Marrakech to the Coast with G Adventures

Having visited Marrakech twice, but never ventured beyond the city, I was excited to see more of what this fascinating country has to offer. My journey was with G Adventures, so this tour was also a great experience of community based tourism and ultimately travel for good.

The tour - 3 nights Marrakech; 1 night in Agadir; 1 night Sidi Kaouki; 2 nights in Oualidia. Our wonderful G Adventures CEO (that’s what their tour leaders are called) provided outstanding detail and knowledge throughout and ensured that all arrangements ran smoothly.



Marrakech
Marrakech is a busy, and at times chaotic, place for a tourist. Mopeds, Motorbikes and carts drawn by donkeys, continuously make their way through the narrow streets of the souks, so it’s important to be alert and keep to the right! We were guided in Marrakech by a local guide, Mustafa, who took us through the souks to sample the local food from the food stalls, but primarily to buy the ingredients for our cooking experience which was to take place back at the Riad. We were to prepare an authentic Moroccan Tangia. This is a dish which is traditionally prepared by men and then cooked overnight in a clay pot of the same name, in the hot ashes of a wood burning fire, or hammam, to be eaten the following day. We did just this and it was absolutely delicious! During our time in the city, we visited the Bahia Palace, where we learned of the wives, harem, concubines who lived within its walls under the Grand Vizier Ba Ahmed. It really is a must-see palace due to its stunning decoration throughout. For another ‘must see’, Le Jardin Secret didn’t disappoint. Providing tranquility from the hubbub of the Medina, this ancient palace has both an exotic and Islamic garden. On day 3 of our tour, we ventured out of Marrakech to visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls which are the highest in North Africa. A great day trip from Marrakech, it’s also a place to meet the local macaque monkeys. The monkeys are wild and need to be treated as such, however after years of being fed by tourists, encouraged by the local sellers of peanuts, they are extremely tame (a little too tame in some cases). Despite the encouragement, feeding the monkeys is not advised as it interferes with their natural feeding habits and encourages them to get a little too close. Keep your distance and simply observe. They are fascinating! We finished day 3 with a meal of street food in the main square of Marrakech Jemaa el Fnaa, where we ‘broke fast’ with our guide. It was Ramadan.

In Marrakech we stayed in a traditional Riad, Chambres d’Amis which is located within the souk of the Medina. The rooms were exquisite and the service exceptional.


Agadir
Our next stop took us out to the coast. A 3hr drive from Marrakech, our first stop was the market, which has the accolade of being the largest in Morocco! Our only purchase was some Moroccan biscuits, which were really very good! Onward for our overnight stay which was at the Hotel Aferni. A few blocks up from the beach, this provided a great place for a short stay. Agadir is generally considered to be primarily a beach destination and it’s clear to see why. The beach is a stunning stretch of golden sand which borders the bay. We did venture up to the site of the Old City, originally built in the 16th century, it was destroyed in the Earthquake of 1960. It was at this time that the new city of Agadir, which exists today, was built.

Next stop - Sand Boarding! This was great fun and definitely worth a try. The activity was about half an hour outside Agadir by car; a 15 min walk into the dunes and then we were off!

The highlight of our onward journey to our next stop in Sidi Kaouki, was the cooking lesson. Hosted by Hafida and Family, we entered the most wonderful place. This was a truly natural, sustainable and authentic farm, with goats, chickens, cats and dogs and a place that most would be extremely happy to call home. From fresh ingredients we created the most delicious chicken and vegetable tagines and homemade bread. I’m not sure if it was because we were all so hungry as it was about 4.30pm by the time we ate, but this was probably our favourite meal of the tour. Our overnight stay in Sidi Kaouki was spent overlooking the beach in a small guest house called Dar Afoulky. This felt like a real treat, and although fairly simple accommodation, the room was homely, the location idyllic and the food and service exceptional. This location is a surfer’s paradise and also perfect for those wishing to horse ride on the beach. With a few small bars and restaurants, in high season, this little town would be a hive of activity.

On route to our final stop at the coastal town of Oualidia, we spent the morning in Essaouira, a beautiful coastal town, steeped in history, but much calmer than Marrakech. Offering a great contrast to the shopping experience, it was a fabulous place to wander, purchasing locally made souvenirs, and sampling yet more coffee shops.

From there we did a short stop in Safi, which is where the famous patterned pottery is made and then continued up the coast to Oualidia.

In Oualidia we stayed at the Hotel L’Hippocampe. Another surfer’s paradise, with a courtyard area full of flowers and a terrace overlooking the sea, where we were welcomed with a Moroccan tea, this was the perfect end to our journey. The rooms were cozy with a little terrace overlooking the stunning garden. We chose to eat in the hotel restaurant both evenings, as due to this being low season, some of the local restaurants were closed. The food at the hotel was exceptional. We did visit the local market, which was extremely busy with locals shopping for the Eid celebrations. This was a great experience, as this was not a tourist market, so it was great to really experience shopping with the locals. We bought strawberries, which were some of the largest we’d seen!! Oualidia, again was quiet due to the time of year, but apparently in the height oof summer, the police have to close off the roads down to the beach to control the numbers, so it’s important to pick your timing carefully for these surf hot spots.

Our G Adventures CEO, Hamid was fab; very knowledgable and great fun. Everything was organised to perfection with comfortable transport and the mix of accommodation perfect. There was a perfect balance of organised activities and time to ourselves.

Morocco is a fascinating country with a really interesting history. The people are wonderful and so welcoming. I've only ever been to Marrakech in the past, so to have had the opportunity to venture beyond the city walls and experience more of Morocco, has been brilliant. I will definitely be coming back to explore other areas.

If you would like to discuss Morocco and/or a G Adventures tour, please do get in touch, as I would love to help.