Flights generally arrive into Marrakech by midday. You will be met at the airport by on of the guides who will take you to your Riad and make sure that you get settled in nice and comfy! Then its out to explore the local restaurants and culture (and believe us, there is plenty!)

Included: No meals

We have breakfast in our Riad and then board our vehicles bound for the heart of the Atlas Mountains. We drive north from Marrakech often with stunning views of the Atlas Mountains and in particular, Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa. En route we stop near the picturesque Bin el Ouidane. Here we will base ourselves for the next two days for an introduction into the more basic aspects of kayaking. Before we finish for the day, we'll have a light-hearted game of canoe polo to test out your newfound skills. We'll have a relaxed meal together as a group as the sunsets over the nearby mountains.

After breakfast, we'll use some of our skills learnt yesterday and build on them. Traditionally we feel it most important to give you a good grounding in how to remain upright in your boat and not checking out the fish life! We do this through a series of tutorials on support strokes and for those who are progressing well or perhaps have had some previous kayaking experience we will work on your Eskimo roll. Please note that this is not a pre-requisite of running the river section of the trip as our ultimate aim is to make you comfortable in paddling moving Grade 2-3 water. After a well-deserved lunch we pack up all our kayaking gear and take the spectacular drive into the Ahanssel River. Setting up camp tonight beneath the magnificent Cathedral Rock is one of the most spectacular places we have ever stayed on any of our trips worldwide.

This morning after breakfast sees us getting a full safety talk from your trip leader and then we'll put our knowledge from the last two days into action. This river has a perfect level of progression, it starts of with easy moving water combined with a few features to allow you to practise catching eddies and ferrying from one side of the river to the other and gain more confidence in your boat (don't worry, all these technical terms will become crystal clear in the first few days of paddling on the river). We'll stop in a suitably scenic spot for a bite of lunch and you will be astounded at this scenery in this gorgeous valley. We frequently see monkeys and turtles in the section. We reach camp early enough for you to go and explore the nearby villages or perhaps just take some quiet time to write down your thoughts or take some stunning photographs. We'll enjoy a meal around the campfire.

After breakfast we load the gear raft, which carries all our dry bags and food for the trip. It pays to be nice to the guide as he also carries the beer and wine. Todays section has a few smaller rapids, which we will tackle with more confidence. We pass through the biggest village in the area called Tilouguite today, often with kids jumping into the river through the narrows section to "hitch hike" a ride down stream. We camp just past the village on a stunning beach. Tonight is wine and cheese night followed by a hearty dinner and desert. We won't be roughing it in the food department!

This morning we head down stream for our most challenging rapids to date. Instead of just running the rapids and following your instructor's line, on many of the rapids we'll all get out and talk through the options and different lines that are possible. In addition we'll show you where we will set up safety for you. The exhilaration you'll feel after running your first big rapid is something we can't describe here - but it's pretty warm and fuzzy! Clients are often amazed at how quickly our instructors are there to help on the river if necessary and just how positive and encouraging they are. Their enthusiasm for their sport is highly infectious.

With a cooked breakfast in our bellies we are into the heart of the gorge. Rollercoaster rapids here give you a real confidence boost where you might run five or six rapids in a row. By now the whole group is seeing a real improvement in their personal paddling development. If time permits we will run a brief but informative rescue workshop on some of the rescue techniques to help each other out on the river. We camp this evening near an old mill using water power from the river to grind flour etc.

Today sees more rapids as we head down river and discover the hidden beauty of Morocco. Our day is punctuated by a relaxing lunch, accompanied by the curious locals beneath the stunning cedar trees. The water here is generally crystal clear and we will pack our fishing rods, to try our luck to catch a fresh fish dinner for tonight! We kayak little more than 4-5 hours per day, leaving plenty of time to go and explore nearby villages, or just sit around with your fellow kayakers and discuss the day! Farmers go about their everyday business and inquisitive locals marvel at out vast array of multi coloured equipment! Its great to sit around the fire and recount the day's tales, especially after sampling a Rum Punch or two! This campsite is in a stunning canyon!

Included: All meals Days 2-8

Today we have the highlight of the trip for many of our clients. You will paddle through two stunning 300 metre high gorges, barely 5 metres wide. You will feel like you are starring in a movie. After this incredible section we will be met by a power- boat, which will pick us all up and take us the 9kms to the other side of the lake. On arrival, we'll pack up all our gear and drive for three hours back to Marrakech and a much-deserved hot shower and cold beer. We'll go out for dinner as a group basking in the glory of our achievement.

Included: Breakfast and Lunch

For the shoppers amongst you, the souqs of Marrakech will be your idea of heaven. Goods as varied as coffee tables, carpets and slippers can be purchased from the labyrinth of shops hidden in these souqs. Very little selling is done before the customary offer of a cup of Berber whisky (mint tea) and bargaining is acceptable, if not expected. The focal point of Marrakech is the Djemaa el-Fna, a huge square in the Medina, the old part of town. Although it is a lively place at any time of day (watch out for the Berber acrobats around 4pm) it really comes into its own in the evening reaching its peak between 7and 9 pm. Rows of open air food stalls are set up and mouth watering aromas fill the square. Jugglers, story tellers, snake charmers, magicians, acrobats and retired river guides take over the rest of the space, each surrounded by jostling spectators who listen and watch intently, or fall about laughing and move onto the next act which is starting nearby. Truly a great fun place!

Included: Breakfast Day 10

Flights normally leave Marrakech early morning, so we will transfer you to the airport in good time for your flight home.

Included: Breakfast Day 11