Sunset in the Desert Dunes, Sahara, Morocco
Morocco Grand Tour
ELEGANT GRAND TOUR
CASABLANCA • RABAT • FES • MERZOUGA DESERT • SKOURA/ OUARZAZATE • AIT BEN HADDOU • MARRAKECH
Duration time: 11 Days / 10 Nights

Size of the group: 5–15 guests
Price from: 6770 Eur
Departures >>
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
  • Your Tour Director is Alja Mravljak, the owner of Elegant Cultural Tours LtD
  • Accommodations in Riads and Luxury hotels
  • Yves Saint Laurent experience and Majorelle garden
  • A professional photo shooting in magical Sahara dunes (with Moroccan costumes)
  • A Moroccan afternoon »Ladies time together« and »Gentlemen's time out«

OVERVIEW
ITINERARY
HIGHLIGHTS
DATES & PRICES
About Morocco

Morocco is one of THE MOST COLORFUL countries in the world. And not only the nature, complexion of the people, and the colours of the facades! Above all, it is culturally colorful.
In only one country you can enjoy the eclectic mixture of the Arab world, the African roots and European (French and Spanish) cultural flavours. Hence the country is a real heaven for everybody that loves beauty, creativity, and authentic tradition, as well as ECLECTICAL CULTURAL BLENDS. This gives many faces to a Moroccan culture.

If you like the ORIENTAL ATHMOSPHERE, you won't be dissapointed. You will feel like a leading role in one of the tales of Arabian Nights exploring the old Medinas (Old Towns) with narrow alleys, sitting under the magical sky in the desert, riding a camel, or bargaining in the ancient markets- called the Souks.

Due to its rich history and its unique geographical position on the crossroads of cultures, Morocco also passes on important knowledge to its visitors. Not only that Moroccans learned well how to coexist in a multi-cultural world, but they can teach us of the values of the community, the importance of sharing and the necessity of caring for eachother.

Marrakech, A Riad courtyard in a hotel, boutique accommodations
Our Tour Treasures of Marrakech

Our Grand Tour brings the scenery, cultural boutique experiences and flavors of the country into your 13 days.

On our tour we travel through MANY DIVERSE LANDSCAPES. We start at the Atlantic coast with the famous Casablanca, and the Moroccan capital Rabat. From there we continue through the Mezeta's plain and enjoy watching the extensive olive grooves and (even!) vineyards en route to the oldest city of Fes. We dedicate 2 full days to Fes, enjoying in the city's visit for a day and indulging in a direct experience with a hands-on workshop. Continuing across the mountain passes of the Atlas mountains, we enter the land of ancient Kasbahs, palm grooves and fertile valleys amids the dry deserts. At the end of the day we enjoy a camel ride up the sandy Sahara dunes and spend a once-in-a-life-time night in a luxury desert camp and enjoy our desert dream. After crossing the High mountains once more, our last days will be spend in the most fashionable of the Moroccan cities- Marrakech, the Red Pearl of the South. We will spend 4 nights in Marrakech and relax and enjoy the unique artistic and designers athmosphere of the city. Before leaving home we will visit Essaouira, a picturesque fishing town on the shore of the Atlantic Coast and maybe catch a glimpse of the famous sunset on the ocean from the impressive ramparts.

 

This tour isn't just a travel through, but instead invites you into an EXPERIENCE OF THE CULTURE. We travel into the country, not only in and around the country. We do this via:
1. staying in elegant boutique Moroccan Riad hotels and Villas, and for an unforgettable night in a luxury desert camp
2. indulging in the tastes and flavors of the world famous Moroccan Cuisine and getting into a tradition of Moroccan tea drinking. We included many of the meals to the program so that you will be able to try as many new tastes as possible, and we also included a few exceptionally beautiful meals for you to feel (and eat) like a Sultan.
3. joining in some hands-on workshops, where you will learn a new skill (or two) and we are sure they will bring new creative ideas into your home living also
4. unique guiding of Alja. She is a professional tour leader and the owner of Elegant Cultural Tours and will be acompaning you on this tour. Alja has done more than 550 days of guiding in Morocco (ever since 2006 on more than 50 tours across the country, from North to South) with different groups. She is also a professor of Art History and Sociology, so you can expect a lot of beauty, interesting insights, her rich knowledge of bringing cultures from around the world into her narrative of Morocco, and a deep love for working with guests.

Your Tour Director: ALJA MRAVLJAK

MORE ABOUT ALJA

Our tours are led by the owner of Elegant Cultural Tours Ltd., Alja Mravljak. She is a Professor of Art History and Sociology of Culture, but had only worked in the sector for a while before deciding to bring her talent and passion for teaching into tourism and guiding. This happened in 2002, and she has been organising and leading groups as a full-time job to different places around the Globe ever since.

Her specialist destinations are Morocco, Cuba, Ireland and Scotland, China, Turkey (where she lived for 3 years), and Central Europe (Slovenia, Italy, Austria, and Prague where she did a part of her studies of Art History).

BUT WHAT DOES SHE BRING TO OUR TOURS?

A lot. Alja shares with you everything beautiful, from boutique places she personally selects, leading you through the unforgettable galleries and museums and their collections, planning special immersive activities that take you deeper into a unique culture. Alja is a natural born educator, so all her briefings and her selection of activities aim at bringing a better knowledge and understanding of the visited culture, the travel and the world in general. Her topics and talks are lighthearted and she relaxes them with her charm and a unique sense of humour. Our guests described Alja's personality and guiding style as authentic and meaningful, with always the right amount of informations and never dull. Our guests also deeply appreciate her respect and love for the local culture and the people of the countries she leads groups to.

OVERVIEW DAILY ITINERARY
DAY 1

Arival to Casablanca
»Marhaban/ Welcome«

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HIGHLIGHTS

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OVERVIEW

You can arrive on the day, or a day before and get some rest before we start the tour. In the evening, we meet in the lobby of our Riad hotel for a welcome cocktail and a short briefing on our tour, and then enjoy our first elegant dinner at an iconic Marrakchi restaurant.

Day 1- We meet at the lobby of our Riad hotel in Marrakech at 6.30pm, local Moroccan time

INCLUDED
Overnight: A boutique Riad hotel in the center of Marrakech
Meals: Dinner

DAY 2

Marrakech
Treasures of Marrakech

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HIGHLIGHTS

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OVERVIEW

After a quiet and elegant breakfast at the Riad we start the day of exploration. Marrakech has a proud and long history that stretches from the 11th century  onwards. On our way through the city we visit important heritage buildings and cultural sites. We pass by the symbol of the city, and the highest building, the minaret Koutoubia with its gardens and a park, continue to get to know the procedures of tanning the leather, also known as a precious (soft and pliable) Leather Maroquin in the past. We walk through the Mellah, the old Jewish Quarter and peek inside the most famous Synagogue. We can't but to stop at the heart of the old town, the Jemaa el- Fna square, a UNESCO site of culture, music and religious traditions. On our walk through the Souks (Markets) we visit a medieval Koranik school, Ben Youssef Madrasa where we enjoy in fantastic craftsmanship and intriguing patterns of the mosaics that decorate the building. We learn of the demanding scholarly path of its former students.

In the afternoon it is time to relax, and enjoy in a tranquility of the hidden jewels of the Medina. After a relaxing lunch in a lush garden oasis, we visit the beautiful Dar El Bacha Museum of Confluences and enjoy in a vast selection of coffees in their eclectic style bar.

We end the visits in a Secret Garden, tiled with green mosaic floors, blossoming orange trees and their enchanting scent, free time in the afternoon feels so good to our feet.

Dinner is in a secret p(a)lace today.

INCLUDED
Overnight: A boutique Riad hotel in the center of Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 3

Marrakech
Art, Garden & Design 

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HIGHLIGHTS

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OVERVIEW

After the breakfast at our lovely Riad hotel, we take the late morning for a visit of the late Yves Saint Laurent's blue Majorelle garden. An intimate garden is a loving collection of Cactae and Succulent plants, topped with high palm trees. This garden is a one of a kind! We spend enough time in the garden for you to visit the luxurious souvenir shop, as well as enjoy in their rather generous selection of teas together with sweet and savoury treats in the traditional cafe. A part of the garden is also a tiny museum of Berber Costumes and Jewelry that is well worth a visit.

We continue to a private art gallery. We are inspired by a rich fusion of traditions and styles in Moroccan contemporary Art. An art expert is there to give you new insights and advise on a purchase, should you decide to buy art.

We enjoy in a light lunch today, cooked especially for us by a local community where we get to know our first Moroccan cooperative that supports and employs ladies who have no other means of earning for their living. We, too support them with a small donation, but above all we bring our curiosity and show interest for their everyday's life and the things they produce. They welcome us warmly and together we enjoy in the visit.

After a day of high fashion and beauty we conclude our experience with a short hands-on workshop that allows you to explore and step out of your comfort zone to maybe discover a new interest, or create something new. A bit of free time feels good in the afternoon and then we gather again for an elegant dinner in a special place.

INCLUDED
Overnight: A boutique Riad hotel in the center of Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast, Simple Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4

The Atlas Mountains and the Desert
Authentic Berber Traditions and the Nature

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OVERVIEW

After a quiet breakfast at our Riad hotel we leave Marrakech today to visit the valleys of High Atlas Mountains and its Berber people.

After a short drive from the city we visit an art garden Anima, and then continue toward the mountains. The roads take us toward the green valleys and we enter the world of the High Atlas and its traditional Amazigh (Berber) villages. We are invited to a couscous lunch with the local family where we discuss many things about life and relationships. We get to know the roles of the lady of the house and the man and maybe imagine what living here would be like for us. We stretch our legs in an easy walk to breath in the fresh mountain air. It feels good to be in nature!

We take our afternoon tea in the famous mountain luxury resort Kasbah Tamadot, a Moroccan home of Sir Richard Branson where we enjoy in their garden with the many views of the high mountains. We visit and learn of the Eve Branson Foundation. Eve, Richard's mother started this small non-profit in a village of Asni with an idea of helping the local Amazigh (Berber) people build their mountain community. This is an inspiring story of cooperation, learning and sustainable development planning. We can learn so much from the resilient local community and maybe get some new ideas for our home projects!

Afternoon calls us toward the desert. We had long waited to see the famous Agafay desert under the mountains. An afternoon turns into an evening. Our dinner is served in the luxury desert camp where we stay for the night and there isn't a better entertainment than the sound of traditional Berber drums when we are seated around the fireplace. We spend the night in a tent, under a million stars... 

 

INCLUDED
Overnight: A luxury desert Camp in a double bed tents with an en suite bathroom- read more
Meals: Breakfast, Couscous Lunch with the local family, Dinner

DAY 5

From the desert to Marrakech
Desert & Camels & Hammam

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OVERVIEW

Following a desert breakfast at our Luxury Camp, we have intentionally scheduled a later start to today’s program, allowing you to relish your personal time in the mesmerizing desert. You have the freedom to sleep in, embark on a leisurely stroll, or perhaps indulge in an early morning camel ride, embracing the serenity of the early hours.

Around mid-day, we make our return to the city of Marrakech.

Now, there is a captivating secret behind the impeccable complexions of the Moroccan people- their weekly visits to a rejuvenating haven known as the Hammam, a sanctuary of indulgence and tranquillity. After your dusty desert adventure, you, too, will have the pleasure of embracing the rituals of the Hammam, immersing yourself in its rejuvenating embrace. Following this revitalizing experience, the evening awaits you in Marrakech, allowing you to unwind at your leisure and savour the enchanting evening ambience of the city.

INCLUDED
Overnight: A boutique Riad hotel in the center of Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6

Marrakech
Plan your own day- select an Immersive Activity

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HIGHLIGHTS
  • A drive over the green, forested Middle Atlas and across the High Atlas to reach the desert, a day of panoramas, local encounters and authentic feel
  • A local lunch en route
OVERVIEW

Following a delightful breakfast at your Riad hotel, you now have an entire day to shape as you desire. We had curated a selection of captivating Immersive Activities for you to select from, allowing you to tailor this day according to your personal interests.  

The program includes one activity per guest (should you wish to participate in additional activities, kindly inform us, and we will provide you with the price list).

SHOPPING THE SOUKS WITH A STYLIST OR AN INTERIOR DESIGNER (duration up to 2h, minimum 2 guests)

Before mid-day we want to invite you to a special treat- a visit and shopping in the Souks of Marrakech (the Markets) with a Stylist, or an Interior Designer. You get to know the parts of the souk that only they know, explore items they love, and get inspired by buying souvenirs for yourself, your family and friends to take home with you.

A VINTAGE SIDECAR RIDE (duration up to 1.5h, minimum 1 guest)

If you are more of an adventurer, we think you will love this ride with a vintage motorbike in a sidecar. The bike will take you either to the outskirts of the city, to the area of luxury villas, and a palm grove called, Palmeraie or around the streets of the French quarter of Gueliz, famous for its art deco buildings and remainings of the 1930's local life. The direction is up to you. Sidecar experience is limited in number of guests, so be sure to let us know about your decision at the time of booking.

A PROFESSIONAL PHOTO SHOOTING (duration 1h, minimum 1 guest)

Our professional photographer is joining you either in our Riad hotel, or on an easy walk with a photo session among the streets of the old town. Bring at least 3-4 different outfits for best photographs and they will provide you with all other equipment – such as the Berber  jewelery- for an unforgettable experience and a beautiful souvenir to take home with you.

Whatever your choice of the day is, be sure to be »home« to your hotel early to prepare for our elegant and special last dinner. Bring your best outfit and indulge in a luxury experience that will wrap up our days in the city in style. (The restaurant has a Smart Casual dress code)

INCLUDED
Overnight: A boutique Riad hotel in center of Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Elegant last Dinner (dress code- Smart Casual and Elegant)

DAY 7

Marrakech
Goodbye, Marrakech!

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HIGHLIGHTS
  • A 4x4 excursion half a day: the desert life of the Berbers, a local Berber home lunch (the famous Midfouna meal- kind of a Berber pizza)
  • An early evening camel ride to our desert camp
  • An overnight in a luxury desert camp, with a romantic dinner and a live desert music concert
OVERVIEW

END OF THE TOUR

This is your last day of the program. After having breakfast at your Riad hotel, a transfer will be ready to take you to Marrakech's Menara International Airport, where you will say goodbye to the Red City.

EXTENSION ESSAOUIRA

If you decided to visit Essaouira, then this is the first day of the Extension.

INCLUDED
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7a

Extension/ Marrakech- ESSAOUIRA (The Atlantic Coast)
The land of argan trees and the Ocean

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HIGHLIGHTS
  • The surprizing underground water tunnels Khetarat
  • A spectacular Todgha gorge and its rich green palmgrooves
  • The romantic Valley of Roses and 1000 Kasbahs where time stands still
OVERVIEW

After a serene desert morning in our camp and fresh-made breakfast we leave the desert, and head toward the North-West. Soon we see the High Atlas again, but the desert is still full of surprises and some of them are hidden underground in shape of water tunnels that run for as far as 70km (43 mls). We visit a small section (with no water) and then head toward the Mountains. If time permits, we will also visit a local Berber museum with traditional tools that helped people to survive in this dry and demanding environment.

The most spectacular almost 400m (1,312 ft) high limestone rocks form the Todgha George. Standing in the shade of the rocks we can’t but to feel small and respectful of the forces of nature. In the afternoon we travel under the mountains and observe ancient villages as we conquer the Valley of 1000 Kasbahs. At times it feels like a rose scent gets caught up in our nose, and indeed we can see kilometres of rose bushes planted in the Valley of Roses. They only blossom at the beginning of May, but the pink colour and many shops with rose products are an unmistakable sign that roses live here.

In the late afternoon we reach an oasis and stay the night in a boutique Kasbah in the shade of the palm trees. This is our last night in the desert, and we enjoy the silence.

 

INCLUDED
Overnight: A boutique Riad hotel in the Medina of Essaouira
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 8

Essaouira- Marrakech
A hands-on workshop of Moroccan cooking

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HIGHLIGHTS
  • A visit to a 300 years old fortress of the Glaoui family in Ouarzazate
  • Exploring the most famous village Ksar Ait Ben Haddou (UNESCO)
  • A picturesque ride across the Tizi’n’Tichka pass of the High Atlas at 2260m (7,414 ft) to Marrakech
OVERVIEW

After breakfast in our hotel we get to know Ouarzazate and its treasure- the famous 17th century fortress of the Glaoui family, kasbah Taourirt. We remember the movies that were born behind the walls of the Atlas Film Studios- the list is long! And soon we are standing on the site of the Gladiator movie’s first battle. We are now visiting Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, undisputedly the most famous Moroccan village. The Ksar is not inhabited at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot going on. It is also a place of artists who paint and they sell their paintings in small shops. Shopping here is sometimes quite surprising, and one can find special things that would be hard to find in other places like precious antiquities.

After a quiet lunch we are ready to hit the road across the High Atlas for the last time on our Grand Tour on our way to Marrakech.

We arrive to Marrakech in the late afternoon, just in time to relax in our hotel, sitting at the pool and enjoying in a Moroccan tea and cookies. Evening is at leisure.

INCLUDED
Overnight: A boutique Riad hotel in the centre of Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (at the cooking workshop), Dinner, a Cocktail

DAY 9

Marrakech
Endings and new beginnings

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HIGHLIGHTS
  • The Medina of Marrakech with its 7km of Souks (markets)
  • Yves Saint Laurent’s Majorelle Garden and YSL museum guided visit
  • The Secret Garden
  • A Museum of Smell and Dar Bacha’s charming coffee experience
OVERVIEW

Marrakech is the Berber capital of the South. It is also a red city and a fantastic backdrop to any photography lover.

We experience the eclectic vibes of the city, combining Islamic, Berber and European fashion and designs. We have been exploring the traditional Morocco for many days now, so it is time to enjoy the fusion of contemporary and modern. Marrakech is a city of design, and active contemporary art galleries with eclectical creative vibes. We get inspired on every step of the way through its kilometres long Souks (markets), lush gardens and designer’s dining venues. We indulge into the best the city has to offer and relax only for a special dinner after the sun has already set above The Red City.

 

INCLUDED
Meals: Breakfast

DETAILS ON A TOUR
Guests should be able to navigate narrow streets with cobbled stones, flights of stairs and basic embarking in a travel van or mini coach.
What we include:

Boutique elegant small hotels (Riads) with a unique athmosphere.

Great dining that covers all of the flavors of Morocco, as well as a few elegant meals for that special experience of Morocco.

Comfortable high quality transportation (we can't guarantee an AC on the dromedary, but apart from that there will always be a coach with AC)

The program covers Moroccan aspects and best sites, as well as ads 2 hands-on workshops for an even deeper experience and exploration of the culture.

The athmosphere on our tours is informal, friendly, and personalised so that each of the guests can relax and decide if (and how) they want to participate in conversations and activiteis, or weather they maybe prefer to experience more to themselves.
Morocco is quite big and the distance will sometimes demand longer days with more driving (check the program for that), but we like to take things slow, and so we balance out the longer days with those that allow an afternoon with only time for yourself to relax and enjoy the moment, swim in the pool, have a massage, do the people watch, take photographs or write a diary, or simply just stop, have a Moroccan tea and smell the roses (or orange blossoms).

Our topics are cultural and we aim at bringing you the Moroccan culture

We learned from Moroccans in helping the society, so each of our tours also contruibutes to a Women's Cooperative of your choice. As we visit them, you will be bale to decide on the spot who to donate your share to.

We encourgae you to observe, ask questions, understand and learn about Morocco and its people. We believe that travel is the best possible learning and so we aim at bringing understanding and knowledge, but we always do it in an entertaining and relaxed way. No long hours of dry academic knowledge and long listening while standing outdoors.

We travel boutiuque and elegant, but we keep our travel real and don't travel in a bubble. We aim at understanding the local culture and their challenges and meet them half way. If a culty ???? happens we aim at resolving things peacefully and with understanding the visited country and their culture. Some things are different on travel than at home and we find it a part of the experience to adjust and grow with every new experience.


What we do not include:

Boutique elegant small hotels (Riads) with a unique athmosphere.

Great dining that covers all of the flavors of Morocco, as well as a few elegant meals for that special experience of Morocco.

Comfortable high quality transportation (we can't guarantee an AC on the dromedary, but apart from that there will always be a coach with AC)

The program covers Moroccan aspects and best sites, as well as ads 2 hands-on workshops for an even deeper experience and exploration of the culture.

The athmosphere on our tours is informal, friendly, and personalised so that each of the guests can relax and decide if (and how) they want to participate in conversations and activiteis, or weather they maybe prefer to experience more to themselves.
Morocco is quite big and the distance will sometimes demand longer days with more driving (check the program for that), but we like to take things slow, and so we balance out the longer days with those that allow an afternoon with only time for yourself to relax and enjoy the moment, swim in the pool, have a massage, do the people watch, take photographs or write a diary, or simply just stop, have a Moroccan tea and smell the roses (or orange blossoms).

Our topics are cultural and we aim at bringing you the Moroccan culture

We learned from Moroccans in helping the society, so each of our tours also contruibutes to a Women's Cooperative of your choice. As we visit them, you will be bale to decide on the spot who to donate your share to.

We encourgae you to observe, ask questions, understand and learn about Morocco and its people. We believe that travel is the best possible learning and so we aim at bringing understanding and knowledge, but we always do it in an entertaining and relaxed way. No long hours of dry academic knowledge and long listening while standing outdoors.

We travel boutiuque and elegant, but we keep our travel real and don't travel in a bubble. We aim at understanding the local culture and their challenges and meet them half way. If a culty ???? happens we aim at resolving things peacefully and with understanding the visited country and their culture. Some things are different on travel than at home and we find it a part of the experience to adjust and grow with every new experience.


Detail subject to change:

Boutique elegant small hotels (Riads) with a unique athmosphere.

Great dining that covers all of the flavors of Morocco, as well as a few elegant meals for that special experience of Morocco.

Comfortable high quality transportation (we can't guarantee an AC on the dromedary, but apart from that there will always be a coach with AC)

The program covers Moroccan aspects and best sites, as well as ads 2 hands-on workshops for an even deeper experience and exploration of the culture.

The athmosphere on our tours is informal, friendly, and personalised so that each of the guests can relax and decide if (and how) they want to participate in conversations and activiteis, or weather they maybe prefer to experience more to themselves.
Morocco is quite big and the distance will sometimes demand longer days with more driving (check the program for that), but we like to take things slow, and so we balance out the longer days with those that allow an afternoon with only time for yourself to relax and enjoy the moment, swim in the pool, have a massage, do the people watch, take photographs or write a diary, or simply just stop, have a Moroccan tea and smell the roses (or orange blossoms).

Our topics are cultural and we aim at bringing you the Moroccan culture

We learned from Moroccans in helping the society, so each of our tours also contruibutes to a Women's Cooperative of your choice. As we visit them, you will be bale to decide on the spot who to donate your share to.

We encourgae you to observe, ask questions, understand and learn about Morocco and its people. We believe that travel is the best possible learning and so we aim at bringing understanding and knowledge, but we always do it in an entertaining and relaxed way. No long hours of dry academic knowledge and long listening while standing outdoors.

We travel boutiuque and elegant, but we keep our travel real and don't travel in a bubble. We aim at understanding the local culture and their challenges and meet them half way. If a culty ???? happens we aim at resolving things peacefully and with understanding the visited country and their culture. Some things are different on travel than at home and we find it a part of the experience to adjust and grow with every new experience.


Tour pace / level of fitness:
2
IMPORTANT NOTES

Boutique elegant small hotels (Riads) with a unique athmosphere.

Great dining that covers all of the flavors of Morocco, as well as a few elegant meals for that special experience of Morocco.

Comfortable high quality transportation (we can't guarantee an AC on the dromedary, but apart from that there will always be a coach with AC)

The program covers Moroccan aspects and best sites, as well as ads 2 hands-on workshops for an even deeper experience and exploration of the culture.

The athmosphere on our tours is informal, friendly, and personalised so that each of the guests can relax and decide if (and how) they want to participate in conversations and activiteis, or weather they maybe prefer to experience more to themselves.
Morocco is quite big and the distance will sometimes demand longer days with more driving (check the program for that), but we like to take things slow, and so we balance out the longer days with those that allow an afternoon with only time for yourself to relax and enjoy the moment, swim in the pool, have a massage, do the people watch, take photographs or write a diary, or simply just stop, have a Moroccan tea and smell the roses (or orange blossoms).

Our topics are cultural and we aim at bringing you the Moroccan culture

We learned from Moroccans in helping the society, so each of our tours also contruibutes to a Women's Cooperative of your choice. As we visit them, you will be bale to decide on the spot who to donate your share to.

We encourgae you to observe, ask questions, understand and learn about Morocco and its people. We believe that travel is the best possible learning and so we aim at bringing understanding and knowledge, but we always do it in an entertaining and relaxed way. No long hours of dry academic knowledge and long listening while standing outdoors.

We travel boutiuque and elegant, but we keep our travel real and don't travel in a bubble. We aim at understanding the local culture and their challenges and meet them half way. If a culty ???? happens we aim at resolving things peacefully and with understanding the visited country and their culture. Some things are different on travel than at home and we find it a part of the experience to adjust and grow with every new experience.



FITNESS LEVEL

Guests should be able to navigate cobbled streets with uneven pavements and stairs of the old Medinas (at an average of 3km/ 1.8mls per day), walk on nature's surfaces, as well as ride a camel (in case you want to ride a camel you should be able to pull your leg across the saddle that is aproximatelly 1.5m/ 5 foot high, but we are always there to assist, of course). Also note that the Riad hotels don't always have rooms in the ground floor and that many times they have narrow stairscases and no elevator. Your luggage will be taken care of, but you should be able to walk the stairs, or else let us know in the Booking form that you prefer a ground floor room and we will do our best to help.
We suggest some walking excercise before the tour that will enable you to not be tired too quickly and enjoy your experience even more.
We do allow an amount of time daily for leisure and relaxation... as well as- usually the hotel we stay at has a swimming pool and a Hammam area with different massages on offer

HIGHLIGHTS: AT A GLANCE
  • HIGHLIGHTS

    ELEGANCE, ART AND BEAUTY

    • Stay in a Boutique Riad hotel in the center of Marrakech (what is a Riad? Link na tekst na tej strani nekje bo)
    • Sleep your one million stars night in a luxury tent in the desert camp at Agafay desert
    • Enjoy the elegant sites of Marrakech: Medresa Ben Yousseff, Dar Bacha museum, Secret Garden, and more
    • Take in the late Yves Saint Laurent's beautiful garden Majorelle and its tiny Berber Museum
    • Visit a private contemporary art gallery and explore its art with the help of an art expert
    • Pay a visit to Kasbah Tamadot, late Richard Brandson's Moroccan home in the mountains and enjoy in their lush garden with views of the High Atlas Mountains
    • Treat yourself with an elegant Moroccan hammam ritual
    • Say goodbye to Marrakech with the last supper- in a Royal style

     

    AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES

    • Sit at a terrace overlooking the bustling UNESCO protected Jema El Fna square at sunset and observe snake charmers, acrobats, storytellers, dentists, fortune tellers,... do their thing just like they did centuries ago
    • Enjoy a 2 days field trip to the valley in the Atlas Mountains, and the stone desert and learn about the Moroccan traditions and relax in the nature
    • Enjoy a home cooked couscous meal with a local Berber family
    • Ride a camel in the desert
    • Visit the ladie's cooperative and join them for a simple lunch

     

    IMMERSIVE ACTIVITIES- PLAN YOUR OWN MARRAKECH DAY

    • Shop the souks with a stylist or an interior designer
    • Learn to cook a Moroccan meal
    • Explore the palm grove of Marrakech in a vintage sidecar
    • Join in a photo session with a professional photographer

    *We include one of the mentioned activities per person.

     

    AN EXTENSION- Add 3 Days to visit the Atlantic town of Essaouira

    • Enjoy a coffee in one of the many cafes on the streets and squares of Essaouira
    • Walk th eancient ramparts with the best views of the sunsets
    • Explore the town of African Gnawa music and artisans
    • See the argan trees in their natural environment and learn about the precious oil production
    • Indulge in local wine tasting
    • Learn to cook something special in a hands-on cooking workshop in Essaouira

     

    NEW INSIGHTS & SUPPORT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

    • Learn about the Moroccan ladie's cooperatives on a visit in Marrakech
    • Visit the Eve Branson Foundation, a small non-profit that educates and supports local Amazigh (Berber) communities in the village of Asni, High Atlas
Marrakech, A Riad courtyard in a hotel, boutique accommodations
A RIAD
A Riad is an authentic Moroccan town house where everything revolves around an inner courtyard in the middle of the building. Private rooms of the Riad all look to the courtyard and are usually organised into two (or at most 3) floors. Riads in the old towns of Morocco are old heritage buildings that show the tastes and wealth of their owners, past and present.
We strongly believe that staying in a real Moroccan Riad is an exceptional experience. Travel to Marrakech with staying in a big luxury hotel never feels as intimate and special as your nights in a Riad. Here one always feels like a special guest, treated with respect and sensibility. When the bigger hotels offer contemporary luxury, the Riad offers a soul and a flavor of Morocco. Decorated and built with traditional materials (sometimes also in modern or eclectic styles), a stay in a Riad feels cosy, homey and elegant. Private rooms are usually smaller than in the bigger hotels because Riads were traditionally owned by one family and because traditional Moroccan life usually revolves around the living areas. The rooms, though are tastely decorated and give a unique experience of a local culture.
Because they are mantyimes of a respectful age, those buildings still have narrow and sometimes steep staircases instead of wide stairs we are used to today. Some Riads installed an elevator in the modern times, other have not. In case you prefer a ground floor room, please let us know at the time of your booking in our Booking Form and we will do our best to help with that.
Arriving to your room at check-in and departing on the last day of your stay, you are always helped with your luggage.
DESERT LUXURY CAMP STAY
An overnight stay in a desert camp is such an adventure! It seems that in the desert everybody turns into children and enjoy in every given moment, be it the camel ride, or a moonlit dinner with candles and drumming.
A luxury desert camp is a set of tents, organised around the main common area. Each of the tents has its own en suite bathroom with a western toilet and a shower, rarely they even feature a bath tube. Beds are luxurious and often come with a soft dough duvet. Every tent has an Air Condition with a heating mode.
The general design of the tents varies greatly from more Berber/ African influenced (with many, especially warm palette colours like red, yellow, brown and orange hues) to modern minimalist ones (with monochrome or all-white interiors).
The camp has a common dining area, and sometimes they install their tables for dinner on the top of the closest dune, or put up a swing for couples, have an elegant pergola tent,...
About Morocco
  • About Morocco

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    About Morocco

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  • About Morocco

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    About Morocco

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HIGHLIGHTS

Superbox

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Wecome cocktail and a dinner

Superbox

Wecome cocktail and a dinner

Superbox

Wecome cocktail and a dinner

PRICE

Per person, twin or double occupancy
6770 Eur*
Single Supplement
1430 Eur
Deposit (per person) at time of booking
2300 Eur (30% of the final price)
Tips and gratuites (on site)
300 Eur per guest
Final Payment due
60 Days before the start of the Tour
*Includes 5% for Card payment, or PayPal, or Swipe payment

HOW TO BOOK YOUR SPOT

Contact us via our Web page contact form, or directly to our email adress contact@elegantculturaltours.com and we will send you a Booking form

Once we recieve your booking form and a request, we will send you the Deposit payment details. Only once we recieve and confirm with you your deposit, you can consider your spot on the tour to be reserved.

If we don't recieve your full payment until due date, we reserve the right to cancell your reservation, or fees might apply.

 

& FROM THERE ON

14 days prior to the departure and after your full payment, we will send you a detailed program and a doCument with all necessary informations.

About 10 days- 1 week before the tour we will meet online in a 45 minutes pre-tour meeting where we will discuss all the matters regarding preparation for the tour, as well as get to know eachother J

And then we start the tour...  

 

BEFORE YOU BOOK

We will anounce a live talk dates for each of the departures via one of the online platforms where we will present our Grand Tour, and you will also be able to meet Alja as well as ask any possible questions. Instagram, FB... talk bo na Zoomu, ali kje? Google meets

 

ADITIONAL TRAVEL ARRAGEMENTS

Lahko jim predlagamo pre tour ali po tour extension ali le ideje, kaj lahko delajo

Ali jim pomagamo s travel insurance- naj me poklicejo po dogovoru prej

Pretour Chefchauesn, post tour Royal Mansour stay, ali La Mamounia/ a omeni da ;e pride kralj (in th erare events of a royal visit by Moroccan king, the hotels might cancell the booking... we will provide a substitute)

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Za vec info kaj zahtevamo od potnikov (travel insurance), fitness level, fees and charges, tour canvellations, payment schedule, refer to our GT&C here (link)

The ECT story & how travel with us feels like

Boutique elegant small hotels (Riads) with a unique athmosphere.

Great dining that covers all of the flavors of Morocco, as well as a few elegant meals for that special experience of Morocco.

Comfortable high quality transportation (we can't guarantee an AC on the dromedary, but apart from that there will always be a coach with AC)

The program covers Moroccan aspects and best sites, as well as ads 2 hands-on workshops for an even deeper experience and exploration of the culture.

The athmosphere on our tours is informal, friendly, and personalised so that each of the guests can relax and decide if (and how) they want to participate in conversations and activiteis, or weather they maybe prefer to experience more to themselves.
Morocco is quite big and the distance will sometimes demand longer days with more driving (check the program for that), but we like to take things slow, and so we balance out the longer days with those that allow an afternoon with only time for yourself to relax and enjoy the moment, swim in the pool, have a massage, do the people watch, take photographs or write a diary, or simply just stop, have a Moroccan tea and smell the roses (or orange blossoms).

Our topics are cultural and we aim at bringing you the Moroccan culture

We learned from Moroccans in helping the society, so each of our tours also contruibutes to a Women's Cooperative of your choice. As we visit them, you will be bale to decide on the spot who to donate your share to.

We encourgae you to observe, ask questions, understand and learn about Morocco and its people. We believe that travel is the best possible learning and so we aim at bringing understanding and knowledge, but we always do it in an entertaining and relaxed way. No long hours of dry academic knowledge and long listening while standing outdoors.

We travel boutiuque and elegant, but we keep our travel real and don't travel in a bubble. We aim at understanding the local culture and their challenges and meet them half way. If a culty ???? happens we aim at resolving things peacefully and with understanding the visited country and their culture. Some things are different on travel than at home and we find it a part of the experience to adjust and grow with every new experience.


What we do,
we do with all our hearts!
ABOUT ETC
Elegant Cultural Tours Ltd.
Glinškova ploščad 5
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, EU
Registered at TGZS - Tourism and Hospitality Chamber of Slovenia
License number: 2412 and 2413

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