Morocco

Although camel trekking is a popular tourist activity all over the world - from Oman and India to Mongolia - there is surely no better way to test your mettle than to board a 'ship of the desert' in the biggest and most unforgiving desert of them all, the Sahara. Camel trekking in Morocco is hugely popular, giving all visitors a chance to experience life as a desert nomad for a few days.Typical camel treks in Morocco will include a guide, light meals and bottled mineral water, as well as the unique opportunity to spend your nights in a traditional Berber tent. There are many places where these adventures can be booked, but tourists are urged to head to the small village of Merzouga and to strike out from there. Book camel trekking trips with reputable tour operators that treat their animals well, as the impression that the camels are not well-cared for may ruin the experience.

Cooking classes are becoming an increasingly popular tourist activity in Morocco. Moroccan cuisine has a rich and varied history, showing traces of Berber, Andalusian, Turkish, Middle Eastern and (most recently) French influence. It is not only healthy and delicious, but relatively simple to prepare once you've been shown the ropes. Moroccan cooking classes are mainly offered in the popular tourist areas of Marrakech, Fez and Essaouira and usually also involve an overnight stay in a riad (a traditional Moroccan home with an interior courtyard).A typical half day cooking course will involve a trip to the local market to buy fresh ingredients, and then a demonstration of how to prepare a couscous and tagine dish. Cooking in a tagine - an earthenware dish with a conical lid - is a time-consuming affair which is richly rewarded by the aroma and taste of its succulent and tender contents.

Travellers to Morocco find it hard to resist the lure of the imposing Atlas Mountains, which arc southwards from the Mediterranean coast for 1,000 miles (1,609km) and offer adventurers a rugged paradise.Numerous guided walking tours and treks are on offer, generally starting from Marrakech or the village of Imlil. Trekkers on High Atlas are destined to hike up soaring peaks, through deep canyons, and past remote Berber villages. Do-it-yourself hikers will find locals willing to act as porters and guides, and hikers can also hire mules to carry equipment. The adventure opportunities in the Atlas range are varied, and range from challenging to accessible. For instance, only the experienced and well-prepared should tackle the ascent of Jebel Toubkal, the highest summit in North Africa, but even beginners can enjoy a tranquil stroll through the wild landscape of the Jebel Sahro region, where rocky plateaux are interspersed with oases that attract exotic creatures to its crystal clear pools.The range of tours and hikes on offer is spectacular but perhaps even more fascinating is spending some time with the local Berber people who offer deep insight into the landscape and its stories. For those who prefer to book tours, a number of reputable companies will design trips through the mountains to suit travellers' needs.