Join Intrepid on this incredible female-only adventure – an unforgettable expedition to the remote and less-travelled reaches of Morocco.
Begin in Marrakech, then set off to experience the side of Morocco they don’t tell you about in the guidebooks. Break bread with Amazigh families in remote homes, see how an artist co-op is empowering female rug-weavers in small villages, take in the beauty of the far-flung M’goun Valley over four days of hiking with the region’s first local female guide, and enjoy the singing and dancing of Moroccan women in cultural ceremonies in rural communities. With all the hallmarks of a classic Intrepid adventure – local leadership, private transport, real life experiences – and an added focus on female travel and female empowerment, this is a unique opportunity for women to blaze the trail in an incredible but often conservative country.
Why you'll love this adventure
- Find out what it means to be female in Morocco as you travel with an all-women group, a local female leader, the M’Goun Valley’s first local female guide, and meet plenty of inspiring women along the way.
- Learn from the best as you take part in a traditional couscous cooking lesson, find out how to make fresh khobz (flatbread), and be welcomed into the home of a local woman in Marrakech for a meal you won’t forget.
- Spend four days hiking between remote villages in the M’Goun Valley, accompanied by a local female guide who will bring the region to life with her incomparable knowledge and experience.
- Dine on delicious local cuisine as you enjoy a private performance by The Houariyates, a female music band that will fill the room and your heart with joyful songs praising and celebrating women.
- Visit the historic town of Ait Benhaddou and its iconic mudbrick ksar. You’ll soon see why this eye-catching site has been used as a backdrop in many famous films.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Amal. Donations support them to provide women in Morocco with culinary skills training to help improve livelihoods. Intrepid will double your impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
Dates
This trip can be tailor made for your perfect travel dates. Please make a booking enquiry for more information.
Itinerary
This trip includes an action packed itinerary! Please make an enquiry and we'll send you the full itinerary for each day including meals, activities, travel and accommodation.
What's included
- 7 breakfasts, 6 dinners and 4 lunches
- Hotel (2 nights), Gite (2 nights), Guesthouse (3 nights)
- Private vehicle
- Bou Tharar – Amazigh music and local songs
- Agouti – Couscous demonstration
- Bou Tharar – Hike to Agouti
- Amejgag – Rug-weaving workshop visit
- Agouti – Hike to Amejgag
- Amejgag – Moroccan breakfast preparation
- Issoumar – Folk tales and music
- Amejgag – Hike to Issoumar
- Bou Tharar – Farm visit
- Bou Tharar – Amazigh dress and make up
- Issoumar – Hike to Bou Tharar
- Ait Benhaddou – Leader-led ksar walk
- Marrakech – Home-cooked dinner
- Marrakech – Houariyates performance
Trip notes
Price
Min age
Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), Gite (2 nights), Guesthouse (3 nights)
Accommodation notes
Due to the villages and locations we will be visiting, the accommodation on this trip, apart from Marrakech, is rather basic. You will stay in family run guesthouses and local gites. That means you will be sharing rooms with a few other travellers. Bathroom facilities will also be shared. While the accommodation is basic, it is clean, atmospheric and very authentic. Staying in gites and family houses will allow you to experience the way local people live in this part of Morocco.
For more details about accommodation, please check the day-to-day itinerary.
Meals
7 breakfasts, 6 dinners and 4 lunches
Food and dietary requirements
Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian cous cous and tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the walking sections of the trip in remote villages in Morocco. Please note that if you have any special dietary requirements you should inform the Intrepid office prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (i.e. coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some items of food with you from home.
Who is this trip for?
Is this trip right for you
This trip involves walking from 4 to 7 hours on Days 3-6. The walk will lead you through picturesque valleys, but the terrain may be unstable in places, rocky and hilly. Consider appropriate footwear and necessary clothing, including a warm jacket and raincoat.
You will need to bring a 3/4 season sleeping bag on this trip. Even though you will be staying in guesthouses and gites, they may not be heated so a warm sleeping bag is essential.
The village accommodation on this trip is simple. You will be sharing rooms with other female travellers. On Day 5 there are two big rooms for the group so you may share your room with up to five other travellers. Bathroom facilities are shared, but you can expect a hot shower each evening.
You will have a chance to participate in different activities, from rug-weaving to baking and make-up workshops. While none are compulsory, we’d suggest you come prepared to share some fun times with other women while learning some new skills.
Transport notes
We will travel in a private minibus from Marrakech to Boutghra. The road may be windy at times so make sure you are sufficiently prepared if you tend to have difficulty with mountainous drives. From Day 2 onwards you will be hiking through rural Morocco. Please expect uneven, rocky paths, river crossings and some steady inclines. Nothing is too strenuous, but you should come prepared to walk for up to 7 hours a day.
Additional notes
Covid-19
Health related to Covid-19. This operator has a policy in place for COVID-19 and their adventures. Please request full details so we can share the most up to date information with you and be aware that the note below was relevant at the time of writing but may have changed. Thanks!
Is this trip right for you
This trip involves walking from 4 to 7 hours on Days 3-6. The walk will lead you through picturesque valleys, but the terrain may be unstable in places, rocky and hilly. Consider appropriate footwear and necessary clothing, including a warm jacket and raincoat.
You will need to bring a 3/4 season sleeping bag on this trip. Even though you will be staying in guesthouses and gites, they may not be heated so a warm sleeping bag is essential.
The village accommodation on this trip is simple. You will be sharing rooms with other female travellers. On Day 5 there are two big rooms for the group so you may share your room with up to five other travellers. Bathroom facilities are shared, but you can expect a hot shower each evening.
You will have a chance to participate in different activities, from rug-weaving to baking and make-up workshops. While none are compulsory, we’d suggest you come prepared to share some fun times with other women while learning some new skills.
Health
GENERAL HEALTH
All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. For the safety and wellbeing of yourself and others, if you are unwell prior to travelling, please stay at home and contact us to make alternative arrangements.
When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the assessment of our group leader or local representative a traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements in their original packaging as they may not easily be obtained while travelling. If you are carrying medication, ensure you check your government’s foreign travel advice for any local restrictions or requirements.
DRINKING WATER:
As a rule, we recommend you don’t drink tap water in Morocco, even in hotels, as it contains much higher levels of different minerals than the water you may have at home. For local people, this is not a problem as their bodies are used to this and can cope, but for visitors drinking the tap water can result in illness. Generally, this isn’t serious, an upset stomach being the only symptom, but it’s enough to spoil a day or two of your holiday. Bottled water is widely available and your leader can recommend safe alternatives when available. Water consumption should be about two to three litres a day. Rehydration salts, motion sickness tablets, and diarrhoea blockers are recommended for you to pack in your personal first aid kit.
ASTHMA:
For some travellers, the desert sand and dust can bring on bouts of asthma. If you suffer from asthma even occasionally, we recommend you bring your medication as it cannot be administered by your group leader and may not be readily available while you are travelling. A light scarf or face mask can also be helpful for all travellers.
HENNA TATTOOS:
Henna tattoos are commonplace in Morocco. You should be aware that some henna tattoos contain the chemical para-phenylenediamine (PPD), which can cause a painful allergic reaction, including swelling and an itchy rash in some people.
Your fellow travellers
As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group – patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone’s travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don’t keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well – this takes just a little effort on your part. Due to privacy reasons, we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure.
Covid-19
This operator has a policy in place for COVID-19 and their adventures. Please request full details so we can share the most up to date information with you. Thanks!
Tour operator
We love this operator for the freedom and flexibility they give travellers to get off the tourist trails and really experience local cultures. Their style of small group travel is perfect for solo travellers, couples or small groups of friends and their grassroots style of travel seeks to have a positive impact on the communities they visit.
They use local leaders, local accommodation & transport and support local community projects, ensuring sustainability is at the centre of everything they do.
In addition, they expect their staff and travellers to demonstrate the principles of responsible travel – respecting people, cultures and local environments; in the distribution of wealth; in good will and cross-cultural sharing; and in contributing to sustainable development.
Enquire today
Morocco: Women’s Expedition
Please complete the enquiry form above with as much detail as you can and we will send you all the trip information and connect you with the operator so you can make a booking directly.
If you have queries and questions about the trip include those in your form and we’ll personally reply to you within 24 hours.
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