Ait Ben Haddou, Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Morocco – For The First Time Visitor

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

10 Days

Prices Start from

£3,495pp(ex. flights)

For a first time holiday to Morocco, this itinerary offers a varied trip covering three completely different landscapes.

Fitting nicely into a week or 10-day visit, combine the buzz of Marrakech with its atmospheric souq and authentic local restaurants, with the peace and tranquillity of the High Atlas mountains and the pretty Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira. Visit these three destinations in any order you wish to get absolutely the right balance for a perfect holiday.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Djemma el Fna, Market Square, Marrakesh, Morocco 1

Vibrant Marrakech

The cosmopolitan city of Marrakech provides a taste of the exotic, only a short flight away.

Essaouira Fort, Essaouira, Morocco 2

Coastal Essaouira

Feast on fresh fish on the seafront, below the white washed ramparts of this pretty port town.

Kasbah du Toubkal exterior, Atlas Mountains, Morocco 3

Mountain Retreat

Stay in a magnificent mountain Kasbah, visit local markets and traditional berber villages.

Moroccan Bowls, Essaouria, Morocco 4

Souq Explorations

Shop for spices, leather, ceramics and clothes amidst the colourful alleyways of the souqs.

Explore our suggested itinerary

Morocco on your wishlist? Talk to our experts about tailoring this trip for you.

  • Day 1-2

    Marrakech

  • Day 3

    Marrakech - Essaouira

  • Day 4-5

    Essaouira

  • Day 7

    Essaouira - Atlas Mountains

  • Day 8-9

    Atlas Mountains

  • Day 10

    Marrakech

Day 1-2

Marrakech

Spend two days exploring the gardens, markets and Moorish architecture of Marrakech.

Day 3

Marrakech - Essaouira

Transfer or self drive to the coastal city of Essaouria, a journey of approximately three hours.

Day 4-5

Essaouira

Spend two days relaxing and exploring the walled town and windswept beaches of bohemian Essaouira.

Day 7

Essaouira - Atlas Mountains

Transfer or self drive to the Atlas Mountains, a journey of around four hours.

Day 8-9

Atlas Mountains

Explore remote Berber villages and the spectacular mountain scenery of the Atlas.

Day 10

Marrakech

Return to Marrakech for onward travel.

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Djemma el Fna, Market Square, Marrakesh, Morocco
Marrakech
Theological School, Marrakesh, Morocco
Spices, Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech

Colourful, cosmopolitan Marrakech is one of the most evocative places in the world. Venture deep into the souq to find traditional crafts, relax on the rooftop terrace of your riad, with views across the city, or explore the beautiful Majorelle Gardens, owned by Yves Saint Laurent.

Essaouira, Morocco
Essaouira

Essaouira

Essaouira is a delightful Mediterranean-style fishing port with a wide sandy bay of crashing Atlantic waves and an intriguing network of dusty whitewashed houses. Bohemian and slow paced, the charming town boasts many budding artists and is also renowned for its red cedar and lemonwood cabinet making and the famous Argan oil, produced from olives endemic to this region. The beach which, although perhaps a little too windy to sunbathe on, offers miles of unbeatable walking and great swimming – the windsurfing championships are hosted here each year.

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Riad Kniza £££££

  • Morocco
  • Boutique

Riad Kniza dates from the 18th century and has been in the same family for over 200 years. Restored by a skilled team of craftsmen and furnished with family antiques and artwork, it retains a wonderfully Moorish feel, coupled with discreet yet impeccable service. The 11 rooms and suites surround three traditional courtyards and have been tastefully decorated in a Moroccan style.

View Property

Kasbah du Toubkal £££££

  • Morocco
  • Unusual

Kasbah du Toubkal is a magnificent mountain retreat spectacularly situated in the heart of the High Atlas. Near the foot of Jebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa, it is only 40 miles from Marrakech but the peace and quiet and seclusion are so complete, the city seems a million miles away. Berber run, the staff at the Kasbah delight in explaining their culture. In addition to the 17 rooms, there is a wonderful rooftop terrace, traditional hammam and a restaurant serving traditional Berber food.

View Property

Heure Bleue Palais £££££

  • Morocco
  • Boutique

Heure Bleue Palais is the flagship hotel of Essaouira and offers a wonderfully comfortable retreat in an excellent location within the medina walls. It boasts a large heated, rooftop pool which provides a magnificent view of the old city. This charming historic home has just 33 rooms and suites focused around a central courtyard.

View Property

A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

This Itinerary
Price
From £3,495 Per person

When to travel

Morocco in January

January is Morocco’s coldest month, yet you can still experience sunny days in certain regions of the country with milder temperatures, ideal for sightseeing and outside Morocco’s peak travel season. It should still be noted that temperatures can dramatically change from day to night.

Morocco in February

At the end of the extreme winter months, February will see temperatures slowly rising during the day but be prepared for a dramatic change in temperatures as once the sunsets, evenings are much colder.

Morocco in March

Travelling from March through to May is one of the best times to visit Morocco. As the country experiences an extreme of the weather chart, with blistering hot summers and chilly winters, visiting during Spring and Autumn as the best times to travel.

Morocco in April

April is an ideal time to travel to Morocco as temperatures will be cooler than the peak summer months and the entire country can be explored without extremes in climates in the Sahara Desert or the Atlas Mountains.

Morocco in May

During springtime, sandstorms can be likely in the Sahara yet in the Atlas Mountains, temperatures are comfortable with few rainy days. The climate will vary according to the region, yet it is still a popular time to travel.

Morocco in June

Travelling to Morocco during June is a good time to visit the country with temperatures in their high 20s, but temperatures may rise into the 30s if visiting some of the country’s major cities including Marrakech.

Morocco in July

Morocco experiences a blistering hot summer, particularly in the months of July and August, where temperatures can climb into the late 30s, meaning sightseeing can be exhausting.

Morocco in August

The month of August will continue to bring extremely high temperatures during the day, yet cool evenings, particularly in many central regions. Coastal regions will be marginally cooler; however, temperatures will still be high.

Morocco in September

Travel during Autumn, from September to October, for bearable daytime temperatures and cool, balmy evenings. As Morocco experiences extremes in climates during summer and winter, both spring and autumn are the best months to visit.

Morocco in October

As one of the best times to travel to Morocco, October will experience about 8 hours of daily sunshine with an average of 28°C. Morocco’s mountainous and desert regions can get cooler at night though and it is best to travel to the Atlas Mountains before winter begins.

Morocco in November

The beginning of winter begins in November and lasts until January, experiencing very cold temperatures and occasional rainfall. As November is the start of winter, the climate will be less extreme with more moderate temperatures during the day but cool evenings.

Morocco in December

Morocco will experience chilly winters with some mountainous regions even seeing snowfall on particularly cold nights.

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.

Are you ready to Discover Extraordinary?


More about Steppes

F L E X I B I L I T Y P R O M I S E B O O K W I T H C O N F I D E N C E

Get in touch

  • By sending your enquiry you are stating that you agree to our T&C

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.