Camel & desert day

Situated 100 miles in land, Marrakech holds a highly important strategic position between the Mediterranean and Rif in the north, the deserts to the south, the Atlas Mountains to the east and the Atlantic coast to the west. It is a true crossroads – the meeting of all aspects of Moroccan culture and tradition. Founded 1000 years ago Marrakech is an astonishing city which has a proud and turbulent history. It brings together ancient customs and beliefs and marries them with the most modern outlook of today’s Morocco. Within its city walls are reminders of its Berber and Arab heritage, the great builders and craftsman who brought this city to life over the years. Today it encapsulates all that is Morocco – a proudly Muslim country whose roots are in Africa, whose ambition is to marry Islamic reform with economic and personal freedom and whose outlook is, in part, undoubtedly European. Marrakech is a city which welcomes visitors with open arms. Its people are friendly and extremely helpful, happy to share their city and its beautiful palaces, mosques and gardens and its fascinating souks centred around the unique main square, the Place Jemaa el-Fna.

Marrakech can be visited at any time of the year although we usually only recommend a few days if you planning on staying in the centre of the Medina during mid summer – it can get very hot and a better option is to stay in one of the rural areas just outside the city at this time. Spring and autumn are the best times but mid winter is also good although it can be quite chilly at nights.

Essaouira may not be what you would expect from Africa. Situated in a prime location on the Atlantic coast, Essaouira was first established by the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC. A trading post, naval port and former Portuguese stronghold, today it is a charming seaside resort, a maze of streets lined with lime-washed buildings nestled in the ramparts and medina walls. One of the town’s main attractions is its long, wide sandy beach – one of the finest in Africa – where windsurfers and kiteboarders enjoy the prevailing Atlantic winds. The beach and the sand dunes are perfect for quad-bike tours and slightly surprising for many there is great camel trekking. Essaouira has a strong European influence (a French architect was responsible for its layout) and the narrow streets are complemented by wide avenues and small squares. It remains very much a working harbour, with fishing fleets leaving the port early each morning and returning mid-afternoon with their catch. Essaouira is also home to artists and craftsmen. In the1960s it was a favourite haunt of the hippy in-crowd and retains some of that atmosphere still. Today it is a quiet mix of the exotic and the familiar with a "north Cornwall meets North Africa" feel. It is a great place to relax and the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.

Essaouira has a genuine year-round climate thanks to the effect of the Atlantic Ocean. There is a small risk of rain in the winter but you get beautiful clear warm days most of the time. The temperature is of course hotter in the summer but the wind which makes the beaches so famous for water sports also keeps the temperature down and evening can be cool at any time of year.