FAMILY HOLIDAYS
A proven formula for a holiday with children: The first part is spent in the mountains. You’ll take shorter or longer excursions in the valley, with Gîte Tamazirt as your base. One day you’ll go on a challenging mountain hike, the next you’ll wander around the area and take it easy. One day you’ll visit the Souk (market) in Tabant, the next you’ll go on a trip with donkeys and mules and enjoy a picnic by the stream.
And if you’re up for more adventure, you can opt for a longer camping trek—perhaps 4 days, or even 8. As a guideline, we match the number of trekking days to the child’s age: a 4-year-old can handle a 4-day trek, an 8-year-old can manage 8 days. Extra mules are brought along to carry the children; the 4-year-old will use them for most of the journey, while the 8-year-old may just rest on one occasionally. Of course, every child is different, and the duration of the trek will always be decided in consultation.
After the peace and fresh air of the Vallée Heureuse, you’ll drive from the mountains to the Atlantic coast for the second part of your holiday. You can choose a hotel in the heart of Essaouira or a gîte just outside town. Either way, there’s a swimming pool, and each day you can explore a different stretch of beach. There’s a wide selection of cozy restaurants and sunny terraces. And it’s the perfect place to enjoy delicious seafood and do some shopping!
Vallée Heureuse (10 days)
- Day 1: Outbound flight, welcome at the hotel
- Day 2: Marrakech-Arouss (transfer/gîte)
- Day 3: Free day at the gîte. Rest from the journey and explore the surroundings
- Days 4-7: We depart from the gîte with mules and follow goat trails along the river to the Bergerie of Ikiss at 2.300m. We stay here for two nights, giving us a full day to visit the Gorges, with their waterfalls and ever-surprising twists and views. From the Bergerie, we hike to Tafenfant, a plateau at 2.500m, perfect for children to play among small streams, trees, and rocks. From Tafenfant, we descend back to the gîte and enjoy the stunning view over the expansive Vallée Heureuse.
- Day 8: Arouss-Marrakech (transfer/hotel)
- Day 9: Free day in Marrakech (hotel)
- Day 10: Return flight
Gîte Tamazirt Beach (15 days)
Gîte d'Étape Tamazirt is especially suitable for families with children, even the very youngest. The house is fully enclosed, making it safe to play on the lawn. A travel cot is available, along with an inflatable kiddie pool and plenty of toys.
At the nearby farm, there are plenty of animals to pet, feed, or even ride. Short or longer excursions can be made with small children as well. Extra guidance during these outings ensures that parents can relax while the children enjoy an unforgettable holiday.
- Day 1: Outbound flight, welcome at the hotel
- Day 2: Free day in Marrakech – swimming!
- Day 3: Marrakech-Arouss (transfer/gîte)
- Days 4-9: Excursions around the gîte, such as a mountain walk, visit to the market, and a picnic, with plenty of free time to explore at your own pace
- Day 10: Arouss–Marrakech (transfer/hotel)
- Day 11: Marrakech–Essaouira (hotel or gîte)
- Days 12-13: Essaouira
- Day 14: Essaouira-Marrakech (hotel)
- Day 15: Return flight
ACTIVE TREKS
Voor sportievelingen zijn er vele uitdagingen, zoals het beklimmen van verschillende bergtoppen, mountainbike, tochten op een muildier en kortere of langere kampeertrektochten.
Around M'Goun (15 days)
A sporty 10-day trek through a region rich in Berber tradition. The ascent to the summit is not a true alpine challenge: technically it’s not difficult, but the distance makes it demanding. Depending on your fitness level, you’ll walk 3 to 5 hours along a ridge, often exposed to strong winds.
You’ll need to be in good physical condition. Once you reach the summit of M’Goun, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views to the south—on clear days, you can even see Djebel Saghro. But beyond the climb, this journey offers many other highlights. The steep ascent to the M’Goun plateau is a challenge for both humans and mules. On the other side of M’Goun, we descend toward the village of Boutaghrare. From there, we follow the river upstream into the Gorges du M’Goun. You’ll spend a full day walking through the gorge, often in the water, so extra shoes or sandals are essential. Afterward, we head toward the Vallée Heureuse and Gîte d’Étape Tamazirt. The average walking time per day is 6 hours.
- Day 1: Outbound flight
- Day 2: Marrakech - Arouss (transfer / Gîte d’Étape Tamazirt)
- Days 3-5: Trekking and camping
- Day 6: Ascent of M’Goun
- Days 7-12: Continued trekking and camping
- Day 13: Arouss - Marrakech (transfer / hotel)
- Day 14: Free day in Marrakech
- Day 15: Return flight
Level: Intermediate
Children: From 16 years
Season: April to September
Ascent of M’Goun (8 days)
For those with limited time who still want to achieve a sporty challenge, this short but intense trek offers the ascent of M’Goun as its highlight. The trek spans 4 days, with an average walking time of 6.5 hours per day. It’s a unique journey, allowing you to enjoy the spectacular Gorges Tifira and the magnificent views of the Vallée de Tessaout.
Afterward, you climb further to the M’Goun plateau, which you’ll get to know early the next morning. Following a long ridge walk, you reach the summit and descend back to camp, before returning in one day to Gîte d’Étape Tamazirt.
- Day 1: Outbound flight
- Day 2: Marrakech - Arouss (transfer / Gîte d’Étape Tamazirt)
- Days 3-6: Trekking and camping
- Day 7: Arouss - Marrakech (transfer / hotel)
- Day 8: Return flight
Level: Challenging
Children: Not suitable
Season: May to September
CULTURAL JOURNEYS
Morocco offers much more than just mountains and beaches. During the many journeys Mohamed has guided, he has built an extensive network in the south of Morocco and knows the most beautiful places in the region. This allows us to offer a variety of tours that give you an in-depth introduction to this exotic part of Morocco.
Vallée Heureuse – Les Kasbahs du Sud (15 days)
A surprising combination of traditional Berber life in the High Atlas and the rich history of southern Morocco. At Gîte d’Étape Tamazirt, you’ll find the tranquility of simple yet demanding mountain farming life. Several activities are offered, but you’re free to choose what you’d like to participate in.
You can easily spend the whole day in and around the gîte. Reading, playing games in the sunroom, or sipping tea in the garden. The residents of the nearby farm, Mohamed’s family, are happy to give you a tour, and if you’d like to help care for the animals, watch how butter is made, or prepare your own tajine, you’re warmly welcome. You might even witness a local celebration, and if you’re there at the right time, you can see how potatoes are planted (you’re invited to join in…) and how the boys harvest walnuts from the trees. Of course, you can also go hiking, whether a short stroll or a full-day mountain trek to the Bergerie or the market.
After four days in the High Atlas, we head south on a beautiful two-day journey by Land Rover through the mountains and the Vallée de Tassaout, including a visit to the spectacular Cascades d’Ouzoud.
Midway, we take time to admire the impressive natural bridge of Imi-n-Ifri before driving over it to the gîte where we’ll spend the night. The next day, we continue to the atmospheric town of Ouarzazate. After lunch, we visit our first kasbah: the famous fortified village of Ait-Benhaddou. The following day, we travel from Ouarzazate via the Kasbah de Skoura to the Vallée du Dades. Take your time here to enjoy a walk and admire the stunning sandstone and limestone formations. We overnight in Boumalne Dades and the next day take a short drive to the Todra Gorges.
The next leg takes us toward Zagora, a four-day route where we fully enjoy the traditional Berber architecture of the kasbahs, the dramatic mountain landscapes of Boumalne Dades and the Todra Gorges, and the golden dunes of Erg Echabbi, where you can witness a breathtaking sunrise or sunset. Via the Vallée du Draa, we arrive in the desert town of Zagora. The following day, we visit the last town before the Sahara: M’Hamid.
From there, we venture deep into the desert on dromedaries. A dinner is served in a nomad tent in the middle of the vast sand plains, and we return by Land Rover. But if you wish, you’re welcome to stay overnight. From Zagora, we head back to Marrakech, where we have one final day to do as we please before being dropped off at the airport the next day.
- Day 1: Outbound flight
- Day 2: Marrakech - Arouss (transfer / gîte)
- Days 3-5: Stay at the gîte with optional activities such as a mountain hike, farm tour, market visit, and more
- Days 6-7: Arouss - Ouarzazate via Cascades d’Ouzoud and Imi-n-Ifri (Land Rover / gîte + hotel)
- Days 8-11: Ouarzazate - Zagora via Boumalne Dades, Todra Gorges, and the dunes of Erg Echabbi (Land Rover / hotel + auberge)
- Day 12: Zagora - M’Hamid (desert excursion / hotel or bivouac)
- Day 13: Zagora - Marrakech (transfer / hotel)
- Day 14: Free day in Marrakech
- Day 15: Return flight
Level: Not applicable
Children: From 4 years
Season: March to October
Les Kasbahs du Sud (10 days)
For those who don’t have two weeks but still want to discover southern Morocco, there’s the option to follow part of “Le Grand Sud” in a 10-day journey, or even shortened to 8 days. You’ll travel along the Berber architecture of the kasbahs and enjoy an introduction to the desert. There’s also a free day in Marrakech to explore at your own pace.
Level: Not applicable
Children: From 8 years
Season: May to August
DISCOVER OUR ACCOMMODATIONS
Far removed from the hustle and bustle of the cities, this region is a true breath of fresh air. Here, you can immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of the High Atlas mountains. Whether you prefer peaceful walks through quiet valleys or challenging mountain treks across rugged terrain, the landscape offers something for every pace and passion.
MAKE YOUR RESERVATION
Would you like to book a stay or receive more information about our gîtes, hiking routes or the surroundings? Simply fill out the reservation / information form. Have a question? Check our FAQ page for answers to frequently asked questions, your answer may already be there!
