Explore Morocco Tour
8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fez, Ait Ben Haddou, Marrakech, Essaouira, El Jadida
Highlights
- Casablanca: Mosque Hassan II, Place Mohamed V
- Rabat: Kasbah of the Oudayas, Necropolis of Chellah, Mohammed V Mausoleum, Hassan Tower
- Chefchaouen: Medina, El Makhzen Square, Uta El Hammam Square, Great Mosque
- Meknes: Royal Stables, Jewish Quarters, Place El-Hedim and Bab El Mansour
- Fez: The oldest of the Moroccan Imperial Cities
- Merzouga: 4x4WD to desert, Camel Ride to see sunset and jeep excursion to see sunrise
- Ait Ben Haddou: Kasbah of Ait-Ben Haddou
- Marrakech: Koutoubia Minaret, Saadian Tombs, Palace of Bahia, Souks of Marrakech, Jemaa El-Fna Square
- Essaouira: Medina, Old Portugese harbour, Mellah
- El Jadida: Mazagan Fortress
Itinerary
Arrive at Casablanca Mohamed V Airport. Meet and greet by local representative at the airport before transfer to Casablanca for city tour. Casablanca: View Mosque Hassan II, the largest mosque in Africa, whose minaret rises to 175 m of height, the tallest in the world. Continue on to Place Mohamed V, the central hub of Casablanca’s new town with plenty of historic buildings that exemplify Art Deco architecture with Islamic influences. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, continue to the Imperial City of Rabat, the official capital of the Kingdom. Rabat: Begin your sightseeing with Kasbah of the Oudayas, discover a city within a city. Visit the 14th century Necropolis of Chellah and the ramparts and walls of the Mechouar surrounding the Dâr-al-Makhzen (Royal Palace). Next, visit Mohammed V Mausoleum, a masterpiece of modern Alaouite dynasty architecture, with its intricate white exterior and green tiled roof. View Hassan Tower, the minaret of an incomplete mosque built in the late 12th century, which was supposed to be the tallest minaret
and largest mosque in the world. Transfer to hotel for dinner and rest for the night. rest for the night.
After breakfast, travel to the Blue City of Chefchaouen, one of the most picturesque towns in the Rif Mountains. En route make a stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Chefchaouen: Embark on a guided tour in the medina of Chefchaouen (in berebér this means: “watch the horns”.) The medina truly reflects the Andalusian influence. With a wide variety of colours and the most delightful aromas of the different products in the local bazaars, contrasting with the dazzling bluish white of the houses; the Medina is a haven for all visitors to experience. Visit also the El Makhzen Square, the Uta El Hammam Square, and the Great Mosque, dating from the 15th century. Transfer to hotel for dinner and rest for the night.
After breakfast, travel to the Blue City of Chefchaouen, one of the most picturesque towns in the Rif Mountains. En route make a stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Chefchaouen: Embark on a guided tour in the medina of Chefchaouen (in berebér this means: “watch the horns”.) The medina truly reflects the Andalusian influence. With a wide variety of colours and the most delightful aromas of the different products in the local bazaars, contrasting with the dazzling bluish white of the houses; the Medina is a haven for all visitors to experience. Visit also the El Makhzen Square, the Uta El Hammam Square, and the Great Mosque, dating from the 15th century. Transfer to hotel for dinner and rest for the night
After breakfast, enjoy a full day in Fez, the oldest of the Moroccan Imperial Cities and cradle of a thousand-year-old monarchy. Fez: Visit the medieval Medina of Fez and its major sites like Fountaine Nejjarine Square, Islamic school Attarine Medersa, a mesmerizing building with elaborate Moroccan architecture, tile-work, and woodcarvings. View the Moulay Idriss Mausoleum and Karaouine Mosque, built in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri, is a mosque and one of the oldest universities in the world. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit the 14th century Mellah (Jewish Quarters), the largest in Morocco and Fes El Jdid district. If time permits, spend some free time in the Medina with its winding alleys of Arabic-Moorish architecture; explore the souks with a variety of local spices, dried nuts, fruit and the oldest tannery in the world, where they still operate like they did in medieval times. Catch a panoramic view of Fez in Borj Nord and Borj South ramparts. Transfer to hotel for dinner and rest for the night.
After breakfast, depart to Merzouga via Azrou. Make a stop at the scenic cedar forest which covers about 140,000 hectares spreading over several mountains in the Middle Atlas Mountains, between 1500 and 2400 meters above sea level. Continue to Midelt located at 1,521 meters of altitude. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Take a 4WD to the deserts of Merzouga, known worldwide for its stunning sunrise and sunset. Enjoy a camel ride to catch the sunset in the desert. A camp is set up around a campfire where you can enjoy traditional Berber dinner. Spend a wonderful night in a traditional Bedouin bivouac in the Sahara, while admiring the constellation of stars!
Early in the morning, embark on a jeep excursion to catch sunrise over the sand dunes. After breakfast, depart for Tinghir. Make your journey into the spectacular and one of the most beautiful oases in Morocco, Todra Gorge, which lies in the canyon of the eastern part of the High Atlas. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Ouarzazate via the Dadès Valley (Red Valley) and discover one of the most amazing landscapes of Morocco, scattered with lush oases, and unique rock formations. Stop at Kalaa M’Gouna, the Capital of Roses, which holds its annual Rose Festival at the beginning of May. Transfer to hotel for dinner and rest for the night.
After breakfast, continue our journey on the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs to Ait-Ben Haddou. Visit the exotic fortified village Kasbah of Ait-Ben Haddou, a remarkable example of a centuries-old architecture in the land of southern Morocco. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, Ait-Ben Haddou was once a major stop along the caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara until the French built a road through the Tizi-n’ Tichka Mountains. It also a famous backdrop for many Hollywood films and TV shows like Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiators and The Game of Thrones. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Marrakech through Morocco’s highest pass, the Tizi-n’Tichka Pass, culminating at 2,260 meters above sea level. Transfer to hotel for dinner and rest for the night.
After breakfast, enjoy a full day in the Imperial City of Marrakech, the Pearl of the South. Marrakech: Visit the famous 70m Koutoubia Minaret, the best example of Hispano-Moorish art. Visit the 16th century Saadian Tombs which dates from the time of the great Sultan Ahmed al Mansour (1578-1603), had never ceased to impress visitors with the beauty of their decoration. Visit the Palace of Bahia, built in the late 19th century, destined to be the largest palace of his time. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, explore the Souks of Marrakech, the most famous of Morocco. Admire the richness of infinite crafts from cabinetmakers, ironworkers, boilermakers to dyers… Next, visit the destination of all magic, the open-air Jemaa El-Fna Square, classified by UNESCO as Universal Oral Heritage of Humanity and venue for variety of artists like jugglers, acrobats and snake charmers. Enjoy an unforgettable night under the shelter of exotic Berber tents, with traditional Moroccan feast, a multi-colored extravaganza show with belly dancing, horseback skills, serenaded by a chorus of girls and boys in traditional dress and accompanied by typical Arabian music.
After breakfast, depart to Essaouira( the former Mogador), one of the most endearing cities of the Atlantic Coast. Make a stop at an Argan Oil Cooperative. Born from the union of a few people of good will, its priority objective is to promote the work of women in the region. Essaouira: Visit the Medina of Essaouira, its white houses and blue shutters give it a special charm and never cease to seduce its visitors. Take time to wander in the labyrinth-like souks with tiny shops that lined streets full of colourful blankets and rugs, wooden handicrafts, and food, shaded by the tall whitewashed buildings for which this town is known for. Visit the the Mellah, former Jewish Quarter and the old Portugese Harbour which is famous for the most picturesque little blue boats that are in every Instagram pictures of Essaouira. See the beautiful and imposing ramparts, built as a form of defense, are pieces of history which give the city a grand ambience. Transfer to hotel for dinner and rest for the night.
After breakfast, make your way to Casablanca by the scenic Atlantic Coast road. Enroute make a stop at Safi, a city which was Portuguese and later the residence of the French Consul in Morocco. Today it is a fishing port and a city known for its colourful ceramics. View the Castle on the Sea, the 16th century Qasr al-Bahr. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Oualidia. Next, we continue on for a short visit to El Jadida and visit the 16th century Portugese fortress, Mazagan Fortress, which still has cannons defensively face out to sea, and visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. Continue our journey to Casablanca. Transfer to hotel for dinner and rest for the night.
Free at leisure in the morning till your transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Services
Includes
- private licensed driver in air conditioned vehicle throughout your stay
Important Notes
Check-in after 2:00 pm & Check-out before 12:00 pm. Early check-in or late check-out is subject to room availability and may generate additional full-day room charges. * In some remote or protected areas in Africa, such as Uganda, solar power is the main source of energy which is not suitable for using Air Conditioners at their lodges, and they will provide fans in the room, and in fact, air-cons are not necessary in these National Parks or Reserves.
In case of snowing during November and February in the High Atlas Mountains, we would drive slower than usual to ensure safety. In this case, you may reach Erfoud later than expected. If snow blocks the road, we will stay in Midelt for the night, and head further south the following day. Though mostly clear days, winds are unpredictable in the desert area. And even luxurious tents are not totally sanding-proof on windy days. If you would like to return to the Erfoud hotel for the night, we could arrange it upon the availability of hotel rooms.
Your passport should be valid for a certain period beyond your intended stay in the destination country. The required validity can vary. Six months beyond your planned departure date from the destination country is a common requirement. And ensure you have at least 2 blank pages for visa stamps. Visa requirements vary from country to country; please consult your travel consultant for more details if you are unsure whether a visa is required for your trip.
Pick ups in each city or area via private air-conditioned vehicle as listed in the itinerary. Appropriate size vehicles will be used according to the number of your group to ensure you have enough leg room and luggage space. Please be aware that the arrival or departure transfer is based on all members arriving or departing on the same flight, additional cost will be charged when arriving or departing on different flights and separate transfers.
Spring (March – May) and autumn (September – October). Coastal areas such as Essaouira remain pleasantly warm and not too hot in summer (June – August). The Mediterranean north is pleasant in spring and summer.
We arrange an English-speaking driver for the entire trip. Whilst you tour at Fez and Marrakech, we will arrange private English-speaking guides on sites, and your driver will be in charge of driving you from site to site and city to city, of course, your driver is also able to give you general information on Morocco. On your request, we are also able to arrange a private tour guide throughout the entire Morocco trip with a supplement.
Ramadan is an annual month-long festival, during which travel can be a rewarding cultural experience, however some regular services may not be available during the day, such as restaurants or cafes, and occasionally travel can be disrupted by events. Your leader will adjust the itinerary accordingly, but please consider this when selecting your travel dates. You’ll find dates and further information in the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information.
There are a couple of long travel days on this trip, particularly the day travelling to the Sahara Desert. Rest stops will be made on the way and you’ll be rewarded with great views on the drive itself.
