Many people overlook the beaches of Morocco, focusing instead on it’s claim over the Saharan Desert. This tour, however, will allow you to experience both in the most relaxing way possible. Focusing on down time, beautiful sights and calming environments, this is the perfect tour for those looking to relax in Morocco. Spend time in the walled cities listening to the crash of the waves, and watch the sunset amid the silent sand dunes as well as spending time in oasis cities and travelling atop the Atlas Mountain Range and go home rejuvenated, relaxed and with memories that will last a lifetime. Laid-back and not at all physically demanding, the tour is also great for families and larger groups, to whom we are happy to accommodate. Guaranteed Departures As long as we have at least two people booked, it will take place. So you don’t need to worry about a last-minute phone call saying your holiday has to be cancelled. If you’re committed to going, then so are we.Overview
Morocco Getaway Signature Experience
Included/Excluded
Day 1: Casablanca
Welcome to the magical Morocco!! On arrival at Casablanca Airport (CMN), you will be met by an Morocco Getaway representative and transferred to your hotel. Get ready to begin the most amazing adventure of your life with a small Welcome Meeting at 6pm. If you arrive with time to spare, then a great option for your limited time in Casablanca is to visit the art deco Villa des Arts. This gorgeous gallery dates back to 1930s and holds numerous exhibitions of contemporary Moroccan and international art. If you are looking for a different type of cultural experience, then you can discover a unique and fascinating part of Moroccan history at the Museum of Judaism.
Where you’ll be staying
- Campanile Casablanca Centre Ville or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Meals Included
- Dinner
Day 2: Rabat
After breakfast on your 2nd day you can take a guided tour of Hassan II Mosque, which is approximately 45 mins away from the hotel. This amazing monument was built after years of hard work by around 30,000 craftsman, and was completed in 1993. The beauty of this monument has made it one of the country’s most visited tourist attractions. It was the late king’s legacy to Casablanca and his most ambitious project. Around $800 million was spent in its construction, and only the mosques of Mecca and Medina are bigger than this mosque, whereas its 200m-high minaret is tallest in the world. we will leave Casablanca along the cost line to the political capital of Morocco: Rabat. Begin your discovery of this imperial city by a walk around the entrance to the Royal palace with its massive doors, well decorated buildings and lovely gardens. Next to the palace, you will appreciate the impressive Mohammed V Mausoleum: the burial ground of the two late Alouite kings – Mohammed V and Hassan II where you will be attracted by the beautiful scents of the place and the very beautiful mosaics. In the same area, you will find the Tour, the land mark of Rabat and one of the oldest mosques ever.
Where you’ll be staying
- Hotel des Oudaias or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Casablanca – Hassan II Mosque
- Rabat – Kasbah Les Oudayas
- Rabat – Mausoleum Mohammed V
- Rabat – Hassan Tower
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 1.5 hours.
Day 3: Fes
After breakfast our destination will be Meknès, the capital of the Sultan Moulay Ismaïl. You will admire the famous door Bab Mansour, before visiting the old stables of this sultan who wanted to compete with the Son king as well as Mellah (Jewish district). We will continue towards Volubilis, close to the town of Moulay Idriss, is a site where you can witness the well-preserved ruins of the Romans. Volubilis used to function as the Roman empires one of the remotest bases, and remained prosperous until the 8th century. Moreover, most of its main structures were well-preserved until an earthquake in the 18th century damaged them. After this earthquake, most of the marble from these structures were taken to Meknes for construction. Continue on to the city of Fes and arrive at Riad Fès is renowned for luxury, dining and the refinement of its services. Inspired by Hispano-Moorish architecture, the Riad Fès is an invitation back in time to discover the authenticity and the splendour of noble Fes families, in a one thousand and one nights Andalusian-style atmosphere.
Where you’ll be staying
- Riad Alya or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Meknes – Medina walking tour
- Volubilis – Entrance and guided tour
- Meknes – Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.
Day 4: Fes
Visiting Fes is nothing short of travelling to the past. The mighty city walls, maze-like Medina and a well-preserved Old City has made Fes one of the favorite tourist destination in Morocco. Walking through the convoluted alleyways of the Medina is like travelling to the Middle Ages. The French have preserved this site due to its historical importance. However, this preservation is also responsible for its decline, as the financial and government centers were built at other places in the country. Most of the Jews migrated from this city in 1956, and the empty spaces were filled by many rural poor who wanted to handle the city. As a result, the ancient center of learning is not at all what it used to be. But, it is still a wonderful living museum where you’d love getting lost. Local guides will walk you through the magical Medina, which is still a living monument of an ancient past and has many tanneries, markets, craftsmen, mosques, and ceramics. When you are here, don’t forget to visit Medersa Bou Inania, which is the city’s most beautiful building, and has been recently restored and opened for the visitors. Here, we’ll also visit the tannery which is very famous for the iconic view that overlooks a ceramic factory, dye pits, and potters working in their traditional way. Famous Moroccan cuisines like Harira (chicken soup) and chicken-stuffed pastille with couscous can also be enjoyed here. We can also visit to Palais Jamai to taste its famous drinks. In the evening, watching the sunset above the huge Medina along with dozens of prayers in the backdrop will surely be an experience of a lifetime.
Where you’ll be staying
- Riad Alya or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Fes – Funduq al-Najjarin
- Fes – Medina walking tour
- Fes – Al-Attarine Madrasa
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Day 5: Midelt
Located in a beautiful valley between High and Middle Atlas Mountain ranges, Midelt exhibits a dramatic setting, which is surrounded by orchards and farmlands. Midelt is a perfect location if you are looking out to have a little break on your journey to Sahara. The countryside surrounding this place is very beautiful, and most of the locals here are Berber. Once you check in to the hotel here, you’ll have enough time to meet the locals and enjoy an easy hike in the hills situated nearby.
Where you’ll be staying
- Kasbah Izoran or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Midelt – Hike
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4.5 hours.
Day 6: Merzouga
You’ll start your journey to the Merzouga Dunes via Errachidia, the Ziz Valley and Erfoud. On the road you will see magnificent oasis’s, mountain scenery and stunning valleys. Once we reach Merzouga, we’ll leave all our gears at a local auberge as we’ll then begin riding camel into the Sahara Desert, and hopefully will also enjoy a beautiful sunset along the way. The dunes are very beautiful, especially at this time of the day. We’ll camp out tonight and enjoy the traditional hospitality of the desert under the stunning stars. With orange-colored Erg-Chebbi sand dunes in the background, Merzouga, the small Saharan village looks like a place which has magically arrived from a desert tale. Erg Chebbi dunes are most beautiful of all the sand dunes here and visiting them is a must for every visitor. An Erg is actually a very wide sea of wind-swept sand which shifts and creates stunning valleys and crests, and Erg Chebbi is one of the best throughout the world and has towering dunes, up to the height of over 150 meters. It begins after a sealed road and just 20kms. from the Algerian border, this is truly a stunning frontier country.
Where you’ll be staying
- Desert Camp or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Sahara – Camel ride
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.
Day 7: Tinghir
Drive to the oasis town of Tinghir take in the spectacular natural surroundings of the Todra Gorge, where jagged, colorful rock walls close to a thousand feet high loom over a lush, narrow valley dotted with oasis-like date palmeries and irrigated fields of grain.
Where you’ll be staying
- Riad Dar Bab Todra or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Todra Gorge – Hike
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3.5 hours.
Day 8: Ait Benhaddou
After breakfast you can take a guided walk through the palmerie and Kasbah in Tinghir. We depart for Ait Benhaddou. We will pass through the impressive Boumalne Dades where you will see more ruined Kasbahs, cliffside ksars and amazing rock formations of different shapes and colours. Ait Benhaddou Kasbah is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with most of its walls and interior area still intact. Ait Benhaddou was once a famous trade stop-over for merchants travelling through the Sahara. It is also one of the many locations in the Ouarzazate where Hollywood productions such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones were filmed.
Where you’ll be staying
- L’oasis Du Bonheur or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Tinghir – kasbah guided tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3.5 hours.
Day 09: Marrakech
After breakfast we depart for Marrakech, On arrival, meet with a local guide and head off to the old medina through an early voyage. Our visit is at the excellent Bahia Palace, an amazing manor fabricated in way back to 1866. It was a haven of ex-slaves who had ascended to positions prominence in the management of Moulay Hassan. Our investigation leads as to the peaceful internal patios, filled with the fragrance of orange bloom, and the numerous abolition spots and salons that incorporate a homely and rich abode. This is before heading back to the Djemaa El Fna. The remnants of the day is marked by further prodding the streets and leisure shopping in the bazaars.
Where you’ll be staying
-
Hotel Les Trois Palmiers or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Marrakech – Palais El Badi
- Marrakech – Palais Bahia
- Marrakech – Medina guided walk tour
- Marrakech – Fresh orange juice tasting
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.
Day 10: Marrakech
This is your last day to explore the red city.
Start your day by checking out the Djemaa el Fna Square once again. Finalize your souvenir shopping in the souks, and proceed to the other parts of town that you may not have visited yet. You have one full day to soak in the sights, the sounds, the food and the vibe of Marrakech.
Where you’ll be staying
-
Hotel Les Trois Palmiers or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Marrakech – Palmeraie quad bike desert adventure
- Marrakech – Agafay desert dinner at luxury camp
- Marrakech – Food tour
- Marrakech – Tajine Cookery Class
- Marrakech – Hot Air Balloon Ride
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Day 11: Essaouira
After breakfast depart for the beautiful old Portuguese port of Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast. Explore this white- washed city famous for its woodwork shops or head to the beach for a stroll or horse or camel ride. Relax at the numerous cafes that line the main square and visit the fish market and sample the freshest fish in Morocco. The pace of life is much calmer in Essaouira and it is a perfect place to relax. Spend the night in a beautiful riad within the walled city with fantastic views from the rooftop terrace.
Where you’ll be staying
- Riad Al Madina or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Ait Benhaddou – kasbah guided tour
- Telouet – kasbah visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Note
Today’s driving time is approximately 4 hours.
Day 12: Essaouira
Spend the day in this relaxing environment and explore at your own leisure. Everything in the medina is within walking distance and the beach is clean. Wander the harbour and its adjacent fish markets where you can witness the daily auction. A freshly-cooked plate of the day’s catch is highly recommended. Browse the plentiful shops and intriguing art galleries that make this little town a particularly pleasant place to unwind for a few days. It has a growing reputation for its unique art and is becoming even more famous for its burled Thuya wood – delicately formed and inlaid in tiny shops, which are built into the thick walls of the Portuguese ramparts. The scent from the oils used to polish the richly coloured wood permeates the air and makes walking down the streets incredibly pleasant.
Essaouira is a shopper’s haven! Visit the shops and check out the many different wares you can bring home as souvenirs, from Thuya wood to leather goods, textile, Moroccan lanterns, scarves and slippers, etc. Or you may opt to check out the local artists’ and silversmiths’ shops for some silver jewelry and trinkets. There are many colourful shops lining the winding streets of Essaouira, try not to get lost or overwhelmed by the variety of items to choose from.
Where you’ll be staying
- Riad Al Madina or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities:
Horseback Riding – £25.00
Explore Essaouira on horseback. Go on a trip to the seaside and see more of the beguiling coastline of Essaouira. Check out the fishing shacks along the beach. Don’t forget to wear your sunglasses!
Surf – £30.00
Learn the fundamentals of surfing from a professional instructor, right on the beaches of Essaouira. This beginner course will get you comfortable with balancing on your board and popping to your feet and will give you the fundamental knowledge you’ll need to maintain your posture and begin to catch waves.
Camel Ride – £25.00
Try exploring the area on board a camel. This experience is definitely one for the books, so make sure you have your camera with you ready to snap away as you explore.
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Day 13: Depart Essaouira
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Essaouira. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Essaouira at any time. Alternatively, join an post-tour extension to discover more of this fascinating country’s attractions. Speak to your Tour leader about extra activities to do around Morocco.
Meals Included
- Breakfast