We
took the best
of all our tours and put them into one great Morocco experience, taking you
from Marrakech to the beaches near Essaouira, to High Atlas waterfalls, off-road
to desert gorges, riads and kasbahs, oasis garden walks, a Sahara camel trek,
visit Fez and the Volubilus Roman ruins, to/from Casablanca or Marrakech.
Runs from 10 or more days.
View 14 day Itinerary
Throughout these
tours you will be immersed in Berber and desert cultures mingling with modern
ways of life, closely tied to ancient traditions. You will visit souks (markets),
Imperial cities, stay in medina riads, off-road through desert valleys, stay
in country auberge and old kasbahs. All transport
by a very comfortable private 4x4 cars with driver. Start or return to Marrakech/Fes/Casablanca/Rabat.
Tours run with a minimum of two persons.
We use small, family run hotels, auberge and riads (ensuite + air con)
that are of interest because of location, excellent food, and unique traditional
architecture. Generally speaking food in
Morocco is excellent and reflects traditional cooking. Vegetarians welcome.
For
more information about Morocco explore on the icons
at the top of this page. Need a flight?
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SAMPLE
14 DAY ITINERARY
Book
this tour
Why
not have it all? You've earned it! Fourteen days allows time to slow down,
immerse, relax and absorb the depths of mysterious Morocco. You will stay
in uniquely different Imperial cities of Fez and Marrakech,
visit Roman ruins, overnight in the Sahara Erg Chebbi dunes by camel trek,
and Ouzoud waterfalls, and the old Portuguese sea port of Essaouira.
Day 1
Arrive Marrakech and transport to your medina riad. Evening drums will draw
you to the Djemaa El Fna (main city square) where snake charmers, Berber and
Gnaoua musicians, and storytellers perform illuminated by lamplight and wreathed
in smoke. You can enjoy numerous food stalls serving fresh salads, harrira
(lentil and bean soups), fried fish and chips (Moroccan style), kebabs and
even boiled snails or sheep's head, considered a delicacy among Moroccans.
Stay Marrakech with breakfast.
Day 2
Transport (3 hours) to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, with an expansive
golden beach and fishing port. Old Portuguese ramparts guard the walled city,
where silver craftsmen and wood carvers work in one of the most charming medinas
in all of Morocco. Visit the fish grills on the square, or a Thuja wood craft
shop or an art gallery. Learn about natural medicines and cures, and watch
women processing Argan nuts by hand into one of the rarest oils in the world.
Overnight at Sidi Kaouki beach (26 km south of Essaouira).
Stay Sidi Kaouki with breakfast.
Day 3
Stay Sidi Kaouki beach - swim, kite sail, ride horses or camels on the beach.
Stay Sidi Kaouki with breakfast.
Day 4
Depart Sidi Kaouki and transport (3 hours) back to Marrakech. Visit the exquisite
Majorelle gardens, the Ben Youssef Medersa, and the Marrakech Museum. Behind
the square, the souk (market) is massive, comprised of craft-specialised areas:
the metal souk, wool souk, jewellery souk, spice souk, and more. You can try
Berber cosmetics, watch the crafters at work or hunt for that perfect carpet.
When you have had enough, you can watch the parade of life go by from one
of the many street cafes while enjoying a latté or tea, or retreat
to a rooftop terrace and watch the sun set over the city. Stay Marrakech medina
riad with breakfast.
Day 5
Transport (3.5 hours) from Marrakech crossing the High Atlas mountains. We'll
stop to visit a large cave, and have lunch. Our final destination is the World
Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou. This historic cluster of old kasbahs was the
stronghold stop for caravans crossing the High Atlas to pay taxes for protection
from thieves after their gold, slaves, salt and ivory. After lunch we can
visit the film studio where many big box office adventure films were made
(ie: The Mummy, Black Hawk Down, Cleopatra, Gadiator, Moses, and more). Stay
in Ait Benhaddou with breakfast and dinner.
Day 6
From Ouarzazate, our days journey (3 hours) includes Skoura oasis and the
Valley of the Rose, famous for soft Persian rose oil. Our destination is Dades
gorge, a small valley in the High Atlas with stunning rock formations. You
will pass through many Berber villages, and see riverside oasis and barren
hillsides clustered with kasbahs. Optional walk up the gorge to visit remote
Berber villages. Transport down valley to Tinehir. Stay in old kasbah with
swimming pool – breakfast and dinner.
Day 7
Morning departure (1 hour) to Todra gorge, a narrow massive fault dividing
the High Atlas mountains, rising to 300 m. Take your guide and walk among
the palmeries, gardens, Berber villages and old Kasbahs for a close look at
Berber ways of life. We’ll visit the night market in Tinehir and stay
in an old kasbah, (as above).
Day 8
After breakfast we’ll head for the Erg Chebbi sand sea. Along the way
we pass through folded exposed rock slabs of fossils and can stop and visit
a fossil workshop for a closer look at Sahara’s wonderful varieties
of ancient life. We continue deeper into the desert landscape, until dunes
appear on the horizon. Our mid-afternoon destination is the auberge (small
country inn) near Merzouga, where you meet your camel guide and ride into
the bivouac (camp). Upon arrival you will have a traditional tagine dinner
prepared (vegetarians welcome) under the evening stars shining brilliantly
in the clear night sky. Climb the dunes and watch the moon rise before retiring
to your bed in the nomad wool tent. Includes breakfast and dinner.
Day 9
Bivouac trekkers return by camel at sunrise to the auberge for breakfast and
shower. Depart for long days drive to Fez, traveling from the desert through
the Ziz gorge to the Middle Atlas mountains. The alpine town of Ifrane is
a nice contrast from the desert. You can stop here, before descending to the
hilly lowlands where the ancient city of Fez is situated.
Stay Fez medina riad includes breakfast.
Day 10
Stay Fez. With your guide, you will explore the 1200 year old medina, an endless
labyrinth of over 4000 narrow streets and tiny shops, the 14th-century Sahrij
medersa, the dyers souk, and craft manufacturers who ply their trade in narrow
medieval grottoes. The medieval leather tanneries, still using techniques
from ancient times, produce fine leather in beautiful colours. Fez is also
famous for its pottery.
Stay Fez as above.
Day 11
We'll have a daytrip to visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis. The Romans built
this city as a trading doorway into Africa and for 200 years in the 2nd and
3rd C AD it was the furthest outpost of all Roman cities. It's beautiful mosaics
and columns to private houses can still be seen. The surrounding land is prized
for it’s olive trees.
Stay Fez as above.
Day 12
This afternoon we’ll drive (7 hours) to Cascades Ouzoud, waterfalls
into a spectacular gorge and an endless series of pools. Exploring above and
below the falls, (a future designated bioreserve) you will see Barbary apes
and exotic birds. Pack a picnic lunch for your day trek to the Berber villages
in the surrounding mountains.
Stay very charming Ouzoud traditional riad overlooking the falls - breakfast
and dinner.
Day 13
late afternoon transfer back to Marrakech (3 hours). Stay Marrakech –
includes breakfast.
Day 14
Depart Morocco.
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For more information contact
Telephone
Morocco:
GSM: +212 66 770 5212
Telephone
inside Morocco:
GSM: 0 66 770 5212
Telephone
Canada and voice mail:
+1 604 393 3715 (Pacific time)
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