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EPIC MOROCCO

From ancient cities to the Sahara, embrace cultural riches and enchanting landscapes in North Africa.

Destination
Starts at

Casablanca

Destination
Ends at

Marrakech

Destination
Duration

11 days

Destination
Group Size

Maximum 16

Destination
Physical Rating

moderate Information

Destination
Style

discovery Information

About your trip

Journey deep into the Sahara, explore the majestic kasbah of Ait-Ben-Haddou, and stargaze with an expert astrologer on this 11-day Moroccan adventure. You’ll experience local culture and marvel at the architectural wonders of Casablanca and Fez. Away from the usual tourist trail, you’ll explore more remote places such as the blue city of Chefchaouen and the Todra Gorge, deep in the High Atlas mountains. Foodie highlights range from authentic Berber meals in the desert to contemporary dishes at a trendy rooftop venue in Marrakech. All of our trips are flightless in destination, with 100% of all carbon emissions offset. It's just part of how we see the world while being good to it.

Trip Highlights

  • Snap photos of brilliantly blue houses in Chefchaouen
  • Dine Berber style under the stars in the Sahara
  • Meander through the mazey alleyways of the Fez Medina
  • Ride a camel through the desert at sunrise
  • Hike through the otherworldly Dades Gorges

Your Itinerary

Touch down in Casablanca, the coastal city where your Moroccan journey begins. You’ll be picked up from Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) and taken to your hotel, just a 10-minute walk from the Old Medina. Gather in the lobby for a welcome meeting at 6pm with your Local Insider, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. It’s then time to head into the city centre for dinner in an authentic riad (a traditional Moroccan house centered around an inner courtyard) – a perfect opportunity to break the ice and discuss the days ahead with your fellow travellers.

Accommodation

Gray Boutique Hotel Casablanca

Activities Included
  • Welcome dinner
  • Airport transfer

After breakfast, head straight to the Hassan II Mosque, the second-largest functioning mosque in Africa, which is dramatically situated on a rocky outcrop jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Its 210m (690ft) high minaret, completed in 1993, is the second-tallest in the world. After exploring the complex, leave Casablanca behind and head north to the enchanting city of Chefchaouen, which lies beneath the craggy peaks of the Rif mountains. Take a walking tour through the atmospheric cobblestone alleyways and admire the beautifully preserved 15th-century buildings painted in shades of blue.  

Accommodation

Dar Echchaouen Maison d'Hôtes & Riad

Activities Included
  • Hassan II Mosque visit
  • Chefchaouen walking tour

This morning, your journey continues south to the ancient Roman city of Volubilis, built around 300BCE on a fertile plain surrounded by wheat fields. Formerly the capital of the Berber kingdom of Mauretania, it gained Unesco World Heritage status in 1997 and is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Morocco today, replete with marble columns, intricate mosaics and plinths bearing Latin inscriptions. After you’ve finished exploring, head to Fez, considered by many to be the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco. Here, you’ll join a local family for a home-cooked dinner in the old medina district and enjoy a unique storytelling experience.

Accommodation

Palais Houyam

Activities Included
  • Volubilis guided tour
  • Home-cooked meal and storytelling with a local family

Embrace the eclectic mix of colours, sounds and aromas as you wander through Fez Medina – the sprawling, walled centre of the city. Its labyrinthine streets are lined with souks selling everything from street food and spices to handwoven textiles and homewares, while architectural highlights include the Bou Inania Madrasa with a green-tiled minaret, the ornate Bab Bou Jeloud gate and the Nejjarine Fondouk, which houses a woodwork museum. End the tour by tucking into lunch at a traditional restaurant in the Medina, before spending the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation

Palais Houyam

Activities Included
  • Fez Medina walking tour
  • Nejjarine Fondouk visit
  • Bou Inania Madrasa visit

Rise and shine – it’s time to leave the city bustle as you head into the pristine wilderness of the Sahara. After breakfast, you’ll journey to the far south of Morocco, eventually arriving in the tiny desert village of Merzouga, close to the Algerian border. It’s the gateway to the majestic Erg Chebbi dunes, which reach 150m (490ft) high and cover a barren, golden expanse of 28km (17mi) from north to south. You’ll stay overnight in a luxury riad – an idyllic spot to unwind, tune into nature and take in sublime sunset views.

Accommodation

Riad Madu

Activities Included
  • Merzouga desert visit

Travel by 4x4 to a remote village where you’ll learn about the culture of the Gnawa people who originated from sub-Saharan Africa, and are renowned for their spiritual music and unique dancing. For lunch, tuck into medfouna, a southern Moroccan speciality that’s similar to a stuffed pizza but without cheese. Brace yourself for a bumpy ride as you continue across the dunes to the desert camp you’ll call home for the night. Expect lots of mint tea, songs around a campfire and hearty Berber food. Come nightfall, enjoy a wine-tasting session and gaze in awe at the starry sky through a telescope, guided by an expert astronomer.

Accommodation

Desert Camp Jaimas Madu

Activities Included
  • Gnawa village visit
  • Wine tasting
  • Astronomy experience

No visit to the Sahara is complete without experiencing the most traditional mode of desert transport: camel riding. Saddle up first thing in the morning, taking in the gorgeous sunrise before swapping the desert for the High Atlas mountains as you head north to the Todra Gorge. Prepare to be dazzled – this otherworldly, rust-coloured expanse of steep-sided canyons ranks among the most spectacular scenery in Morocco. You’ll arrive at your cosy, mountainside accommodation in time to sip cocktails while watching the sunset paint the sky with a pinky-tangerine glow.

Accommodation

Riad Bahammou

Activities Included
  • Sunrise camel ride
  • Todra Gorge visit
  • Sunset cocktails

Over many centuries, the Dades River, which flows for 350km (220mi) from the High Atlas mountains to the Sahara, has carved dramatic gorges and canyons into the rugged interior of the country. Today, you’ll set off on a guided hike through this epic landscape and gain a fascinating glimpse into life in this part of rural Morocco. Eventually, after traversing farmland and riverine forest, you’ll arrive at a series of striking rock formations, aptly named the Monkey Fingers due to their peculiar shape. A well-earned lunch at a local guesthouse awaits.

Accommodation

Riad Bahammou

Activities Included
  • Dades Gorges hike

Of all the kasbahs dotted around Morocco, Ait-Ben-Haddou is arguably the most impressive. Feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you explore this Unesco World Heritage site, which you may well recognise from Game of Thrones (2011-2019) and Gladiator (2000). Stop by a tea house for a thirst-quenching mint tea and home-baked Moroccan pastry before hitting the road to Marrakech. Expect a sensory feast as you join an evening street food tour. You'll sample traditional delicacies, learn about how spices are used in Moroccan cuisine and explore the legendary Djemaa El-Fna square as it comes alive at night.

Accommodation

2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hôtel & Spa

Activities Included
  • Kasbah Ait-Ben-Haddou visit
  • Tea at a local tea house
  • Marrakech Street Food Tour

Now familiar with Moroccan food, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to make it for yourself. After discovering the core techniques and flavour combinations used in Moroccan cuisine, enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring the city at leisure or treat yourself to a soothing massage at the hotel spa. Reconvene for a farewell group dinner at L’mida restaurant and embrace an innovative, modern twist on classic Moroccan dishes. The candlelit roof terrace, overlooking the medina, is the perfect spot to conclude your epic Morocco trip.

Accommodation

2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hôtel & Spa

Activities Included
  • Cooking class
  • Farewell dinner

After one last breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your new friends as your Moroccan adventure comes to an end. Check out of the hotel at midday and make your way to the airport to catch your flight home from Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) – or extend your stay and explore what else Morocco has to offer.

Accommodation

What's Included

  • 5 nights traditional riad accommodation
  • 1 night luxury riad accommodation
  • 1 night desert camp accommodation
  • 1 night premium hotel accommodation
  • 2 nights boutique hotel accommodation
  • Private and local transport
  • 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners
  • Local Insider
  • Arrival transfer from Mohammed V International Airport (CMN)
  • Hassan II Mosque visit
  • Chefchaouen walking tour
  • Volubilis guided tour
  • Storytelling with a local family
  • Fez Medina walking tour
  • Nejjarine Fondouk visit
  • Bou Inania Madrasa visit
  • Merzouga desert visit
  • Gnawa village visit
  • Wine tasting
  • Astronomy experience
  • Sunrise camel ride
  • Todra Gorge visit
  • Sunset cocktails
  • Dades Gorges hike
  • Kasbah Ait-Ben-Haddou visit
  • Tea at a local tea house
  • Cooking class
  • Marrakech Street Food Tour

What's Not Included

  • Visas
  • Travel Insurance
  • Flights to and from the destination

Customer Reviews

Accommodation

Gray Boutique Hotel Casablanca

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This stylish gem of a hotel is perfectly positioned for city centre exploration. You're just 10 minutes from the old Medina, and about the same from the Corniche with its parks, shops and sparkling Atlantic views. Inside, decor feels high-end and design-led, with a warm organic colour palette and elegant furnishings. 

Dar Echchaouen Maison d'Hôtes & Riad

Experience life in an opulent Moroccan riad overlooking the resplendent blue houses of Chefchaouen. Wood-beamed ceilings, candlelit terraces and communal lounges with roaring fires create a warm, soothing ambience at this atmospheric retreat. The outdoor pool, with mountain views, is the perfect place to relax and cool off.

Palais Houyam

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This traditional riad is an oasis of tranquility, tucked away from the bustling streets of Fez Medina. Zellige-tile floors, traditional four-poster beds, and handcrafted furnishings made by local artisans create an authentic vibe in every room. Take a trip to the spa and hammam (bath house) to unwind and recharge.

Riad Madu

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Embrace the peace of this desert hideaway at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. Highlights include an outdoor pool, lantern-lit courtyard, and living areas with tadelakt walls, handwoven rugs and plush sofas. The sunset views here are unforgettable – as is the homemade Moroccan food.

Desert Camp Jaimas Madu

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Sip mint tea around a roaring fire, enjoy hearty Berber cooking and dine under the stars at this isolated desert retreat. You’re bound to sleep well in the cosy haima tents, all of which come with private bathrooms and ensuite showers. When you wake, emerge from your tent to freshly squeezed orange juice and Moroccan crepes.

Riad Bahammou

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Terracotta walls blend in with the ochre landscape at the traditional Riad Bahammou, in the Dades Gorge valley of the High Atlas. Tuck into Moroccan fare at the restaurant before finishing your day with a nightcap in the onsite bar. The pool is the perfect place to cool off after a day of exploring and the rooms are traditionally decorated and comfortable enough for all to enjoy. This is a magical place and we're sure you'll enjoy your stay.

2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hôtel & Spa

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A rooftop bar and restaurant, an illuminated outdoor pool and a traditional hammam are a handful of the perks at this elegant hotel in the trendy Gueliz neighbourhood of Marrakech. All rooms have private balconies, Egyptian cotton bed sheets and complementary luxury toiletries. 

COVID Safety

Your safety and wellbeing are our top priority, so we’ve put the following measures in place on all our TRIPS:

  • Our average group size is 10 people (max 18), which gives you all the security of being in a group whilst avoiding a crowd.
  • Where possible, we use small/ boutique accommodation – this means fewer guests and reduced exposure to other travellers.
  • We require all accommodation providers to share protocols around the extra health and hygiene measures they are taking.
  • Included activities are exclusive to our group wherever possible, to minimise contact with others.
  • Covid-19 negative test results or vaccine certificates may be required. Please check the entry requirements for the destination you are travelling to. Our travel experts can assist you in finding this information.
  • We recommend you confirm all guidance on official government sites and check that you are able to travel with your travel insurance issuer. Your travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against government advice. Our travel experts can assist you in finding this information.

Important Info

  • You must be aged 25 years or over to join this trip.
  • Please be sure to check whether or not you need a visa to enter the country you're travelling to. Please refer to our Booking Terms & Conditions for further information.
  • If you have any pre-existing medical conditions or accessibility requirements, please notify our Customer Support team as soon as possible.
  • We won't charge you extra if you travel alone – you'll be allocated a twin room with another traveller of the same gender.
  • To upgrade to a private room, share a room with a friend, or book pre- and post-trip accommodation and/or airport transfers, please contact our Customer Support team.
  • Please be aware that travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers.
  • Please be aware that the itinerary, activities and hotels are subject to change. While unlikely, these changes can happen due to circumstances beyond our control. We will always do our best to ensure minimal impact on your experience.
  • Please be aware images on this page are for illustrative purposes and may not reflect your itinerary exactly.
  • PLEASE NOTE - FROM 2024 - THE MARRAKECH STREET FOOD TOUR WILL BE OPTIONAL
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