This was an excellent trip and great value for money. The trip started in Marrakech where we stayed at a sweet little hotel down one of the side roads from the main square. Everything is within easy walking distance and the trip includes a city walking tour. We then spent the afternoon in the gardens (optional free time), a bit of an escape from the bustle of the souk.
The next day we left for the Atlas mountains by bus. An hour or so later we left the bus and took a short walk to our home for the next 5 nights, the Kasbah du Toubkal - a wonderful mountain retreat which felt somewhat magical with its amazing views of snow topped mountains. The staff at the kasbah were fantastic and really welcoming. The food was amazing and there was lots of it. We stayed in two dormitories - 6 to each room and mixed sex (so take something demure to wear to bed, particularly as the bathroom is down the corridor and you have to pass through the main seating area to get to it!).
The next four days we did day walks into the mountains - Abdou the guide was great at pacing the walk to suit the slowest person. The day walks were not difficult but the sun had an impact as there was little shade. All but one the day walks ended up back at the kasbah in time for lunch leaving the afternoon to chill out before dinner and an early night. The last day of the trip was back in Marrakech leaving plenty of time for shopping for souvenirs in the souk.
Overall they trip was a great introduction to a walking holiday. It wasn't as challenging as some in the group had hoped and there did seem to be an emphasis on getting back to the kasbah for lunch - longer walks would have been preferable on at least three of the days. Having said that the kasbah made the trip for me - it was a great place to relax (so take plenty of books) and just unwind in the peace of the mountains. I will definitely be going back in the future. (LMA -5th January 2010)
