Morocco Unveiled: A 15-day Adventure to Awaken Your Senses

Discover the best of Morocco on an adventure to awaken the senses. From the Atlas Mountains to seaside Essaouira, the Saharan deserts to the palmeries of Todra Valley, and from the medieval old town of Fes to the spice markets of Marrakech, the most spectacular of Morocco await. Observe the vibrant contrasts between old and new architecture, artwork, and cuisine. Learn about fallen cities and cross paths with nomadic tribes. The majesty of Morocco is a feast for the senses and is waiting to be explored.

Reasons why you'll love this trip:

- Under the eye of a local tour guide, feel like you've travelled back to the Middle Ages in the labyrinthine medina of Fes.

- Stay in a traditional Berber homestay high in the Atlas Mountains, to better understand the culture and tradition of an indigenous population who have stood the test of time.

- Take the opportunity to trek through the dramatic red dunes of the Sahara on a camel, experiencing an unforgettable sunset experience.

- Kick back in the coastal town of Essaouira and discover at your own pace, enjoying a fresh seafood barbecue on the waterfront.

- Marrakech’s Djemaa el-Fna is a city within a city. Explore one of the world’s largest meeting places, joining the night’s carnival atmosphere of fortune-tellers, dancers, and medicine men.

Important considerations:

- Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be extremely high in Morocco (over 35°C), which can make things uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water.

- As Morocco has a tipping culture, travellers are expected to tip small amounts for most services, so please be prepared. Your trip leader and the 'Money Matters' section of our Essential Trip Information will help to provide you with some suggestions as to what amounts are appropriate.

- Although you shouldn’t expect any aggressive selling techniques in Morocco, please be aware that you may be approached by shop owners and street vendors offering their goods to you on regular occasions.

- We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line, but please note that service and accommodation in Morocco may differ from western standards.

Included activities :

• Rabat - Leader-led walking tour

• Volubilis - Entrance and Guided Tour

• Fes - Medina walking tour

• Walk and visit of Berrem village

• Sahara Desert - Sunset Camel Ride

• Tinejdad - Museum El Khorbat

• Atlas Mountains - Half-day hike

• Essaouira - Guided walking tour

• Marrakech - Dinner on Djemaa el Fna

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Day 1: Welcome to Casablanca, Morocco

starts with a 6 pm welcome meeting. If you want to fully explore the city, consider arriving a day or two earlier. Casablanca is famous for its art deco buildings and the Hassan II Mosque. Explore the old and new medinas, walk along the Corniche or relax in one of the many cafes. The welcome meeting is important to attend as we will collect insurance and next of kin information. If you're going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Additional accommodation can be booked subject to availability. Optional activities include religious or medina tours, visiting the Jewish Museum or Villa des Arts Gallery, and exploring the Hassan II Mosque. No meals are included. We strongly advise customers against joining any tour offered by unauthorised guides.
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Day 2: Rabat - Meknes

On Day 2, take a 1-hour morning train to Rabat, a historical town with a long and colorful past. Explore the old quarter and Kasbah des Oudaias for views of the Atlantic Ocean. Afterward, take a 3-hour train to Meknes, an imperial city built with over 25,000 slaves. Enjoy a leader-led walking tour of Rabat. Breakfast is included and accommodation is in a hotel for 1 night.
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Day 3: Meknes - Volubilis - Fes

On Day 3, explore Meknes and visit Sultan Moulay Ismail's Heri es Souani Granary and the city's imperial palaces. Try a camel burger for lunch and then travel by private minibus for 1 hour to the impressive archaeological site of Volubilis. Take a guided tour and see intact mosaics along the Decumanus Maximus. Remember to bring water, hat, sunglasses, and sun cream. Then, we drive for 2 hours to Fes, where you'll spend the next two nights. Breakfast and lunch are included, and accommodation is in a hotel for 1 night. The tour of Volubilis is also included.
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Day 4: Fes

Explore the medieval Fes el Bali on a guided walking tour. Marvel at the souks, tanneries, and mosques while passing by donkeys piled with goods. Visit historical landmarks like Medersa Bou Inania and the beautifully restored Funduk Nejjarine. See traditional pottery-making at a ceramics factory and the iconic view overlooking the tannery's dye pits. In the evening, try out Moroccan specialties like harira and pastilla with couscous. Note that the tour involves shopping, and leaving the group means meeting back at the hotel in Fes. Expect at least 5-6 hours of walking, but it's one of the highlights of Morocco. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night). Included Activities: Fes - Medina walking tour. Meals Included: Breakfast.
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Day 5: Midelt

Travel by private minibus through the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains for approximately 5 hours, passing through fertile valleys, forests, and rocky landscapes. Stop at Midelt, a market town surrounded by farmland and orchards, and explore the nearby village of Berrem. Stay overnight at Ksar Timnay, a traditional kasbah-inspired guesthouse, and enjoy a large pool to cool off. Included activities are a walk and visit of Berrem village. An optional folklore musical performance in Midelt is available for an additional cost. Breakfast is included.
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Day 6: Sahara Camp

Board a private minivan for a 6-hour journey to the Sahara Desert. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to stop and admire kasbahs and lush valleys filled with date palms, fields, and orchards. You may even pass by nomads with their flocks of animals. Drive through changing landscapes, from barren mountainsides to fertile valleys, stopping in frontier towns like Erfoud and Rissani before reaching the small Saharan village of Merzouga. In Merzouga, store your main baggage and embark on a 1-hour camel ride into the desert to watch the sunset over the picturesque Erg Chebbi sand dunes. Spend the night in a simple desert camp under the stars where a hearty feast will be prepared for you. Basic bedding and toilet facilities are provided. If you prefer not to ride a camel, it's possible to walk alongside the caravan for about an hour.
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Day 7: Todra Gorge

On Day 7 of the tour, you'll wake up early to catch a stunning sunrise over the Sahara before having a traditional breakfast and heading towards Todra Gorge. On the way, you'll visit the El Khorbat oasis museum and continue through the beautiful Todra Valley. This area, with its mud-brick villages and incredible rock formations shaped by the wind, will be your base for the next two nights. You'll take a short walk through the surrounding farmland and a ruined village to explore the area on foot. You'll spend the night in a hotel and breakfast is included.
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Day 8: Todra Gorge

Explore Todra Valley with a guided 4-hour hike through the gorge and over a nearby mountain pass, passing Berber villages and meeting locals. Wear sturdy shoes, sunglasses, sun cream, and bring plenty of water. Lunch with local ladies in their mudbrick kasbah is an option. Otherwise, relax by the hotel pool with views of the lush palmeries and cliff faces. Optional activities include lunch in the kasbah, henna tattooing, and a hamam. Note that the hike requires moderate fitness and sturdy shoes. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night). Meals Included: Breakfast.
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Day 9: Ait Benhaddou

Travel 4 hours south to Ait Benhaddou, passing scenic ancient kasbah ruins, mountain valleys, and palm tree fields. Stop for lunch in Ouarzazate, where famous movies were filmed, and optionally take a tour of Atlas Movie Studios. Arrive at Ait Benhaddou, a World Heritage site and former stop for Sahara caravans. Enjoy couscous and tagine for dinner. Optional activities include visiting Kasbah Taourirt. Accommodation: Guesthouse (1 night). Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner.
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Day 10: Aroumd

Leave the Sahara behind and journey through Tizi n'Tichka Pass to Toubkal National Park. Here, you can walk or ride a mule up to the traditional mountain village of Aroumd, surrounded by the High Atlas Mountains. Spend the night in a family-run mountain home to experience traditional Berber culture and hospitality. Appropriate footwear is required for the 1-hour trek, and your main luggage will be left behind while you only carry your hand luggage to the village. Facilities at the homestay are shared but cozy. The accommodation includes a gite homestay for one night with breakfast and dinner included, and optional mule ride instead of walking.
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Day 11: Essaouira

Start your day with a half-day hike through the stunning Atlas Mountains before heading west for a 5-hour drive towards Essaouira. Once you arrive, take some time to explore the charming medina and beaches of this historic fishing town. There are plenty of optional activities to choose from, including observing seafood auctions and people-watching in local cafes. In the evening, enjoy a group meal and discover the town by night. You will stay in a comfortable hotel for one night and your meals, including breakfast and lunch, are included.
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Day 12: Essaouira

Join a local guide for a walking tour of Essaouira's old medina, Jewish mellah, port, and skala. Explore the town's narrow streets, art galleries, and shops, including the shops built into the Portuguese ramparts that sell delicately formed and inlaid Thuya wood. Enjoy freshly cooked seafood for lunch on the seaside, and relax with a hammam or local-style bath. Stay overnight in a hotel and enjoy breakfast in the morning. Optional activities include a hamam, Berber massage, horse riding, or a seafood market lunch.
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Day 13: Marrakech

Chat with locals during a 3-hour shared bus ride to Marrakech, an ancient city infused with European modernity. Explore the vibrant spice markets, music, carpets, food, and gardens that make Marrakech a feast for the senses. Join the crowds at Djemaa el-Fna for dinner, a famous public space that transforms into a bustling street food bazaar and performance hub at night. Sample Moroccan delicacies like snail soup and pastries with fresh orange juice, and end your evening with tea at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the square. Stay overnight in a hotel and enjoy breakfast and dinner. The included activity is dinner at Djemaa el Fna.
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Day 14: Marrakech

On Day 14, you have the chance to explore Marrakech at your leisure. The Medina is a must-see for last-minute shopping, where every turn presents a new sight, smell, or gift to buy. The souqs offer a wide range of items such as pottery, woodwork, copper, leather, carpets, and spices, with skilled artisans displaying their craftsmanship. Bargain with the vendors or relax with a cup of tea or a tajine filled with the essence of Morocco. If you prefer to sightsee, visit the famous Koutoubia Mosque with its 12th-century minaret, the Palais Bahia or the ruins of the Palais Badi, or the recently uncovered Saadian tombs. The Medersa Ben Youssef and the Museum of Marrakech are also worth visiting. Finding these landmarks can be challenging, but it's part of the adventure of exploring the medinas of Morocco. In the evening, return to the Djemaa el-Fna and the surrounding medina, where you can enjoy a meal at one of the many outdoor restaurants lining the square. Accommodation is provided for one night in a hotel. Breakfast is included.
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Day 15: Marrakech

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave at any time. Check-out time is usually around midday, however, if you wish to spend more time in Marrakech, we can organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Price Included

✓ Meals : 14 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners
✓ Transport : Camel, Private Bus, Public bus, Taxi, Train
✓ Accommodation : Camp site (1 night), Gite homestay (1 night), Guesthouse (2 nights), Hotel (10 nights)