Marrakech orientation day. On arrival into Marrakech Menara Airport, you will be collected by your private transport and driver and taken to your riad accommodation in the city’s Old Medina. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may wish to spend some leisure time in the city's Old Medina; there are so many interesting things happening there. The Old Medina, the central core of the city, and now a World Heritage Site, is a great place to simply go with the flow and to let your eyes and ears lead you through to many wonderful sights and sounds. The Jemaa el-Fna is the lively entertainment square of the Medina while the Souks are places to seek out some exciting shopping; haggling over the prices is all part of the fun! As well as the retail activities, there are many cultural and historical aspects of the city that you may wish to enjoy e.g. the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace & the Saadian Tombs

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Hotel La Maison Arabe

MORNING Morning Cookery Class to prepare tagines. This morning you visit AMAL (Targa), a Womens’ Training Centre and Restaurant where women gain cookery skills that they delight in passing on to you. AMAL (meaning “Hope”) is located in the suburbs of Marrakech, set in a lush, tranquil garden; private transport will take you to AMAL. At AMAL the calming ambience is conducive to gentle relaxation and enables full cookery concentration. Lunch is eaten in AMAL’s restaurant, your tagine being your meal’s centrepiece. AFTERNOON After lunch, private transport takes you to the Majorelle Gardens, a magical oasis of tranquility just beyond the edge of the Old Medina. At one time owned by Yves St. Laurent, this verdant garden is entrancing. Tall trees, bushy shrubs, impressive succulents and water lilies create a garden that offers a chance to take a leisurely stroll and/or to sit awhile. The sounds of the rustling leaves, chattering birds and little streams add to the “cocoon of pleasure” that is the Majorelle Gardens. Then, taking afternoon tea in a most pleasant riad in the Old Medina, on a shaded roof terrace, offers not only more refreshing tea but also the opportunity to taste some delicious, sweet patisserie, delicacies for which Morocco is famous. Hearing the call to prayer from the many mosques in the Old Medina (and beyond) as you relax adds to the pleasurable ambience. EVENING Evening meal in a smart Moroccan restaurant (a different one each evening)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• High-End Accommodation: Riad Aladdin
• Luxury Accommodation: Hotel La Maison Arabe

ALL DAY Amizmiz Day. Having had some time in the city of Marrakech, today your private transport and driver takes you into the High Atlas, to Amizmiz, deep into the countryside of Morocco. The High Atlas are home to the very friendly and most hospitable Berber people. On arrival into Amizmiz, a traditional second breakfast will be enjoyed in a Berber home. This meal is simple but very nutritious, consisting of home-made bread, olives, olive oil, butter and honey along with mint tea. All items are locally sourced, organic and sustainable and so very tasty. Suitably refreshed, you then take a gentle walk in the Berber countryside. Various seasonal crops and trees will be identified by your Countryside Guide, bringing you close to the source of all the foods you have been eating – no processing, packaging, transporting and marketing here, it all comes directly from the land. It may be that you also visit a potter’s workshop where you can see how tagine pottery pots are made – perhaps you will have an attempt to make your own! Lunch is taken in a Berber home in a Berber village, in early afternoon. After a delicious lunch, a further short stroll can be taken in Amizmiz town, seeing the market stalls, the fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, spices and herbs, etc., all the ingredients needed for Moroccan cooking. Your Courier/Guide will be able to name and explain all that you see. Private transport and driver will return you to your riad in Marrakech in late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• High-End Accommodation: Riad Aladdin
• Luxury Accommodation: Hotel La Maison Arabe

MORNING Today you first have a Marrakech home visit to make bread and then take it to the local communal bread oven.After a short while your freshly baked bread will be collected and you will enjoy it with a second breakfast back in the Marrakech home; have you ever tasted any more wholesome and flavourful bread? A guided walking tour is then taken in the Old Medina to spend some time in a lively, bustling Old Medina market where many riad owners and local householders shop every day for their day’s meal ingredients. AFTERNOON In early afternoon you return (by private transport and driver) to AMAL (Targa). Here you will enjoy lunch, prepared for you by the Amal Champions, ladies who are gaining cookery skills in this inspirational Training Centre. After a full lunch, you will stay on in AMAL (Targa) to take part in an afternoon Baking Class to make Moroccan patisserie. This will, of course, be followed by an afternoon tea of delicious mint tea along with your patisserie. EVENING Evening meal in a smart Moroccan restaurant (a different one each evening)

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• High-End Accommodation: Riad Aladdin
• Luxury Accommodation: Hotel La Maison Arabe

MORNING/EARLY to LATE AFTERNOON With your private transport and driver you will leave Marrakech and first drive eastwards along the Fes road. After about 40 minutes or so you will turn north on to the Marrakech Plain and head to Dar Couscous. Located close to a traditional Arab village, Dar Couscous (Couscous House) is a Co-operative, run and operated by ladies. Here they process the various type of grains that are turned into couscous e.g. millet, rice, quinoa. In mid-afternoon, from Dar Couscous, you will return to Marrakech by being driven across the Marrakech Plain, amongst the glorious Jbilet Hills. As well as fresh ingredients being a vital part of the preparation of tasty Moroccan food, spices and herbs are essential ingredients too. A visit is taken to a traditional Old Medina Apothecary before being returned to your riad. This will allow you to fully appreciate the nature and the important part that spices and herbs play in making Moroccan cuisine. EVENING Evening meal in a smart Moroccan restaurant (a different one each evening)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• High-End Accommodation: Riad Aladdin
• Luxury Accommodation: Hotel La Maison Arabe

Depending on your flight's departure time, you may have some additional, informal relaxation time in Marrakesh. You will be then collected from your accommodation and be taken by private transport and driver to Marrakesh Menara Airport.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast