion of the 19th century is one of the most famous sites of the city and is the symbol of Marrakesh. It is characterised by numerous green tiles, which are reflected in its vast basin and, in the background, by the often snow-covered Atlas Mountains
• Majorelle Garden In the 1920's , French artists Jacques and Louis Majorelle created a stunning garden in the middle of Marrakech new town.The majorelle gardens are filled with colour, plants of all shapes and sizes, flowers, fish ponds and perhaps the most pleasing aspect , tranquillity. The designer Yves saint Laurent now owns the gardens and has also built himself a house on the property. The building that gets most of the attention is the bright blue and yellow building the majorelles used as their studio and which houses the museum of Islamic Art. This smallmuseum includes some good examples of Moroccan tribal art, carpets, jeweller, and pottery.
• Le tour des remparts The wall from the 12 th century is 12 km long and is one of the most impressive city walls of Morocco .it is protruded by cypresses, date palms and jaws .it is strengthened through 202 bastions. The Almoravid ruler ali b.youssef (1107-1142) began construction of the walls and gates of Marrakech in 1126. The succeeding almohad dynastyextended the fortifications to encompass the entire medina , to which fourteen gates provide access.The most beautifull gate is the bab agnau of 1150 ,with its central arch framed by bands of interlacing lobed arches ,carved vegetal ornament ,and kufic inscription and built in stone .it especially illustrates the monumentality and richness of 12 th century Almohad Architecture.
• La palmeraie The legendary palm groove is of mysterious origins. The story is that, while laying siege to the town, the berbers fed on dates,scattering their stones all over the barren earth thus sprung this miracle of nature , the palmgrove of Marrakech ( about 150 000 palm trees) .

4. Marrakech Historical Visit - Possibility to visit 4 sites in ½ Day

• La Koutoubia The centerpiece of Marrakech is the square tower of the koutoubia minaret, attached to the koutoubia mosque , built in the early 110s it's not particularly high but it tower over the medina thanks to a long-standing planning ordinance that forbids any other building in the old city to rise above the height of palm tree.
• Bahia Palace This place is a wonderful example of the best of Moroccan architecture. There's lots of detail, arches , light, engravings and what's more it was built as a harem's residence, which makes it even more interesting.
• Les Tombeaux Saadiens The beautiful necropolis was built by the Saadien sultan Ahmed El Mansour in the late 16 th century as a final resting place for him self and his successors. There are 66 indoor tombs, lavishly decorated with colourful, intricate mosaics. The central mausoleum, the hall of the twelve columns, is exceptionally ornate with a high vaulted roof , furnished with stunning carved cedar panels and columns of grey Italian marble.
• El Badii Palace Only the structures remain of this edifice, nothing remains of the legendary palace Ahmed EL MANSOUR, all the onyx, marble and stucco were removed in 1696 on Moulay Ismail's orders to decorate his royal palaces in Meknes
• Le Musée Dar Si Saïd Only the structures remain of this edifice, nothing remains of the legendary palace Ahmed EL MANSOUR, all the onyx, marble and stucco were removed in 1696 on Moulay Ismail's orders to decorate his royal palaces in Meknes.
  

5. Ourika Valley and Visit of Nectarome

Biological Garden This trip takes you to the most beautiful valley of the High Atlas Mountains which always was the favourite place for the inhabitants of Marrakech for their excursions. The Ourika valley offers an enchanting spectacle of high and wild mountains dominating the red slopes with scattered hamlets in a typical Berber architecture and farming terraced fields. Along the road, you will cross and lush green and shaded valley, then successively a more rocky and wild landscape.
You will stop along the road to visit hamlets, take some photos or check at local pottery and its varied samples of minerals and crystals.

6. Visit Souks and Djamaa el Fnaa square & la Mederssa de Ben youssef

• Souks - The souks are basically undercover market that sell everything from chickens to high-quality crafts. The souks of Marrakech are considered to be among the best in Morocco, so if you like shopping and bargaining you'll enjoy yourself tremendously. even if you don't like shopping , the souqs are a cultural experience you wouldn't want to miss. souqs are divided in to small areas that specialize in a certain good or trade. The metal workers all have their little shop clustered together, as do the tailors, butchers, jewellers, wool dyers, spice merchants, carpet salesman and so on.
• La Place Djemaa El Fnaa The Famous town square of Marrakech , jemaa el fna, owes its fame to the continuous day and night life . during most of the days , performers of every kind put up their shows, continuing until the food stalls start to move in . from the jemaa there are several entries to the fantastic souks, and for any one who needs to relax for a while, there are plenty of cafes around the jamaa , where the main attraction is looking at the ongoing activities Jemaa el fna owes most of its fame to the large number of spectacles going on all around all the time .snake charmers, singers, story tellers, heals and fakirs attract a dominantly Moroccan audience.

• La Medersa Ben Youssef - Place Ben youssef is known for it's spectacular interiors. The ben youssef Mederssa is a 16 th century Koranic school that was lovingly restored and buffed up to perfection in the late 1990s. The serene courtyard has central water -filled basin and facades enhanced with tilling, stucco and carved cedar.