Arrival in Marrakech

Marrakech - Upon arrival at Menara International Airport, a private driver will warmly welcome you and transport you to your accommodations in Marrakech. Depending on your arrival time, you may have the day to relax and recover from your journey.

Consider exploring these attractions:

Bahia Palace: A 19th-century palace featuring stunning gardens.
Saadian Tombs: A breathtaking site crafted from Italian Carrara marble and honeycomb plasterwork, adorned with pure gold.
Koutoubia Mosque (view from outside): The largest mosque in the city, constructed in the 12th century.
In the evening, head to Jemaa El Fna, where performers, musicians, and local culture come alive. It’s an ideal spot for dinner and entertainment.

Travel to Essaouira

Essaouira - Today, journey to Essaouira, renowned for its excellent surfing beaches. The 3-hour drive takes you across expansive, rolling plains. As you approach Morocco’s western seaboard, you’ll enter a unique forest, the only ecosystem where argan trees grow, known for their valuable fruits. Make a brief stop to visit a local women’s association producing argan oil, celebrated for its health and beauty benefits.
Upon arrival in Essaouira, explore the impressive seawalls, discover the Old Medina’s delights, or enjoy the bustling fishing harbor. Essaouira boasts a rich Jewish heritage, with one of Morocco’s best-preserved Jewish quarters, exemplifying coexistence and offering a fascinating exploration.
Lunch and dinner are at your leisure, with recommendations from your driver. Be sure to inquire about excellent seafood options!

Travel to Casablanca

Casablanca - Depart early for Casablanca via the coastal route, with brief stops in other seaside cities along the way. The first stop is Safi, known for its superb surfing beaches and Atlantic Ocean views.

El Jadida - The second stop is El Jadida, where you can tour the hauntingly beautiful Portuguese cistern. Spend time walking the ramparts and visit the Church of the Assumption, followed by lunch.

Azemmour - Next, visit Azemmour, a source of inspiration for many Moroccan artists over the years, some of whom have chosen to reside here. Despite its proximity to Casablanca’s cosmopolitan art market, life remains traditional. The 16th-century medina, nestled between the Oud Er-Rbia River and the ocean, offers ample artistic inspiration.
Upon reaching Casablanca, check into your hotel. The evening and dinner are at your leisure.

Tour Casablanca and travel to Rabat

Casablanca - Begin the day with a tour of the Hassan II Mosque, featuring one of the world’s tallest minarets and showcasing Moroccan architectural excellence. The lavish interior boasts wood, marble, and carved stone, with guided ceilings. It’s the only mosque open to public tours, offering a unique experience. Lunch is on your own.

Rabat - In the afternoon, travel to Rabat, Morocco’s capital and home to the Royal Family. Visit the Hassan Tower monument, a magnificent Almohad Dynasty building. Hassan Tower is the minaret of an incomplete mosque and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V. The 12th-century project was abandoned, leaving the red sandstone tower standing at 145 feet, surrounded by about 200 columns. Dinner is on your own, with recommendations from your driver.

Travel to Tangier

Asilah - After breakfast, travel to Tangier via the Atlantic Coast, stopping briefly in Asilah, a charming coastal town. This former Portuguese colony is a popular summer destination for Moroccans, thanks to its clean and attractive beaches. Here, you’ll admire the Spanish-influenced architecture.

Tangier - Next, visit the Hercules Caves, a unique site partially constructed by the Phoenicians and said to be where Hercules himself slept. If desired, you can hire a guide for additional information about the site.
Finally, arrive in Tangier, the northernmost city and gateway to Europe via a ferry to Spain. With its diverse culture, Tangier offers a vibrant atmosphere. Spend the evening exploring, with dinner recommendations from your driver.

Travel to Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen - After breakfast, head to Chefchaouen, passing through Tetouan, a gem of a town nestled at the foot of the Rif Mountains, just a few kilometers from the sea. The ancient medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, appears unchanged for centuries. Explore the town independently, with recommendations from your driver. Lunch is at your leisure.
Continue to Chefchaouen, a visual delight with its blue walls, doors, windows, stairways, alleyways, and archways, all in shades of soft pastel sky blue and deeper hues. After checking in at your riad, explore the town at your own pace or relax. Outa el Hammam is the main square, perfect for people-watching. Wander the tiny alleys away from tourist areas to experience the town’s everyday life.

Tour Chefchaouen and hiking in the Rif Mountains

Chefchaouen - Good morning! Notice how Chefchaouen’s blue buildings glow in the morning light. Rise early to witness the sunrise over the mountains from the nearby Spanish mosque. With many shops opening at 10 am, take this time to explore the tranquil town.

Embark on a guided hike in the Rif Mountains, where you’ll explore the wilderness among cedar trees and hike to the stunning Cascades d’Akchour waterfall, perfect for photos. Encounter smaller waterfalls along the way, and if the weather permits, take a refreshing dip. On the river’s opposite side, take the steep path to God’s Bridge, a natural rock formation, or follow the canyon to view the bridge from below.

Back in Chefchaouen, visit the medina and immerse yourself in the town’s beauty. Stroll to the market to purchase fresh fruit to enjoy.

Travel to Fes

Fes - Bid farewell to Chefchaouen and journey south to Fes. Before departing, enjoy more exploration in the medina. Rise early to watch the sunrise from the Spanish mosque or spend a relaxing morning at a café in Place Outa el-Hammam.

Volubilis - En route to Fes, visit Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Morocco’s best-preserved Roman ruins. Take a break from driving to explore the vast complex, featuring large merchant homes with visible heating systems, temples, and well-preserved mosaics. Guides are usually available for hire, and your driver can assist.

Moulay Idriss - Next, visit Moulay Idriss, resembling a sitting camel from afar. Founded in 789 CE by Moulay Idriss after fleeing religious and tribal conflicts in Mecca, it became Morocco’s first Islamic capital and holds cultural significance. The city features Morocco’s only round minaret. Enjoy lunch here or at the next stop.

Fes - The final stop before Fes is Meknes, a prosperous city with a smaller medina than Fes, allowing for leisurely exploration without aggressive shopkeepers. Your driver will guide you through the Ville Impériale area, showcasing gardens, palaces, the impressive Bab al-Mansour gate, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the Royal Stables. Many palaces were built using materials from Volubilis, so watch for Roman columns in unexpected places!

Conclude the day in Fes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, founded by Moulay Idriss I and made the capital of the Idrisid dynasty by his successor, Moulay Idriss II. You’ll be taken to your riad in the Fes medina, with the late afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Guided tour of Fes

Fes - After breakfast, meet your tour guide for a day of exploration in the Fes medina. This UNESCO-protected medina features narrow alleyways and donkey-width roads. Your Fes-born guide will share hidden stories and show you secluded corners of the medina, allowing you to observe daily life and the splendor of Fes’s madrasas and palaces. Your guide will help you appreciate Fes’s magnificence as only a local can. Be sure to ask for lunch suggestions.

Fes is a hub of Moroccan crafts and arts, where you’ll meet artisans to learn about the history and significance of their trades. Visit tanneries and mosaic workshops to observe traditional crafting methods still in use today.

In the afternoon, return to your riad to relax. Later, enjoy a guided visit to the local hammam (traditional public bath), one of the most relaxing activities after a long day of walking.

Travel to Merzouga in the Sahara Desert

Merzouga - Start early today, as you’ll cover a lot of ground to reach the Sahara Desert!

Cross the Middle Atlas Mountains through Azrou and its majestic cedar forests. Take a brief detour to the scenic Cèdre Gouraud Forest, where Barbary Macaque monkeys lounge in ancient cedar trees near the road.

Stop for lunch in Midelt, situated on a cold, high desert plateau. Despite the harsh landscape, Midelt is known as Morocco’s “Apple City” for its productive orchards, thanks to the Moulouya River, which provides year-round water as it flows to the Mediterranean Sea.

Continue across a landscape of steep mountain ranges, wide valleys, and narrow canyon passes. Follow the Ziz Valley, an important branch of the ancient Saharan Trade Route.

Erfoud - Erfoud is a bustling market town known for dates and fossils. En route, you’ll see hillside mines where large fossil rocks are extracted. Stop at a local artisan collective to learn about the area’s fossils and see how fossil-rich rock is transformed into beautiful products. You’ll see the massive dunes of Erg Chebbi in the distance, covering nearly 22 miles, with some dunes rising over 650 feet high.

Merzouga - Near Merzouga, take a short break before heading to your desert camp. If you choose to ride a camel, you’ll arrive at camp just before sunset, where you can climb the dunes to watch the colorful sunset reflecting on the sand.

Return to camp for dinner and a night of traditional Berber music by the fire. With minimal light pollution, be sure to gaze at the starry night sky before retiring for the night.

Travel to Ouarzazate

Rissani - Early risers will be rewarded with a sunrise over the sand dunes. Enjoy breakfast at your camp, then travel back across the desert to Merzouga. Meet your driver and begin the long drive to Ouarzazate. Consider stopping in Rissani before crossing the desert plains. It’s a great place to explore a traditional market, especially on market days when many animals are traded. Don’t miss the “donkey parking lot.”

Alnif - Today’s journey is truly spectacular, taking you through remote, empty land bordering the Sahara. The vast views include desert plains, high mountains, and plateaus, offering a sense of wilderness and grandeur. Along the way, you’ll see umbrella-shaped Acacias adapted to the harsh environment. Stop in Alnif to visit local fossil workshops.

Dades Gorges - Continue to the Dadès Gorge, cutting through a dramatic landscape of rusty red and mauve-striped mountains. The valley below is an irrigated oasis filled with fig, almond, and olive orchards, dotted with crumbling kasbahs and Berber villages. Ask your driver for lunch options in Boumalne Dadès.

Ouarzazate - End the day in Ouarzazate, a town renowned for its role in the Moroccan film industry. Beyond movies, take a guided tour of Aït Benhaddou, Morocco’s most famous Kasbah and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Believed to date from the 11th century, it held an important position along the trans-Saharan trade route between Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and the southern desert. If you arrive late, proceed to your accommodations and visit Aït Benhaddou in the morning.

Travel to Marrakech

Ouarzazate - Today, cross the High Atlas Mountains separating Ouarzazate from Marrakech. If you didn’t visit Aït Benhaddou yesterday or wish to see it in the morning light, explore the ksar after leaving Ouarzazate.

Tizi n Tichka - Ascend the dry desert slopes of the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass. Near the top, enjoy panoramic views of the mountain range and Marrakech’s plains below. Look for Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s highest mountain, to your west. As you descend the north-facing slopes, notice the dramatic change in climate and landscape, crossing deep river valleys and abundant almond and walnut orchards. Soon, you’ll leave the desert and mountains behind, entering vibrant Marrakech.

Marrakech - Once in Marrakech, spend the afternoon at a leisurely pace. If you haven’t visited the medina’s main square, Jemaa el Fna, make time to do so on your last night. The square comes alive with musicians, performers, snake charmers, games, food stalls, and more. Enjoy the entertainment over a farewell meal at one of the surrounding cafés.

Departure from Marrakech

Marrakech - Today, depart Morocco from Marrakech Menara International Airport. Depending on your flight time, you may need to head to the airport immediately after breakfast or have time for a bit more city exploration. Prepare to say goodbye and bid Morocco farewell, taking home cherished memories of its vibrant culture, desert landscapes, and skilled artisans.

• Camel ride/Sandboarding
• Dinner
• Breakfast

• In-vehicle air conditioning

During this 13-day journey, discover the diverse facets of Morocco, from the seaside town of Essaouria and the royal city of Fez to Merzouga section of the Sahara Desert. Starting and concluding in Marrakech, wander through the vibrant Jemma El Fna square before visiting the towering Hassan Mosque II in Casablanca, one of world’s highest towers. Trail through the picturesque Rif Mountains and immerse yourself in the azure city of Chefchaouen. Savor the amazing Moroccan cuisine and experience the local culture throughout your trip.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.