Cultural adventure tour from Casablanca to Marrakech taking in Fez, Rabat, Meknes, the desert dunes and Atlas mountains
Highlights
Casablanca, Roman ruins at Volubolis, ancient Meknes and Fez, 4WD desert jeep safari, camel ride & Berber camp, Cous cous cooking class, UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou, Todra Gorge, Atlas mountains, Marrakech
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive into Casablanca
On your arrival in Casablanca airport (CMN) our representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in, relax after your flight, and have a first look around. Extra nights before the tour starts are available on request.
| OVERNIGHT: Casablanca Hotel
| EXTRAS: Single Room Supplement, Extra night - pre-tour
Day 2: Casablanca / Rabat / Volubolis / Meknes
We start our tour at the impressive Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, 7th largest in the world and with an amazing seaside location. Morocco’s nearby capital, Rabat is next and we’ll see the Royal Palace, Ouadaya Garden & Kasbah and the Hassan Tower Mosque. Then we visit the ancient Roman city of Volubilis, home to some of the most impressive Roman ruins in North Africa. Finally we finish the day in the Berber town of Meknes which is full of intricate gateways, beautiful gardens and at 40m the largest ramparts in the country. The central square in Meknes is a great place to spend the evening and taste some traditional Moroccan cuisine.
| OVERNIGHT: Meknes Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 3: Fez. City tour
A short morning drive brings us to the mediaeval city of Fez and we spend the whole day exploring its labyrinth of souks, mosques and spice filled streets. Our tour features the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, Nejjarine fountain and the Bou Anania Medersa and you have time to explore the heady alleyways of the Medieval Medina, home to tanneries, carpet shops and local restaurants before heading to the old Merinic capital of Fez Jdid.
| OVERNIGHT: Fez Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 4: Fez / Midelt / Cous cous cooking class
We discover Morocco’s beautiful mountainous landscape today as we follow ancient caravan routes up into the hills, stopping en-route at Ifran, known as the ’Switzerland of Morocco’. Its alpine resort style feel is a huge contrast to the traditional Arabic cities you’ll visit. Next we head on through the hills to the town of Midelt where we enjoy a fun cooking class learning how to prepare and cook Morocco’s classic dish of cous cous.
| OVERNIGHT: Midelt Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Erg Chebbi sand dunes / camel ride / Berber desert camp
We drive through the scenic Ziz Valley this morning, descending to Erfoud on the edge of the Sahara Desert. We’ll make the short trip to Rissani and the birthplace of the Alaouite Dynasty before driving in 4WD vehicles through to the famous Erg Chebbi sand desert. Here we transfer to camels and take a sunset camel ride through the sand dunes to a traditional Berber camp nestled right on the edge of the dunes. You can enjoy some spectacular views over the sand dunes as the sun sinks below the horizon before enjoying a hearty Bedouin meal and a campfire this evening, often with local musicians helping enhance the atmosphere. You spend the night sleeping in comfortable Berber camel-hair tents.
| OVERNIGHT: Berber Desert Camp
| MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Tinghir, Todra Gorge, Ouarzazate
We leave the desert reluctantly this morning and visit the spectacular narrow canyon of Todra Gorge, whose huge rock walls change in colour as the light moves during the day. We’ll also drive through the Dades Canyon on steep winding roads with numerous switchbacks providing great views of the steep cliffs and the river rushing dramatically through the gorge below. Finally we continue along the ‘Road of a Thousand Kasbahs’ through the scenic Draa Valley to Ouarzazate, or ‘place of no noise’. An incredibly dramatic landscape, this area has played host to countless well known films.
| OVERNIGHT: Ouarzazate Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 7: Ait Benhaddou, Atlas Mountains, Ourika Valley
After a short tour of the Atlas movie studios outside Ouarzazate, today’s main highlight is Morocco’s most well known Kasbah at the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. This is a huge fortified city with houses and kasbahs crowding together inside the defensive walls, an excellent example of traditional Moroccan earthen clay architecture. Finally we head up into the Atlas Mountains again to cross the Tizi N’tichka col which at 2260m is the highest pass in Northern Africa. As we descend to Marrakech we’ll make a stop in the beautiful Ourika Valley with its beautiful river, pools and waterfalls.
| OVERNIGHT: Marrakech Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 8: Marrakech, City tour
Today’s tour of Marrakech begins with a trip to the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, home to the minaret which has become a symbol of the city. We then visit the Mausoleum and Bahia Palace which both host intricate and beautiful Arabic craftsmanship before exploring the lively souks and bazaars in Marrakech’s famous medina. Home to many different types of traders these narrow and winding streets are bustling with activity and full of sights sounds and smells uniquely Moroccan. Today’s tour ends at the lively Djemaa El Fna Square, a perfect place to finish our tour of Morocco.
| OVERNIGHT: Marrakech Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 9: Marrakech. Departure transfer to the airport
Your last day is left free for some final sightseeing and shopping until your departure airport transfer. You can add more days in Marrakech, a hot air balloon flight, quad bike adventure, Berber village day trip or an extension to the coastal town of Essaouira if you wish.
| OVERNIGHT: None
| MEALS: Breakfast
| EXTRAS: Extra night - post-tour, Marrakech Hot air balloon flight, Marrakech Quad-biking, Imlil day trip, Essaouira Extension
included with
- Accommodation in 4-star level hotels, a comfortable Berber desert camp and basic Berber village stay
- All transport and transfers with a local driver
- 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
- Services of a local tour guide/ leader throughout
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Entrances fees to sights as stated
excluded by
- International Flights
- Visa fees
- Travel Insurance (compulsory)
- Single room supplements (chargeable if a same-sex room share is not available)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
- Hotel Gala Dinners if charged on 24 & 31 Dec
- Tips
- Any other items not mentioned above
Detailed Description
Day 1: Arrive into Casablanca
On your arrival in Casablanca airport (CMN) our representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in, relax after your flight, and have a first look around. Extra nights before the tour starts are available on request.
| OVERNIGHT: Casablanca Hotel
| EXTRAS: Single Room Supplement, Extra night - pre-tour
Day 2: Casablanca / Rabat / Volubolis / Meknes
We start our tour at the impressive Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, 7th largest in the world and with an amazing seaside location. Morocco’s nearby capital, Rabat is next and we’ll see the Royal Palace, Ouadaya Garden & Kasbah and the Hassan Tower Mosque. Then we visit the ancient Roman city of Volubilis, home to some of the most impressive Roman ruins in North Africa. Finally we finish the day in the Berber town of Meknes which is full of intricate gateways, beautiful gardens and at 40m the largest ramparts in the country. The central square in Meknes is a great place to spend the evening and taste some traditional Moroccan cuisine.
| OVERNIGHT: Meknes Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 3: Fez. City tour
A short morning drive brings us to the mediaeval city of Fez and we spend the whole day exploring its labyrinth of souks, mosques and spice filled streets. Our tour features the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, Nejjarine fountain and the Bou Anania Medersa and you have time to explore the heady alleyways of the Medieval Medina, home to tanneries, carpet shops and local restaurants before heading to the old Merinic capital of Fez Jdid.
| OVERNIGHT: Fez Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 4: Fez / Midelt / Cous cous cooking class
We discover Morocco’s beautiful mountainous landscape today as we follow ancient caravan routes up into the hills, stopping en-route at Ifran, known as the ’Switzerland of Morocco’. Its alpine resort style feel is a huge contrast to the traditional Arabic cities you’ll visit. Next we head on through the hills to the town of Midelt where we enjoy a fun cooking class learning how to prepare and cook Morocco’s classic dish of cous cous.
| OVERNIGHT: Midelt Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Erg Chebbi sand dunes / camel ride / Berber desert camp
We drive through the scenic Ziz Valley this morning, descending to Erfoud on the edge of the Sahara Desert. We’ll make the short trip to Rissani and the birthplace of the Alaouite Dynasty before driving in 4WD vehicles through to the famous Erg Chebbi sand desert. Here we transfer to camels and take a sunset camel ride through the sand dunes to a traditional Berber camp nestled right on the edge of the dunes. You can enjoy some spectacular views over the sand dunes as the sun sinks below the horizon before enjoying a hearty Bedouin meal and a campfire this evening, often with local musicians helping enhance the atmosphere. You spend the night sleeping in comfortable Berber camel-hair tents.
| OVERNIGHT: Berber Desert Camp
| MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Tinghir, Todra Gorge, Ouarzazate
We leave the desert reluctantly this morning and visit the spectacular narrow canyon of Todra Gorge, whose huge rock walls change in colour as the light moves during the day. We’ll also drive through the Dades Canyon on steep winding roads with numerous switchbacks providing great views of the steep cliffs and the river rushing dramatically through the gorge below. Finally we continue along the ‘Road of a Thousand Kasbahs’ through the scenic Draa Valley to Ouarzazate, or ‘place of no noise’. An incredibly dramatic landscape, this area has played host to countless well known films.
| OVERNIGHT: Ouarzazate Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 7: Ait Benhaddou, Atlas Mountains, Ourika Valley
After a short tour of the Atlas movie studios outside Ouarzazate, today’s main highlight is Morocco’s most well known Kasbah at the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. This is a huge fortified city with houses and kasbahs crowding together inside the defensive walls, an excellent example of traditional Moroccan earthen clay architecture. Finally we head up into the Atlas Mountains again to cross the Tizi N’tichka col which at 2260m is the highest pass in Northern Africa. As we descend to Marrakech we’ll make a stop in the beautiful Ourika Valley with its beautiful river, pools and waterfalls.
| OVERNIGHT: Marrakech Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 8: Marrakech, City tour
Today’s tour of Marrakech begins with a trip to the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, home to the minaret which has become a symbol of the city. We then visit the Mausoleum and Bahia Palace which both host intricate and beautiful Arabic craftsmanship before exploring the lively souks and bazaars in Marrakech’s famous medina. Home to many different types of traders these narrow and winding streets are bustling with activity and full of sights sounds and smells uniquely Moroccan. Today’s tour ends at the lively Djemaa El Fna Square, a perfect place to finish our tour of Morocco.
| OVERNIGHT: Marrakech Hotel
| MEALS: Breakfast
Day 9: Marrakech. Departure transfer to the airport
Your last day is left free for some final sightseeing and shopping until your departure airport transfer. You can add more days in Marrakech, a hot air balloon flight, quad bike adventure, Berber village day trip or an extension to the coastal town of Essaouira if you wish.
| OVERNIGHT: None
| MEALS: Breakfast
| EXTRAS: Extra night - post-tour, Marrakech Hot air balloon flight, Marrakech Quad-biking, Imlil day trip, Essaouira Extension
