Price
£1480.00
Description
Full Itinerary
Description
If there was ever a country where it was possible to adventure, it is Morocco. Not only can you explore the country’s untouched wilderness, but you can explore it’s culture, visiting small cities and mingling with Berbers, and explore it’s history through tours of mosques, castles and markets. The mountain ranges are open to endless exploration and constant change, snowing in winter and beautifully warm in the summer. We recommend hiking and trekking as an adventure in the months between these two, however, as it can often be too hot or too cold to be enjoyable. Morocco Getaway Signature Experience
Overview
Included/Excluded
Full Itinerary
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
- Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Day 2: Meknes
After breakfast our destination will be Meknes, the capital of the Sultan Moulay Ismaïl, before heading to Meknes we’ll take a guided tour of Hassan II Mosque. This amazing monument was built after years of hard work by around 30,000 craftsman and was completed in 1993. Next, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive to the capital of Morocco. Even though the great walls of Rabat accommodate a modern city, there are many quarters in it, which remind you of its rich past. Located at the mouth of the Oued Bou Regreg River on the Atlantic Ocean, the city has a calm, peaceful atmosphere with none of the hustle and bustle of other larger tourist attractions of Morocco. From Roman settlements, unfinished 12th century Hassan Tower, pirates, to a more recent reception of the position of the country’s modern political capital, Rabat has an elongated and vibrant history. In the late afternoon, travel to Meknes.
Where you’ll be staying
-
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Casablanca – Hassan II Mosque
- Rabat – Kasbah Les Oudayas
- Rabat – Hassan Tower
- Rabat – Mausoleum Mohammed V
- Rabat – Mausoleum Hassan II
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3.5 hours.
Day 3: Chefchaouen
Today enjoy a morning tour of Meknes, with a bundle of historical sites in its arms, Meknes has convoluted streets and a wonderful Old Town. Once a royal city of Morocco, Meknes was also the capital of one of the most colorful Moroccan era. It was Sultan Moulay Ismail (a contemporary of Louis XIV) who wanted to create his very own version of Versailles here, with huge walls, gates, and more than 50 palaces with a labour power of more than 25,000 slaves. 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. A local guide will help us travel to this vibrant era as we navigate our way in this ancient city situated on the hills. Afterward we drive to Chefchaouen is situated in the grand Rif Mountains. The mountain tops can be seen above the town and are shaped like the two horns or chaoua of a goat, which gives the city its name. As the group approaches the mountains, a delightful and charming view welcomes them into Chefchaouen. The notable blue and white rinsed houses and buildings slowly come into view.
Where you’ll be staying
- Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Meknes – Medina walking tour
- Volubilis – Entrance and Guided Tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.
Day 4: Fes
Enjoy a free morning to further discover Chefchaouen, the Museum of the Kasbah, which was built in 1471. The museum has a magnificent view of the surrounding towns. From the museum’s rooftop, one can see the blue and white home, with their tiled roofs, little balconies, and citrus trees. The museum also has beautiful inner and outer gardens which the guests can explore. The museum showcases photos and artifacts from which one can glean the history of Chefchaouen and the daily life of the people. After lunch, continue to the imperial city of Fes, one of Morocco’s most interesting cities.
Where you’ll be staying
- Riad (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.
Day 5: 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.
Where you’ll be staying
- Riad (1 night)
Included Activities
- Fes – Funduq al-Najjarin
- Fes – Medina walking tour
- Fes – Al-Attarine Madrasa
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Day 6: 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 (1 night)
Included Activities
- Midelt – Hike
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4.5 hours.
Day 7: 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 (1 night)
Included Activities
- Sahara – Camel ride
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Day 8: M’Goun Valley
Rise early and climb to the top of the dunes and experience the magical sunrise and after breakfast we take our camels back to the auberge before departing to one of Morocco’s greatest natural wonders, the imposing Todra Gorge, where we have time to explore before moving on to M’Goun Valley. Walk through the lovely Todra Valley to explore the spectacular Todra Gorge, a deep chasm cutting through the mountains. The massive trench, Todra Gorge rises over 250m and is one of the most beautiful natural sights in Morocco. You can take a short walk in the gorge, which has a ruined village and local farmlands. The foothill of the Atlas Mountain is followed by the stunning Dades Valley, which is filled with beautiful mud-brick villages. M’Goun Valley too has an identical landscape.
Where you’ll be staying
- Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Sahara – Camel ride
- Todra Gorge – Hike
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4.5 hours.
Day 9: M’Goun Valley
If you really want to enjoy this beautiful region, then traveling on foot will give you the best experience. There are a few routes to explore this area, but the best one is a 10km circuit that’ll require about 4 hours if we walk at a steady pace. The trails are well-established, but they are a little undulating at some places. However, they are not too challenging, and you’ll enjoy the walk if you have a basic fitness level. You’ll keep on passing many Berber villages throughout our journey and you can even meet the local people. The well-known Rose Valley and scenic mountains are sure to make your journey truly remarkable.
Where you’ll be staying
- Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- M’goun Valley – Guided hike
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Day 10: Ait Benhaddou
After breakfast we travel to the oasis town of Ouarzazate and afterward to Ait Benhaddou, a World Heritage site that contains the best preserved collection of kasbahs in Morocco. We spend the night in a traditionally decorated converted kasbah. Being one of Morocco’s most iconic sites, Ait Benhaddou is situated on the top of a hill and is mostly unchanged since the 11th century. Many centuries ago, Ait Benhaddou served as an important stop for the caravans carrying salt across Sahara, and used to return with slaves, ivory, and gold. The large Kasbah here is a World Heritage site and the most stunning in all of Morocco. The beautiful village here is an ideal example of yesteryears clay architecture and a number of movies like, Gladiator, The Jewel of the Nile, and Lawrence of Arabia have been shot here.
Where you’ll be staying
- Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Ait Benhaddou – Kasbah guided tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Note
Today’s total driving time is approximately 2 hours.
Day 11: Marrakech
In the morning we will make our way to the Glaoui Kasbah at Telouet before continuing aross Tizi n Tichka mountain pass and take in dramatic views of the stunning surrounding landscape and the winding roads of the High Atlas Mountains. On arrival to Marrakech you will have the afternoon/evening to explore the wonders of Marrakech at your own leisure. Explore Marrakech and visit the Jemaa El Fna Square, the Old Medina, join the hustle and bustle and bargain in the souks or if you just want to sit back and get orientated, take a position in one of the many cafe’s & restaurants that border the main square and observe the madness beyond.
Where you’ll be staying
-
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Telouet – kasbah visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
12: Marrakech
In the morning meet with a local guide and head off to the old medina through an early voyage. A true feast for the senses, Marrakech is very famous for its perfumes, spice markets, rich carpets, tastiest of food, perfumed gardens, acrobats, and ear-soothing music. It has a never-ending maze of souks, and each one of them is dedicated to a different trade, including woodwork, pottery, leather, carpets, and spices. There are many famous monuments in Marrakech, which include, the Koutoubia Mosque and its magnificent minaret – which is famous throughout the Islamic World, Seville- which has the ‘sister’ to the Giralda, and the French painter, Jacques Majorelle’s tropical gardens (now owned by Yves Saint Laurent). Palais Bahia in Marrakech is a fine example of Muslim architecture, and then there’s also the ruin of Palais Badi, which was one of the most beautiful palaces in the world in its time.
Where you’ll be staying
-
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Marrakech – Palais El Badi
- Marrakech – Palais Bahia
- Marrakech – Medina guided walk tour
- Marrakech – Fresh orange juice tasting
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Day 13: Depart Marrakech
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Marrakech. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Marrakech 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 Marrakech.
Meals Included
- Breakfast
