Tel: 01239 710814
UK local rate: 0845 345 7195

Naturally Morocco Limited

"Experience the Real Morocco"

The "Real Morocco" Holiday - Taroudant

We have been running this small group, highly acclaimed, ecotourism holiday since 1996. We strive to give you a visit which is organised without being over-organised, with opportunities to mix yet have your own space and freedom too.

"The excursions and cultural experiences were a happy balance of fun, interest and education which both children and adults could enjoy" V Sheehan,05/07

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"To call the "Real Morooco" week a 'holiday' would not do justice to what we experienced - it was more a fascinating insight into an unfamiliar and exciting culture, and a real privilege to be welcomed into people's homes.  It certainly makes one think very hard about the values of our supposedly advanced European culture. We were looked after superbly by everyone at the guest house and we really appreciated the ethical approach to tourism your company represents". A MIllinchip 2/07

• Outstanding Staff: Charming, helpful, generous, kind, humorous and welcoming staff who enjoy sharing their heritage, their knowledge and their time with you
• Fascinating Places: See interesting "real" places and meet local people with our trustworthy educated guides. Outings to an oasis and a High Atlas Berber mountain village with options to trek off a mountain pass or visit a coastal National Park, to see wildlife conservation and social projects
• Wonderful Food: Eat excellent fresh locally produced food and discover local recipes. Special diets catered for, especially vegetarian and vegan
• Excellent Climate: Warm and dry all year round. Even in winter, there's usually around 7 hours sunshine daily!
• Superb Location: Known as "Little Marrakech", Taroudant has the best preserved town walls in Morocco, a very good souk, few tourists and is accessible to the coast, airport, mountains and oases.
• Advice on local cultures and customs: Both before and during your visit. We send a substantial pre visit A-Z guide to your holiday
• No health worries: safe water, no compulsory vaccinations. Malaria free region. Very good medical facilities locally
• Affordable: A week including flights from under £400 per adult. 5, 6 or 7 nights B & B , 5 evening meals, 3 cultural experiences and 2 outings included with optional extras. Discounts for children. Packed lunches £3
• Something for Everyone: Relaxation or activities. Wide choice of activities and experiences, often great fun, but also the chance to do things independently

"I found the way you had managed to set up the trips so that they benefit the locals really inspiring. We came away feeling very nourished and touched in a very human way by the warmth of the Moroccan people" S Hyde 05/07.

Accommodation Choices:

To view brochures and photo albums, click on the"View" link in the "Brochure" column.

Price Bands. Cost will vary from room to room and with seasons but the following can be taken as a general guideline for B&B per person per night in a twin or double room: Band 1: Budget £20-£27, 2: Budget/Mid priced £20-£42, 3: Mid priced £28- £42, 4: Mid priced/Luxury £28- £42+, 5: Luxury £42+

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Activities and Outings:

• Architecture: Berber houses and castles, riads, kasbahs and old palaces
• Caleche Trip: A ride in a traditional taxi - a horse drawn carriage around the town and its ancient town walls and to see the tanneries
• Cookery: Moroccan cookery lessons, including printed recipes. Cook book for sale to support community projects
• Cycling: mountain bikes for hire
• Crafts: you can observe their production and are unlikely to resist the temptation of buying these in the souk
• Dolphin and Whale Watching and Fishing trip: best in June-Sept
• Feast for the Senses: a wonderful celebration of your experiences in Morocco on your last night. Available for groups of 8 or more only. Best that we keep the details a secret, so as not to spoil your enjoyment!
• Football: almost anywhere you'll find Moroccans keen to involve you in a game!
• Geology: fabulous fossils, rocks and minerals
• Hammam: A visit to the local Hammam (Turkish baths) including how to use rhassoul mud, henna and soft soap to exfoliate, detox and condition the skin. A great social occasion for Moroccan women in particular
  "I have been to hammams before but this was the real thing - not a sanitised version for the tourists. Just watching the women and children so relaxed with their own bodies and combing each other's hair almost in a trance was a real privilege. I just wish I could have taken my sketch book in with me." F Wood 08/07
• Learning about Morocco: see our extensive displays and specialist library and talk to our knowledgeable educated Moroccan staff
• Henna Tattoos: Normally on the feet or hands, these impermanent tattoos use natural ingredients that are beneficial to the skin
• Hair- henna, herb or oil conditioning or colouring: Gives rich semi-permanent reddish highlights to the hair and leaves hair very glossy and manageable
• Language: Arabic or Berber language lessons. A chance to practice your French
• Massage: An excellent follow up to the hammam, using the local, highly therapeutic argan oil (or any of the essential oils you may have purchased when exploring the souk and would like to try).
• Mint tea ceremony and traditional tagine: taken in a Berber house in the High Atlas Mts. This meal is a tasty vegetable dish, safe to eat and much enjoyed
• Music: Live Moroccan music - a nationally acclaimed Berber women’s band from the town. Cost depends on number in the group - usually just over £6 per person. Likely to induce dancing, certainly amongst the staff! Only available on certain evenings and NOT available during the month of Ramadan
• Photography and art: wonderful opportunities due to the superb light, landscapes and colourful scenes
• Shopping: lots of lovely hand crafted goods: lanterns, rugs, jewellery, mirrors, leather, wood, pottery, metalwork and clothing. Help with bargaining, what and where to buy
• Swimming: choice of 3 lovely pools nearby, 2 amongst beautiful gardens. Option of a trip to an unspoilt beach
• Trekking: to Berber villages in the spectacular High Atlas Mountains
• Wildlife: very diverse, especially birdlife. Also tortoises! Choose trips guided by Said, our biologist guide. Don't miss the Souss Massa National Park, renowned worldwide for birds.

"We had a lovely time and it was all we had hoped for and much more. We wanted a holiday that would let us and our 7 year old fully experience another culture and we weren't disappointed. The hotel Palais Salam was charming and authentic and the staff extremely friendly; we found it to be a real oasis after the bustling sights and sounds of colourful Taroudannt. Your input into the community is highly regarded and it is encouraging to see that you employ locally, especially women." C Mc Pherson 04/07

If you are interested in a special session on anything else, we can arrange any of the following for a minimum of 4 people, but note that you would normally be able to cover these things during your excursions: women’s or men’s life in Morocco, religion, customs, politics, herbs and spices, natural history: botany, geology, herpetology or you could just relax!

When to Go and When to Book: We run the "Real Morocco" for small groups almost every week of the year. This part of Morocco is a year round destination, being the warmest town in the accessible parts of Morocco between October and April. Note it is too hot for the heat sensitive in July and August. Please note that the guest house is normally fully booked well in advance for peak holiday periods, so reservation several months in advance is advised, which also allows you to take advantage of the best flight deals. However, later bookings are usually possible at the hotel.

Please see the main Taroudant brochure for more information and photos of Taroudant, plus more suggestions for things to see and do.

"The activities and day-trips were not only enjoyable and entertaining but also extremely informative. We felt like we were not just tourist-voyeurs, but that we had been given an opportunity to experience (in a small and fleeting way) Moroccan culture. What a joy. Dounia was a wonderful guide – she was great fun to be around, extremely knowledgeable, and also warm and welcoming." A Dare 08/07

After booking we will send you substantial pre-visit information guides for your chosen destination(s).

Links to Other Accommodation on our web site:
Would you prefer a 2 or even 3 centre holiday? Follow these links for ideas and options:
Taroudant     Marrakech     Essaouira     Fez     Mountains & Wilderness     The Deep Desert

Contact Us now:
Tel: UK: 0845 345 7195 (local rate) or 01239 710 814.    International:+44(0)1239 710 814 (+ ansaphone)
Office Hours: Mon - Thurs: 9am - 8pm, Fri: 9am - 5pm, Sat: 9am - 2pm. Sun: 6pm - 8pm.

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Your Financial Protection. Our air holiday packages are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 6228. ATOL protection only applies to holidays that include both a flight to and/or from the UK and services in Morocco purchased through us. Please see the ATOL website or our booking conditions for more information.