Day 2 | Casablanca – Rabat – Chefchaouen (B, D)

This morning, we will drive to Rabat and take a brief tour of the city which will include the 12^th century Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Kasbah of the Udayas which sits on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. After the tour, we will continue on to Chefchaouen – one of the most charming villages in Morocco. Inside the ancient gated medina, nearly every building is painted an arresting shade of blue. Twisting cobblestone paths lead up around the ochre-coloured Kasbah to a landscape of green hills and mountaintops. One of the best ways to experience Chefchaouen is to just meander through the city streets with no destination in mind while taking in the beauty around each corner. We’ll enjoy another group dinner tonight!

Overnight: Riad Lyna

Day 3: Chefchaouen – Volubilus & Meknes – Fez (B, D)

After breakfast we will depart to Volubilis to explore the UNESCO-World Heritage Site ruins. This well-preserved ancient Roman City includes include a Capitol, a Basilica and a 1300-sq-metre Forum from the Roman Empire. Afterwards we will continue on to Meknes, a former imperial city and the one-time home of the Moroccan sultanate. Remnants of no less than three sets of fortifications, ingeniously incorporated into the city’s road networks, make it clear how important this city once was. The king’s tomb sits at the heart of what remains of the original imperial city, flanked by an almighty royal granary, the magnificent Bab el-Mansour. After a brief tour of Meknes, we will make our way to Fes where we will spend the next two nights.

Overnight: Mariott Jannan Palace

Day 4 | Fez: City Tour & Tasting Trail (B, D)

After breakfast, we’ll spend the first half of the day exploring Fez. The old city is a maze of narrow lanes and covered bazaars bursting with aromatic food stands, craft workshops and mosques. We will visit Bab Boujloud (the Blue Gate), the Bou Inania Madrasa and the neighbourhood of Mellah. We will also visit the Jamaa Al-Karaouine – the world’s first established university and one of Africa’s largest mosques. Opt to visit the Chaouwara tanneries for a unique view into the natural process of producing world-class leather using methods that have not changed since medieval times. 

This afternoon, head into the souks for a culinary tour to sample traditional Moroccan street food. We will visit a honey souk, and taste an array of delicious wild honeys, and learn about why honey is so important in Moroccan cooking culture. We will also visit a Furnatchi where the water for the communal bathhouse next door is heated by their 400 year old ‘furan’ or communal oven and bakery. Our tour will end later this evening back at the hotel!

Overnight: Mariott Jannan Palace

Day 5: Fez – Ifrane – Midelt – Erfoud (B,D)

After breakfast we will depart Fez and begin to travel through the High Atlas Mountains, stopping at many incredible small towns and villages along the way! First we’ll visit Ifrane, a charming ski town populated by European-style chalets and often referred to as “the Switzerland or Morocco”. Continue on to Midelt, a mining town which also serves as the commercial centre of a large agricultural hinterland. We will have some free time for lunch in Midelt, before continuing our journey through the dramatic Ziz Gorge. Finally we will arrive in Erfoud where we will spend the night. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Palais Masandoia

Day 6| Erfoud – Khamlia – Merzouga (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we’ll board a 4×4 vehicle and make our way deep into the Sahara desert. We will stop in Rissani to visit a camel milk cooperative and check out one of the best traditional markets in the Sahara desert. Enjoy lunch in the village of El Khamlia and learn more about the way of life of the Berber people. After lunch we will continue on to Erg Chebbi, often considered the largest sand dune in the Sahara-desert. This afternoon we will arrive at our luxury tented desert camp where we will spend the night. This evening, travel by camel deeper into the desert for a chance to see one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. This evening enjoy a Berber dinner under the stars at our camp.

Overnight: Merzouga Desert Luxury Camp

Day 7 | Merzouga – Dades – Skoura – Ouarzazate (B, D)

Wake up early this morning to catch the sunrise over the desert! Afterwards, we’ll pack up and enjoy breakfast before departing the desert for Tinghir and Todra gorges. Here, both the Todra and Dades Rivers have carved out cliff-sided canyons, leaving behind a series of reliefs and etches in the rock. In places, this gorge measures just 33 feet across, but the cliffs are more than 500 feet tall on either side! 

After lunch, we’ll drive through the Dades Valley along the route often referred to as “The Road of One Thousand Kasbahs”. You’ll catch a spectacular view of a vast valley dotted with small oases and hundreds of ancient fortifications. Continue to Skoura, a quiet little village speckled with palm tree groves for a visit to Kasbah Amridil. Our day ends in Ouarzazate where we will enjoy a group dinner and spend the night!

Overnight: Berbere Palace

Day 8 | Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Imlil (B, D)

After breakfast, we will check out and depart for a visit to Taourir Kasbahs, one of the most beautiful Kasbahs in Morocco. After the French left in the 1953, the movie business flourished in Ouarzazate. You might recognize the sand-colored houses of this impressive Ksar when you see the spectacular fortress of Ait Ben Haddou, the iconic landscape which is immortalized in such films as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. Opt to visit one of the local film studios in your free time here. You can spend time in its maze of winding streets until reaching a fortified granary at the top which provides an amazing view of the valley. We leave Ait Ben Haddou, crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the magnificent Tizi n’Tichka pass to Imlil. Upon arrival we’ll enjoy an included dinner and turn in for the night.

Overnight: Kasbah Africa

Day 9 | Imlil- Marrakech (B, D)

Today we will have the unique opportunity to spend time with a local Berber family and experience a day in their lives! We will start with a tea ceremony to learn how to make Moroccan tea and experience the traditional way of baking bread. Afterwards, enjoy a guided hike to a rural Berber village and enjoy a typical lunch with the Berber family. After lunch we’ll take some free time to relax before making our way to Marrakech in the late afternoon. This will be our final stop on the tour and will spend the next five nights exploring this world famous city!

Overnight: Jardins de la Koutoubia

Day 10 | Marrakech – City tour (B,D)

This morning we’ll take an orientation tour of Marrakech, beginning in the medina. Marvel at its architectural jewels, including the soaring Koutoubia minaret. We will also visit the Bahia Palace and the Tiskiwin Museum, founded by a Dutch anthropologist who houses an impressive collection of North African arts and crafts from the ancient trade route from Marrakech to Timbuktu. Our tour will end in Marrakech’s main square where you will have time to check out everything from orange juice stalls and vendors, to fire-eaters, mime artists, snake-charmers and the street musicians performing at every turn. 

Later in the afternoon we will take a short drive to a farm house just outside of the city and learn how to cook a Moroccan feast. Executive Chef Azzeddine (Alain) Bennouna will welcome us into his home and take us through a whole cooking experience. First we will pick our own vegetables from his garden and then bring them to the kitchen to prepare the feast that we will later share. After dinner, enjoy the sunset on the terrace with a Moroccan tea before returning to the hotel for the night.

Overnight: Jardins de la Koutoubia

Day 11 | Marrakech (B,D)

This morning we’ll visit the Majorelle Gardens – the culmination of 40 years of work by French painter Jacques Majorelle. We’ll amble along the cobbled lanes, in the midst of trees and exotic plants of dreamy origin. Listen to bubbling streams and pools alongside the numerous bird species who take refuge here. This visit includes the Yves St Laurent and Berber Museums, also in the area. 

This afternoon, we will head to a traditional Hammam – a place where space and time speak an ancient language. You will be immersed in total relaxation. Enjoy a 45 minute scrub with black soap or spices for relaxation and to eliminate the toxins from the body. After the Hammam experience, enjoy a traditional Moroccan massage to help eliminate tensions and regain energy for the rest of the trip. Return to your hotel this evening to relax before dinner.

Overnight: Jardins de la Koutoubia

Day 12 | Essaouira – Marrakech (B, L, D)

This morning we will head out of the city to visit an Argan oil cooperative to learn about the traditional processes of oil making with a group of local women. We will learn everything from harvesting the best quality fruits to the extraction and creation of Argan oil products. Take in a demonstration and get involved to make your own! 

Next we’ll continue to Essaouira to explore this charming seaside town on the Atlantic coast. Known as the “Windy City of Africa”, its beautiful fortified walls and busy fishing harbour, exude authentic Moroccan charm. We’ll walk along the city walls north of Moulay Hassan Square and continue on to Skala de la Ville where you will enjoy a view of the city’s port and its beautiful collection of bright blue fishing boats. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading out to explore the Medina where artists continue to hone their crafts just as they have for centuries. Return to Marrakesh for an evening at leisure.

Overnight: Jardins de la Koutoubia