Camel Souks & Kasbahs - 15 Days
Rock the Kasbah! Wander through the labyrinthine souks of Fes and Marrakech, explore legendary Casablanca, camel trek into the Sahara and chart Roman ruins at Volubilis. Fifteen colourful days of spicy aromas, bustling bazaars, rugged mountains, sights and stunning beaches!
Day 1: Marrakech
Saturday. Welcome to Morocco! Be sure to arrive in time for our welcome meeting at 18:00, an arrival transfer from Marrakech airport to our hotel is included. Tonight we enjoy a traditional dinner in the famous Djamma El Fna square. Overnight - Marrakech (D)
Day 2: The charm of Casablanca
Marrakech - Casablanca - Rabat. En-route this morning 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. We then head straight to Rabat to enjoy the evening atmosphere of Morocco’s capital city.
Overnight - Rabat (B)
Camel Souks & Kasbahs - 15 Days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Rabat - Meknes. We will spend the morning in Morocco’s capital city Rabat to visit Oudaia Kasbah, Hassan tower, the Royal Palace and Chellah. After lunch we will move on to the third of our Imperial cities Meknes to enjoy some free time. Overnight - Meknes (B)
Day 4: Volubilis and Chefchaouen
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. Overnight - Chefchaouen (B)
Days 5 - 6: Fes
Chefchaouen - Fes. Enjoy some free time in Chefchaouen this morning - relax at the hotel or spend your time exploring this beautiful city. We’ll then enjoy a leisurely lunch in Chefchaouen before moving 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 Today 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. Overnight - Fes (B:2, L:1)
On day 6 Today 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. Overnight - Fes (B:2, L:1)
Day 7: Moyen Atlas Mountains
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 tranquile 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. We spend the night in this mountain location.
Overnight - Midelt (B, L, D)
Day 8: Sahara Berber Camp
Midelt - Erg Chebbi. Today we enjoy a stunning drive rewarded by a top Moroccan lunch and an afternoon relaxing and swimming. After we head out to towards the 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. Overnight - Merzouga (B, L, D)
Day 9: Todra Gorge
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. There’s time to explore the gorge, from its plunging depths to dizzying heights. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west.If you're feeling adventurous, there is the option to rock climb.
Overnight - Todra Gorge (B, D)
Day 10: Ait Benhaddou
Todra Gorge - Ait Benhaddou. Leaving the impressive Todra Gorge we make the short journey to Gorge du Dades in the Dades valley, a green and fertile valley by the Dades River that flows through it giving life to a huge variety of colourful fruit and nut trees and extraordinary red rock formations. After lunch we tour the famous Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, where Lawrence of Arabia was once filmed. Overnight - Ait Benhaddou (B, D)
Days 11 - 12: High Atlas & Essaouira
Ait Benhaddou - Essaouira. Todays 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. You will have the option to take part in horse trekking or quad biking. Overnight - Essaouira (B:2)
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. You will have the option to take part in horse trekking or quad biking. Overnight - Essaouira (B:2)
Days 13 - 14: Djemaa el Fna
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 &
Djemaa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place.
Overnight - Marrakech (B:2)
Tour Details
- Starts in: Marrakech / Ends in: Marrakech
- Departs: Saturdays - year round
- No local payment required
- Breakfast:14, Lunch: 3, Dinner: 5
- Hotel Rating: 2 - 3 star hotels, 1 night camping
- Tour Guide: Yes
The Inside Track
Photo Showcase – top five festival highlights
Summer is on its way in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing an armful of exciting festivals to and and ..
Video of the Week: Morocco by Stian Rekdal
It’s Video of the Week time again, and we’ve got another gem here from the mysterious of ..