12 best Moroccan holidays: From desert and verdant valleys to world-class surfing

Take a tour of Morocco's desert and coast and see some of North Africa's richest birdlife with The Travelling Naturalist (tel: 01305 267994; net: www.naturalist.co.uk.) This 10-day tour includes the coastal lagoon of Oued Massa, the oasis of Erfoud and Merzouga Lake. The price is £1,325 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, full-board accommodation, transport and the services of group leaders.

1 Bird watching Take a tour of Morocco's desert and coast and see some of North Africa's richest birdlife with The Travelling Naturalist (tel: 01305 267994; net: www.naturalist.co.uk.) This 10-day tour includes the coastal lagoon of Oued Massa, the oasis of Erfoud and Merzouga Lake. The price is £1,325 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, full-board accommodation, transport and the services of group leaders.

2 Luxury break Relax in Winston Churchill's favourite hotel, La Mamounia, five minutes from Marrakesh's central square with Elegant Resorts (tel: 0870 333 3370; net: www.elegant resorts.co.uk). This luxury Moorish-style hotel has five restaurants, numerous bars, a health and beauty salon, boutiques, a swimming pool, squash and tennis courts and a 10-acre driving range. The price of a three-night break ranges from £585 to £740, based on two sharing, including return flights and transfers.

3 Camel trek Trek across The Hamada (black plain), the gorge of Oumlili and through rugged hills to M'Hamid by camel with Best of Morocco (tel: 01380 828533; net: www.morocco-travel.com) The price of a six-day camel trek starting in and returning to Zagora is £247 for a minimum of two people. The price excludes flights but includes meals (mainly vegetarian), a French speaking local guide and a berber tent for each person.

4 Imperial cities Take an 11-day cycling tour of Morocco's imperial cities with Exodus (tel: 020 8675 5550; net: www.exodus.co.uk/holidays/mmi). The "moderate to challenging" route takes in the cities of Fez and Marrakesh, the Atlas Mountains and the palaces of Meknes. Average cycling is 65km a day with the longest ride 110km. The price is £865, based on two sharing, and includes return flights, nine nights' accommodation in two to four-star hotels and one night in an auberge. Cycle hire is extra and costs £75 in Morocco or £100 in UK (including delivery).

5 Golf week Morocco is a golfers' haven and The Palmeraie Golf Palace offers various packages. The hotel is set near an 18-hole championship golf course. Prices for seven nights range from £604 to £1,120 per person based on two sharing, including return flights, for room-only accommodation.

Contact Cadogan Holidays (tel: 023 8082 8313; net: www.cadoganholidays.com.)

There are two more golf courses at nearby Marrakesh with green fees at around £19-£22 a day (for two rounds).

6 Gold route Take an 11-day tour retracing the ancient gold route with Martin Randall Travel Ltd (tel: 020 8742 3355; email: info@martinrandall.co.uk). The trip takes in Tangier, Meknes, Fez, Erfoud and Ouarzazte and covers the empires of Carthage and Rome, the Arab conquest and the medieval dynasties of Morocco.

Prices are £1,760 - £1,790, based on two sharing, and include return flights, transport, four and five-star accommodation and the services of a lecturer.

7 Beach holiday The Valtur Club Village situated on Agadir Bay is a Moorish-style complex with amenities for the whole family. Music and entertainment feature highly. The nearby sports club offers golf, archery, table tennis, volleyball and horse riding. The hotel provides a children's club. Contact Cadogan Holidays (tel: 023 8082 8313; net: www.cadoganholidays.com). Prices start at £657, based on two sharing and include return flights and transfers.

8 In the wilderness The remote Jebel Siroua region barely gets a mention in most Western guidebooks but is an area of wild beauty. Travelbag Adventures (tel:01420 541007; net: www.travelbag-adventures.co.uk) offers a nine-day excursion by minibus and on foot. The trip begins in Taroudant and takes in the remains of a kasbah at Taliouine. The valleys of the Jebel Siroua, home to the Berber tribe, are rugged and dramatic and trekking in this area is labelled "moderate to strenuous". Prices start from £549, based on two sharing, and include return flights, three nights' hotel accommodation, five nights camping and all meals.

9 Learn to surf Morocco is home to some of the best surfing in the world. The Hippocamp Hotel in the fishing village of Oualidia is near Surfland where practical and theoretical lessons are given. The beaches of Oualidia are virtually deserted in the winter

months although popular in high season (July to September). Prices start at £585 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, seven nights' accommodation, breakfast and an evening meal.

Contact Best of Morocco (Tel: 01380 828533; net: www.morocco-travel.com).

10 Marrakesh shopping The souks of Marrakesh, in the regional capital of southern Morocco, offer a very different shopping experience. Accommodation is in the Riad Noga Hotel, an old merchants' house with just eight rooms. A weekend break (Thursday night to Sunday night) costs £495 which includes return flights, transfers, airport taxes and bed and breakfast. Contact Aadvark Safaris (tel: 01980 849160; net: www.aardvarksafaris.com).

11 Health spa

Le Lido, part of the Melia Riad Salam Hotel, houses the Institute of Sea Water Therapy health centre. Treatments include mud and Turkish baths, saunas, a gymnasium and massages. Prices for a week at the hotel start at £554 per person, based on two sharing and include return flights and airport taxes but not transfers. Le Lido treatments are extra with daily prices for thalassotherapy starting at £47. Morocco Made to Measure (tel: 020 7235 0123; email: clmltd@aol.com).

12 Horse riding Explore the beautiful mountain scenery of the Draa Valley with Ride World Wide (tel: 01837 82544; net: www.rideworldwide.co.uk) The seven-day trip finishes at Zagora on the edge of the desert and much of the riding is through mountainous desert terrain and lush green valleys. The price is £900 per person, based on two sharing, and includes transfers from the airport, hotel accommodation and meals, but excludes flights.

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