Morocco has been enchanting travellers with its exotic sights, sounds and smells for centuries with its bustling souks, elegant imperial cities and meandering lanes of old medinas. From the Mauresque style of Casablanca, discover the Andalucian influences of Rabat, and wander amongst the Roman ruins of Volubilis, renowned for its excellent mosaics. Explore the fascinating medinas in the old city of Fez to the experiencing the energetic bazaars of Marrakech and the travelling entertainers, acrobats, snake charmers and story tellers in the Djemaa el Fna square. Enter the legendary Sahara Desert as you take a camel caravan to watch the sunrise and be welcomed into local Berber homes from the Atlas Mountains to hidden Kasbahs and desert villages. Walk amongst the ancient city of Sefrou , through Ziz Valley and Todra Gorge to the 17th Century Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. Weave through the shadows of medieval lanes in imperial cities to the charming salty air of the seaside resort of Essaouira. Uncover the Roman charms and Morocco’s rich tapestry of history and heritage as you journey through ancient cities, deserts and markets places, embracing the lure of true Arabian magic.
Day by Day
Detailed Itinerary
Summary
Adventurer
Immerse yourself in the Moroccan desert wilderness as you sleep under the stars, from ancient Imperial cities to nomad tents deep in the Sahara, exploring the region’s unique natural attractions, colourful cultures and breathtaking scenery. This tour utilizes a combination of desert camping, local homestays and authenic hotels, offering an in-depth encounter which will bring you closer to the African environment. Airport transfers and majortiy of meals are included in the tour fare with an occasional optional dinner or lunch in locations where there is a good choice of local restaurants. Activities included on the itinerary are core tour experiences or highlights with an adventurous flare. Our safari vehicles minimize driving time, takes you off the beaten track and creates an intimate safari experience in one of the planets most fascinating landscapes.
Day 1: Casablanca
Arrival at Casablanca Mohamed V airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Casablanca. You have the remainder of the day to explor...
| On this day |
Arrival at Casablanca Mohamed V airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Casablanca. You have the remainder of the day to explore the elegant Imperial city. Casablanca's colonial architecture, such as the cathedral, incorporates traditional Moroccan designs into French Art Deco, creating a style known as Mauresque. The port of Casablanca, which means (white house in Spanish) was made famous by the classic 1942 movie 'Casablanca', this cosmopolitan, white-walled city is Morocco's largest and has a unique and charismatic history waiting to be discovered. |
| Accommodation
| Prince de Paris |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite room |
| Meals |
Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Airport meet and greet, arrival transfer |
Day 2: Casablanca to Fez
After breakfast, we depart to the train station and board a train to the oldest and most spiritual city of Fez. You have the afternoon at leisure to e...
| On this day |
After breakfast, we depart to the train station and board a train to the oldest and most spiritual city of Fez. You have the afternoon at leisure to explore this exciting city. A visit to Fez is at once an assault on the senses and stimulant to one’s spirit. Bustling with artisans and merchants, the city’s captivating sounds, fragrances, and colors mesmerize the visitor with a constant swirl of activity. The banging of metalworkers, the whirr of weavers, and the wailing of muezzins calling for prayers carries on today much as it did for hundreds of years. Founded at the beginning of the 9th century by Moulay Idriss II, great-great-grandson of the prophet Mohammed, and now Morocco’s third largest city, Fez is no longer the capital, but it still lays claim to being the country’s cultural, intellectual, and spiritual heart. |
| Accommodation
| Mounia Hotel |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Departure to train station, board train to Fez, afternoon at leisure |
| Travelling Time |
4 hours |
Day 3: Fez
The whole day is devoted to the sightseeing of Fez. The city is the oldest of the three imperial cities in Morocco. The main attraction in this ancien...
| On this day |
The whole day is devoted to the sightseeing of Fez. The city is the oldest of the three imperial cities in Morocco. The main attraction in this ancient city is the medieval Medina, the old part of the city, which has been continuously inhabited since the 10th century and still bustles with a bewildering throng of costumed tribal people, from olive-dealers and veiled women on their way to the baths, to industrious merchants and traditional bell-ringing water-sellers. Overlooking the valley that embraces the city, the Merenid Tombs offer spectacular panoramic views. Behold Fez as it looked more than a thousand years ago, resplendent with magnificent palaces, green-roofed holy places, domes, and minarets, save the odd satellite dishes dotting the rooftops. The ancient city wall hems in the workshops and tenements, souks and squares, a mass of humanity and the ubiquitous donkeys. Fez is secretive and shadowy, but captivating and colorful at the same time.We continue onto Fez’s famous pottery co-operative, where we’ll see the kilns, fired by olive pips & skins produce the country’s most beautiful ceramics. We can watch artisans create beautiful mosaics & other stunning pieces, step by step. Fez’s spiritual artistry is showcased at the annual Fez Festival of World Sacred Music, where musicians from around the world gather to celebrate and inspire. |
| Accommodation
| Mounia Hotel |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
A full day of sightseeing in Fez. |
Day 4: Fez - Meknes - Volubilis - Fez
In the morning we travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the sacred town of Moulay Idriss. The ruins are the bes...
| On this day |
In the morning we travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the sacred town of Moulay Idriss. The ruins are the best preserved Roman ruins in Morocco which was once an important Roman town situated near the westernmost border of Roman conquests, in 1997 Volubilis was listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site. You wander through the deserted streets imagining times past of Roman history and culture. In the afternoon we set out to explore the charming city of Meknes. Meknes is one of the four Imperial cities and its name and fame are closely linked to that of the Moroccan Sultan Moulay Ismail, who made Meknes the center of his empire and built many of the monuments that remain today. The sightseeing of this city will include Bab Mansour, Hari Souani and the old medina, sampling the fresh produce and famous confectioneries. We return to the bustling city of Fez for the night. |
| Accommodation
| Mounia Hotel |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Visit to the Roman ruins of Volubilis and town of Moulay, guided tour of Meknes, return to Fez |
Day 5: Fez -Sefrou - Bhalil - Fez
After breakfast, depart to the ancient Jewish city of Sefrou, a walled town at the foothills of the Middle Atlas that predates Fez by a thousand years...
| On this day |
After breakfast, depart to the ancient Jewish city of Sefrou, a walled town at the foothills of the Middle Atlas that predates Fez by a thousand years. With its well-established
Jewish-Berber population long before the coming of Islam, Sefrou played a large role in antiquity as the last stop of sub-Saharan caravans transporting goods to the European
markets. On your way back to Fez, stop to visit the ancient Christian village of Bhalil and its unusual cave dwellings. |
| Accommodation
| Mounia Hotel |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Visit to city of Sefrou and Bhalil's cave dwellings, return to Fez |
Day 6: Fez - Ifrane - Errachidia - Erfoud -Merzouga
In the morning we travel to Erfoud via the mountainous pass and the cedar wood of the middle Atlas passing by Ifrane, a charming ski resort and Azrou,...
| On this day |
In the morning we travel to Erfoud via the mountainous pass and the cedar wood of the middle Atlas passing by Ifrane, a charming ski resort and Azrou, which is also an important handicraft centre. We stop in Midelt for an optional lunch before continuing to Erfoud via Errachidia and the ZIZ Valley, dotted with palm trees, which are the source for the yearly date Festival in Erfoud. This route features stunning vistas, spectacular rock formations, and beautiful river valleys, the Atlas attract hikers and climbers from around the world, as well as those at a more leisurely pace in search of breathtaking natural beauty. Long the province of the Berber tribes that fiercely resisted all efforts at external governance, the High Atlas and its way of life remain for the most part undisturbed by modernity. The roads on which you travel are ancient caravan routes punctuated with a thousand kasbahs, mudbrick fortresses and towns that rise mysteriously out of the very earth, only to return, in time, like melting sandcastles. |
| Accommodation
| Nomad Tents/Nasser Palace |
| Rooming |
Standard twin share tent/standard room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Transfer to Erfoud via Atlas Mountain pass, optional lunch in Midelt, continue transfer via Ziz Valley |
| Travelling Time |
5 hours |
Day 7: Merzouga
A very early breakfast before we set out on a camel ride into the Sahara dunes to watch the sunrise over the desert horizon.The pavement ends a few do...
| On this day |
A very early breakfast before we set out on a camel ride into the Sahara dunes to watch the sunrise over the desert horizon.The pavement ends a few dozen miles before Merzouga, a small, baked hamlet squatting on the edge of the Sahara. Ride still farther into the sands on camelback, led by a Bedouin camel guide robed in the flowing blue garb of the Tuareg people. All around you soars undulating hills of sugar-fine sand as you are enveloped by a sense of timelessness, reflection, and clarity. The name “Sahara” conjures up visions of Lawrence of Arabia, veiled horsemen, caravans to Timbuktu. Long a passageway for those journeying in search of conquests and riches, the Sahara today justifies a destination unto itself for those seeking adventure, tranquility, an otherworld experience. The largest desert in the world, draped across the width of the African continent and dividing it in two, the Sahara remains intensely a part of and apart from nature, at least any you have known. Shapes shift with airstreams, color shifts with light, life flourishes in unexpected forms, constellations are obliterated in the night sky by innumerable points of light. One cannot fathom the stars, the peace, the serenity. |
| Accommodation
| Nomad Tents/Nasser Palace |
| Rooming |
Standard twin share tent/standard room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Camel ride into the Sahara dunes to watch the sunrise |
| Travelling Time |
45 min |
Day 8: Merzouga - Todra Gorges - Tineghir - Ouarzazate - Aït Benhaddou
After breakfast, we continue our route to Rissani, the holy city where Moulay Ali Cherif, ancestor of the Alaouite dynasty is buried. We visit the Kas...
| On this day |
After breakfast, we continue our route to Rissani, the holy city where Moulay Ali Cherif, ancestor of the Alaouite dynasty is buried. We visit the Kasbah 17th century and the Ksar Abbar ruins, before continuing on to Tineghir via the Tinjidad road. Visit the magnificent Todgha canyons which consists of colossal rocks which reach an altitude of 250 meters. In the afternoon we take a walk through the Todra Valley Palmery. |
| Accommodation
| Hotel La Baraka |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Visit Rissani and Ksar Abbar ruins & Tineghir via Todra Gorge |
| Travelling Time |
2-3 hours |
Day 9: Aït Benhaddou - Marrakech - Imlil
In the morning we visit the Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, this Kasbah is the most famous one in Morocco and has served as décor for many great movies suc...
| On this day |
In the morning we visit the Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, this Kasbah is the most famous one in Morocco and has served as décor for many great movies such as Lawrence of Arabia. The Kasbah has been under UNESCO protection since 1987. We continue to Marrakech via the Tizi-n - Tichka pass which winds its way east from Marrakech to the Sahara desert and lush oases and river valleys which once defined the great trans-Saharan trading routes and arrive at our destination in Imlil, where we enjoy the warm hospitality of the local Berbers. Morocco hospitality is legendary and for thousands of years, Morocco has been an amalgamation of cultures, including the Berbers, Arabs, Phoenicians, Byzantines, Romans, Spaniards, Portuguese, Turks and French. These cultures have ruled or been a part of Morocco for centuries and now they form an integral part of the history and culture of the country.
|
| Accommodation
| Auberge or Berber House |
| Rooming |
Standard room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Visit to Aït Benhaddou, transfer to Marrakech via Tizi-n-Tichka pass, overnight at Berber village |
| Travelling Time |
4 hours |
Day 10: Imlil
Waking up early we set our on a guided desert walk. Along the way we meet the muleteers teams that come from the village of Imlil, before going upstre...
| On this day |
Waking up early we set our on a guided desert walk. Along the way we meet the muleteers teams that come from the village of Imlil, before going upstream to the river of Anemane to enjoy a picnic lunch on the route. We continue to explore the valley of Anemane, visit several berber villages: Amssakrou, Ikis, Tameguiste before returning to our local home stay at Imlil.
|
| Accommodation
| Auberge or Berber House |
| Rooming |
Standard room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Guided desert walk |
Day 11: Essaouira
We leave the desert behind us and travel to the sea as we make our way to the coastal haven of Essaouira. Essaouira is an exceptional example of a lat...
| On this day |
We leave the desert behind us and travel to the sea as we make our way to the coastal haven of Essaouira. Essaouira is an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified town and has been a major international trading seaport, linking Morocco and its Saharan hinterland with Europe and the rest of the world. Since the 16th century, the city has also been known by its Portuguese name of Mogador or Mogadore. The Berber name means the wall, a reference to the fortress walls that originally enclosed the city. It’s a typical Portuguese art. It’s famous for its finest woodworking handicrafts men. The silver souk, the art gallery, the harbour and the islands. |
| Accommodation
| Al Jazeera Hotel |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite twin room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Transfer to Essaouira, afternoon to explore the town |
| Travelling Time |
3-4 hours |
Day 12: Essaouira
You have the day at leisure to the explore Essaouira. It is the ideal place to relax and to stroll among woodshops and art galleries, boat builders an...
| On this day |
You have the day at leisure to the explore Essaouira. It is the ideal place to relax and to stroll among woodshops and art galleries, boat builders and sardine fishermen. Among the souks worth visiting are the Marche d’Epices (spice market) and Souk des Bijoutiers (jewelers’ markets), which was once dominated by Essaouira’s Jewish community. After exploring the old city and artisan shops, head down to the port to indulge in the freshest seafood, or to the beach for camel rides or world-class wind surfing. The town has always been a magnet for artists and musicians. Orson Wells was one of the first international personalities to be lured by Essaouria’s charm; in 1949, he spent several months here filming scenes for Othello. Two decades later, Essaouira became an important stop on the hippie trail; both Cat Stevens and Jimi Hendrix spent evenings strumming guitars along bonfires on the beach, an inspiration for Hendrix’s “Castles Made of Sand.” Since 1998, Essaouira has hosted the annual festival of Gnaoua Music, an enchanting tribal music popular throughout Morocco and beyond. |
| Accommodation
| Al Jazeera Hotel |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite twin room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Leisure day: Optional activities |
Day 13: Marrakech
The day will be devoted to the visit of Marrakech, the second oldest imperial city known as the “Pearl of the South” with the Saadian tombs, the k...
| On this day |
The day will be devoted to the visit of Marrakech, the second oldest imperial city known as the “Pearl of the South” with the Saadian tombs, the koutoubia, the Bahia Palace and the Menara Garden and the infamous Djemaa El Fna Square. A mysterious labyrinthine medina, snake-charmers and acrobats on the panoramic central square, colourful bazaars, the aroma of sizzling Morrocan delicacies: these are the experiences one can expect from a holiday in Marrakech. The intoxicating city was an ancient caravan trading post, and retains its traditional atmosphere along with a lively modern tourist trade which draws thousands to travel to Marrakech. Founded in 1062 by Youssef bin Tachfine of the Almoravid dynasty, and his son perfected the city by bringing in architects and craftsmen from Cordoba to build palaces, baths, mosques and a subterranean water system. The city walls were raised from the red mud of the plains, with the snow-covered peaks of the High Atlas Mountains forming a backdrop for the city, though they are often hidden by the heat haze. One of the many ways to soak up the sights and sounds of Marrakech is in one of the hundreds of horse-drawn carriages, known as caleches, that are for hire. One plunges into the maelstrom of passages where tradesmen ply various crafts, from cloth dying, copper beating, and leather working to herbalists, perfumers and slipper makers, and where shopkeepers cajole passing tourists into taking a look at their glorious array of colourful crafts. |
| Accommodation
| Tropicana Hotel |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite twin room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
A full day of sightseeing |
| Travelling Time |
1 -2 hours |
Day 14: Marrakech
You have the day free to further explore this pulsating city, relax at the hotel or do some last minute shopping at the delightful and exotic souks. T...
| On this day |
You have the day free to further explore this pulsating city, relax at the hotel or do some last minute shopping at the delightful and exotic souks. Today, Marrakesh is a reverberating collision of Africa and Europe, west and east, bohemia and high culture, Arab cities and Berber villages. Framed by the snow-capped Atlas mountains, thousand-year-old palm groves, and wrapped in faded red, ochre walls, Marrakech casts a magic spell. One’s senses are stimulated by the brilliantly colored spices, entrancing music, rich folds of carpets, delectable cuisine, whirling dervishes, intertwining tile geometries, perfumed gardens shimmering in still waters of reflecting pools. At the center of the crossroads is the legendary Djemaa el Fna square. Now on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, the square hums and pulsates with mystery, magic, and possibility. |
| Accommodation
| Tropicana Hotel |
| Rooming |
Standard en-suite twin room |
| Meals |
Breakfast, Dinner |
| Included Activities |
Leisure day: Optional activities |
Day 15: Marrakech
After breakfast, departure transfers to Menara airport for your flight home and assistance with boarding formalities....
| On this day |
After breakfast, departure transfers to Menara airport for your flight home and assistance with boarding formalities. |
| Meals |
Breakfast |
| Included Activities |
Airport departure transfers |
Rates & Prices
Dates & Availability
| Duration |
15 days |
Code |
ANMO |
Select a departure:
Price Breakdown
| Departure Date | Price | Local Payment | Total Cost |
| 12 May 2012 | R 11,305 | R 0 | R 11,305 |
| Single Supplement |
| R 2,555 |
Tour Inclusions
Arrival & Departure airport transfers, Transportation, Accommodation per itinerary or similar, Services of an English speaking driver/guide, Meals as per itinerary B-Breakfast, L-Lunch and D-Dinner, Excursions & activities as per itinerary, All meet and greet services
Trip Details
What's Included
Arrival & Departure airport transfers, Transportation, Accommodation per itinerary or similar, Services of an English speaking driver/guide, Meals as per itinerary B-Breakfast, L-Lunch and D-Dinner, Excursions & activities as per itinerary, All meet and greet services
What's Excluded
Visas and related costs, Personal Border Taxes, Drinks, tips, laundry, telephone calls and other items of a personal nature, International flights and arrival and departure taxes, Meals not listed on the itinerary, Travel and personal accident insurance, Optional excursions and activities
Transport
Deluxe and air-conditioned Minivan at disposal for the whole tour
Guiding
English speaking guide throughout the trip
Accommodation
Hotels (10 nts) Nomad Tents (2 nts) Local Berber Home stay (2 nts)
Meals
14 Breakfasts and 13 Dinners
Transfers
Arrival and Departure transfers are included in this tour; therefore travellers need to supply us with their flight details as soon as possible.
Activities & Excursions
- Traditional Moroccan 3 course dinner with folklore entertainment, in an old former palace in the medina - Dh300 - Fez
- Bicycle hire – Dh 70–100 per day - Marrakech
- Day Excursion to the High Atlas (Imlil) - USD 50 per person
- mountain biking, hiking, horseback, fishing, sailing, surfing, wind surfing, kite surfing, camel rides, visits to vineyards, trekking, visits to Argan oil production - Essaouira
- Museum of Marrakech - Dh40
- Traditional Hammam (steam bath) including massage – Dh 300 -Marrakech
- Traditional Moroccan 3 course dinner with folklore entertainment, in an old former palace in the medina - Dh300 - Fez
