Explore Morocco - North Africa’s most vibrant country

WHY GO?

Marrakech boasts a unique culture, deep history, special charm, and delicious cuisine. Mosques, souks, mountains, and the vast beautiful desert invite you to witness natural beauty like never before. 

Lively markets, desert treks, hiking to remote waterfalls, and beach days are just some of the wonders Morocco has in store. You can surf on the coast, sip some mint tea in the medina, and explore the ruins scattered throughout its many cities. Berber villages, eating with the locals, and walking around the city learning about the rich history of Morocco while the views of the splendid gardens keep you company. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS?

• YSL Gardens: The Majorelle Garden, or Jardin Bou Saf, is a meticulously planned twelve-acre botanical garden, created in the 1920s and 1930s by French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886–1962), and subsequently owned by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
• Bahia Palace: A stunning example of Moroccan architecture and design. Built in the late 19th century, it is a sprawling complex of gardens, courtyards, and rooms filled with intricate details and vibrant colors.
• Souk: we will explore the markets (souks) of the old town and learn the intricacies of bartering to get the best deal. We will finish the evening with a lavish dinner of traditional Moroccan cuisine, complete with a performance by belly dancers.
• Ouarzazate ‘Hollywood of Africa’:  Ouarzazate, nicknamed "The door of the Sahara desert", is a famous town located 200 km to the southeast of Marrakech. Before we arrive at Ouarzazate, we pass by Aït Benhaddou which is a walled city and one of the most famous locations in all of Morocco. Aït Benhaddou is known as the location of numerous film shoots: Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, The Mummy, and the TV show Game of Thrones. 
• Ourika Valley and Atlas Mountain: an excursion to the Ourika Valley and the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Meeting a Berber family’s house, where we will visit inside their home and have tea with the family members
• Discovering picturesque towns & villages on the hiking trail: a long hike to see the beautiful Ourika Valley waterfalls, followed by an included lunch by the riverside.
• Sunset camel ride in the desert: Explore the Palmeraie of Marrakech on a camel ride in the vast desert. 

WHAT IS THE DETAILED PLAN?

• Day 0 (Wednesday) - Meet & Greet: Arrive in Marakesh (airport in Marrakesh Menara Airport) and then catch a bus/taxi to get to the accommodation close to the city center where you will be meeting your guide for this trip as well as the other participants from joining from various parts of Europe. If you arrive early, you can check out the city center. By 8 p.m. we will have dinner together at the hotel during which time we can introduce ourselves and the itinerary to the group.

• Day 1 - YSL Gardens and Bahia Palace: We finish breakfast at the Riad by 9 a.m. We then take a taxi and head to the beautiful YSL gardens, the starting point of our historical monuments. We will be going through the gorgeous Majorelle Blue color created by YSL, the gardens, and the museum. Afterward, we will walk to the famous Le Jardins restaurant for a delicious traditional meal. We then take a taxi to Bahia Palace where we explore the exquisite architecture and views. We will then walk to the souk and enjoy some street shopping. And before we head back to the hotel, we enjoy a light dinner at the Jamaa El Fna Square where we taste some of Morocco’s best street food.

• Day 2 - Ouarzazate ‘Hollywood of Africa’: We start the day with the breakfast at 7 am. After early breakfast, we depart at 7:30 for the excursion to the Ouarzazate. Before we arrive at Ouarzazate, we pass by Aït Benhaddou which is a walled city known as the location of numerous film shoots. We will have our lunch during the trip. This trip will take approximately 11 hours. After the long day, we will have our dinner at the hotel.

• Day 3 - Ourika Valley: We depart early after breakfast by 7:50 a.m. on an excursion to the Ourika Valley and the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Along the way, we will take a break at a Berber family’s house, where we will visit inside their home and have tea with the family members. We will then stop for a quick camel ride that goes into the base of the mountain paths. After that, we will commence the hike to see the waterfalls, followed by a lunch by the riverside. This hike is not too difficult but comfortable shoes are required! We recommend bringing suitable clothes for the hike. We will return to Marrakech around 6:00 p.m. after which we head out for an extravagant dinner at Comptoir Darna for a dance performance and some fine dining. Horsemen show

• Day 4 - Hammam Bath & Massage (Optional) + Desert excursion: We begin with a traditional Hammam Bath & Massage. For those who do not wish to participate in an activity, the morning is yours to explore the souks of Marrakech or head to the famous Bacha coffee house to try some traditional Moroccan coffee and cake. Post lunch, we will be picked up at the hotel for a sunset camel ride through the stunning desert after which dinner will be served at the end of the tour. We return to the hotel post dinner.

• Day 5 (Monday) - Check out: We check out of the hotel post breakfast and finish our trip with some group pictures. Depending on your return flight time you are free to explore Marrakech further and finish some last-minute haggling in the souks for souvenirs. You need to be at the airport 2.5 hours before your flight.

TRIP DETAILS

Start & End Date: Wednesday, 29 May - Monday, 3 June

Starting time & location:

• Accommodation in Marrakesh - Meet your guide on or after 6 PM on Wednesday.

Finishing time & location:

• Accommodation in Marrakesh - 10 AM on Monday.

Note:

1. Exact accommodation info will be shared with confirmed participants after signing up.
2. If you are arriving earlier or later, please us know so that we can accordingly make the relevant arrangements on our end.

Distance:

• Day 0 (Wednesday): Arrive at Marakesh airport. Take the bus/shuttle to the hotel.
• Day 1 (Thursday): 10 km - Walk from YSL gardens to Le Jardins restaurant and Bahia Palace to the souk.
• Day 2 (Friday): 5 km - Ouarzazate ‘Hollywood of Africa’ trip
• Day 3 (Saturday): 5-6 km - Hike to Ourika valley and the waterfall.
• Day 4 (Sunday): 4 km - Hamam Bath (optional) + Desert excursion / Camel ride

Difficulty:Easy to Intermediate – brief hiking at a relaxed pace on well-marked paths, moderate elevation, sure-footedness & average fitness required.

Note: This is primarily a Non-hiking event.

Price: Starting from €495 for adults (before any discounts).

What is Included?

• Community leader & Local guide for the entire duration
• 5 x nights shared accommodation in Marakesh (single beds in shared room). Note: Additional accommodation upgrade options for twin-share rooms are available.
• Breakfast on all days
• Entry to YSL Gardens
• Day trip to Ourika Valley - foot of the Atlas mountain
• Ouarzazate ‘Hollywood of Africa’ trip
• Sunset camel tour / desert excursion + fabulous dinner
• Comptoir Darna or Chez Ali Horsemen show

• Transportation for the entire trip starting from the meeting location to the finishing location.
• Access to a shared Google photo album where you can share & view all amazing pictures & videos from the trip (link to google photos album in the whatsapp group description).
• Access to a dedicated whatsapp group for this event to connect with other trip mates, coordinate arrival options & stay in touch (link to whatsapp group in the ticket).

Optional Add-On (can be bought while purchasing tickets or even later as well)

• Hamam packages

How to get to Marakesh?

• Flying is the fastest way to reach Marakesh airport, with direct flights from most European cities.

What is not included:

• Taxi/bus ride from & to Marrakesh airport to accommodation.
• Lunch & most dinners.
• Entry to tourist attractions like Bahia Palace, mosques, etc
• Visa fee(based on passport)
• Hamam bath and massages

Other Things of Note:

• 90% of transactions in Morocco require cash, so please bring Euros / USD / GBP with you to convert to local currency when here.

WHAT ARE YOUR REVIEW'S LIKE FROM PREVIOUS TRIPS?

To go through our amazing reviews by participants, please click on the links below:

• Google Reviews
• Facebook reviews

WHAT IS NEXT ?

• WhatsApp Group: In the ticket confirmation page, you will find a link to a whatsapp group dedicated to this event. This group is where you can connect with trip mates, coordinate arrival options & stay in touch.
• Trip Briefing: You will find a link in the whatsapp group description to a detailed trip briefing document providing details on what to expect, how to prepare etc.
• Google Photos Album: You will find a link in the whatsapp group description to the shared google photos album where you can upload & view all shared photos & videos from the trip.

HOW DO I CONTACT YOU FOR ANY QUERIES / CONCERNS?

• WHATSAPP (fastest): Reach out to us directly by clicking here.
• EMAIL: Reach out to us on info@urbanturetravel.com or by clicking on "Contact the event organizer" option below.
• FACEBOOK: Message our facebook page @urbanaturetravel
• INSTAGRAM: Message our Instagram page @urbanaturetravel

WHO IS THE COMMUNITY GUIDE FOR THIS TRIP?

Hello everyone!

I am Irem, and nature is my happy place! I was born and raised in Turkey and have spent the last eight years living in Berlin, Germany. I have also lived in Scotland and Austria.

I am always on the hunt for epic trails to hike and cycle. There is nothing quite like conquering a tough climb or cruising through breathtaking scenery.

So grab your backpack and hiking boots, and let's explore together!

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER:

• Please note that the program, as well as the venue is subject to change due to extreme weather conditions, as well as to the characteristics and size of the group.
• UNT reserves the right to cancel the trip, modify the route, change the accommodation or re-schedule hikes and without prior notice.
• UNT is not responsible for any loss, theft, damage or personal injury that occurs during the trip.