Organized Excursions

Organized Excursions

If you don't have a rental car, you can still day-trip from Marrakesh in a variety of ways. One is to join a guided tour in a minibus for about 350 DH per person. There are numerous agencies offering a range of day trips. If you want to compare prices, check out the tour agencies huddled around Avenue Mohammed V in Guéliz. If you just want to go, ask your hotel or riad to sort you out. The following operators organize excursions into the surrounding area.

Atlas Sahara Trek (6 bis, rue Houdhoud, Quartier Majorelle. 044/31-39-01. sahara@cybernet.net.ma) draws on a wealth of experience to lead specialized treks in the High Atlas and bivouacs in the Sahara.

Ciel d'Afrique (024/43-28-43 or 061/13-70-51. www.cieldafrique.info) offers hot-air baloon rides over Marrakesh, and also over the desert.

Diffa Tours (2, rue Ibn Aisha, Guéliz. 044/43-48-79) arranges all kinds of excursions for individuals.

Hotel Central Palace (59, Sidi Bouloukate, Medina. 024/44-02-35. www.hotel-centralpalace.com) is a budget hotel that runs excursions to the desert and Drâa Valley. They cost 300 DH for one day, 600 DH for two days, 950 DH for three days, and 1,200 DH for four days.

Legendes Evasions (212, ave. Mohamed V, Galerie Elite, 1st fl., Guéliz. 024/33-24-83. www.legendesevasions.com) is a highly respected local agency that runs chauffeured vehicle tours to some of the Berber villages around Marrakesh. The knowledge and sensitivity of its local, English-speaking guide have earned it good reviews.

Les Cavaliers de l'Atlas (Aït Ourir, 35 mins from Marrakesh. 064/90-34-49 or 072/84-55-79. lescavaliersdelatlas.com) is a riding club situated near Aït Ourir on the way to Ouarzazate. It organizes horseback treks of one or two days in the area from Marrakesh, run by an experienced French equestrian guide.

Menara Tours (41, ave. Yougoslavie, Guéliz. 044/44-66-54) leads excursions to the regional destinations mentioned above as well as some farther afield.

The National Association of Mountain Guides and Monitors (ANGM, B.P. 47, Asni. 024/44-49-79), south of Marrakesh, is a loosely assembled group of trained mountain guides based in Asni, a popular High Atlas jumping-off point.

Sahara Expedition (Angle el Mouahidine and Bani Marine. 024/42-79-77. www.saharaexpe.ma) is a well-recommended budget agency that runs excursions throughout the region, from jaunts down the Ourika Valley to trips to the beach at Essaouira; from trekking in the High Atlas to three-day sprints to the desert at Zagora and Merzouga. Prices are significantly cheaper for groups of more than six, so, if you're traveling on your own and don't mind the risk, try asking at the last minute whether there is any space on a trip.

Travel Link (19, rue Mauritania, Guéliz. 044/44-87-97) organizes special-interest and custom excursions.

ULM Marrakech (071/66-13-50 or 062/83-86-24. www.ulm-maroc.com) organizes exciting microlight tours over the High Atlas for the truly adventurous (look at the Web site and you'll understand). Prices start at 900 DH.