OTHER ACTIVITIES

If you are visiting Marrakech and don’t have time or the will to travel to the Sahara, we can offer you an alternative that will give you a desert experience without the long journey.  Agafay is a stone desert found only a 40 km drive from Marrakech.  You can visit Agafay for the day however we would recommend staying overnight at a luxury desert camp for the full experience.  One of our favourite camps even has a heated swimming pool!

Morocco is a great country for bird watching with around 480 species of birds either making their home in Morocco or passing through on their migratory routes. This makes Morocco the best country in North Africa, Europe and the Middle East for bird watching.

Morocco is probably best known for White Stork (Ciconia Ciconia) which can be found all over. Nests on minarets, houses, Kasbahs and any tall structure including antennae are classic sightings in Morocco. These nests are generally beautiful, catchy and photogenic and enjoyed by birders and non-birders alike!

Your stay in Marrakech offers the best opportunities for cycling tours when in Morocco.  These cater to the intrepid cyclist with off or on road circuits in the Atlas Mountains or to those wishing to experience the gentler city tours of Marrakech. Options are available for mountain, road and e-bikes.

Example all day mountain bike tour in the Atlas Mountains (full day)

Starting at Imlil you will ascend to the mountain top village of Tamatert. Winding your way up the zig-zag route through the Tiz n’Tamatert pass at an altitude of 2300 meters, we’ll enjoy a panoramic view of the Toubkal peak and sublime mountain. From the pass its either single track or off-road along the amazing Imnan Valley with lovely views over the cultivated terraces and through traditional Berber villages.  After a lunch stop in Arg the descent continues to Asni for a tea break and return to Marrakech. Other tours begin at Azgour (1500m) and can also include a stop for lunch with a local Berber family.

There are plenty of opportunities at  Casblanca, Essaouira or Agadir for a great day’s fishing from the beach or at sea. If however you would like something a little different and well off the beaten track then how about heading south of Agadir staying in Guelim and exploring the unspoiled Mireleft, Sidi Ifni and Plage Blanche where you will encounter few tourists and will often be able to enjoy your catch freshly cooked on the beach.

If golf is your thing why not try some of the many stunning courses that Morocco has to offer. There are 14 courses in Marrakech alone, with others in or near Casablanca, Rabat, Essaouira, Fez, Meknes, Agadir and Tangiers. We can provide club hire so you don’t even need to bring your clubs with you. You may wish to incorporate a round of golf into one of our many tours or if you want to play more, how about combining an Imperial City tour with a golf tour, mixing culture, history and golf? Alternatively we would be happy to organise a golf tour for you through our sister company More Than Golf Marrakech (www.morethangolfmarrakech.co.uk)!

As part of your trip to Morocco we would highly recommend taking a traditional Moroccan hamman, a massage or another of the myriad of beauty and therapy treatments on offer.

For Moroccans, visiting the hammam is a social occasion and an opportunity to spend time with friends away from work, kids and all other responsibilities. Everyone has a go-to hammam and each one has a unique atmosphere. From communal facilities with separate days or hours for men and women, to private spa-oriented treatments in hotels, visitors can experience an array of different treatments.

Whether you are looking for a half or one day hike as part of your tour or a 7 day trekking holiday we can assist you.

It can be hard work but there is definitely something to be said for the way that trekking allows you to experience a country such as Morocco. Taking your time to walk from place to place can open your eyes to the beauty of a landscape or give you time to take in the culture or people you are experiencing. It gives your travels a leisurely, comfortable pace and helps you make the most of your time.

Trekking in Morocco is definitely one of the better ways to explore the world of the mountain Berber tribes. These tribes have always lived in remote parts of the country and are relatively unaffected by other civilizations and global trends. Life is simple here – with woman gathering at the wells to draw water and shepherds tending their flocks on the mountainsides. The pace of life is slow but generous and the people seem rested and whole. Trekking not only makes you privy to their lifestyles but also helps you to understand that there is pleasure in simplicity and that family is important no matter where or how you live.

So whether you are looking for a mountain, coastal or desert trekking experience if you have the time we can build this into your schedule.

If you know your horses then you will understand that riding a Barb or an Arab through the mountains, deserts or along the beaches would be a fabulous way to explore the wilderness and culture of rural Morocco. Whether you would like to experience breath taking views in the Atlas mountains, the heat of the Sahara or the wild unspoiled beaches interspersed with date palms, sand dunes and rocky peaks with views over the ocean, the choice is yours.

A great experience whilst in Morocco is to attend a cooking class and learn to prepare exotic Moroccan dishes that are big on flavour, aroma and spice. Many of the classes are preceded by a trip with the cook to a local souk to purchase the ingredients required for your lesson. Pretty much all classes finish by eating the meal you have prepared.

There are any number of cooking classes that can be built into your schedule whilst in Morocco. Some of our favourites are below.

Clock Kitchen, Café Clock – Marrakech, Fez, Chefchaouen

Café Clock has 3 locations with its stated purpose to enable visitors’ easy access to the amazing and diverse culture of Morocco through music, art and cuisine. There are both Moroccan cooking and Bread baking/Patisserie classes on offer.

Amal – Marrakech

The Amal Center is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the empowerment of disadvantaged women through restaurant training and job placement.
Amal’s ultimate goal is personal transformation and developing job and life skills for our trainees to eventually achieve economic and social stability. Amal offers both cooking and baking classes in Targa, just outside Marrakech.

Family Cooking Class – (available at most destinations)

Would you like to spend some time in a Moroccan family house for a culinary experience? A guide will take you to visit the local market providing explanations regarding products, traditions and customs. You will then be taken to a typical house where you will be welcomed with open arms and authentic Moroccan hospitality. Over the next few hours you will be taught how to cook a tasty meal of local dishes. Your host will share stories about food, family and life in Morocco. Once your masterpieces are ready, you will savor the real taste of Moroccan family cooking.

If you prefer not to have to cook your own meal then there are plenty of food tours available in all the main cities to give you a real flavour of Moroccan food. These include:

• Gourmet food tours ( a different course in 3 riads, transported by tuk-tuk)
• Tasting trails (visit the souks and taste traditional Moroccan food) – walking tour
• Street food tours – walking tour

Morocco’s geographical contrasts, architecture, colour, people and its wildlife make this a fascinating country to photograph. From Fez, to Marrakech, the blue city of Chefchaouen, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the port of Essaouira, the Atlas mountains, the Sahara desert with its beautiful dunes and night skies, the list of photographic opportunities is endless.

We can organise anything from 1 day courses to 5-10 days photographic tours with a guide and tutor.

The sport of surfing has slowly gained momentum in Morocco and there are now a number of surf schools and destinations, the most popular of which are at Taghazout near Agadir, Oualidia and Essaouira.