Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive & Explore Marrakech

   • Early evening is a lively time in Jemaa el-Fna Square. Greetings from Marrakech (nicknamed the "Red City" for its red sandstone walls and buildings). Marrakech, a former imperial city, is still an exciting place. It was once a significant trading hub for tribes in the Atlas Mountains. Jemaa el-Fna, Africa's busiest square, is found in Marrakech, a city north of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. 
   • Start your exploration of Marrakech's historic medina at the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens. Non-Muslims are not permitted inside the mosque, but it is still interesting to see the 253-foot (77-meter) minaret and foundations from the 12th century. Visit the adjacent garden's fountains and pools.
   • Explore the intricate maze of souks (markets), hidden behind regular restaurants and shops, and indulge your senses. You can find a variety of spices, woodwork, and babouche at Souk el Attarin, Souk Chouari, and Souk Smata (traditional Moroccan slippers). For a look at how cloth and yarn are dyed using conventional techniques, visit the Souk des Teinturiers or the dyers' souk. The Ben Youssef Madrasa, a 16th-century Koranic school, is a fine example of Moroccan Islamic architecture. Pay attention to the elaborate interior decoration, which includes carved cedar ceilings, plaster sculptures, and zellij tiling.
   • As the sun sets, head back to Jemaa el-Fna to take in the spectacle as the square comes to life with musicians, dancers, and snake charmers. For food, peruse the numerous stalls and vendors. Alternately, for a more laid-back experience, find one of the many cafés that are perched above the square and enjoy a meal while taking in the sights before retiring to your riad for the night.

2. Day 2: Amizmiz and the High Atlas mountains,

   • The small town of Amizmiz is located at the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains not far south of Marrakech. Before meeting your mountain guide to start your hike along quiet narrow roads and mule paths, explore the modest market in the old town. You are unlikely to encounter other tourists in a remote area. As a result, you will enjoy trekking through traditional Berber villages that cling to the sides of hills while you observe local farmers and shepherds going about their daily tasks. 
   • Learn about the terraced farmland that local farmers have created to transform the mountainside into usable farming land.
   • Before continuing your hike, stop by a local family to learn about their way of life and share a traditional lunch with them. As guests in their home, get to know a different local Berber family while taking pleasure in a hearty meal and their company.

3. Day 3: Return from the Atlas to Marrakech

   • Before bidding your hosts farewell and starting out on the trail, enjoy breakfast with them. Before going back to Marrakech, continue to explore the local area's landscape and other nearby towns.
   • When you get to Marrakech, check out the Saadian Tombs and the area around the kasbah (fort or fortification) south of Jemaa el-Fna to learn about the 500-year-old craftsmanship involved in building them. 
   • As you make your way through the Mellah (Jewish neighbourhood) and toward the 19th-century Bahia Palace, stop by the sunken gardens of the 17th-century El Badi Palace. If you have time, you might want to visit the Dar Di Said Museum (also known as the Museum of Moroccan Arts) to see its collections of clothing, artefacts, jewellery, and exquisite Hispano-Moorish carvings on cedarwood decorations.

4. Day 4: Seaside Ramparts, Kitesurfing & Fresh Seafood in Essaouira

   • After breakfast, travel west to the relaxed beach town of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. The path leads you through endemic argan forests and across vast, rolling plains. When grass pasture is scarce or unavailable, you might be lucky enough to spot goats munching on argan fruit while grazing in the trees.
   • Arrive in the charming port city of Essaouira—a welcome change from chaotic Marrakech—and spend the rest of the day as you. 
   • Explore the UNESCO-listed medina, go horseback riding in the surf, learn how to kitesurf, or stroll along the Skala de la Kasbah, which are ramparts built along the seafront in the 18th century. Old brass cannons that line the interior walls and provide access to the Atlantic Ocean were installed by European engineers. Fans of Jimi Hendrix might want to take a quick taxi ride to Diabat, which is at the end of Essaouira's beach and is where he is said to have spent some time. 
   • Take a fresh seafood meal on your way back to Essaouira.

5. Day 5: Return to Marrakech, Depart

   • Bid the Windy City adieu and head back to Marrakech. It is possible to make a pit stop at an Argan Cooperative en route to observe how the priceless oil is extracted from the nut.
   • Return to Marrakech and, if time permits, explore the Marrakech Museum before seeing the only remaining Almoravid structure, the 12th-century Almoravid Koubba. The museum, housed in the 19th-century Dar Mnebbi Palace, has a sizable collection of both traditional and modern artwork, as well as artefacts from the Berber, Moroccan Jewish, and Islamic cultures.