Exciting Morocco

Start the morning early to explore the Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs and Koutoubia Mosque in the heart of Marrakech. Bahia Palace plays home to unique courtyards, ornate archways and stained glass windows reflecting a rainbow of colors on the inside walls.

From Marrakech, you will jump on the tour bus to make the three-hour journey to Essaouira, stopping halfway for lunch at a local restaurant.

Essaouira is one of Morocco’s most popular and laid-back beachside towns on the south-west coast of North Africa. This fortified coastal town has a pleasant atmosphere and its markets are much less intense than those in Marrakech. After checking into the hotel in Essaouira, you’ll have a few hours of free time which you can spend exploring this bright and breezy coastal town including Essaouira Beach, Essaouira Medina and Essaouira Port.

That night you can all met up again as a group and head to a local restaurant inside the medina for some Moroccan cuisine and tea.

Rise early to make the six-hour bus journey to Casablanca. You’ll make several stops along the way for bathrooms breaks, much-needed coffee, expansive viewpoints and to see the unique tree goats! You’ll arrive in Casablanca around 1 pm and head straight to one of the beachside restaurants for lunch.

You’ll be able to visit a number of standout attractions in Casablanca including the enormous Hassan II Mosque (the largest mosque in all of Africa), the United Nations Square and a stroll through the old medina. The French colonial legacy can also be seen in the Mauresque architecture throughout the city.

The next stop on the itinerary is Rabat, the country’s capital city. Rabat is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean on Morocco’s western coastline and the Bouregreg River runs right through the region. The morning will start with a short visit to the King’s Royal Palace at sunrise, followed by the Hassan II Tower, Chella Ruins, Mohammed V Mausoleum and Kasbah Royal Fort.

From Rabat to Chefchaouen, it is approximately a four-hour drive passing over the Middle Atlas Mountains. Chefchaouen is located in the northern region of the country among the Rif Mountains and is one of the best places to visit in Morocco. Chefchaouen, also known as the Blue City or the Blue Pearl, is filled with striking blue-washed houses and buildings which is said to symbolise the sky and heavens, serving as a reminder for one to lead a spiritual life.

Enjoy getting lost in the maze of twisting alleyways lined with flower pots, native handicrafts, wool garments and colorful woven blankets! Before the day is out, hike to Bouzaafar Mosque on the outskirts of the city. This Spanish mosque offers the best panoramic views over Chefchaouen making it the most popular spot to watch the sunset over the blue-rinsed mountain city.

Another early morning rise to explore more of the Blue City. Leave Chefchaouen at around 2 pm and continue the adventure onwards to Fez, the third-largest city in Morocco. The tour bus will drop you off at the hotel to freshen up before heading out to a traditional Hammam dinner and show.

Spend the day exploring the ancient walled-city of Fez. It is said that Fez is the cultural capital of Morocco and more than 150,000 people live within the confined spaces of the Medina. A city where hand-pulled carts and donkeys are the only means of transportation inside the medina and the buzzing daily commerce inside the medieval walls will give you a very authentic experience and a taste of the real Moroccan culture.

The sites you’ll visit in Fez on the tour are the Royal Palace, Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss, Najjarine Square, spices market and the world-famous Tannery of Fez.

The tour will continue to Merzouga in the Sahara Desert which is an eight-hour journey from Fez. The drive through the High Atlas Mountains is nothing short of spectacular. You’ll arrive in Merzouga around 4 pm and after a quick freshen up, you’ll be hoisted up on to a camel’s back. The camel train will go through the red dunes for one-hour before arriving at the desert camp.

Drop your bags off in the tents and run up the nearest dunes to catch the sunset – stand on top of one of the highest dunes in the Sahara Desert and watch a sunset that you will never forget! After watching the sunset in the Sahara, you can gather around the fire in the middle of the camp and gobble down a three-course traditional Moroccan meal while the local guides perform on their djembe drums. It will be a magical night spent under the dancing stars, surrounded by the great Sahara Desert dunes!

The following day, get up at the crack of dawn to take a sunrise camel trek back to the village of Merzouga which lies on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Here you will be allocated another rugged tent to sleep in for the night.

After stuffing your faces at the buffet breakfast, the jeeps will be geared up and ready to take you all back into the Sahara Desert for the ultimate 4×4 adventure in the sand dunes! You’ll also stop by a small nomad village on the edge of the desert to get an insight into the way of life these people live in the Sahara.

In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to do whatever you want – maybe head back out into the dunes on foot to take photos and enjoy another unforgettable sunset in the Sahara Desert.

Travel back from the Sahara Desert to Marrakech. The drive takes approximately twelve-hours, stopping at several viewpoints along the way offering panoramic views of the surrounding Atlas Mountains.

Arrive back to Marrakech, check-in to the riad and then head into the city for the evening to explore the madness of the Medina.

Depending on your departure details, you may have time to visit local museums and gardens or simply sit down on the terrace of the riad and enjoy the mint tea.