Morocco

Meet at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport and fly direct to Marrakech, where six days of unique experiences await. After passport control we board our minibus for Ouarzazate, crossing the High Atlas mountains. On the way we cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m, the highest point of our route, and stop for photos at viewpoints and Berber villages. The highlight of this beautiful drive is the ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou, with its famous kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Films such as Gladiator, Asterix & Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile and Sahara with Penélope Cruz were shot in this spectacular setting. We end the day in Ouarzazate, known as "the gateway to the desert". Transfer to the hotel, dinner and free time to rest.

After breakfast and a lovely Moroccan tea we leave for the Valley of Roses, passing the great Skoura palm grove with more than 700,000 palm trees and many kasbahs. In this valley Damask roses are grown for cosmetics and precious rose water, and the Rose Festival is held here every May. After a few stops we reach the Todra Gorges, a spectacular landscape whose rugged rock walls are popular with climbers. We continue into the desert to the impressive dunes of Merzouga. On a wonderful camel ride through the dunes we climb one of the highest points to watch a unique sunset and take great photos of the desert's colours. We then head to our luxury camp in the heart of the desert for dinner and a wonderful night under a starry sky, with plenty of surprises.

This morning is all about the desert. In the middle of the Sahara it is well worth getting up early to watch the most impressive sunrise you have ever seen from the top of a dune near the camp. After a traditional breakfast at the camp we board 4x4 jeeps and cross Erg Chebbi, the great sand sea that holds Morocco's highest dune, more than 250 metres tall. We follow the track once used by the Paris-Dakar rally towards the mountains on the border, then visit nomad settlements to learn about their way of life and share tea with these hospitable families. Next we reach the village of Khamlia, whose people originally came from Mali, for a relaxing cup of tea and a concert of spiritual Gnawa music. Transfer to our riad in Merzouga village to rest and swim in the pool. For those who want action, we suggest a one- or two-hour quad or buggy ride through the huge Sahara dunes (at your own expense) to enjoy another unique desert sunset, or you can try sandboarding for free, an experience well worth having. If you prefer, take a walk around Merzouga's local market, full of Moroccan products. Free time, dinner at the riad and overnight.

After an early breakfast we head back to Marrakech by a different route full of new sights. We arrive in the evening, check in and have dinner at the hotel. What can one say about a city that has it all: colours, scents, music and smiling people? Don't waste a minute: however tired you are, join us for our first walk, and why not visit one of the wonderful rooftop pool gardens for the view and a cocktail!

After breakfast our city tour begins in the green Koutoubia gardens, full of tall palms, with a magical view of the Koutoubia Mosque, which non-Muslims see from outside. It is Marrakech's most famous landmark and its minaret is the symbol of the city; built in the 12th century, it is both a place of worship and a symbol of the city's rich history and architectural beauty. We continue to the Bahia Palace, "the palace of the favourite", built in the late 19th century, and the Ben Youssef Medersa, an Islamic college named after the neighbouring Ben Youssef Mosque, originally the city's main mosque, founded by the Almoravid sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (1106-1142). We then walk to the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square, which UNESCO recognises as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. Every day it hosts an enchanting show of open-air food stalls, snake charmers, storytellers and fortune tellers, together with hundreds of shops tucked into every corner of the souks. We then enter the medina market, where you can shop, bargaining of course. Here our tour ends. Back at the hotel, those who wish can spend the rest of the day with a coffee or tea at the 5* La Mamounia, a luxurious palace hotel with a rich history, or visit the beautiful Majorelle Gardens of Yves Saint Laurent, where art, nature and history blend perfectly, or simply carry on shopping in the medina or a mall. An optional special evening awaits at one of Marrakech's best-known luxury nightspots, with live music, a spectacular show, food and drinks. Either way, Marrakech has endless options for nightlife. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast and free time for last-minute shopping or a coffee or tea until departure. Transfer to the airport and flight back to Athens, full of beautiful images and experiences.