Imperial cities, Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert and the Atlantic coast

For sheer diversity, Morocco is the perfect destination, so close to Europe, yet so completely different. We explore the imperial cities of Marrakech, Meknes and Fez, with crowded bazaars conjuring up flavours of Arabian Nights. Our journey takes us through contrasting mountain ranges to the south, where sand dunes and kasbahs are scattered among palm oases inhabited by friendly Berbers. A highlight of our trip is a camel trek to the edge of the Sahara and a night at a Bedouin camp (or under the stars - your choice!). We fit in a visit to Todra Gorge, to the beautiful 16th century kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, and we enjoy a village walk in a picturesque valley of the High Atlas. We complete the trip with a walk along the sandy beach of Essaouira and visit the souks for some last minute shopping. This trip takes such a variety of scenery in just two weeks, including desert and mountains, vibrant imperial cities and coast that it is difficult to choose a favourite.