CASABLANCA to MARRAKECH (8 days) Moroccan Highlights
CASABLANCA to MARRAKECH (8 days) Moroccan Highlights
8 Days Starting in Casablanca, Morocco and ending in Marrakesh, Morocco
Visiting: Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fes, Sahara Desert Morocco, Todra River, Aït Benhaddou, Marrakesh
Tour operator:
Tour code:
519
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Physical rating:
All Ages / Not applicable
Age range:
5-85
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
From:
$885
$840 (USD)
The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$44
Tour Overview
This classic small-group tour spends 8 days exploring Morocco's highlights, from the Imperial Cities, medinas and ancient cities of the north, to the Atlas mountains and Saharan sand dunes to the south. You'll get a real taste for everything that this most beautiful of North Africa's countries has to offer. Starting from Casablanca you'll head to the old parts of Morocco's capital Rabat, and then take in the high ramparts and gardens of Meknes, and the UNESCO listed Roman ruins at Volubilis before arriving at Fes, the third of Morocco's Imperial Cities for the day. With its huge medina packed with tiny streets wide enough only for donkeys and bikes to provide transport, Fes is a delight to explore. Next, the scenery changes dramatically as you cross the Atlas mountains for the first time before arriving at the edge of the Sahara Desert and the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes. You'll enjoy a camel trek through the dunes at sunset here, before spending the night at an authentic Berber camp with your local hosts on the edge of the desert. After this memorable night, you head to the dramatic Todra Gorge, and the iconic Ksar of Ait Benhaddou. The tour then finishes by crossing the High Atlas again, via North Africa's highest mountain pass, before arriving in Marrakech. With another famous Medina and the huge and busy Djemaa el Fna square to discover in the evening, Marrakech makes a perfect place to finish your time in Morocco. Accommodation is in comfortable mid-range hotels plus one night in the desert camp, with extensions available at either end of the tour if you have more time available. The tour can also be arranged privately if you would rather not join a small group, or if our group dates do not work for you. Please contact us for details.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Casablanca
Location: Casablanca
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Moroccan House Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Morocco! Following your transfer from the airport to our joining hotel you can relax by the hotel pool before the pre-departure meeting at 18.00 where you will meet your fellow travellers. Overnight Casablanca.
We recommend arriving a day before or early in the morning so you are able to join the group who started in Marrakech and visit the Hassan II Mosque in the afternoon. This is the only mosque in Morocco (that we know of) which allows non-muslims to enter.
Day 2 : Fes
Location: Rabat, Meknes, Fes
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Arena
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast before we set off on our travels to the capital Rabat. We have a guided tour of the city were we will be visiting the Oudaia Kasbah in the oldest part of the city and we have the opportunity to see the Hassan Tower Rabat’s most famous landmark, the Royal Palace and Chellah are also a must see whilst we are here. We continue our journey through to Fes after a lunch stop in Meknes, one of Morocco’s imperial cities. After Lunch we move on to the Roman settlement of Volubilis for a guided tour, it is the largest ancient site in Morocco and is a UNESCO listed site dating back to AD 40. We then move on to Fes tonight.
Day 3 : Fes
Location: Fes
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Arena
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we take the guided tour of Fes. Fes is the oldest and largest medieval city in the world. Its medina, home to 400.000 inhabitants, with only donkeys and bikes as a means of transportation, is a heady mix of aromas, sights and sounds. There are plenty of mosques and palaces to visit, but be aware that only Muslims can enter Mosques in Morocco. After exploring the dye-pits, tanneries, pharmacy, pottery and restaurants, we return to our hotel to freshen up for tonight, where we have the chance of an optional traditional meal and entertainment in the city with live Moroccan entertainment including traditional music, belly dancing and magicians.
Day 4 : Sahara Desert
Location: Sahara Desert Morocco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Auberge La Caravane (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we enjoy a stunning drive and you have the opportunity to have a fantastic Moroccan lunch (optional) and an afternoon relaxing and swimming (except in Winter months). It is then time to head towards the great desert and Merzouga, where we transfer to camels for a trek into the Sahara Desert for a night at our authentic Berber Camp.
We enjoy local food, music and an amazing night out under the Saharan stars.
Day 5 : Todra Gorge
Location: Todra River
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Amazir (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Leaving the desert, we move on to Todra Gorge. This 1000ft gorge is hemmed in on all sides by vertical limestone cliffs and is also called Morocco’s Grand Canyon. We will stop at a Berber co-operative where you can see and buy authentic, Berber handmade rugs, kilims and carpets. The afternoon can be spent exploring the Gorge, walking through the Palmerie or trying our optional activity of Rock Climbing. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west.
Day 6 : Ait Benhaddou
Location: Aït Benhaddou
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Rose Du Sable (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We must bid fond farewell to Todra this morning en-route to Ait Benhaddou via Ouarzazate. We will stop for lunch along the way and have a chance for an optional tour of the Film studios in Ouarzazate, famous for films such as Gladiators, The Last Temptation of Christ and the Living Daylights. On a hill along the Ouarzazate River we find Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which boasts great examples of Kasbahs, some of which remain inhabited. This afternoon we have a guided tour of the famous Kasbah and village.
Day 7 : Marrakech
Location: Marrakesh
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel El Andalous (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We traverse the High Atlas today enjoying stunning views en-route to Marrakech. It is possible to join an otional guided tour of the city this afternoon. Marrakech set against the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Its great pride and landmark is the Koutoubia Tower, sister to the Tower of Hassan in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Seville. It is said that after the third of these was completed, the sultan had the eyes of his architect put out, lest he should build another more beautiful tower elsewhere. No visit to the city is complete without a visit to the city’s UNESCO-listed medina & Djemâa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place.
The rest of the afternoon you have free time to relax by the pool or do a little shopping for souvenirs before we meet for the last group evening meal.
Day 8 : Marrakech
Location: Marrakesh
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your adventure tour ends after breakfast. For those flying out of Marrakech on this day you can arrange airport transfers with your guide, and these can be booked any time for this day – there is luggage storage at the hotel should you need to check out before your go to the airport. Additional nights in Marrakech can also be booked upon request, please contact us for details.
What's Included
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Accommodation - 6 nights in 3/4* (shared rooms) + 1 night desert Camp
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Arrival Transfer from Casablanca Airport included on Day 1 (or if pre-trip accommodation is booked directly with Oasis for our joining hotel).
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7 breakfasts, 5 dinners including a Berber camp dinner
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Transport in 4x4 Land Cruiser or Minivan
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Guided tours of Rabat, Fes, Volubillis & Ait Benhaddou
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Services of 1 or 2 person crew (Tour Leader & Driver)
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Desert camel trek
What's Not Included
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Visas
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Flights
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Travel Insurance
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Tipping kitty $50 USD - for hotel porters, hotel waiters, local guides used for City tours, airport drivers, Berber camel herders, restaurant tips & Tour driver
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The tipping kitty does not cover your Nomadic guide, so please feel free to offer a tip at the end of the tour if you are happy with the service provided
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Optional Excursions as listed in the Pre-Departure Information
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Drinks
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Meals not listed in the itinerary
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Spending money
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Entrance to Casablanca Mosque
More Info
This classic small-group tour spends 8 days exploring Morocco's highlights, from the Imperial Cities, medinas and ancient cities of the north, to the Atlas mountains and Saharan sand dunes to the south. You'll get a real taste for everything that this most beautiful of North Africa's countries has to offer. Starting from Casablanca you'll head to the old parts of Morocco's capital Rabat, and then take in the high ramparts and gardens of Meknes, and the UNESCO listed Roman ruins at Volubilis before arriving at Fes, the third of Morocco's Imperial Cities for the day. With its huge medina packed with tiny streets wide enough only for donkeys and bikes to provide transport, Fes is a delight to explore. Next, the scenery changes dramatically as you cross the Atlas mountains for the first time before arriving at the edge of the Sahara Desert and the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes. You'll enjoy a camel trek through the dunes at sunset here, before spending the night at an authentic Berber camp with your local hosts on the edge of the desert. After this memorable night, you head to the dramatic Todra Gorge, and the iconic Ksar of Ait Benhaddou. The tour then finishes by crossing the High Atlas again, via North Africa's highest mountain pass, before arriving in Marrakech. With another famous Medina and the huge and busy Djemaa el Fna square to discover in the evening, Marrakech makes a perfect place to finish your time in Morocco. Accommodation is in comfortable mid-range hotels plus one night in the desert camp, with extensions available at either end of the tour if you have more time available. The tour can also be arranged privately if you would rather not join a small group, or if our group dates do not work for you. Please contact us for details.
Mode of Transport
Transport is by minivan, 4x4 Land Cruiser and Camel!
Accommodation
Accommodation is in shared rooms (between 2 people of the same sex from your trip unless you are a couple). We use basic 3 star hotels along with a night camping in a traditional Berber camp in the Desert. Some hotels even have swimming pools and sun-lounge areas. In some hotels you may be able to upgrade to a single room (at your own expense). Temperatures in Morocco are generally high, particularly during the summer months from May to September, so take sunscreen. However in winter temperatures can drop right down in the evenings, but as long as you bring some warm clothing and a sleeping bag for this night in the desert then you should be more than comfortable.
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
Day 1 in your departure city, is an arrivals day. For your convenience we would advise that you arrive at the latest, on the afternoon of this day. You may wish to allow some extra time to explore your arrival and departure cities. Departing flights: we recommend not to book a flight departing before midday on your last day of the trip. One way ticket: If you intend to travel on a one way ticket to meet up with one of our trips, without possessing an onward flight ticket - we recommend that you have a copy of your payment confirmation/receipt (that you will be sent at time of your balance payment) available at immigration to assist easy entry.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary.
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What is the maximum group size?
Maximum 16 people.
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Where does the trip start?
The trip starts from the Moroccan House Hotel at approximately 6pm on the evening of Day 1 of your trip. The Moroccan House Hotel is a large, comfortable hotel in the centre of Casablanca. It has a restaurant and hammam with a small supermarket and ATMs nearby. It is situated within easy walking distance to many of the city's major attractions and is only about 550 yards to the medina. Trip Joining Point: Moroccan House Hotel - Casablanca Start Time Day 1: 18:00 Address: 4 Rue Mohamed Smiha, Avenue des Far, Centre Ville, Casablanca Telephone: +212 5 22 54 35 66/6 Website: www.moroccanhousehotels.com Email: reservation_casa@moroccanhousehotels.com
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Do I need pre-trip accommodation?
You can pre-book accommodation and airport transfers through us. We will require your flight number, arrival time, and arrival date so please ensure this information is forwarded to us as soon as you have booked your flight. Please book this service as soon as you have booked your flight and no later than 6 weeks prior to departure, after which a late booking fee may apply. If you have booked through a travel agent, please contact them to request pre-trip accommodation and airport transfers. Double, twin, and triple rooms will be provided subject to availability, where requested. However when not available we may need to book other rooming arrangements, and will fit these as closely as possible to your request. Those travelling solo will be put in shared rooms to reduce the costs to them, which may be twin/triple shares with other Oasis Overland travellers. Single rooms may be available in some cities for solo travellers, and we will arrange this for you on request, subject to availability. If you are arriving early in the morning and you would like to check in immediately, you may have to reserve your room for the previous night to ensure direct check in, otherwise you may have to wait until normal check in times (usually 1pm to 2pm).
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Airport Arrival Transfers are included in the cost of your adventure (provided you request these via the UK office or your account six weeks before your departure). On arrival into Casablanca airport you will be met by a representative holding a sign with your name on it. Please note they will be waiting just outside the airport terminal building due to rules at the airport – please look out for them and introduce yourself. You can purchase Morocco Dirham at the airport Forex Bureau or ATM but this can also be done easily at your Hotel or from ATMs near the Hotel. If your flight is delayed by more than 2 hours before departure - or - if after arriving in Casablanca Airport you cannot find your airport transfer please call Brahim (Morocco Tour Manager) +212 (0) 661 252 381 - Emergency number. Airport transfers can be arranged with your tour leader on Day 1 or directly with the hotel on arrival if your trip finishes at the same hotel.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes, if you are travelling solo. On our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions, we will pair you up with a tent buddy of the same sex when we camp and the same goes for twin & shared rooms in hostels, so there is no need to go it alone! If you specifically would like to request your own single room whilst on the trip, this may be requested subject to availability and additional fee.
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How many people do you take on your Trips?
On most of our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions our vehicles can carry a maximum of 24 travellers, the average however is around 16-20 on any one trip. Our Small Group Adventures have a maximum of 18 people per Tour Leader, although again the average is around 10-14 people.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Dates & Availability
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Sunday - Sunday
May 26, 2024 - Jun 02, 2024Sunday - Sunday
Jun 09, 2024 - Jun 16, 2024Sunday - Sunday
Jun 23, 2024 - Jun 30, 2024Sunday - Sunday
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Nov 24, 2024 - Dec 01, 2024Sunday - Sunday
Dec 01, 2024 - Dec 08, 2024Sunday - Sunday
Dec 22, 2024 - Dec 29, 2024Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Oasis Overland requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of oasis overland charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 33% of booking price.
At 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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