Marrakesh and The Atlas Mountains for Solo Travellers

A visit to Morocco is like taking a journey back in time – it’s everything you imagine it to be and so much more. Immerse yourself in the truly captivating city of ochre-coloured Marrakesh, filled with intriguing souks, eye-catching minarets, vibrant squares and superb architecture. Experience the stunning natural wonders of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains which pierce the striking azure blue sky.

Aswell as a guided tour of Marrakesh, our tour includes visits to the Jardin Majorelle Gardens, the spectacular Atlas Mountains, the Saadian Tombs and Essaouira, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in every aspect of beautiful Marrakesh.

What's Included:

• 5 nights in four-star superior accommodation
• Return flights & transfers
• 7 included experiences
• Half Board
• Meet and greet at your departure airport or train station
• Welcome dinner and drinks to get to know your fellow travellers
• Expert Tour Manager that specialises in solo travel, looking after you throughout
• Small group sizes (maximum of just 25 guests on tours)
• Checked luggage
• Hotel porterage

Included Holiday Highlights:

• Discover Marrakesh on a guided tour and explore its countless gems including the medieval medina, atmospheric souks and the extraordinary Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
• Visit the stunning Jardin Majorelle, once home to Yves St Laurent.
• Experience the spectacular Atlas Mountains, Africa’s greatest mountain range and an ever-present backdrop to Marrakesh.
• Marvel at the Saadian Tombs, one of the finest examples of Moorish architecture.
• Wander through the streets of Essaouira, a 15th-century coastal town and one of North Africa’s most attractive ports.

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakesh

You arrive at the airport to take your flight to Marrakesh. On arrival, we will transfer to the excellent four-star superior Hotel Opera Plaza where we stay for five nights. Set in its own private landscaped grounds shaded by glossy-leaved palm trees, this luxury hotel is ideally located, allowing easy access to the sights of the old city.

This evening we enjoy a relaxing welcome dinner and a chance to break the ice, expertly aided by your tour manager, experienced in delivering the very best tours for solo travellers.

Day 2: Marrakesh & the Saadian Tombs

Marrakesh is a labyrinth of tiny alleyways teeming with activity like few other places in the world. With classic, French colonial buildings and boulevards surrounded by remarkably preserved medieval walls, the city is so perfect it could be, and often is used as, a film set.

-Saadian tombs This morning, we enjoy a sightseeing tour during which we will see the Saadian tombs, one of the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture, where classic archways are covered in gold leaf and stucco work. Plus, we will experience the Bahia Palace, which when built was acclaimed as the world’s most beautiful palace, famed for its 50 marble columns. We also visit the famous souks or covered markets, where immensely skilled craftsmen create intricate leatherware, jewellery and furniture.

-Jemaa el-Fnaa square At dusk, after dinner in the hotel, we visit the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, a showcase for traditional Moroccan life. You will experience a fantastic spectacle of musicians, dancers, fortune-tellers and snake charmers in an exhilarating kaleidoscope of colour.

Day 3: Marrakesh

This morning, we continue our tour of marvellous Marrakesh. The city boasts a wealth of wonderful gardens, some vast with olive groves and lakes, providing a haven of peace and tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the city. One of the prettiest parks is the Jardin Majorelle: an amazing display of bamboo, bougainvillaea and cacti, formerly owned by Yves Saint-Laurent.

Surrounding the city are impressive ramparts stretching 19 miles long, still largely intact with imposing forts at various intervals. The gates are fine examples of classic Moorish architecture with their pastel hues changing colours depending on the time of day and the intensity of the light.

The afternoon is yours at leisure to further your exploration of Marrakesh at an unhurried pace or relax in your hotel and take advantage of its excellent facilities.

Day 4: Essaouira

Our day begins with a comfortable drive to the delightful coastal town of Essaouira, which came to prominence during the 15th century when the Portuguese established the medieval citadel that still stands today.

Within its walls are a maze of tranquil squares and perfectly preserved streets, lined by whitewashed houses and pavement cafes. It’s a sheer pleasure to stroll through the markets here, where the stalls groan under the weight of colourful fresh fruit and vegetables. Or simply wander along the harbour, bustling with a hive of activity and where fishermen repair their nets as they have done for centuries.

Essaouira is so charmingly unspoilt it has been featured as the location for several blockbuster productions, from Orson Welles’ Othello to Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven. During your journey, the real Morocco unfolds and the landscape changes from fertile green plains to a moon-like semi-desert, occasionally studded with palm trees. Mud-brick villages blend perfectly into the background, while shepherds of all ages tend their herds of sheep and goat – the transport of choice here is very much the donkey.

Day 5: Atlas Mountains & Marrakesh

Drive into the stunning foothills to visit the iconic icy peaks, the Atlas Mountains.

Forming an ever-present backdrop and adding to Marrakesh’s wondrous setting are the soaring, snow-capped Atlas Mountains.

This morning, we take a drive into the stunning foothills with the countryside evolving from saffron-coloured fields to steeper, wooded slopes, slashed by dramatic, river-filled gorges. Mammoth peaks soaring more than 3,000 metres high spear the vivid, blue sky while the desolate mountainside stretches before us. Then the forests commence, rolled out like a massive green carpet and beyond, misty plains stretch to the horizon in a patchwork of muted colours. There’s time to take in the spectacular vistas when we stop to stretch our legs and perhaps enjoy a cup of coffee or tea.

After a morning of sightseeing, we return to Marrakesh in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure, giving you ample time to make the most of your final day in this wonderful city.

Day 6: Return home

Transfer to the airport for your return flight.