Kasbahs and Camels (9 days)

Depart from London to fly to Marrakech. On arrival you will be met by our local guide/tour leader and transferred to your hotel in the heart of this bustling city that lies with easy reach of the snow-capped mountains of the High Atlas. Check into your hotel.

Leaving the hubbub of Marrakech this morning you’ll drive south, stopping first at Asni, surrounded by the Atlas mountains on all sides. You’ll then make your way up and over the ridge into the valley at Ouirgane. The afternoon is at leisure for you to relax by the pool, and it is a perfect spot to flex your walking muscles with plenty of tracks leading into the mountains – a couple of hours will take you to a waterfall. Ouirgane is also known for its gastronomy with a variety of French influenced restaurants to try.

Leaving Ouirgane, you’ll drive and visit a typically dramatic Kasbah perched over the road. Then the route takes you through the heart-stopping Tizi n’Test pass, which was carved out of the mountain by the French in the 1920s and which traverses the High Atlas mountain chain before descending onto the broad fertile plain of Oued Souss, winding up at Taroudant.

Stop for lunch here and then in the afternoon, you’ll head right off the beaten track to drive into the Southern Atlas. You’ll abandon the minibus altogether to start walking to the Berber village of Afensou. A vehicle will take the baggage and provisions on to the guesthouse that will be your home for the next couple of nights, while you follow an idyllic river valley with groves of almonds and walnuts, stopping on the way for a picnic lunch. You'll be accompanied by two or three mules, so the kids can take turns riding to stop them from getting tired. The green and fertile valley has fields planted with wheat, olive trees and palm trees, and the snow-capped mountains that rise in the background create an unforgettable image. On arrival at Afensou you'll settle in to your rustic guesthouse and get to know the village and our hosts.

Afensou is the perfect base for gentle walks into the surrounding countryside. Throughout the day you'll get glimpses of Berber life and develop a real understanding of how these hardy people live in close contact with their environment. Passing through several small villages, you walk through fields in the shade of the walnut and argan trees.

The almond trees flower here in Jan and Feb with their beautiful pink and white blossom, and can be seen all throughout the walk during the following few days. The walnut trees come into leaf later than most of the other trees and flowers here, usually at the end of March. Along the dry riverbeds you will see many oleander plants, which flower mainly through the summer months, but can start at the end of April. These red, pink and white flowers certainly brighten the arid surroundings.

You have a picnic lunch in the shade of an argan tree, and there is time to rest and enjoy the peace of the mountains, with views of Jebel Awlim and Tinerqwet, before continuing back to Afensou (approx 9km, 4 hrs walking time). You and your kids can improve your cooking skills by learning how to cook a traditional Moroccan tajine - something that will stand you in good stead back home!

This morning you’ll drive to Taroudant. the imperial city of the Saadians, which sits behind impressive rose coloured ramparts amidst a landscape of argan trees. These trees, which are unique to Morocco, produce an oil somewhat similar to olive oil that is used for both cosmetic and culinary purposes.

The town was once a prosperous trading centre under the Saadians who settled here from Arabia in the 12th century. Explore the city on foot and visit the old Kasbah Quarter where the Saadians had their palaces. There are two markets, the lively Souk and the Marche Berbere, both of which offer all kind of craftwork – rugs, brass, leather and Berber jewellery.

Continue drive to Essaouira.

After the travelling it's great to have a free day, so today we leave you free to relax and unwind in the balmy Atlantic climate. The fishing port of Essaouira has expanded over the last few decades to become one of Morocco's premier resorts, with its wide sandy beach, where it’s possible to hire a camel, go for a long walk or even go kite-surfing. It's an easy place to relax at the end of your tour.

The town itself is a delight - its pleasantly uncomplicated layout makes it a pleasure to wander, and lots of fixed price shops seem to have a way of winkling out whatever cash you have to spend on the regional speciality: finely carved articles of thuya wood. Needless to say, Essaouira is also a great place to eat fish and there are restaurants a-plenty to try out, or you can eat at a stall on the quayside!

This morning you will leave the coast and return to Marrakech. In the afternoon we include a tour of the city, starting with a visit to Palais Bahia, the magnificent nineteenth century palace that was built as the residence for the all-powerful vizier who ruled over the city. It is constructed from the finest materials available: Meknès marble, ceramic tiles from Tetouân and cedar from the Middle Atlas, and it's not difficult to imagine the splendour that must have existed when the court was there.

From here your guide will lead you deep into Marrakech's renowned souks or markets - as in the Middle Ages, all the practitioners of a craft are grouped together in a single area: the leather tanners, the dyers, the metal-workers etc. You can spend hours wandering the maze of narrow streets and alleyways, practising your bargaining skills. Eventually you'll emerge into the great open square ofDjemma el-Fna that attracts story-tellers, snake-charmers, fire-eaters to entertain the crowds that assemble here. The outdoor food stalls help to guarantee that it's the focus of all life in the ancient medina (walled city).

You’ll be transferred to Marrakech airport in time for the morning departure of the return international flight to London.