23rd Dec 2012. Welcome to Morocco! Arrival transfer from Marrakech airport to the hotel. This evening (at 20:00) our welcome meeting takes place, where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travellers and afterward, maybe go for a drink at a bar. Overnight - Marrakech

Marrakech - Dades Gorge. LeavingMarrakech, we drive through the Dades Gorge, anawesome valley which extends from the High Atlasto the Jebel Sarhro range in the south. Berbers built many kasbahs in the vicinity of gorges for defence purposes. These many kasbahs combined with the stunning natural setting, makes this a beautiful region through which to travel. Overnight - Gorge du Dades (B, L, D)

Dades Gorge - Todra Gorge. Merry Christmas! This morning you can choose to trek Dades Gorge or just relax. After lunch and travelling onward to Todra Gorge we visit a traditional Berber home where the semi nomadic family have set up a co-operative for the trade of carpets, kilims and handicrafts for all the rural communities across the Atlas. The remainder of the day is spent exploring the magnificent gorge. This dusty red canyon is just 10m wide at its narrowest point, with its cliff walls towering 300m above and a small glacier stream flowing through it. If you're feeling adventurous, there is the option to rock climb. Tonight we sit down to a wonderful Xmas meal and a night of Xmas merriment. Overnight - Todra Gorge (B, L, D)

Todra Gorge - Erg Chebbi. Crossing Jebel Sarhro, we enjoy lunch and a swim before travelling down to Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the start point of the mighty Sahara Desert. The Erg Chebbi dunes located near the remote frontier town of Merzouga are renowned for their incredible height and size. In parts the vast sand pile reaches skyward to heights of 150 metres!

The desert winds ensure this astonishing landscape is forever changing and no two days offer the same panorama. Mounting our subservient camels, they relaxedly glide across the desert sands as we happily photograph and take in the breathtaking scenery. Arriving at our simple Berber camp, we enjoy dinner and a night under the Saharan stars. Overnight - Sahara Desert Camp (B, L, D)

Erg Chebbi - Ouarzazate. After a stunning sunrise and a tranquil and ambient ride back to our frontier post (camel HQ) there is time to freshen up before driving to the verdant Draa valley. Besides the natural, historical and architectural wonders that the Draa Valley offers, there are also small villages along the valley where time seems to stand still, so little is the effect of modernity on them. Here, women are fully and always veiled while washing their clothes on the riverbanks and the watchful men seem distant, unaccustomed to foreign visitors. These people, besides speaking Arabic also speak their own dialect of the Berber vernacular, called Tashelhiyt.

Along the route of 1000 Kasbahs, we continue on to Ouarzazate, (pronounced as wazza-zat). Sitting at an altitude of 1160 metres in the middle of a barren plateau, Ouarzazate lies at the cross roads of all routes going north, south, east, and west. Its geographical position has made it a key trading post in both ancient and modern times. Capital of a large province, the towns’ northern limits run along the southern aspect of the High Atlas and its southern boundary disappears back into the ever present and mysterious saharan desert. Today, the area is still essentially populated by Berber people, who were constructors of the numerous fortified kasbahs and dwellings for which the region is famous. After hotel check in, consider a late afternoon swim. Overnight - Ouarzazate (B, L, D)

Ouarzazate - Ait Benhaddou - Marrakech. This morning there is the option to visit the film studio that produced Lawrence of Arabia or go quad biking (both payable locally). Then we head to Ait Benhaddou, a ‘fortified city’, situated along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. It is situated on a hill along the Ouarzazate River and boasts some beautiful examples of kasbahs, some of which remain inhabited. Granted UNESCO World Heritage listing, the site is stunningly well preserved medieval city and a true highlight of our tour. Late this afternoon we return to Marrakech. Overnight - Marrakech (B)

This morning enjoy a guided tour of Marrakech. Glowing red, like a welcoming campfire, against the snowcapped High Atlas Mountains, the very name Marrakech conjures up images of an exotic, distant city, of magic carpets and snake charmers and of frankincense and myrrh brought in by camel trains. Set within the rose-coloured walls of the medina lies a reality that is not that far removed from an exotic film set – a tangle of winding streets that open onto verdant gardens and dark alleyways that lead to bustling souks. The focal point is the central square, the Djemaa el Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place. Full of colour, spicy aromas and traders it is best seen in the evening when overflowing with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians and henna artists. Towering over all this is the Koutoubia mosque, the tallest building in the city, and a reminder of the importance of Islam to the lives of the city’s residents.This afternoon if free for you to spend at leisure, perhaps picking up some last minute souvenirs! Make sure you test out your bartering skills. Overnight - Marrakech (B, D)

Marrakech - Essaouira. This morning we drive to Essaouira. With a laid-back feel Essaouira is Morocco’s hippest coastal town. The windswept fishing port, broad beaches and ancient walled medina with ramparts built into the cliff have long been a favourite refuge for artists, sculptors, food lovers, surfers and backpackers. The medina surrounded by a fortress with 5 main gates you can navigate by, has retained its traditional styles and is laden with quirky shops, coffee houses, antiques, art studios, calligraphers, t-shirt designers and souvenir curios.

There’s a relaxed feel to the place and shopping here is a real delight. Locals and visitors alike enjoy strolling along the ramparts as the sun sets. The port is a hive of activity with fishing boats hauling in their daily catch.

Opt for a swim in the Atlantic, though the water is a little cold this time of year, a game of football on the beach with the locals, an afternoon at the hammam, surfing, wind surfing or kite surfing (very cool to watch, even if you’d rather not participate yourself). The beach is also great for a stroll and since it runs for about 6 miles (10km) there’s plenty of it. By nightfall sit back and relax at any one of the many al fresco cafes, pubs or bars serving cold beer and the freshest seafood. Free time to explore, try a hammam and practice your bargaining skills in the souks. Overnight - Essaouira (B)

Enjoy a free day relaxing on the beach, topping up your tan, shopping in the quaint village souk or choose from a number of exciting optional activities or excursion available about town. This evening - New Year's Eve we'll all head out together for dinner and a few drinks. Overnight - Essaouira (B)

This morning is spent at leisure, sleep in or head to beach for your first swim of the year. This afternoon we return to Marrakech. Overnight - Marrakech (B)

02 Jan 2013. Marrakech. Spend the morning relaxing or picking up a few last minute souvenirs. Our tour concludes upon hotel check out at 12 noon. We hope you have had a great festive holiday and a perfect start to the new year. (B)