After breakfast, Casablanca exploration beckons. Tour the beautiful Hassan II Mosque which is one of the only religious sites open to non-Muslims and located along the sea front. Next, drive to the capital of Rabat where you’ll meet an expert local guide. Rabat's history is long and colourful, having been host to Roman settlements, pirates, and more recently the Moroccan parliament. It contains numerous fine Arab monuments, some dating from the 10th to 15th century Almohad and Merenid dynasties, and others that are far older. Discover the city’s medina and souks, then explore the lovely walled quarter known as the Kasbah des Oudaias and enjoy a glass of mint tea and some local sweets. Afterward, continue the walk to visit Mohamed the 5th Mausoleum and the vast minaret of the Hassan Mosque.

Next head to Meknes, the former capital of Morocco, there join your leader and explore the winding streets of Meknes’ old medina and their elaborately decorated public buildings

Included Activities

• Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque
• Rabat - Kasbah des Oudaias
• Rabat - Hassan Tower
• Rabat - Mausoleum Mohammed V
• Rabat - Mausoleum Hassan II
• Meknes - walking tour 
• Breakfast 

Accommodation 

Oasis Tafilalet Hotel or similar 

After breakfast drive to the nearby archaeological site of Volubilis, the remains of which make an undeniably impressive sight as they come into view on the edge of a long, high plateau. Tour the ancient hilltop ruins with an expert local guide, and discover the town’s elaborate mosaics along the Decumanus Maximus, many of which remain intact.

Afterward, travel to Chefchaouen, or the ‘blue city’, which is arguably one of the prettiest places in Morocco. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen has been lovingly cared for with striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs, and artistic doorways. Take an orientation walk with your leader through the ancient medina and shop for handicrafts, or sit at a cafe and enjoy the pleasure of time passing by. If you're feeling peckish, the local goats' cheese is a popular treat. 

Included Activities

• Chefchaouen - Leader-led orientation walk
• Volubilis - Entrance and Guided Tour
• Breakfast 

Accommodation 

Maison d'hôtes Afassi or similar 

This morning is free to explore Chefchaouen. Later on, drive to Fes, where you'll spend the next two nights. Fes is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco; vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming – a visual and pungent feast for the senses – with a huge, well-preserved medieval old city that’s the mother of all medinas. Upon arrival in the evening, the rest of the day will be yours. 

Accommodation 

Across Hotel or similar 

Take a guided group walking tour of the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali. Step back into the Middle Ages in the labyrinth of the Medina, which is alive with craftsmen, markets, tanneries and mosques. Pass donkeys piled high with goods (this is one of the largest car-free urban zones in the world) and explore the specialty sections that divide the souk. Look out for the Medersa Bou Inania, one of the city's most beautiful buildings, which has recently been restored and is now open to tourists. Visit Medresse el Attarine and the splendid Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th century inn. You'll also see the famous tannery, known for the iconic view overlooking its dye pits, and a ceramics factory where you can see potters working in the traditional way. In the evening, perhaps enjoy a delicious group dinner (at your own cost) of Moroccan specialties like harira (chickpea soup) and chicken-stuffed pastilla with couscous. 

Included Activities 

Guided walking tour - Fes 

Breakfast 

Accommodation 

Across Hotel or similar 

Board the private minibus and leave the intensity of the city behind for the simplicity of the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains (approximately 4 hours). Drive south, inland through a variety of spectacular scenery – fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes. The area is populated with wandering nomadic shepherds attending to their flocks. Pass through cedar forests which are home to Barbary apes, North Africa's only monkey, and on to your destination of Midelt. Nestled in a valley, Midelt is a market town, originally built as a base for mining in the area and surrounded by farmland and orchards. Stretch your legs as you explore the nearby village of Bremmem and take a closer look at local farming life and pay a visit to one of the families for a tea break and a demonstration on how they are making it. Tonight you will enjoy dinner and a traditional berber music performance. 

Included Activities 

Walk and visit of Berrem village Tea demonstration. 

Dinner and a Folklore music performance 

Breakfast 

Accommodation 

Hotel Ksar Timnay or similar 

Today it's a five-hour drive towards the mighty Sahara Desert. Since we'll have the convenience of our own private minivan, there will be many opportunities to stop and admire views of Kasbahs and palmeries (valleys lush with date palms, fields and orchards) along the way. Drive through changing scenery, from barren mountainsides to fertile valleys, pausing in frontier towns like Erfoud and Rissani, before reaching the end of the road at the small Saharan settlement of Merzouga. With a backdrop of the orange-coloured Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the charming Saharan village of Merzouga feels wonderfully isolated, like the modern world has left it behind.

Store your main baggage in your overnight camp on the edge of the desert and mount a camel for a one-hour sunset ride into the desert. The Erg Chebbi dunes are the most stunning in the country and an essential part of any visit to Morocco. An erg is a vast sea of shifting wind-swept sand that's formed into picturesque, undulating crests and valleys. Located at the end of a sealed road and just 20 kilometers from the Algerian border, this really feels like frontier country. Spend the night in a desert camp under the stars. Our local friends will prepare a hearty feast, so all you need to do is sit back and relax. 

Included

Breakfast

Dinner 

Camel Ride 

Sahara Experience

Accommodation 

Ali Cojo Camp  or similar 

Wake up a take a camel out of the desert. Then travel south for around six hours to Ait Benhaddou. The scenic drive on the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs will take you past ancient kasbah ruins, former colonial military outposts, austere mountains and valleys of palm trees and irrigated fields, Todra Valley and its gorges, the famous Rose Valley of M’gouna and Skoura. 

Your first stop is Skoura Oasis, home to several privately owned kasbahs, including the Kasbah Ameridhl, with its extravagant decorations and mud-brick fortifications. Continue on to your destination of Ait Benhaddou. Centuries ago, this was an important stop for caravans carrying salt across the Sahara. Today its grand kasbah, a fine example of clay architecture, has been listed as a World Heritage site. Enjoy a walking tour and included dinner. 

Included Activities 

Kasbahs

Walking tour of Ait Ben Haddou

Breakfast 

Dinner  

Accommodation 

Auberge Chez Brahim or similar 

After breakfast journey over the spectacular Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260 metres above sea level) to Toubkal National Park (approximately 5 hours), photographing snow-dappled mountains and valleys in full flower along the way. At the end of the road in Imlil, store your main luggage and load a daypack onto a pack mule. Walk into a traditional mountain village life with a one-hour trek up to the peaceful village of Aroumd, far from the reach of the modern world. If you don't feel comfortable with the walk, you can ride a mule instead. Perched on a rocky outcrop, the remote village of Aroumd offers stunning views across the High Atlas Mountains and a unique opportunity to experience traditional Berber culture.

Spend the night in a family-run mountain home (gite) in Aroumd. Surrounded by the smell of woodstoves and bread, meet the host family and enjoy Berber hospitality and food. Facilities at the homestay are shared (both the bathroom and sleeping arrangements) but cosy, comfortable and definitely a unique experience. 

Included

Breakfast

Dinner 

Optional Activities 

Mule ride - Imlil to Aroumd 

Accommodation 

Dar Tajine Aroumd  or similar 

After the hustle and bustle of the cities enjoy a relaxed day in the mountains. Perhaps explore the local village or unwind in front of the fireplace. Today you will enjoy a bread cooking demonstration with your local host. Many of our past guests say this is the best food of the entire trip so enjoy! Rest of the day is at leisure. 

Included Activities 

Bread cooking demonstration 

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Accommodation 

Dar Tajine Aroumd  or similar 

Today travel towards the Atlantic Coast and the old fishing town of Essaouira, a city where the medina brushes up against the Atlantic Ocean. Sandstone walkways contrast with whitewashed houses, bright blue sky and the sand of the surrounding beaches and dunes. This artists' town was once home to sizeable British and Jewish populations, and its charm has seduced people like Orson Welles and Jimi Hendrix, who (according to local legend) spent much of his time here in the 1960s. It is one of North Africa's most attractive places, and you will soon find yourself slipping into the easy­going rhythm of this Moroccan town with a European seaside twist. As you will arrive in the late afternoon, there is still some time for exploring. In the evening, perhaps catch up with your group to share a meal and discover this lovely town by night afterwards. Your hotel for next two nights is located in the centre of the old medina, which will make for a very memorable stay. 

Included

Breakfast

Walking Tour 

Accommodation 

Riad Dar Alqdima or similar 

This morning enjoy a cooking class, learn about the Moroccan cuisine and prepare your own lunch in this fun class.

Afterwards, use your free time to get under the skin of the town. The narrow streets of Essaouira are ideal for casual exploration. Their size discourages cars, and on a walk through the town it feels as though little has changed since the days of sea pirates. The fishing port is a serious commercial operation and there’s much fun to be had observing the daily catch and its subsequent auction. A freshly cooked plate of the day's catch is highly recommended. Browse the plentiful shops and intriguing art galleries that make this little town a particularly pleasant place to unwind for a few days. It has a growing reputation for its unique art and is becoming even more famous for its burled Thuya wood, delicately formed and inlaid in tiny shops that are built into the thick walls of the Portuguese ramparts. The scent from the oils used to polish the richly coloured wood permeates the air and makes walking down the streets incredibly pleasant. If you’d prefer to relax, don't miss the opportunity to indulge in a hammam or local-style bath.  Or ride horses along the beach.

Included Activities 

Cooking Class

Breakfast 

Accommodation 

Riad Dar Alqdima or similar 

Chat with locals on a shared bus ride to Marrakech (approximately 3 hours), an ancient, exotic city wrapped in European modernity. Marrakech is a feast for the senses. Be enticed by the alluring scents and brilliant colours of the spice markets, the sounds of the musicians, the rich folds of carpets, delectable foods, acrobats and perfumed gardens on a walking tour of the old Medina. Tonight join the group for a farewell dinner in Dejmaa el fna square. This is one of the largest public squares in the world and unique to Marrakech. Snake Charmers, henna painters, perfumers and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar packed with food stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies.

Included

Medina walking tour 

Breakast

Farewell Dinner

Accommodation 

Le Caspien Hotel 

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time depending on your flight details. 

Included

Breakfast 

Airport transfer is not included. You can book it on your own here or use a taxi. 

Arriving early or staying late and looking for something to do? I use these two platforms often for activities and tours.  Viator & 

Getyourguide