Camels, Souks & Kasbahs - 15 Days

Saturday. Welcome to Morocco! You'll be met at Marrakech Airport and transferred to your hotel. Be sure to arrive in time for our welcome meeting and dinner at 18:00.

Marrakech - Casablanca. Today we travel up to Casablanca. Made famous by Humphrey Bogart in the film 'Casablanca'. We then have the option of visiting the stunning Hassan II mosque, which has the tallest minaret and the third largest mosque in the world, it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time.

Casablanca - Rabat - Meknes. This morning we drive to Rabat, Morocco's capital city to visit Oudaia Kasbah, Hassan tower, and the Royal Palace. After lunch we will move on to the third of our Imperial cities Meknes to enjoy some free time.

Meknes - Chefchaouen. After breakfast, we’ll embark on a tour of the Roman ruins at Volubilis, the largest ancient site of Morocco. UNESCO-listed, the site dates back to AD40 and once ruled the entire Roman province of Mauritania. We’ll then head on to Chefchaouen for a guided tour this afternoon. High up in the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen boasts a beautiful blue door and white-walled medina that was originally a Berber post. The main square is the heart of Chefchaouen, with the Kasbah (built back in the 18th century), central mosque and cafes with authentic menus. The busy market is a mix of traditional Moroccan and tourist fare.

Chefchaouen - Fes. Enjoy some free time in Chefchaouen this morning - relax at the hotel or spend your time exploring this beautiful city. We travel on to Fes in the afternoon. Fes is the oldest and largest medieval city in the world, and its medina is a heady mix of aromas, sounds and sights. To navigate, follow one of the five, themed tourist circuits. There are plenty of mosques and palaces to visit, but be aware that only Muslims can enter Mosques in Morocco.
On day 6 we embark on a fully guided tour of the city of Fes. Explore the tanneries, souks, potteries, and the Medina, and learn the fascinating history of the city. We’ll later return to the hotel to get ready for an optional night of Moroccan entertainment and food at a restaurant in town.

Fes - Midelt. This morning we journey over the Moyen Atlas to stop at Midelt. This is a beautiful alpine area. Surrounded by huge pine trees and a tranquil mountain setting, this is a great spot to cool down and relax after the hustle and bustle of Fes. We will enjoy a small hike in the afternoon and a visit to a local Berber family home where we catch a glimpse of their way of life before returning to our hotel for the evening in this mountain location.

Midelt - Erg Chebbi. Today we embark on a scenic drive followed by a tasty an Moroccan lunch and an afternoon relaxing and swimming. Then we head out towards the Erg Chebbi dunes located near the remote frontier town of Merzouga. The dunes are renowned for their incredible height and size. In parts the vast sand pile reaches skyward to heights of 150 metres! Transferring to our camels we trek into the Sahara for a night at our Berber Camp. Tonight enjoy a local meal, music and an amazing night out under the Saharan stars.

Erg Chebbi - Todra Gorge. 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 have an early lunch at the village 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 if you’re feeling adventurous, there is the option to rock climb.

Todra Gorge - Ait Benhaddou. Leaving the impressive Todra Gorge we continue our journey to Ait Benhaddou, stopping en route in Ouarzazate for lunch and the opportunity to tour its famous film studio (book/pay locally). After lunch we tour the famous Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, where Lawrence of Arabia was once filmed.

Ait Benhaddou - Essaouira. Today’s drive offers panoramic views as we traverse the high Atlas Mountains on our way to Essaouira. A colourful old city and fishing village is located within 15th century Portuguese fortifications. Just outside the town great beaches and an Atlantic surf beckon.

Relax on the beach or alternatively explore the UNESCO-listed medina with its various souks and woodcarving workshops. Any city gate leads to the Medina, so you’re unlikely to get lost. The beach is in front of the Medina and there are plenty of cafés with terraces, both ideal for relaxing for a few hours. Blue doors and window frames abound as do the artists shops – buy a carpet or Thuya wood carving or sit on the beach sipping a mint tea as the sun sets, an antidote to the bustle of the Imperial Cities. During our time here there’s the option to take part in horse trekking or quad biking or a cooking class.

Marrakech. Our tour concludes after breakfast and hotel check out this morning, should you wish to extend your stay in Morocco please do let us know!

Essaouira - Marrakech - breakfast. We take a supratours public bus from Essaouira back to Marrakech this morning, to explore the last of Morocco’s four Imperial cities we visit on this tour. 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 and Djemaa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place. An optional guided tour of Marrakech is offered with a local payment of 100 Dirhams, alternatively you can explore the city yourself or relax by the pool.