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Call us: +44 (0) 1453 844400Email us: info@mountainkingdoms.com

Worldwide Small Group and Tailor Made Adventure Travel

What’s included

  • An English-speaking Moroccan leader
  • Comfortable riad accommodation in Marrakesh and Essaouira on twin share, bed and breakfast basis
  • Farewell dinner in Marrakesh
  • All camping facilities and all meals on trek
  • Triple tents with twin occupancy and sleeping...

Morocco Coastal Trek & Essaouira

Walking & Trekking

Morocco | Walking & Trekking

Morocco Coastal Trek & Essaouira
  • Grade:
    • ?
      Gentle

      Suitable for people who enjoy easy-paced walks or exploring the countryside on foot.

      Find out more...

    Gentle

  • Duration: 8 days from the UK
  • On trek: 5 days
  • Private Departures Available

Flight inclusive from £1085, Land only from £835

Explore Morocco’s coastal trails and Berber villages and immerse yourself in local life in Essaouira and Marrakesh.

Highlights

  • Wander picturesque coastal trails in a little-known area of Morocco
  • Drink mint tea in traditional Berber villages and relax in a hammam steam bath
  • Trek with camels and then take the reins and try riding them!
  • Stay in delightful riads and explore charming seaside Essaouira and flamboyant Marrakesh

Reviews          

Everything went exactly according to plan from the moment of our arrival to our departure. We couldn't have wished for better accommodation in Marrakech and Essaouira. The guide (Hussein) and cook (Hassan) were great and the trekking was just right for us (easy but not too short). The camping was comfortable, trip companions friendly and stimulating, and the scenery along the coastline and the...

John & Manuela

Next

Trekking along the rugged cliffs and beautiful beaches of the Atlantic Ocean was visually stunning and camel riding among the sand dunes was a memorable treat! Hussein was a fantastic guide, one of the best, and his organisational skills, knowledge and charm greatly enhanced our adventure. I enjoyed the company of our small but select group and I thought we slipped into a very comfortable team....

Ms V Parker, Hampshire

Next

Good choice.

Mr J Harvey, Cheshire

Next

Everything went exactly according to plan from the moment of our arrival to our departure. We couldn't have wished for better accommodation in Marrakech and Essaouira. The guide (Hussein) and cook (Hassan) were great and the trekking was just right for us (easy but not too short). The camping was comfortable, trip companions friendly and stimulating, and the scenery along the coastline and the...

John and Manuela

Next

This was a delightfully relaxing combination of a fairly easy trek taking in superb coastal scenery and the fascinating sights of Marrakech and Essaouira. Just the right balance of seaside and souks!

Pat Hutley

Next

Trekking along the rugged cliffs and beautiful beaches of the Atlantic Ocean was visually stunning and camel riding among the sand dunes was a memorable treat! Hussein was a fantastic guide, one of the best, and his organisational skills, knowledge and charm greatly enhanced our adventure. I enjoyed the company of our small but select group and I thought we slipped into a very comfortable...

Ms V Parker

Next

Good choice

Mr John Harvey

Next

View All

Morocco’s rugged Atlantic coastline is often neglected as a destination, but the beautiful long beaches, and rocky shoreline where Berber villages perch between desert and sea, offers delightful, easy winter trekking.

Starting in Marrakesh you soon leave the bustling souks and palaces of the city medina behind and head west to the Atlantic coast near Essaouira. The weather here is always cooler and fresh but you are still under an African sun. Your trek begins at the former hippy village of Sidi Kakoui from where you trek southwards, following the coastline. The route takes you along pristine beaches and through the oak and argan forests that grow on the limestone cliffs nearby.

As the trekking is gentle and easy-paced you will have plenty of time and energy to enjoy the surrounding sights. On the trail you will see places commemorating local saints known as Marabouts; villages where you may be invited to take tea with a Berber family; fishing settlements with wooden, hand-built boats dragged up on the foreshore; and lots of birds and wildlife.

You are accompanied by camels on the trek, who carry your overnight essentials and luggage, and on the final day you will have a chance to try your hand at riding them. A team of cooks prepare traditional Berber food for you to enjoy in picnic lunches and in the evening, when you will eat your evening meal beside an open fire under the stars.

After the trek you head north to Essaouira, a picturesque coastal town with ramparts, a busy medina and a working harbour. Here you will experience the delights of a traditional hammam and have a little time for exploration. Finally, and hopefully fully relaxed after your immersion into Moroccan coastal life, you return inland to Marrakesh. A guided tour of the old medina and a final night out in this captivating ancient city bring your holiday to a close.

Private Departures

Kirsty and Adam on Kala Pattar close up 800x750

Morocco Coastal Trek & Essaouira - Private Departures

If you would prefer to travel just with your partner, friends or family, we can arrange a private departure of this holiday. You follow the same itinerary, but travel on dates that suit you. Alternatively we can include elements of this holiday in a bespoke Tailor Made itinerary. Contact our friendly team for details and prices, and to make a booking.


At a glance

Grade:

Gentle

Duration: 8 days from the UK

On trek: 5 days

Private Departures Available

Guaranteed to run for a minimum of 4 clients

Maximum group size: 12

Accommodation types: Hotels (Riads), Camping

Meal arrangements: Full board on trek, bed and breakfast in Marrakesh and Essaouira plus a farewell dinner on day 7.

Itinerary overview
Day Activity
1 Fly to Marrakesh. Transfer to riad hotel in the Medina.
2 Drive across desert to village of Sidi Kakoui. Trek to Oued Tidzi.
3-5 Trek to Aghbalou and on to Tassila via Sidi Ahmed Essaih
6 End trek at Tafena and try camel riding. Drive to Essaouira. Hammam steam bath.
7-8 Transfer to Marrakesh. Guided tour. Fly back to the UK.
Leader: Local leader, Morocco

The trip will be led by a qualified Berber guide who is ideally placed to give you an insight into and information about their country, especially as much of this tour runs through the Berber, or Tachelhit speaking parts of Morocco. The Moroccan government closely controls the appointment of both mountain and town guides. Your guide will have completed a year of training at the Centre for Mountain Guides in Tabant in the Central High Atlas. During their training, guides complete courses in First aid, Geography, History and the Natural science of Morocco as well as testing their fitness.

Our Moroccan leaders are selected on the basis of their experience, levels of spoken English and helpfulness. Like the Berber culture from which they come they are all very welcoming and have a love of showing you their country.

Local leader, Morocco

Holiday Itinerary

Download a detailed itinerary
Day 1 - Fly London to Marrakesh. Group transfer to hotel.

Arriving in Marrakesh you will be met at the airport and transferred to your riad accommodation in the heart of the Medina. The journey takes about 15 minutes to get to the old city walls and your driver will get you as near as possible to your overnight accommodation. Riads are converted town houses in the old parts of Moroccan cities and are often down small lanes where no cars or traffic can get to, so often a porter will help you with your luggage and his small cart will be able to take luggage to the riad from the minibus. Riads are built with rooms facing out onto a central courtyard and a garden/pool which is open to the sky; this is for coolness in the heat of the summer. The windows open to the courtyard and there are no windows to the street, as that would be noisy and hot. Often the riad is a haven from the heat and bustle outside, with a terrace where you can relax and enjoy views over the city and the High Atlas Mountains in the distance.

In the evening there will be a traditional dinner to welcome you to Morocco (paid locally).

Overnight icon Overnight: Riad Palais De Princesses Or Riad Challa Or Similar, Marrakesh

Day 2 - Drive to start of the trek at Sidi Kakoui - 3½ hours. Trek to near Oued Tidzi – 1½ hours.

Leaving your riad after breakfast you meet your guide and transport and start on the journey to the coast which will take about 3½ hours. As you leave Marrakesh behind, you encounter the edges of a dry, rocky desert near Agafay. There are no sand dunes here, but it has still been the location for various films such as the Prince of Persia. As you drive closer to the coast the landscape gets greener and more fertile with fields of wheat and poppies in spring and white limestone walls surrounding argan tree orchards.

Near the town of Essaouira, the road goes south down the coast for about 20 minutes to the village of Sidi Kakoui with its cafes, long sandy beaches and oak and argan scrub on the dunes. Sidi Kakoui is where Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones hung out in the 1960s. Here, you leave your vehicle and meet your camel team near the wadi (seasonal river). When all the bags and kit are loaded on the camels you start your walk along the beach heading southwards.

Today is just a short trek over relatively flat terrain, (with maybe small ascents for sand dunes) to reach the site where you will be camping above the Oued Tidzi ; a small river flows into the sea at this point although it is not always full of water depending on the amount of rain that has been falling.

You arrive into your excellent campsite for the night where your camp crew will have everything organised and ready waiting for you. The cook will serve your evening meal and you can get to know the team better around the camp fire. The camp itself is among trees and bushes and you may well see goats climbing into the trees to nibble the leaves. The sound of the Atlantic rollers is very evocative as you drift off to sleep.

Distance: 3 km. Virtually no ascent or descent.

Overnight icon Overnight: Camp

Day 3 - Trek from Oued Tidzi to Aghbalou near Bizergane – 4-5 hours.

After breakfast you continue along the coastline with no real ascent except for some small sand dunes along two beaches. As the heat of the day increases you will divert slightly inland to get some welcome shade while walking through coastal trees and small farms and fields. The coastal scrub will sometimes open out into argan trees and it is possible to see goats feeding on the argan nuts and comically climbing the trees to get the best crop.

Descending from the scrubland to the beach you eventually reach the small cove of Oued Aghbalou where another wadi enters the sea. In this pretty location you will camp near the bay. The deserted house here is really a shrine to a local man who was renowned for his healing powers. His tombstone is actually inside the house and locals come here to pray. There is also a nice cove here to explore and enjoy. But be warned, the sea currents are dangerous so do not attempt to go swimming.

Later, you may like to help the cook prepare the bread for the evening meal by heating flat stones and baking the bread in a sand oven.

Distance: 8-9km. Ascent: approximately 60m.

Overnight icon Overnight: Camp

Day 4 - Trek from Aghbalou to Sidi Ahmad Essaih – 7½ miles, 4½ hours.

Today's trek begins by following the lovely coastline along a small path past the village of Ait Idir. Then you climb for around 160m as the beach terrain changes to a rocky coast and the trek follows a path above the low cliffs. The path here is mainly a mule track and is easy to follow as it winds through Berber villages of small houses built from the local limestone surrounded by fields. The trek passes lots of beautiful coves and cliffs with great views out to sea and then descends to Iftane Bay - a fishing bay where boats and nets are hauled up onto the beach when they are not out at sea. You may well meet fishermen along this stretch fishing from the shore.

Passing the boats and a few buildings you continue along the beach to the marabout of Sidi Ahmed Essaih (a white painted shrine to a local saint).

Distance: 9-10 km. Ascent: 160m-200m.

Overnight icon Overnight: Camp

Day 5 - Trek from Sidi Ahmed Essaih to near Tassila – 4-5 hours.

This morning you head slightly inland to avoid the sea cliffs of the Taskssout-n-Tahra, passing a small village and then ascending to the plateau of Awgzmir, climbing up to about 200m. There is then a descent to the valley of Dou Oussaggawr with its argan forests and fields of barley. You continue onwards on faint mule tracks to a campsite near to the small village of Tassila which you reach by ascending and descending past stream inlets and coves. This is one of the best days walking with stunning coves and sea arches.

Distance: 8-9 km. Ascent approximately 250m.

Overnight icon Overnight: Camp

Day 6 - Trek to Tafena – 1-1½ hours. Camel ride - 1 hour. Drive to Essaouira – 1-1½ hours. Visit a hammam.

It is just a short walk today to reach the end of your trek. You begin by trekking slightly inland again to avoid the cliffs as you descend from the plateau. Here you reach a track which will take you to the port of Tafena - a very small village next to a sheltered beach and cove.

Your trek comes to an end here, but instead you hop aboard the 'ship of the desert' for a short camel ride up the coast. Alternatively you may prefer to relax on the beach for an hour or so before saying a fond farewell to your camel team and cooks. Your transport will then take you northwards along a small road, past Smimou, and onwards to the coastal town of Essaouira.

You will have the afternoon at leisure and to settle in to your riad before visiting the local hammam. The Moroccan people have visited public steam baths since ancient times and a regular hammam trip to cleanse, socialise, relax and rejuvenate is still very much part of modern day life across the country.

Distance: 3km. Descent approximately 100m.

Overnight icon Overnight: Riad Dar Liouba Or Similar, Essaouira

Day 7 - Drive to Marrakesh - 3 hours. Guided tour. Farewell dinner.

In the morning you will be driven back to Marrakesh, perhaps visiting an Argan oil cooperative on the way to see how the nuts are processed and to try a sample. The cooperatives are mainly run by women and they spend a lot of the day grinding the nuts to make a paste and oils. The oil is delicious with fresh bread and also can be made into various beauty products. After arriving in Marrakesh, you'll take a short break to freshen up before heading out on a guided tour of the souks and palaces of the old medina. Marrakesh is famous for its souks and it's not possible to visit everything in a short tour, however you should have a chance to see the main sights and perhaps do some haggling in the silver, magic or clothing souks.

In the evening there will be a farewell meal in Palais Dar Es Salam, a traditional restaurant in an old converted palace.

Overnight icon Overnight: Riad Palais De Princesses Or Riad Challa Or Similar, Marrakesh

Day 8 - Group transfer to airport for flight back to London.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Map

Map Key

  • Airport Airport
  • Point of interest Point of interest
  • Mountain Peak Mountain Peak
  • Day walk in this area Day walk in this area
  • Flights Flights
  • Internal Transfers Internal Transfers
  • Trek Trek

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Hold your place

Not quite ready to book? Why not call us on +44 (0) 1453 844400 to hold a no obligation place while you make up your mind?

Optional supplements
  • Single Room & Tent Supplement
    From £210
  • Single Room Supplement
    From £210
  • Single Tent
    From £35
No Surcharge Guarantee

No surcharges will be applied to your holiday after you book. Prices on this website are updated regularly. The Flight Inclusive holiday price, or Land Only holiday price, will be confirmed to you at the time you make your booking. There will be no surcharges after your booking has been confirmed.

Flight inclusive holidays

The 'flight inclusive' holiday prices shown on this website are based upon our preferred airlines and the best priced economy class fares we are able to secure at the time of publication.

We will be able to advise on fares with alternative airlines, upgrades to Business Class, and the options for flights from regional UK airports, please contact us for more details.

Booking your holiday
  • Deposit
    From £400.00

For the majority of our holidays, a deposit payment of £400.00 per person is required to secure your place(s), however a small number of holidays require a higher deposit - please refer to the holiday itinerary for more details. If the holiday departs within 60 days, a deposit of £1,000.00 per person is required.

Book now!
  1. Book your small group holiday securely online – click the ‘Book’ button next to your chosen departure or visit our How to Book page
  2. Complete and return a Booking Form available to download here.
  3. Call us on +44 (0)1453 844400 and one of our travel specialists will talk you through the booking process.

What’s included

  • An English-speaking Moroccan leader
  • Comfortable riad accommodation in Marrakesh and Essaouira on twin share, bed and breakfast basis
  • Farewell dinner in Marrakesh
  • All camping facilities and all meals on trek
  • Triple tents with twin occupancy and sleeping mattresses
  • Camelteers and camp staff to carry out all camp work
  • Costs of all porterage
  • All road transport by private minibus
  • Hammam in Essaouira
  • Guided tours in Essaouria and Marrakesh with sightseeing as specified
  • International flights from London (flight inclusive only)
  • Single, timed, group airport transfers for international flights on arrival and departure
  • A free high-quality Mountain Kingdoms kit bag

What’s not included

  • Tips
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa fees
  • Lunch and evening meals in Essaouira and Marrakesh (except farewell dinner in Marrakesh)
  • Moroccan airport departure taxes


Read holiday reviews by Mountain Kingdoms travellers.

Overall score:           (Based on 4 reviews)

A memorable holiday in Morocco          

Everything went exactly according to plan from the moment of our arrival to our departure. We couldn't have wished for better accommodation in Marrakech and Essaouira. The guide (Hussein) and cook (Hassan) were great and the trekking was just right for us (easy but not too short). The camping was comfortable, trip companions friendly and stimulating, and the scenery along the coastline and the beaches was stunning. Perfect weather too! The farewell meal was the cherry on the cake. Memorable.

Easy Morocco trek          

This was a delightfully relaxing combination of a fairly easy trek taking in superb coastal scenery and the fascinating sights of Marrakech and Essaouira. Just the right balance of seaside and souks!

Such a great trip!          

Trekking along the rugged cliffs and beautiful beaches of the Atlantic Ocean was visually stunning and camel riding among the sand dunes was a memorable treat! Hussein was a fantastic guide, one of the best, and his organisational skills, knowledge and charm greatly enhanced our adventure. I enjoyed the company of our small but select group and I thought we slipped into a very comfortable team. Trekking with Mountain kingdoms is always a pleasure and a privilege.

Relaxed & calm.....peaceful adventure          

Good choice


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