DAY 1 Arrive into MarrakechOur tour begins in Marrakech where you will be met at the airport upon arrival by our staff. We’ll then transfer you to your hotel in the city where our local staff will help you settle in and suggest authentic eating out options.
OVERNIGHTMarrakech Hotel
EXTRASSingle Room Supplement, Extra night - pre-tour
DAY 2 Marrakech, city tourExplore exotic Marrakech today – we start with a visit to the captivating Koutoubia Mosque. Over 800 years old, the Mosque hosts the iconic minaret which has become the focal point of the city. We’ll then travel to the Mausoleum and Bahia Palace which both offer a chance to view some of the country’s most intricate and beautiful Arabic craftsmanship. This afternoon, prepare for an assault on your senses as we explore the characterful souks found around Jemaa El Fna Square and Djemaa El Fna Square. There is an incredible array of traders dotted along these bustling and vivid streets, feel free to soak up the uniquely Moroccan atmosphere or test your bartering skills!
OVERNIGHTMarrakech Hotel
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 3 Train to Rabat. City tourOur Moroccan adventure starts in earnest this morning as we take the opportunity to travel as the locals do – embark your train upon the excellent Moroccan rail network for the journey to the country’s capital, Rabat. Located strategically along the Atlantic coastline, Rebat began life as a small settlement in the third century BC. Get to know the city this afternoon with a guided tour encompassing sites such as the Hassan Tower Mosque, Ouadaya Garden & Kasbah and the Royal Palace.
OVERNIGHTRabat Hotel
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 4 Meknes and Volubilis to FezWe depart Rabat this morning and travel on to Meknes – a historical Berber town and formerly the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail. Ismail managed to transform the town, jointly making it beautiful whilst secure from enemy forces. From here we travel on to the ancient Roman city found at Volubilis. Only recently listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, it dates back to AD40 and remains home to some of North Africa’s most imposing Roman ruins. This afternoon we continue by road to the world famous city of Fez.
OVERNIGHTMeknes Hotel
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 5 Fez. City tourOne of Morocco’s most iconic cities and dating back over 1200 years, Fez remains a labyrinth of bustling souks, beautiful mosques and spice filled streets. Our local guides will help you delve into the history of the city with trips to Bou Anania Medersa, Nejjarine fountain and the Moulay Idrss mausoleum. No trip to Fez would be complete without the chance to explore the cacophony of noise found in the heady, aromatic streets and alleyways of Medieval Medina where you can find carpet shops and tanneries and fantastic local food. We’ll then travel to Fez Jdid, home to the cities varied colourful souks.
OVERNIGHTFez Hotel
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 6 Drive from Fez to ErfoudAfter breakfast, we depart Fez and continue through the dramatic Moroccan landscape by following ancient caravan routes that take us through Midelt and the Ziz Valley before arriving at the doorstep of the Sahara desert. Perched on a unique setting between the Atlas Mountains to the north and the Sahara desert to the south, Erfoud remains the region’s administrative capital.
OVERNIGHTErfoud Hotel
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 7 4WD desert trip and Berber campWe leave Erfoud this morning for the short drive to Rissani, which is most famous for being the birthplace of the Alaouite Dynasty – Morocco’s current royal family. From here we swap our transport for the adventurous 4WD vehicles we’ll use to travel over the sand dunes to Merzouga. Here is where we’ll make camp for the night, enjoying the company and food of our Berber hosts while watching the sunset over the Sahara desert. There is a chance to take an optional sunset camel ride should you wish but either way enjoy the evening spent around the campfire under the brilliant night skies – a real travellers’ highlight.
OVERNIGHTBerber Camp
MEALSBreakfast & Dinner
EXTRASSunset desert camel ride
DAY 8 Drive to Tighir and explore Todra GorgeSadly, we bid farewell to our hosts this morning and travel through the dunes once more by 4WD. We’ll then travel by road to the oasis town of Tinghir from where it’s a short ride to Todra Gorge and the chance to walk amongst fabulous rock formations that change colour to reflect the time of day.
OVERNIGHTTinghir Hotel
MEALSBreakfast & Dinner
DAY 9 Boulmane, Dades Canyon & OuarzazateThis morning sees us continue our drive through the Atlas Mountains as we travel along the road of a thousand Kasbhas before arriving into Boulmane – home to the remarkable Dades Canyon and offering up incredible vistas of the surrounding desert landscape. Travelling on to Ouarzazate, we make a stop at the beautiful Kasbah located at Amerhidel. Ouarzazate is sometimes referred to as the ‘place of no noise’. Many of you will recognise this iconic landscape which has been the setting for countless films, both modern blockbusters and historical classics including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), as well as part of the TV series Game of Thrones.
OVERNIGHTOuarzazate Hotel
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 10 Ait Benhaddou, Atlas Mountains & Berber VillagesThe desert landscape remains in full view today as we visit Morocco’s best known Kasbah at the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. We then head deep into the mountains, crossing the Tizi N’tichka col (2260m) – the highest pass in Northern Africa. We’ll spend the night in a hilltop Berber village and while the hotel may be more basic than usual, the incredible views are first-class.
OVERNIGHTImlil hotel
MEALSBreakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 11 Berber villages. Drive to MarrakechOur Moroccan circuit completes today with a journey back down through the mountains and a return to Marrakech. Once in your hotel, the rest of the day is free to explore the city, enjoy some last minute souvenir shopping or indulge in traditional Moroccan cuisine.
OVERNIGHTMarrakech Hotel
MEALSBreakfast
DAY 12 Marrakech. Departure transfer to the airportDeparture day. Today is free until we transfer you to the airport for your flight home. There are options to extend your tour in Morocco either by adding more time in Marrakech or taking a trip to the coastal resort of Essaouira. Other options include desert quad biking or hot air balloon flights over the desert.
OVERNIGHTNone
MEALSBreakfast
EXTRASExtra night - post-tour, Marrakech Hot air balloon flight, Marrakech Quad-biking, Imlil day trip