Essaouira day tours to take you off the beaten track are available on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday departing at 9.30am from Essaouira before travelling into the local countryside. Sunday and Wednesday’s itineraries can include a country market to see how locals sell and barter for goods, an Argan co-coperative where you can sample the nutty flavours with traditionally baked flat bread and a cheese tour where a local producer will take you through the seasonal selection of different locally made cheeses. It’s then time for a leisurely lunch before returning to Essaouira in the late afternoon. Friday’s itinerary includes the cheese producer and vineyard wine taste. You can decide exactly want you want to do before booking. All days include the oasis village at Ain Lahjar. The price for the full day is £125/1500DH for 2 persons. Email: hello@wheelsacrossmorocco.com to book.

Depart for Marrakesh 9.30 arriving at midday. Here’s our suggested itinerary. Arrive at the Jardin Majorelle for a one hour visit. If you aren’t really into gardens you can skip this and instead visit a renowned photography gallery. Take lunch in the medina followed by a walk through the souks exploring Marrakesh’s back streets and sense of old world.  The late afternoon is set aside for El Badi Palace, the Saadian tombs and Koutoubia mosque. Then at dusk watch the spectacle of Jemma El Fna square, a magnet for snake charmers and all kinds of performers from a cafe above. Depart for Essaouira at 7.30 arriving 10.00pm. The price is 1500DH for 2 persons excluding lunch and entrance fees but including all guiding. Email: info@photomaroc.co.uk to enquire.

The tour would include a visit to Ait benhaddou, the rock formations at Dades and Todra Gorge and a special Ksar visit en-route to Merzouga. The Dades valley is stunning location of rock formations, fortified palaces and a magnificent valley of wheat, fruit and silver birch trees. Known as “The valley of a thousand kasbahs”. The Skoura palmearie nestles close to the Atlas mountains. A vast area of palm groves harbours narrow tracks and crumbling Kasbahs. Of course the highlight is a camel trek into the Sahara staying in a desert camp overnight. The price for the tour is £650/8000DH/ based on two people travelling, staying in en-suite accommodation in good hotels, including meals(desert night is included). The hotels have excellent food. The tour car would be a Toyota 4×4.

Day 1: Essaouira to Ait benhaddou. 5 hours drive. Day 2: Ait benhaddou to Merzouga. 5.5hrs. Desert camp overnight including camel trek and meals. Day 3:  Merzouga to Skoura. 4 hrs. Day 4: Skoura to Essaouira. 6.5 hrs