Your holiday starts at the hotel in Marrakech. On arrival in Marrakech you'll met by a KE representative who will assist with the short transfer to the group hotel. Depending on your arrival time and after checking in you may wish to stretch your legs and explore. Marrakech is a colourful city with plenty to see. Most people make their way to the central square of the Djemaa el-Fna beneath the beautiful tower of the Koutoubia Mosque. The labyrinth that is the souk is perfect for wandering aimlessly, and soaking up the rich atmosphere is part of the Marrakech experience. Here you'll find wonderful lanterns of brass, colourful leather goods, and exotic spices. If you're looking for a peaceful garden to photograph then the enchanted desert garden of Jardin Majorelle was once owned by landscape artist Jacques Majorelle and fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. Here you'll find rich greenery against a cobalt blue villa. In the evening there will be a briefing from the leader over dinner, which is generally taken in the hotel for ease and late arrival of a number of flights. If you would prefer to arrive a day or two earlier, please contact the KE office who can book you extra nights at the group hotel or we can offer you a choice of riad overnights if you would like a traditional Moroccan experience.

This morning we leave Marrakech and start our journey towards the Jebel Sirwa region. We drive along one of Morocco's most spectacular roads and cross the Atlas by way of the magnificent Tizi n'Test Pass. Next it's the valley of Asni home to a colourful landscape of rich red buildings and pretty wheat fields. After the striking village of Ouirgane the road climbs before we drop into the Taliouine region which is famed for its argon oil. Morocco's famed Argan trees grow in Morocco's semi-desert where its deep roots and small leaves have it surviving in areas lacking in water and the result is the famed nut with unique oil. Pure Argan oil is incredibly rare and the precious oil is harvested and extracted from the nut of the Argan tree and used in beauty or cooking products. We'll stop for lunch in Aoulouz before leaving the road and driving towards the village of Tazount. Once here we meet our trek crew and can enjoy a brief afternoon of walking through fields and a splendid gorge. The afternoon of walking ends in a pretty valley which is home to a few small hamlets. Tonight we set up camp below the village of Tislit and after dinner can settle down for a spot of star gazing before our first night under canvas.

Today after breakfast we leave an arid landscape behind and head towards the green valleys of Assif n'Ait Oubyal which are dotted with fields of barley, wheat and saffron. As we approach a number of tiny villages we can expect a warm welcome in an area which sees only a handful of visitors. We make our way towards a deep gorge and the hamlet of Tizgui which is home to a shared grain store known as an agadir. This fantastic structure is built into the cliff and looks more like a dramatic monastery or cave dwelling than storage. We'll have the opportunity to take some wonderful photos as we learn about a lifestyle in a magical region. Here villages dramatically cling to the valley sides or are hidden on the valley floor. This is a region of stone and earthen walls, brightly painted windows, colourful doors and local ladies in the fields wearing richly colourful scarves and long skirts. The men traditionally were turban-style headdresses and long woollen cloaks with hoods. Along the trail we may also see donkeys carrying dry branches destined for kitchen fires. Towards the end of the day we reach a high valley with stone-built shelters and terraced fields where we settle down for the evening and our second night of camping.

This morning we start the day with a few hours of easy walking as we follow a stream dotted with rich vegetation on both of its banks. From the stream we gradually ascend a zig-zag trail which takes us to the summit of Guiliz. Standing at 2900m we are rewarded with excellent views across the Jebel Sirwa region and can clearly see the route that we've followed over the last two days. From the top we can enjoy a lovely panorama of the region and alongside taking photos we can relax and enjoy the tranquillity of this unique area. After the summit we'll drop down into the valley and head towards a number of superb shepherd's huts. Whilst some are isolated, others are in little groups with charming gardens, terraced fields and natural springs close by. During the spring months nomadic Berbers arrive here to work the land and sow barley which is ready to harvest at the end of the summer months. Berber tribes stem back to 3rd Century B.C where a Berber Kingdom existed between Morocco and Algeria. The Greeks called them barbarians, hence the name Barber but they were also called Mauri which referred to people from Mauritania. The word barbarian couldn't be further from the truth as everywhere we go we'll be warmly welcomed. In the afternoon we'll set up camp near the Tagragra caves at 2600m which are often inhabited by shepherds from the Berber tribe of Beni M'Zguid.

After breakfast we leave camp and prepare for an exciting day ahead. Today we'll experience a day discovering picturesque gorges, dramatic rock formations and the beautiful summit of Jebel Sirwa. The peak of Jebel Sirwa is an extinct stratovolcano otherwise known as a composite volcano. Stratovolcanos are the most photographed volcanos due to their conical shape which is built up by many layers of hardened lava, pumice and volcanic ash. This morning's trail picks its way between spiky vegetation and dramatic blocks of impressively eroded boulders. As we get closer to the summit of Jebel Sirwa we reach the first of two rocky sections. The first we'll work our way around before a brief scramble of 30m on the second one sees us on the summit. The small scrambling section is non-technical and optional. From the summit the views are spectacular as they extend across the High Atlas and across the Quarzazate Plain to the Anti-Atlas. After taking in the wonderful views we descend through more amazing rock formations followed by a charming area of agriculture with terraces of corn and saffron. Tonight we set up camp next to a lovely collection of shepherds' houses and sheep folds at Tissouitine at 2450m.

Today's trekking day is charming as we start the morning surrounded by steep and rugged valley sides which gradually gives way to a landscape covered with scrub vegetation and red flowering oleander. We should see quite a lot of these drought tolerant, evergreen shrubs with single or double flowers which range in colour from white to red. The plants grow into large bushy shrubs as high as 6m tall. This morning we start the day by descending into the beautiful valley of Assif n'Izine complete with meandering stream. Here we'll find ingenious irrigation channels which provide water for the villagers' crops nestled between little houses and sheepfolds. Traditional houses are built against large boulders in alpine-style hamlets and are split in two. One part of the house is used for the family and the second half is an adjoining stable area which is used for sheep and goats. From the valley we start heading up the north side of the valley and can look back to the rounded peak of Tisfeldat and in the distance we'll see the peaks of the High Atlas. Next we descend and make our way through a gorge which brings us into a saffron-growing area above the villages of Ait Ighmour and Idoughagh. On this part of the trail we hike through a wadi whilst shaded by giant walnut trees. Late afternoon we arrive on the outskirts of the village of Tomahakout where we set up our final camp in the Jebel Sirwa.

After enjoying our final breakfast whilst camping we set off and enjoy a couple of hours of easy where we'll have views back to Jebel Sirwa. The footpath takes us down to the village of Tamazight where we meet our transport back to Marrakech via the Atlas. After checking in and freshening up, there will be some time to explore at Marrakech before meeting up in the evening for the dinner. After dinner you may wish to wander through the famed square in the heart of the medina which comes alive after dark. If you wish to extend your time in Morocco please contact the KE office and we can help you organise this. We'll be happy to extend your time in the group hotel, chat through the extensions options we offer or help you organise a traditional riad experience.

Your holiday ends after breakfast. For anyone with evening flights, the remainder of the day is free to explore the streets, souks and colourful sights of Marrakech. A popular option is to sit and watch the world go by from one of the restaurants overlooking the Djemaa el-Fna.