Morocco Kasbahs & Desert
From Casablanca to Marrakech
Tour Operator: G Adventures
Physical rating: 2 - Light
Special diets catered: Vegetarians, Vegans
Group size: 1 - 14
Age range: You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Tour operated in: English
Prices From:
Tour Overview
Perfect for travellers looking for a fast-paced trip, this short but sweet adventure offers up a great combination of Morocco’s must-see highlights and a little free time to explore on your own. Tour the dunes from atop a camel for an authentic way to experience the Sahara, explore high-walled kasbahs and wander the labyrinthine alleys of Fès and Marrakech, all allowing you to discover the history and rugged natural beauty of mysterious Morocco.
Highlights
enjoy delicious Moroccan fare- barter in exotic souks
- ride a camel to the sand dunes
- sip refreshing mint tea
- Wander the winding streets of ancient medinas
- explore natural gorges and Roman ruins
- Wander the winding streets of ancient medinas, sip refreshing mint tea, explore natural gorges and Roman ruins, ride a camel to the sand dunes, barter in exotic souks, enjoy delicious Moroccan fare
- Meknès
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group. Volubilis guided tour including visit to the Roman ruins. Fès medina guided tour including artisans' quarter and Fès tannery. Sunset camel ride in the desert. Todra Gorge stay with walk through local villages. Aït Ben Haddou kasbah tour. Marrakech medina guided walk including Saadian Tombs
Places You'll See
Countries:
Cities & Attractions:
Itinerary
Day 1: Casablanca
Location: Casablanca
Accommodation: Hotel Campanile Casablanca
Arrive at any time.
Please note that this tour does not spend any time in Casablanca. You may wish to come a day early in order to explore Casablanca, and take some time to see its medina, beachfront, and classic examples of Art Deco architecture. Be sure to also visit the spectacular Hassan II Mosque. Entrance is only permitted via guided tours, which operate from Saturday to Thursday at 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, and 15:00, and on Fridays at 9:00, 10:00, and 15:00. These times are subject to change (particularly around Ramadan), please double check times with your hotel. Tickets can be purchased at the mosque.
Additional Information: A general note about this tour: it has a very fast-paced itinerary, which covers a lot of ground. This is great as it allows us to see a huge amount in the time available, but it also means some early starts, some long drives in the minivan, and less free time than many other G Adventures tours.
ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2: Casablanca/Fès
Location: Casablanca
Accommodation: Hotel Mounia
Meals: BREAKFAST, LUNCH
Enjoy a G Adventures-supported traditional lunch. Take a guided tour of the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis before continuing on to Fès.
Start early and drive through the rolling hills to the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Take a guided tour of the best-preserved Roman ruins in this part of Northern Africa, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After, continue to Fès, one of Morocco's most interesting cities. Take some free time to explore upon arrival. Opt to experience a traditional hammam and get to know the locals.
Additional Information: We will be staying in the the new city of Fès, built by the French during their Protectorate of Morocco. This area has the feel of a French provincial town, with its cafés, restaurants, and wide boulevards. Head off for a Moroccan feast at one of the many restaurants and finish off the night with some famous Moroccan mint tea.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Enjoy a G Adventures-supported traditional lunch that benefits rural Moroccan women and children. This G Adventures lunch program provides access to education opportunities and healthcare services. The proceeds from this lunch program help support vocational training for rural women, allowing them to support their families and children. Enjoy a traditional home-cooked Moroccan meal and meet some of the women that are part of this program.
ACTIVITY: Listen to a certified local guide explain life in the Roman Empire at this UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the impressive, well-preserved Roman ruins. Peer into old bathhouses, marvel at the still-present mosaic floors, and gaze up at towering marble pillars. Hear stories about life in this Roman city that will leave you in awe of just how far their empire stretched.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 3: Fès
Location: Fès
Accommodation: Hotel Mounia
Meals: BREAKFAST
Explore the labyrinth of streets within the famous Fès medina with a local guide. The Fès medina is the world’s largest living medieval medina and a UNESCO site. Explore the artisan quarters, sample treats from the carts, and view Fès' famous leather tannery from above. Enjoy free time this afternoon.
Opt to venture to the imperial city of Meknès by pre-booking the Meknès City Tour.
ACTIVITY: MORNING Follow a local guide through the Fès medina, one of the world’s largest medinas with more than 9000 winding streets lying within 365 hectares. See buildings in the medina that date back to the 9th century; there are 350 mosques in the medina that are still in use today. Enter through one of the great gates into the chaos. Explore the artisans’ quarters as well as the many carpenters, bakers, butchers, and spice sellers. Visit the mausoleum and the Al Qarawiyin University. A highlight of the tour is the view of the famous Fès tannery from the balcony of a leather shop, where you can observe the men hard at work treating and dyeing the different hides. Take some time to shop for leather goods before returning to your hotel.
FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Visit more of this lovely city and if you're stuck, there's always room for mint tea at an outdoor café.
Day 4: Fès/Merzouga
Location: Fès
Accommodation: Auberge Les Dunes D´Or
Meals: BREAKFAST, DINNER
Drive south towards the desert and embark on a camel ride into the dunes to watch the sunset. Head back to your hotel for a night of entertainment under the stars.
Start early today for a drive through the Middle Atlas Mountains to reach the edge of the Sahara. Settle into your hotel at the edge of the dunes and enjoy a warm welcome with mint tea. In the late afternoon, take a camel ride deep into the dunes to watch the sunset. Learn to tie a turban to keep the desert sun off your face and add a little flare to photos. This evening, indulge in a traditional dinner, then gather around a campfire under the stars near to your hotel. Listen to stories about life in this region and, perhaps, some traditional music on the drums.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Hold on and enjoy a ride on this even-toed ungulate, also known as the desert horse. Bring your camera for some fantastic photos of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Local guides will teach you how to mount and dismount and other handy camel-related safety tips.
Day 5: Merzouga/Todra Gorge
Location: Merzouga
Accommodation: Hotel Amazir
Meals: BREAKFAST
Rise early to watch the sunrise. After breakfast, continue through a stone desert to the stunning Todra Gorge. Wedged between massive cliff walls, the gorge is filled with a green oasis of palm trees. This serene spot is great for hiking, relaxing on the edge of the river or sampling some local Amazigh (also known as Berber) delicacies.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 6: Todra Gorge/Aït Ben Haddou
Location: Todra Gorge
Accommodation: La Rose du Sable
Meals: BREAKFAST
Visit the Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Opt to participate in a tagine cooking class for an intro to Moroccan cuisine.
Travel along the “Route of 1000 Kasbahs” to the thriving town of Ouarzazate for a lunch stop. This town is home to Atlas Film Studios, where many films have been shot over the years, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Continue on to the fascinating and beautiful Aït Ben Haddou, a wonderful example of a kasbah.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site and kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. Of all the remaining kasbahs in Morocco, the walls and interior of this area are the most intact. The kasbah still houses a few families, but many now live in the adjacent village. Like many of the earthen built fortresses in Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou has been used in many film and television productions like Gladiator, Babel, and Game of Thrones.
Day 7: Aït Ben Haddou/Marrakech
Location: Aït Ben Haddou
Accommodation: Hotel Gomassine
Meals: BREAKFAST
Head to Marrakech and take a guided medina visit. Opt to visit the Djemaa el Fna Square in the evening to see the gathering of musicians and street performers. Don't leave without indulging in a feast at the famous food stalls.
The journey to Marrakech includes breathtaking views throughout the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260m). Arrive in Marrakech in time for lunch with the rest of the day free to wander the city.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Head into the maze of tiny streets and alleyways of the ancient medina to really get a taste of everyday life in Marrakech. Shop to your heart’s content in the souk and search out spices, traditional jalabas and slippers, or the famous Moroccan lanterns. Visit the Saadian Tombs - a complex of sepulchers and mausoleums that house the remains of Saadian Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour Ed Dahb. The tombs were sealed off until their re-discovery in 1917. Tour the grounds of the Bahia Palace, marvelling at the intricate decoration, and experience the sights and sounds of the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
Day 8: Marrakech
Location: Marrakech
Meals: BREAKFAST
Depart at any time.
Additional Information: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help you book extended accommodation.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotels (7 nts)
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Meals
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
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All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Aït Ben Haddou kasbah tour
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Todra Gorge stay with walk through local villages
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Your G for Good Moment: Mhaya Village Community Lunch, Meknès
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Volubilis guided tour including visit to the Roman ruins
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Sunset camel ride in the desert
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Marrakech medina guided walk including Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa square
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Your G for Good Moment: Mhaya Village Community Lunch, Meknès Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
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Fès medina guided tour including artisans' quarter and Fès tannery
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Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group. Volubilis guided tour including visit to the Roman ruins. Fès medina guided tour including artisans' quarter and Fès tannery. Sunset camel ride in the desert. Todra Gorge stay with walk through local villages. Aït Ben Haddou kasbah tour. Marrakech medina guided walk including Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa square. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Accommodation
Meals Included
Transport
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View Q&As Ask A QuestionDates & Availability
Select departure month
Sunday, Dec 18, 2022
7Nights
14Available