Craft, Conservation and Quietude in Morocco

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From artisan workshops in Marrakech to community-led initiatives in the Atlas Mountains

WHEN TO GO

SPRING & AUTUMN

FROM PRICE

£7,500 PP

IDEAL LENGTH

5 NIGHTS

TRACE MOROCCO'S LIVING HERITAGE AND RETREAT TO THE PEAKS

On this 6-day journey beginning at the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, explore the country's rich character through its dramatic landscape and the diversity of its people.

Guided by leading experts and master artisans, move from the vibrant urban medina to rural Amazigh villages, meeting an array of brilliant forces shaping contemporary Moroccan life. Engage in impactful environmental conservation, discover inspiring initiatives and participate in sacred ceremonial traditions of mountain communities for an experience defined by deep cultural exchange. A portion of profits from each trip is donated to support local communities and initiatives.

Luminaire Marrakech Purpose Amazigh Village

JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS

Artisanal heritage & social enterprise

In the hidden workshops of Marrakech’s medina, meet master craftspeople preserving ancient techniques in tile, brass and leather. A visit to Alghorza’s workshop reveals the rich textile traditions that the support financial autonomy of local women today, and at the Eve Branson Foundation, discover initiatives driving economic opportunity for the surrounding mountain communities.

Community and conservation

Spend the day with a private Honey Masterclass at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech alongside the resort's resident beekeeper. Discover the on-site apiary, learn about sustainable beekeeping and the vital role of bees in Morocco's ecosystems.

Retreat to the peaks

Restore in the heart of the High Atlas at Kasbah Tamadot, a secluded sanctuary nestled among ancient juniper forests and terraced gardens with Mount Toubkal rising in view. Indulge in age-old wellbeing rituals, savour the flavours of Berber cuisine and sink into tranquillity far from the city’s hum.

Exclusive access to cultural archives

At a private, after-hours opening of Maison de la Photographie set within a restored riad, explore a collection of artefacts chronicling Moroccan life, traditions and evolution from 1870 to 1960, hosted by the museum’s Senior Curator.

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1

Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport, and check in to Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech
Settle in and enjoy the day at leisure
Join an expert in Moroccan society for an intimate evening discussion that illuminates the nuances of contemporary culture

DAY 2

Meet your personal guide to explore the Ochre City, through the medina, souks, and ancient settings
Discover Marrakech with full flexibility, from artisan districts to architectural gems, led by guest preferences
Evening brings an after-hours opening of Maison de la Photographie housed within a restored riad. Guided by the museum’s Senior Curator, view a collection of over 10,000 artefacts tracing the country’s cultural diversity, traditions and daily life from 1870 to 1960

DAY 3

Begin the day with a hands-on experience preparing Marrakech’s iconic slow-cooked claypot dish, Tangia
Afternoon follows with a specialist tour around artisan workshops preserving traditional techniques in tilework, brass etching, and zouak wood painting
Return to enjoy the fruits of morning’s labour: freshly prepared Tangia
Visit Alghorza’s women’s social enterprise and embroidery workshop to meet the makers behind the boutique’s collections and learn about the opportunities provided by the cooperative, accompanied by light refreshments

DAY 4

Begin the day with a private Honey Masterclass at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech alongside the resort's resident beekeeper. Discover the on-site apiary, learn about sustainable beekeeping and the vital role of bees in Morocco's ecosystems
Leave Marrakech for the Ourigane Valley, choosing between a guided hike through the mountain or a stroll along the river
Stop by traditional villages for a taste of the Amazigh life and eminent hospitality of the indigenous communities
Join in traditional bread-making and share a home-cooked meal with local residents
Participate in an intimate tree-planting initiative supporting environmental regeneration, before retreating to Kasbah Tamadot

DAY 5

Visit the Eve Branson Foundation to learn about the non-profit's work supporting mountain communities, starting with a scenic walk to its Tamgounssi Weaving Workshop, before continuing to the Tansghart Woodwork Centre
End with traditional Berber mint tea and a warm exchange with the locals
Drive back to Kasbah Tamadot or enjoy a guided trek, and spend the rest of the evening as you please

DAY 6

Depart Kasbah Tamadot for Marrakech Menara Airport to head home or continue your onward journey

THE STAYS

Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech

Nestled within 20 hectares of pristine gardens and olive groves, this luxurious stay features spacious suites and exceptional dining overlooking the Atlas Mountains.

Kasbah Tamadot

Perched atop a valley in Atlas Mountains with sweeping views of Mount Toubkal, Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot bridges Berber culture and modern comfort with warm local hospitality.

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THE JOURNEY

Price from £7,500 per person, for 5 nights, based on 2 guests sharing

INCLUSIONS

3 nights at Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech with breakfast
2 nights at Kasbah Tamadot with breakfast
All daily excursions as mentioned
All private transfers as mentioned
Airport fast track

EXCLUSIONS

International flights
Food and drink where not mentioned in the itinerary
Travel insurance & visa costs
Tips and gratuities

WHEN TO TRAVEL

March-May and September-November are the best times to travel, but this journey is available year-round

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TRAVEL DESIGNER'S NOTES

There's a particular luxury in slowing down enough to notice where you are, and that's what this journey is for. Connecting with a place, a craft, the people who've kept both alive for generations.

You start in the calm of the Mandarin Oriental, then go deeper: into the workshops behind the souks, where craftspeople still work by hand, and into the Maison de la Photographie after dark, just you and the curator. Then up into the Atlas, to Kasbah Tamadot, where the days open right up - unhurried spa rituals, long Berber lunches, mornings that ask nothing of you.

It's the small things that stay with me: making bread in someone's kitchen, Atlas honey warm from the hive. If you want more than a beautiful hotel - a Morocco with real depth and real warmth - this is for you.

- Juliet, Head of Travel