Cooperatives Morocco Tour : argan -roses - saffron

We meet you in the airport and departure to the beautiful coastal city of Essaouira. On our way we will stop, as it is the land of Argan. This is an opportunity to visit a cooperative of women who make Argan oil, the liquid gold of Morocco. The oil is famous for its culinary, cosmetic and medicinal properties. And also for the fun goats that climb their trees. We will stop to see them and we can take some pictures.

Departure to the beautiful coastal city of Essaouira, 3 hours by car from Marrakech. Essaouira is also known as the "City of the Wind". It attracts surfers from all over the world. In June it hosts the international reputed annual Gnawa music Festival. The city now has a bohemian and maritime atmosphere. Many civilizations passed through Essaouira, predominating the product of the Portuguese occupation architecture. Its characteristic blue doors and white walls of fishing village, make it considered the jewel of the sea of ​​Morocco. You can explore the city, the Skala Fortress and see the Thuya wood carved by artisans. Take a walk in the alleys of the medina and the port between his iconic gulls overflying blue fishing boats.

From Essaouira we will continue on secondary roads crossing the Argan fields until we reach Agadir. This Berber city is one of the best seaside resort to enjoy Moroccan and international cuisine. We will visit the old Kasbah on a hill 7 km northwest of the city, with good views of sealine and port. We can visit a store of products made with figs, and buy all kinds of souvenirs in various bazaars.

Then, departure to the Taroudant region of beautiful landscapes full of citrus plantations. Also full of trees for the region-specific argan oil and olive oil. The crafts of the area are very varied, leather work, tannery and ceramics. Taroudant looks like a small fortified city-market on a caravan route to. It is located in the Sus river valley, in the south of the country, between two mountain ranges, the High Atlas to the north and east, and the Anti-Atlas to the south.

Our route starts in the direction of Ouarzazate, by a plateau of Anti Atlas mountains. We stop in Taliouine, the largest saffron production center in Morocco. Between October and November fields are filled with crocus flowers, becoming a beautiful tourist attraction by itself. We will visit a cooperative that produces it and where we can buy it directly.

We will continue in Ouarzazate direction passing by the huge cinema studios where scenes from so renowned movies such as "The Mummy", "Gladiator" and many others, such as episodes of the "Game of Thrones" series, have been recorded. The desert, oasis, kasbahs and snowy mountains of the Atlas are an unbeatable setting for shooting movies.

We will follow the route of the thousand kasbahs, of enormous architectural value although many in ruins, that it is really a place like no other which makes the traveler fall in love with. In the afternoon we can still do a very educational visit to the beautiful Amridil kasbah, in the Skoura oasis. Then we will cross the Roses' Valley, famous for the beauty products that are extracted from them.

We'll arrive to the famous Dades Gorges, which is a narrow valley with a spectacular zigzagging landscape.

The Valley of Roses is famous for beauty products that are extracted from the flowers. In May, the Feast of Roses is celebrated in the Kelaâ M'Gouna, where the color of petals and their perfume envelops everything. We will visit a cooperative where cosmetics from these flowers are produced.

We can not miss in this trip a walk through the mythical fortified city, the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou. It enjoys the status declared by UNESCO as World Heritage Site. Its ornate adobe dwellings are confined within a strong wall reinforced by defense turrets. This spectacular set of kasbahs built on a hill rises above the desert landscape of the Anti Atlas. It is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic places in Morocco.

There, we can visit and enjoy food at the Tawarna cooperative, a project that empowers women from Ait Benhaddou.

Weather permitting, on the way to Marrakech we pass through the beautiful landscapes of the Ounila Valley. In ancient times, it was the route of the caravans, which carried salt and other products from the desert, enriching the pasha who lived in Telouet, in the middle of the route.

Our route ends crossing the High Atlas by Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass, the highest road pass in North Africa, at 2260 meters high. Atlas is a great mountain range that offers extraordinary mountainous landscapes dotted with small berber villages. We will make as many stops you want to admire and photograph them.

And we will travel to the door of the Atlas opens its splendor in Marrakesh, a unique city, epicenter of tourism and crafts. Overflowing its light, the fiery red of its buildings and the refreshing green of its palm trees and gardens. The city vibrates, eclectic, exultant, combining old and modern Moroccan exoticism. Living it is an experience that will shine in a special way on your trip.

Depending on the flight departure time, free time to visit the city and make last purchases. If there is time and you want, we can arrange a visit in Jarjeer on the outskirts of Marrakech, an NGO dedicated to the protection of donkeys and horses.

Transfer to the airport, and end of our services.