Our local guide will introduce us to the the history and charm of Chefchaouen and lead us on a walking tour through the old medina and onwards to a scenic overlook of the Blue City.

We’ll depart for Fes in the afternoon, arriving in time for dinner lovingly prepared by our hostess, Chantal.  Her multi-course meals are some of my favorite, ever.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

We'll enjoy a guided tour of the labyrinth that is old town Fes, or Fes-El-Bali. Every one of the over 9,000 alleyways is walled, so you feel like you are walking through a maze. Our guide will keep us on track as we tour this ancient city founded in the 9th century and home to the world's oldest university.  We'll visit the famous leather tanneries (Terrasse des Tanneurs) and the markets of the old medina, as well as spend some time with the moorish architecture of the 14th century Al-Attarine Madrasa.

Free time in the afternoon will allow for an optional visit to a local hammam where you can partake in the classic Moroccan spa experience.  In the evening, we’ll feast once again on the brilliant food prepared by our hostess, Chantal.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

In the morning, we'll depart Fes and head south towards the Middle and High Atlas Mountains. Along the way we will visit with some wild Barbary apes who live in the cedar forest. This part of the trip takes us through the beautiful and rugged Moroccan countryside. We'll see nomadic farmers herding their flocks, ancient earthen-colored towns, and a fair number of donkeys along the way. We’ll drive through the hightest pass in this part of the Atlas Mountains and make our way to the dunes of the Sahara.  We will overnight at a hotel in Merzouga, right at the edge of the dunes. 

{lunch not included, dinner included}

You’ll have the morning free:  you can chill by the pool, enjoy the hammam (spa), or rent a dune buggy! In the afternoon, we’ll mount our camels for the ride to our overnight camp in the desert. You’ll have time to traverse the dunes, get a lay of the land (sand), and watch the sunset from your dune perch. We’ll have dinner sitting on rugs spread over the desert floor and afterwards enjoy (and maybe participate in) some berber music and dancing. You'll have the opportunity to sleep in a tent or in the open air where you can gaze at the stars snuggled under heavy wool blankets. You've never seen the Milky Way like this and you will lose count of the all the shooting stars you see before you drift off to a sleep.

 
{lunch not included, dinner included}

We'll wake up in time to see the sunrise over the dunes and enjoy a hearty breakfast.

Our drive will take us from Merzouga towards the Dades Valley via the Todra Gorge. Along the way, we’ll see some ancient fossils, pass by hillsides clustered with red-clay dwellings and valleys of green oases. If there are baby camels at the milking station, we may even stop and meet some friendly and snuggly baby camels and sample some fresh camel milk.

Our riad for the night is in the Dades Valley surrounded by stunning views. 

{lunch not included, dinner included}

On our way to Marrakech, we'll have an opportunity to explore the earth-built kasbahs of Ait Ben Haddou. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was a stop on the old Salt Road, but in modern times was made famous as a backdrop for the movies Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Alexander. 

After lunch, we'll descend the High Atlas Mountains, through the Tichka Pass, onwards to Marrakech.

We'll arrive in Marrakech for dinner at our luxurious riad that will serve as our private oasis in the middle of the lively and kinetic city.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

After breakfast we'll embark on a guided tour of the important sites and markets of Marrakech.  We'll visit the Bahia Palace and Dar el Bacha, marveling at the breathtaking plasterwork and mosaics, and learning about the history of each location. We'll wander through the Medina, visit the souks + the heartbeat of Marrakech, the Djemaa el-Fna (the centuries-old square surrounded by cafes, vendors, and snake charmers).

You'll have free time in the afternoon to explore, shop, visit a local hammam, or relax at the riad (with a rooftop pool and lounge area). In the evening, we'll gather again for a guided street food tour. Experiencing Marrakech at night can be exciting and at times overwhelming, so our guide will help us navigate the crowds and introduce us to the best local places and some unique local delicacies.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

Most of the day is left free for you to use as you wish. You can visit the vibrant  Majorelle Gardens, previously owned by Yves Saint Laurent, decompress in a local hammam, explore the medina, shop for the perfect piece of pottery or leather bag, go on a motorcycle tour, or just relax in the serenity of the riad. In the evening, we'll regroup for a cooking class at the riad where we’ll prepare our final Moroccan dinner together.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

Depart after breakfast, delighting in the memories created, friendships made, and the adventure undertaken.