Morocco - A Little Bit of Everything

While many see Rabat as simply a city of bureaucrats, its history is as rich as any other city in Morocco. Rabat is a unique mix of ancient landmarks and modern comforts. We will tour the Hassan Tower (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Chellah (an old medieval fortified city), and Kasbah des Oudias (the site of the original city of Rabat with spectacular views overlooking where the Bou Regreg River and the Atlantic Ocean meet). After breakfast, we will enjoy a tour of Rabat.  In the afternoon, we will drive from Rabat to the picturesque city of Chefchaouen. We will have dinner and overnight in Chefchaouen.

Nuzzled in the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen is best known for its beautiful blue walled medina. It is likely one of the most photographed places in Morocco because of its beauty and its unique culture. Here we will explore the medina and its busy market with its mix of traditional and modern goods. Chefchaouen's culture and handicrafts (such as the brightly decorated hats and woolen garments) are unique to region. After breakfast, we will tour this magnificent medina. In the afternoon, we will explore the area around Chefchaouen by taking a ½ day hike in Territoire du Parc de Bouachem (can be tailored to your desired length and level of difficulty). This area is natural park of 33,000 hectares in the heart of the picturesque western Rif Mountains that focuses on conservation of local biodiversity and encouraging sustainable development. In the evening, we will drive to Fes. We will enjoy dinner along the way and overnight in Fes.

Fes, the cultural capital of Morocco, is home to one of the oldest and most complete medieval Islamic cities in the world. Passing through the gates into the energetic and mazelike medina takes you back in time. The narrow maze-like streets are just as they were when they were built in the 8th century, with high walls that protect the courtyards inside from the heat of the midday sun. Enormous theosophical colleges, beautiful mosques and fascinating souks spilling their goods onto the pavement are all part of the scene. You will tour the Fes medina (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with a professional guide and have the opportunity to shop and enjoy people watching at a café in the medina.  We will have a delightful dinner while talking about the day’s adventures and overnight in Fes.

After breakfast, we depart Fes and drive to Merzouga (a quaint desert village in the sand dunes). This will be a long drive (about 7 hours) but you can relax while we do the driving. Enjoy the warm desert hospitality when we arrive then savour a delicious traditional desert dinner and local entertainment in the luxurious tent camp in the desert. Be sure to look up and gaze at the amazing star-filled sky overhead before you go to sleep in your tent, or outside under the stars in the sand dunes if you are feeling adventurous.

Early in the morning, you can climb the dunes to watch the beautiful desert sunrise. This will make the desert breakfast will taste twice as delicious. After breakfast, you can experience a camel ride as you marvel at the majestic sand dunes of Erg Chebbi or try sand boarding. We will spend another night under the desert sky in Merzouga.

After another tasty breakfast in the desert, we will drive to the majestic Todra Gorge. Enjoy the windy roads through the valley and the interesting rock formations along the way. The Todra Gorges with their high limestone cliffs amaze visitors from around the world. We will have dinner and overnight in the area to allow you to fully appreciate the majesty and beauty of the area. 

After breakfast, we will drive to Ouarzazate, stopping to see an oasis along the way. When we arrive in the Ouarzazate area, we will tour Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and site of one of the best preserved ksars (fortified villages) in Morocco. Ait Ben Haddou has been the backdrop for many movies and television shows including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiators, and Game of Thrones. We will have dinner and overnight in Ait Ben Haddou.

After breakfast, travel through the majestic High Atlas mountains from Ait Ben Haddou to Imlil. The quaint village of Imlil, located within the picturesque Atlas Mountains, offers stunning views Jbel Toubkal (the highest peak in Morocco). Guided treks and tours are among the area’s most popular activities and we are happy to arrange a hike that suits your interests and abilities. You can explore at your pace or you can choose to sit back and relax while you enjoy the splendor and rustic charm of the area. You will have 2 days and nights to enjoy this unique experience.

Spend another day exploring the Imlil area. Go for a guided hike or sit back and enjoy the views of the High Atlas mountains. Spend some time with the local Indigenous community to learn more about their culture and way of life. We will overnight in Imlil. 

After breakfast, we will travel to the lively city of Marrakech. Known as the Red City because of the colour of the walls that surround the old Kasbah, Marrakech has been a popular tourist destination since the 1960s.  Its famous Djemaa el-Fnaa square is the busiest square in Africa with a colourful market and an unparalleled assortment of entertainers including fire-eaters, snake charmers, belly dancers, Amazigh acrobats, and astrologers. We will take you on a tour of the sites in Marrakech with a professional guide. There are many dining options for you to savour in Marrakech. We will take you for a nice dinner and we will overnight in Marrakech.

After breakfast, we will take you for a Moroccan cooking class where you will learn how to cook Moroccan favourites. From the exploration the spices to the stories told while cooking, this is a true cultural experience. Then you enjoy the delicious result of your labour. Enjoy a visit to the picturesque Jardin Majorelles or another visit to the Marrakech medina in the afternoon. We will enjoy a dinner and then drive to Casablanca in the evening and overnight near the airport so that you don't need to worry about traffic getting to your flight the next day.