Intrepid Travel has partnered with the Moroccan National Tourist Office to help boost visitation in that country.
The partnership comes as Intrepid says it has seen significant growth in Morocco bookings since the pandemic, making it one of the company’s best-selling destinations globally.
“We are delighted to launch this new partnership with MNTO, further investing in the development of tourism in my home country,” said Hala Benkhaldoun, Morocco General Manager for intrepid journey. “Morocco is an extremely special place, one that more people in the world should have the chance to see.”
As part of the partnership, Intrepid will launch a series of itineraries in 2024 that will take guests through Morocco’s Happy Valley, an off-the-beaten-path destination located in the Ait Bougmez region of the High Atlas Mountains.
The new routes
On the Trekking in Morocco Happy Valley in High Atlas trip, guests will explore waterfalls, ancient ruins, and lush vegetation on an eight-day adventure that includes stops for home-cooked meals in rural villages and learning about the rich history of the Amazigh people. , the community that inspired the name “Happy Valley.” Rates start at $1,180 per person.
The eight-day Classic Morocco tour includes visits to the holy Hassan II Mosque and the Roman ruins of Volubilis; a solar-powered Sahara camping experience among the sand dunes; a tour and tasting at a Tawesna tea house run by local women; hiking through the High Atlas mountain range; and an exploration of the vibrant architecture and flavors of Marrakech. Rates start at $1,320 per person.
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The One Week in Morocco: Sahara & Atlas Mountains, also an eight-day trip, has been developed exclusively for travelers aged 18-29 who will provide a taste of Intrepid products in Morocco. Travelers on this itinerary can expect to do everything from strolling the streets of Marrakech to hiking the High Atlas Mountains to sleeping under the Saharan stars in a solar-powered camp. Rates start at $710 per person.
There’s also the five-day Mount Toubkal long weekend trip where guests will climb the highest peak in North Africa with expert guides, where they’ll be treated to incredible views of the High Atlas Mountains, the Sahara and the Atlantic Coast. There will also be a night in an authentic mountain refuge at Toubkal Base Camp along with Moroccan home-cooked meals served throughout the trip.
New experiences, too
Intrepid has also added some new experiences to existing itineraries. A henna ceremony in the M’goun Valley on your Morocco Uncovered trip will offer travelers the chance to learn about the history and meaning of henna tattoos and receive their own designs from the Naquasha women. In the Premium Morocco tour, Intrepid has added a visit to the Taman’Art Space with a local artist on a terrace overlooking the mountains.
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In addition to the partnership with the tourist office, the operator’s non-profit Intrepid Foundation has created a partnership with the Moroccan non-profit High Atlas Foundation. It is just one of 22 new brand partners globally in 2023.
For every traveler who books an Intrepid trip, the company will make a donation to a partner NGO chosen by its local team, including The High Atlas Foundation, dedicated to agricultural development, education and access to health for women and youth in Morocco, and Education for All, a non-profit organization that expands access to girls’ education to remote communities in Morocco.
