Moroccan Melodies tour
9 Days Starting in Casablanca, Morocco and ending in Marrakesh, Morocco
Visiting: Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes, Erfoud, Merzouga, Tinghir, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou, Marrakesh
Tour operator:
Tour code:
19
Group Type:
Private
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 14
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
Over 9s
Special diets catered:
Request dietary needs
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$2460
$2337 (USD)
The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$123
Tour Overview
Our 9 day Moroccan Melodies trip is a great introduction to the captivating cities, small desert towns and archaeological sites that make up this wonderful country. The tour begins in coastal Casablanca where we view the huge Hassan II Mosque on the waterfront before heading to the capital city of Rabat to learn more about the history and culture of Morocco, both ancient and modern by visiting the main sites. From Rabat, we head out of the city to visit the intriguing Roman ruins found at Volubolis as well as the old imperial city of Meknes before travelling onto Fez where we explore the fantastic medieval Medina. From Fez we head into the dramatic landscape of the Atlas Mountains overlooking the Sahara desert. En-route we stop for a fun cooking class learning how to make the Moroccan staple, cous cous. We’ll then experience the natural beauty of the desert first-hand by taking part in a jeep safari and camel ride before watching sun set over the desert dunes and sleeping under the stars in a traditional Berber camp. We continue our tour through the imposing desert landscape with stops at the oasis town of Tinghir and the unique rock formations found at Todra Gorge. The tour then travels back down to Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains with further stops at Ouarzazate and the UNESCO site of Ait Benhaddou. Upon your return to Marrakech, you can extend your tour with a few more days in the city, or even include a few days on the coast at Essaouira.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive Into Casablanca. Transfer To Hotel
Location: Casablanca
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casablanca hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
On your arrival in Casablanca airport (CMN) our representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in the centre of the city. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in, relax after your flight, and have a first look around. Extra nights before the tour starts are available on request.
Day 2 : Casablanca, Rabat, Volubolis & Meknes
Location: Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Fes hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We start our tour early today with a visit (from the outside) to the impressive Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. The mosque, 7th largest in the world and with the highest minaret has an amazing location right on the edge of the sea. We then head to Morocco's nearby capital, Rabat. Also strategically located on the Atlantic coastline, Rabat began as a settlement in the third century BC and we'll enjoy a tour of the old city including visits to the Royal Palace, Ouadaya Garden & Kasbah and the Hassan Tower Mosque. Next is the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Recently listed as a UNESCO world heritage site and dating back as far as AD40, Volubilis is home to some of the most impressive Roman ruins in North Africa. Finally we visit the Berber town of Meknes. Formerly the capital of Morocco during the reign of Moulay Ismail, he transformed the town, constructing intricate gateways, beautiful gardens and at 40m the largest ramparts in the country. Our days ends with the short drive to Fez where we spend the night.
Day 3 : Fez, City Tour
Location: Fes
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Fez hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Over 1,200 years old, the city of Fez is a labyrinth of souks, mosques and spice filled streets. We delve into the fascinating history of the city with a full tour encompassing the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, Nejjarine fountain and the Bou Anania Medersa. We also spend time confusing our senses in the cacophony of noise surrounding the heady alleyways of Medieval Medina, home to tanneries, carpet shops and local restaurants before heading to Fez Jdid to explore the cities many varied souks.
Day 4 : Across The Mountains To The Sahara
Location: Erfoud, Merzouga
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Berber desert camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We start to discover some of Morocco's beautiful mountainous landscape today as we leave Fez and follow ancient caravan routes up into the hills. Along the way we'll stop at Ifran, known as the ''Switzerland of Morocco'' and a huge contrast to some of the other more Arabic feeling cities you'll see in Morocco. The French built Ifran in the 1930s, with the intention of recreating an alpine style resort, and you'll see beautiful parks with lakes, flower beds, and red roofed houses throughout what was named the second cleanest city in the world in 2013. Next we head on through the hills and through the scenic Ziz Valley this morning as we descend to Erfoud on the edge of the Sahara Desert. We'll then drive in 4WD vehicles through the desert to Merzouga and the famous Erg Chebbi sand dunes. Here we transfer to camels and take a sunset camel ride through the sand dunes to a traditional Berber camp nestled right on the edge of the dunes. You can enjoy some spectacular views over the sand dunes as the sun sinks below the horizon before enjoying a hearty Bedouin meal and a campfire this evening, often with local musicians helping enhance the atmosphere. You spend the night sleeping in comfortable Berber camel-hair tents.
Day 5 : Drive To Dades Via Tinghir And The Todra Gorge
Location: Tinghir
Accommodation: Camp, Hotel
Accommodation Name: Deluxe guesthouse or small hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
We leave the desert reluctantly this morning and finish our safari before driving to the oasis town of Tinghir which boasts one of the largest palm groves in the country. A beautiful walk follows through the valley and the Todra Gorge, a 300m wall, carved deep into the High Atlas Mountains, making a narrow canyon beneath huge rock walls that change in colour as the light moves during the day. We'll also drive through the Dades Canyon with its steep winding access road with numerous switchbacks providing great views of the steep cliffs and the river below which rushes dramatically through the gorge, especially in the spring when the mountain snows are melting.
Day 6 : Dades To Skoura And The Valley Of The Roses
Location: Skoura
Accommodation Name: Skoura deluxe guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The route through Dades Valley is also known as the Road of One Thousand Kasbahs. You'll catch a spectacular view of a vast valley dotted with small oases and hundreds of ancient fortifications. The sand-colored walls of the kasbahs may all start to look the same but each holds a special historical treasure within and offer innumerable opportunities for remarkable photos. We will meet Berber Nomads in their caves and the fertile Rose valley, perhaps stopping briefly at Kalaat M'gouna, 'the rose city', to purchase rosewater before arriving in Skoura. A quiet little village speckled with palm tree groves, Skoura is surrounded by acres of palm groves (les palmaraie), which are a paradise of palm and olive trees dotted with kasbahs and small villages. This is where we find Kasbah Amridil: a kasbah that stands out from the rest. Originally built in the 17th century, it is one of Morocco's most iconic living museums that has withstood the test of time, making it the ideal setting for an insight into the ancient traditions of kasbah life. If you wish, and time allows, you can also take a short hike to a spot overlooking the valley and the old salt mines. Finally we'll explore the Skoura Oasis and stroll for an hour in the gardens of the north side of the town past almond and olive trees. Dinner and overnight at a beautiful guesthouse.
Day 7 : Ouarzazate, Ait Benhaddou And The Atlas Mountains
Location: Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou, Marrakesh
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Marrakech hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We start this morning with the short drive to Ouarzazate where, for centuries, people from the Atlas, Draa and Dades Valleys have converged to do business at Ouarzazate’s sprawling Taourirt Kasbah. A massive citadel, it sits against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains and contains almost 300 rooms within its walls. We follow the maze of corridors to a prayer room on the top floor, which provides stunning views over Lake El Mansour Edhabbi, or we can explore the village within the kasbah for great deals on local crafts. We'll also visit Taourir and Ti-foultout Kasbahs, which are among the most beautiful Kasbahs in Morocco.
After the French protectorate left in the 1950s, the movie business flourished in Ouarzazate. We will visit the Atlas film studios where many famous movies have been filmed, including Lawrence of Arabi, The Living Daylights, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Man who would be King, The Mummy, Gladiator, Asterix & Obelisk, Kingdom of Heaven, Kundun, Legionnaire, Hanna, and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, as well as part of the TV series Game of Thrones.
Today's main highlight though is a tour of Morocco's most well known Kasbah at the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. This is a huge fortified city (ksar - a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls), with houses and kasbahs crowding together inside the defensive walls, an excellent example of traditional Moroccan earthen clay architecture. You can spend several hours in its maze of winding streets until reaching a fortified granary at the top which provides an amazing view of the valley.
Finally we head up into and across the Atlas Mountains for a beautifully scenic drive to Marrakech, en-route crossing the Tizi N'tichka col which at 2260m is the highest pass in Northern Africa.
Day 8 : Marrakech City Tour
Location: Marrakesh
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Marrakech hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, we begin unearthing the secrets of Marrakech, starting in the medina, the old walled section of town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll marvel at the city's architectural jewels, including the soaring Koutoubia minaret and Dar Si Said; housed in a palace, it is among the most beautiful of its kind in the world. We'll then continue to the Bahia Palace, an exemplary specimen of privileged life in the 19th century. Then we visit Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakech’s main square, which is filled with orange juice stalls and vendors, and is well worth returning to in the evenings when it is packed with street food stalls, fire-eaters, mime artists, snake charmers and street musicians performing at every turn.
The afternoon is then free to explore the Medina's fabled, labyrinthine souks and do some souvenir shopping. In the middle of the old market (Rahba Lakdima) you'll find queues of stalls filled with jars upon jars of spices, petals, bark and leaves inside. You’ll see cumin, saffron, harissa and paprika, but what many people come for is what can only be found in Morocco – the spice blend called Ras el Hanout, which translates as “head of the shop.” This blend usually includes paprika. cardamom, clove, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, peppercorn and turmeric and more, with recipes often a guarded secret. You can return to the hotel for dinner or a rest, but it's well worth returning back to the main square in the evening.
Day 9 : Marrakech, Free Time, Transfer To The Airport For Departure
Location: Marrakesh
Accommodation Name: N/A
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your day is free today to explore Marrakech further, and perhaps do some final souvenir shopping and sightseeing before we transfer you to Marrakech airport for your departure flight. Subject to your flight time, we can also offer a range of day trips and excursions, including a spectacular hot air balloon flight.
What's Included
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Accommodation in mainly 4-star level and boutique style hotels, and a comfortable Berber desert camp
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All transport and transfers
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24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
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Services of an experienced English speaking local tour leader/driver
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Specialist local guides for sightseeing tours
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Meals as indicated in the itinerary
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Entrances fees to monuments as stated
What's Not Included
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International flights (available on request)
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Visa fees (not required for many nationalities)
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Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
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Meals not indicated in the itinerary
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Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
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Tips
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Any other items not mentioned above
Mode of Transport
A/C minibus
Accommodation
3 to 4-star hotels
Berber camp
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
In Morocco we provide fully trained, local English-speaking guides for the sightseeing tours in the main destinations (eg. Marrakech, Fez, Rabat, Casablanca). An English speaking tour leader/driver also accompanies the group throughout the tour. At Encounters Travel we only use local Moroccan guides and drivers. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing and many people describe our Moroccan guides as one of the highlights of their holiday.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation. Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions. In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are: South Africa: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Namibia: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from an infected area. Botswana: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted or travelled through an infected area. Zimbabwe: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Zambia: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Malawi: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Tanzania: Additional vaccinations: Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. Kenya: Additional vaccinations: Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from an infected area. Uganda: Additional vaccinations: Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from an infected area. Sudan: Additional vaccinations: Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever. Malaria map. Yellow Fever certificate: Required if arriving from or having transitted through an infected area. A certificate may also be required for those departing Sudan. Morocco: Additional vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid. Malaria not normally present. Yellow Fever certificate not required. The above information can change at short notice. For up to date health information & vaccination requirements we recommend that you contact your medical practitioner or a travel clinic. Malaria: Vaccinations are not available against Malaria, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be very serious and sometimes fatal. You should avoid mosquito bites by covering up bare skin with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers and applying insect repellents to exposed skin. When necessary, sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are most active during and after sunset. You should consult with your GP/medical practitioner/travel clinic about the most appropriate malaria prophylactic medication to take for the regions you are visiting. Yellow Fever: This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes that bite during the day. A Yellow Fever Certificate of vacinnation is often required as a condition of entry depending on which country you are arriving from, or that you have travelled or transitted through recently (including connecting flights with stopovers of over 12 hours). You can view this US CDC information about where the virus is present and follow the links to further information detailing which countries need you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination as part of their entry requirements. Please ensure you have this certificate organised in advance and with you and to hand during the trip. Please inform us of any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or asthma and any prescription medicine you may be taking. We also need to know about any food allergies or physical disabilities that you may have. If you are travelling on an Overland tour or your trip includes wildlife safaris then please bear in mind that you may be travelling on bumpy roads and/or rough ground for several hours at a time. This can be very uncomfortable or painful if you have a bad back, and make such conditions worse. Please contact us if you have any concerns.
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What should I know before traveling?
It is important when considering and preparing to travel anywhere in the world that you have a good understanding of the country you are visiting, its laws and customs, and the possible risks and situations that may occur. This includes specific risks related to your itinerary (eg. does it involve water & can you swim, are you fit enough for the activities included), as well as more general risks such as terrorism and natural disasters. General details and links to more information about health risks, visa requirements, money, and travel insurance are given in these tour notes. We recommend that you re-read all these before your departure as well as the small print of your travel insurance policy so you know exactly what is covered and what is not. You should take copies of your important travel documents with you and ideally also store them online securely as a backup. Make sure that you have given us your emergency contact details and told that person where and when you are travelling. Ensure you take enough money with you and that you have access to emergency funds. Finally, you should read through and stay updated with the current official government travel advice for your destination. We are registered partners with the UK Foreign Office's 'Travel Aware' campaign which provides further useful and invaluable information.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
The tour price includes entrance fees to all the tourist sites mentioned in the itinerary. You will need to cover the cost of entrance to any other extra sites that you may wish to visit.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Our Morocco tours include a 24-hour airport meet & assist service in Casablanca/Marrakech airports (depending on the exact itinerary), your arrival and departure airport-hotel transfers and all other transfers. Your airport transfers are only included in our tour prices on the first and last day of the set tour itinerary. We will be happy to arrange transfers on any additional days if you book your hotel room with us. If you make your own arrangements for additional accommodation at either the beginning or the end of the tour then you will need to arrange your own airport transfers on these days. On our Shoestring group tours we do offer optional hotel upgrades. This may mean that additional pick-up and drop-offs are required each day. We do endeavour to ensure that all hotels used are close to each other and to streamline and time arrangements to limit any extra driving time as much as possible.
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities. We recommend that you contact your closest Moroccan consulate or embassy for current information for your nationality. Currently, many nationalities (including USA, Canada, UK, European, Australian, New Zealand) do not need to obtain a visa to enter Morocco as long as your stay is for less than 3 months. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate.
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Is travel insurance compulsory?
Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.
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When is my balance payment due?
60 days prior to departure
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s
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Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Dates & Availability
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Monday - Tuesday
Apr 29, 2024 - May 07, 2024Tuesday - Wednesday
Apr 30, 2024 - May 08, 2024Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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