Morocco: Women's Expedition

Trip Type: Women's Expedition
Morocco | 8 Days | 1 - 12 People
Starts From:

NZD 1,960.00 /Person

Join a women’s-only adventure for an unforgettable expedition to the remote and less-travelled reaches of Morocco. Begin in Marrakech, then set off...

Morocco: Women's Expedition

Join a women’s-only adventure for 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.

Salaam aleikum! Welcome to Morocco. Your Women’s Expedition begins in Marrakech with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe check out Djemaa el-Fna – the lively town square in the centre of the medina. Singers, drummers, dancers, fortune tellers, jugglers and old medicine men mingle together in what has been called the 'greatest spectacle on earth'. You could also admire the outside view of the Koutoubia Mosque and its famous minaret or discover the tropical gardens of the French painter Jacques Majorelle (now owned by Yves Saint Laurent). After your meeting, maybe head out to dinner with your new group.

Board your private transport and settle in for the journey to Bou Tharar village. Here, you'll be hosted by local women and there will be Amazigh music and local songs with a tasty, traditional meal when you arrive. Your accommodation tonight is in a beautiful terracotta gite (rural guesthouse). From here, the views of the surrounding hills are superb, and you'll be greeted with warm hospitality from the local family who run the establishment.

Set off on a hike from Bou Tharar village to Agouti Village. For the next four days of hiking, you’ll be accompanied by one of the region’s first local female guides. Your guide knows these parts like the back of her hand and will share stories of the landscape and her nomadic past. You'll be hiking west, passing through villages and meeting some locals along the way. In the afternoon, learn how to prepare some specialty dishes during a cooking demonstration in the village. This is a unique opportunity, so get involved, learn how couscous is spread in the traditional way and learn some new skills to take back home!

Set off on a morning walk through Agouti Gorge, crossing through Almdoun Village to get to Amejgag. The dramatic red walls of the gorge make for an otherworldly sight. Check out the detail of the striped mineral deposits while your leader provides some background information on the area. At some point during the hike, you’ll need to cross a river. Depending on the water levels, you may need to roll up your trousers and take your shoes off (or bring closed-toed sandals). Your leader will make sure to find the best place to cross but come prepared to get a little wet. When you arrive in the village, gain insight into an age-old craft with a weaving workshop run by a local ladies' cooperative. Put your skills into practice and try the ancient art of weaving yourself (under the watchful eye of some local experts!) After, take a walk through the village and settle in.

Sit down for a traditional Moroccan breakfast of homemade soup, tea, coffee and (most importantly) olive oil served with Moroccan bread. Get involved in preparing this flatbread (khobz), which is widespread and almost synonymous with Moroccan food. There's nothing like making and tasting the real thing under the guidance of those who do it best. Then, set off to Issoumar, trekking through more of Morocco's spectacular landscape. The route crosses small hills and leads to Timtda village, where you'll take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch. From here, climb 200 m uphill to the Tissardan pass, which offers a fantastic view of the M’Goun Valley. Then, descend 300 m to Issoumar village, where you’ll spend the night. This afternoon, listen to traditional folk tales and play music with the local women inside the guesthouse. Singing is a big part of local music, so expect to sing along with your female host – this isn’t a performance, but rather a unique opportunity to get involved and be a part of the experience!

Follow the M’Goun River back to Bou Thrar today. You'll most likely see a few farmers going about their daily business along the way. After lunch, visit a farm and learn some traditional farming skills that have been practiced in this part of Morocco for centuries. Take the chance to feed the animals – often a very important part of the life for local families, whose wealth depends on their livestock. After your hike, take some time to rest before joining your fellow women in trying on some traditional henna and kohl makeup. You may have already learned about these skills earlier in the trip, but this evening stands out for a different reason. After having your dress picked out and make up done for you, you’ll head out to a very special party, imitating an Amazigh wedding. Have dinner here, mingle with the locals and learn more about their culture as the sun descends.

Return to Marrakech, stopping at Ait Benhaddou along the way – the iconic mudbrick ksar. Retaining its thousand-year-old allure, the UNESCO World Heritage site is southern Moroccan architecture at its finest and has been used as a backdrop for many famous films (like Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator). When you arrive in Marrakech, you’ll leave the hustle and bustle of the medina and visit the home of Zineb – a local woman who will be cooking your dinner tonight. Tuck into a beautiful traditional meal as you hear how Zineb’s hard work and determination to provide for her children has led her to where she is today. To cap off your final night together, The Houariyates – a female music band that takes its inspiration from the original tribes of I'Houara and Hammadas – will perform for you. Their joyful songs praise and celebrate women and often speak of desire, sensuality and love.

Your adventure ends this morning and you're welcome to depart your accommodation at any time after check-out. If you would like to stay in Marrakech, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to book additional accommodation.

Meals
7 Breakfast(s), 4 Lunch(s), 6 Dinner(s)

Transport
Private vehicle

Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), Gite (2 nights), Guesthouse (3 nights)

Included Activities
  • 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
  • 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.
  • This trip involves walking from 4 to 7 hours on Day 3 to 6. The walks will lead you through picturesque valleys, but the terrain may be unstable, rocky and hilly. Consider appropriate footwear and necessary clothing, including a warm jacket and raincoat. You’ll need to bring a 3/4 season sleeping bag on this trip. Even though you’ll 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 and you’ll 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.

Departing

Finishing

Availability

Price: NZD 2,140.00

Price: NZD 2,140.00

Price: NZD 2,220.00

Price: NZD 2,220.00

Price: NZD 2,220.00

Price: NZD 2,140.00

Price: NZD 2,060.00

Price: NZD 2,060.00

Price: NZD 2,060.00

Price: NZD 2,060.00

Price: NZD 2,060.00

Price: NZD 2,060.00

Price: NZD 2,140.00

Price: NZD 2,140.00

Price: NZD 2,220.00

Price: NZD 2,220.00

Price: NZD 2,220.00

Price: NZD 2,140.00

Price: NZD 2,140.00

Price: NZD 1,960.00

Price: NZD 2,060.00

Price: NZD 2,060.00

Price: NZD 2,060.00

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Price: NZD 2,115.00

Price: NZD 2,115.00

Price: NZD 2,040.00

Price: NZD 1,960.00

Price: NZD 1,960.00

Price: NZD 1,960.00

Price: NZD 1,960.00

Price: NZD 1,960.00

Price: NZD 2,040.00

Price: NZD 2,040.00

Price: NZD 2,115.00

Price: NZD 2,115.00

Price: NZD 2,040.00

Price: NZD 2,040.00

Price: NZD 2,040.00

Price: NZD 1,960.00

Price: NZD 1,960.00

Price: NZD 1,960.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
XMRW
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Marrakech, Morocco
Trip Finishes:
Marrakech, Morocco
Countries Visited:
Morocco
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Booking Enquiry

Destination Details
Morocco | 8 Days | 1 - 12 People

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