Classic Morocco

Twelve days, four imperial cities, three mountain ranges and one mighty desert—see all that Morocco is famous for!

On this private guided tour you'll journey to Morocco's classic destinations, visiting its four imperial cities, its mountains and its desert. Over 12 amazing days you'll see the stunning colonial architecture and palm-lined boulevards of Rabat, the impressive ramparts and monumental gates of Meknes, the craftsmen, markets, tanneries and mosques of Fes, the endless dunes of the Sahara Desert, the diverse landscapes of the Rif, Middle and High Atlas Mountains, and the storytellers, snake charmers and henna painters of Marrakech's Djemaa el Fna. Along the way you'll wander the winding paths of Chefchaouen's whitewashed medina, go back in time to the Roman Empire at the archaeological site of Volubilis, and discover the 17th century kasbahs of Ait Ben Haddou. With each destination having its own unique history, wonders and highlights, this tour through classic Morocco is one unforgettable cultural adventure!

€1750/person

12 days
Minimum 2 persons required
Great all year round

Trip Itinerary

We’ll pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your Casablanca hotel.

We'll pick you up from your hotel in the morning, leaving Casablanca's colonial buildings behind and beginning the journey along the Atlantic Coast and up into the Rif Mountains and the charming whitewashed village of Chefchaouen. One of the prettiest destinations in Morocco, this artsy village with its small but delightfully blue-doored, red-roofed medina is a mix of Moroccan and Andalusian influences. Along the way you’ll stop off in Rabat for a guided tour of the old medina, the whitewashed Kasbah des Oudaias, Bab Oudaia and Hassan Tower—the remnants of what was once planned to be the second largest mosque in the world. In Chefchaouen you'll spend the night in a hotel.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Your day is free to explore the winding paths of Chefchaouen's medina and its surrounds... why not lace up your walking boots and go on a locally guided hike through the surrounding scenic Rif Mountains? (We can organise this for you.)

Meals included:

Breakfast

This morning you'll start travelling towards the mediaeval city of Fes, first making a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Volubilis. Here you'll go on a guided tour of one of the most well preserved Romans ruin sites in North Africa. After Volubilis you'll continue on through the verdant countryside of Northern Morocco to the enchanting city of Meknes—the "Versailles of Morocco". Here you'll take a guided tour through the city, visiting Moulay Ismail's Mausoleum and immense royal granaries and stables, the Agdal Basin, Dar el-Mar, Place el-Hedim and Bab el-Mansour—the grandest of all imperial Moroccan gateways. After leaving Meknes you'll arrive in Fes in the late afternoon. Here you'll spend the night in a hotel.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Today you'll head into Fes' old city—known locally as Fes el Bali—on a guided tour of one of the most extensive and well preserved historic towns of the Arab-Muslim world. You'll visit the souks, the tanneries with their famous dye pits, Medresse el Attarine and the beautifully restored 18th century inn, Funduk Nejjarine. You'll even stop by a ceramics factory where you can see potters and their students working in the traditional way. And as you walk along the narrow streets and alleyways that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you'll pass the historic khans, mosques, craftsmen and donkeys laden with goods that make this journey back to the Middle Ages one truly unforgettable experience.

Meals included:

Breakfast

This morning you'll leave Fes behind and journey south through the Middle Atlas and on to Midelt. This small market town nestled between the High Atlas and the Middle Atlas offers some easy walks through its surrounding rugged landscape, making it the perfect place to break your journey to the Sahara. Along the way you'll pass through some spectacularly varied scenery—fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes. You might even catch a glimpse of a Barbary ape—North Africa's only monkey. This afternoon why not go on a walk with your guide to an incredible nearby gorge and the rural Berber village of Bremmem? In Midelt you'll spend the night in a hotel.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Today you’ll journey to the vast expanse of sand that is the Sahara! Along the way you’ll pass by the spectacular Jurassic geography of the Ziz Gorges, including Tafilalt—the largest Saharan oasis in Morocco. When you reach the desert outpost of Merzouga on the edge of Erg Chebbi you’ll meet your camel and begin an unforgettable 1.5 hour sunset ride to a nomadic camp in the middle of the dunes. Upon arrival at the camp you’ll be served a traditional Berber meal and treated to some local tribal singing and drumming by the campfire. Here you’ll spend the night in a nomad tent.

Meals included:

Breakfast
Dinner

After waking early to watch the glorious sunrise over the still eastern dunes you’ll hop on your camel once more and ride out of the Sahara. And after saying goodbye to your camel in Merzouga you’ll begin your journey to Todra Gorge—a narrow, 300m high canyon and one of the most dramatic natural sights in Morocco. Along the way you'll stop for lunch in the small town of Tinejdad and visit the Oasis Museum. This group of three restored houses displays Berber antiquities and objects of traditional use collected from various tribes across the country. In Todra Gorge you'll spend the night in a Berber guesthouse.

Meals included:

Breakfast

This morning you'll walk through a spectacular section of the gorge before passing through Ouarzazate—the “Hollywood of Morocco”—and continuing on to Ait Ben Haddou. This fortified city is so famous for its 17th century kasbahs that it’s been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. It’s even served as a filming location for Hollywood movies such as The Gladiator and Jewel of the Nile, and more recently the tv series Game of Thrones. This afternoon you'll explore the old town on a walking tour through its main passages. In Ait Ben Haddou you'll spend the night in a hotel.

Meals included:

Breakfast
Dinner

Today you'll journey to the red city of Marrakech via the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka (2,260m)—one of the highest drivable passes in Morocco—arriving in the early afternoon. Along the way you’ll follow the winding roads that lead you from the south's vast desert plains to the High Atlas' gorgeous green valleys, passing many a beautiful landscape and Berber village along the way. In the afternoon you'll have a guided tour of Marrakech's old town, visiting Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace and the old Jewish Quarter. The tour will end in Djemaa el Fna—Marrakech’s central square and a vibrant meeting place for young and old—and your evening is free to spend as you please. Why not stay in the square and see this truly amazing spectacle at it's entertaining best? Here you'll spend the next two nights in a hotel.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Your day is free to explore Marrakech and its surrounds… why not try one of our optional activities listed under the Trip Details section below?

Meals included:

Breakfast

We’ll pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions:

Professional English speaking guide
Airport transfers
Accommodation (hotel x 9 nights, nomad tent x 1 night, Berber guesthouse x 1 night)
Late model transportation with A/C (driver, fuel and insurance included)
Some meals (breakfast x 11, dinner x 2)
All entrance fees
Rabat city tour
Meknes city tour
Tour of Volubilis archaeological site
Fes city tour
Walk in Midelt
Camel ride in Sahara
Traditional Berber music at Sahara campsite
Visit to Oasis Museum
Walk inside Todra Gorge
Tour of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou
Marrakech city tour

Note: Travelling companions will be roomed together in hotels/riads unless they request separate single rooms. For a single room there is an extra charge of €30 per person per night. Travelling companions will also be roomed together in Berber guesthouses. It is not possible to book a single room when staying in a Berber guesthouse.

Exclusions:

Aeroplane ticket
Travel insurance
Drinks
Tips

Note: This trip starts when you arrive on Day 1 and ends in the morning on Day 12. If you would like us to arrange accommodation, optional activities or anything else before, during or after your trip, please let us know as we are more than happy to do this.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Begin your experience with an early morning transfer from your Marrakech accommodation to your balloon’s launching site. Upon arrival hop in the basket and gaze away as this sunrise flight takes you soaring over the foothills of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. Touch down for a freshly prepared Berber breakfast before returning to Marrakech in your 4×4 vehicle. At the end of the day take home a flight certificate as a souvenir of your experience.

Price: €195 per person.
Duration: 5 hours (1 hour in-flight).

Majorelle Garden

Visit this enchanting garden in the heart of the city, designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886–1962). Stroll along the shady paths past exotic trees and plants, streams and pools whilst watching the numerous birds who call this peaceful paradise home.

Price: €30 per person.

Tagine Cooking Class

Get ready for the ultimate tagine experience during this one of a kind activity in Marrakech. Begin by learning the Arabic for the key ingredients of Morocco’s most famous dish as you join your teacher in the souks. Here you’ll mix with the locals when shopping for your meat, vegetables and most importantly, spices. Head back to the traditional riad kitchen and learn how to brew a pot of refreshing Moroccan mint tea, before following your teacher’s step-by-step instructions to prepare your very own mouthwatering lunch. At the end of the day take home a copy of the recipe as an everlasting memory of your authentic Moroccan cooking experience.

Price: €95 per person (minimum 2 persons required).
Duration: 4–5 hours (including 50 minute walk).

The list below is a suggestion of what you might find useful to take on this trip. It is not an exhaustive packing list. If you need further advice, please contact us or consult your nearest outdoor store.

Clothing & Footwear:

Comfortable walking clothes that are suitable for layering
Fleece jacket/warm jumper
Lightweight raincoat/windbreaker
Comfortable shoes for walking
Synthetic/woollen socks
Hat
Swimsuit
Sarong/scarf/loose cotton trousers that can easily be pulled on over shorts to cover shoulders/legs when walking through villages

Equipment:

3 season sleeping bag
Daypack
Water bottle/hydration bladder
Water purification pen/tablets
Sunglasses
Head torch
Camera, memory card and charger
Spare batteries
Personal items (including hand sanitiser, lip balm, microfibre towel, sunscreen, toilet paper, toiletries, wet wipes etc)
Medicine and copy of doctor’s prescription which states medication and quantity carried
Personal first aid kit (including blister tape, insect repellant, oral rehydration salts, plasters, tweezers, diarrhoea tablets etc)
Rubbish bag

Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca in Morocco

Walking around Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca in Morocco

Arches of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca in Morocco

Gnawa musician in Rabat's old town Kasbah des Oudaias

Walking through Rabat's Kasbah des Oudaias in Morocco

The blue door at the entrance to Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains of Morocco

The blue streets of Chefchaouen in Morocco

Bags of colour in Chefchaouen in Morocco

Mosaic at Volubilis archeological site in Morocco

Archway at Volubilis Roman ruins in Morocco

Bab el-Mansour in Morocco's imperial city of Meknes

Moulay Ismail's granary in Meknes in Morocco

Moulay Ismail's granary interior in Meknes in Morocco

Royal Palace in classic Morocco's imperial city of Fes

Traditional kiln at a ceramics factory in Fes in Morocco

Man chipping tiles at a ceramics factory in Fes in Morocco

Chouara Tannery in classic Morocco's Fes

Hides drying out at Chaouara Tannery in Fes in Morocco

Leather goods for sale at Chouara Tannery in Fes in Morocco

Loom in an agave silk factory in Fes in Morocco

Countryside near Midelt in Morocco's Middle Atlas

Arriving in Merzouga near the Erg Chebbi dunes of the Sahara Desert in Morocco

Camels in the Erg Chebbi dunes of the Sahara Desert near Merzouga in Morocco

Heading into the Sahara Desert on a private guided camel trek with Experience Morocco

Camels casting shadows on a private guided trek in the Sahara Desert with Experience Morocco

Arriving at the nomad campsite on a private guided Sahara Desert trek with Experience Morocco

Nomad campsite used for Sahara Desert trek near Merzouga with Experience Morocco

Sleeping tents in a nomad camp in the Sahara Desert

Walk through Todra Gorge on a private guided tour with Experience Morocco

Visit Ksar Ait Ben Haddou on a private guided day trip from Marrakech with Experience Morocco

Defensive corner towers within Ksar Ait Ben Haddou

Walking through the streets of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou

Water sellers in Marrakech's Djemaa el Fna in Morocco

Majorelle Garden in Marrakech in Morocco

Traditional Berber mud-houses in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco

Explore High Atlas valleys and Berber villages on a private guided hike with Experience Morocco

Blue skies in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco

Discover the Jebel Saghro mountain range on a private guided hike with Experience Morocco

Ready to Experience Morocco?

Enquire now about booking or customising this trip