EPIC MOROCCO

Your Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrive in Casablanca

   Touch down in Casablanca, the coastal city where your Moroccan journey begins. You’ll be picked up from Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) and taken to your hotel, just a 10-minute walk from the Old Medina. Gather in the lobby for a welcome meeting at 6pm with your Local Insider, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. It’s then time to head into the city centre for dinner in an authentic riad (a traditional Moroccan house centered around an inner courtyard) – a perfect opportunity to break the ice and discuss the days ahead with your fellow travellers.

   Accommodation

   Gray Boutique Hotel Casablanca

   Activities Included

   • Welcome dinner
   • Airport transfer
2. Day 2 Stroll through the photogenic streets of Chefchaouen

   After breakfast, head straight to the Hassan II Mosque, the second-largest functioning mosque in Africa, which is dramatically situated on a rocky outcrop jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Its 210m (690ft) high minaret, completed in 1993, is the second-tallest in the world. After exploring the complex, leave Casablanca behind and head north to the enchanting city of Chefchaouen, which lies beneath the craggy peaks of the Rif mountains. Take a walking tour through the atmospheric cobblestone alleyways and admire the beautifully preserved 15th-century buildings painted in shades of blue.

   Accommodation

   Dar Echchaouen Maison d'Hôtes & Riad

   Activities Included

   • Hassan II Mosque visit
   • Chefchaouen walking tour
3. Day 3 Explore the Roman ruins of Volubilis and eat with a local family

   This morning, your journey continues south to the ancient Roman city of Volubilis, built around 300BCE on a fertile plain surrounded by wheat fields. Formerly the capital of the Berber kingdom of Mauretania, it gained Unesco World Heritage status in 1997 and is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Morocco today, replete with marble columns, intricate mosaics and plinths bearing Latin inscriptions. After you’ve finished exploring, head to Fez, considered by many to be the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco. Here, you’ll join a local family for a home-cooked dinner in the old medina district and enjoy a unique storytelling experience.

   Accommodation

   Palais Houyam

   Activities Included

   • Volubilis guided tour
   • Home-cooked meal and storytelling with a local family
4. Day 4 Soak up the atmosphere of Fez Medina

   Embrace the eclectic mix of colours, sounds and aromas as you wander through Fez Medina – the sprawling, walled centre of the city. Its labyrinthine streets are lined with souks selling everything from street food and spices to handwoven textiles and homewares, while architectural highlights include the Bou Inania Madrasa with a green-tiled minaret, the ornate Bab Bou Jeloud gate and the Nejjarine Fondouk, which houses a woodwork museum. End the tour by tucking into lunch at a traditional restaurant in the Medina, before spending the rest of the day at leisure.

   Accommodation

   Palais Houyam

   Activities Included

   • Fez Medina walking tour
   • Nejjarine Fondouk visit
   • Bou Inania Madrasa visit
5. Day 5 Venture deep into the Sahara

   Rise and shine – it’s time to leave the city bustle as you head into the pristine wilderness of the Sahara. After breakfast, you’ll journey to the far south of Morocco, eventually arriving in the tiny desert village of Merzouga, close to the Algerian border. It’s the gateway to the majestic Erg Chebbi dunes, which reach 150m (490ft) high and cover a barren, golden expanse of 28km (17mi) from north to south. You’ll stay overnight in a luxury riad – an idyllic spot to unwind, tune into nature and take in sublime sunset views.

   Accommodation

   Riad Madu

   Activities Included

   • Merzouga desert visit
6. Day 6 Visit a Gnawa village and dine Berber style under the stars

   Travel by 4x4 to a remote village where you’ll learn about the culture of the Gnawa people who originated from sub-Saharan Africa, and are renowned for their spiritual music and unique dancing. For lunch, tuck into medfouna, a southern Moroccan speciality that’s similar to a stuffed pizza but without cheese. Brace yourself for a bumpy ride as you continue across the dunes to the desert camp you’ll call home for the night. Expect lots of mint tea, songs around a campfire and hearty Berber food. Come nightfall, enjoy a wine-tasting session and gaze in awe at the starry sky through a telescope, guided by an expert astronomer.

   Accommodation

   Desert Camp Jaimas Madu

   Activities Included

   • Gnawa village visit
   • Wine tasting
   • Astronomy experience
7. Day 7 Go camel riding at sunrise and explore the Todra Gorge

   No visit to the Sahara is complete without experiencing the most traditional mode of desert transport: camel riding. Saddle up first thing in the morning, taking in the gorgeous sunrise before swapping the desert for the High Atlas mountains as you head north to the Todra Gorge. Prepare to be dazzled – this otherworldly, rust-coloured expanse of steep-sided canyons ranks among the most spectacular scenery in Morocco. You’ll arrive at your cosy, mountainside accommodation in time to sip cocktails while watching the sunset paint the sky with a pinky-tangerine glow.

   Accommodation

   Riad Bahammou

   Activities Included

   • Sunrise camel ride
   • Todra Gorge visit
   • Sunset cocktails
8. Day 8 Hike through the Dades Gorges and join a local family for lunch

   Over many centuries, the Dades River, which flows for 350km (220mi) from the High Atlas mountains to the Sahara, has carved dramatic gorges and canyons into the rugged interior of the country. Today, you’ll set off on a guided hike through this epic landscape and gain a fascinating glimpse into life in this part of rural Morocco. Eventually, after traversing farmland and riverine forest, you’ll arrive at a series of striking rock formations, aptly named the Monkey Fingers due to their peculiar shape. A well-earned lunch at a local guesthouse awaits.

   Accommodation

   Riad Bahammou

   Activities Included

   • Dades Gorges hike
9. Day 9 Explore kasbah Ait-Ben-Haddou

   Of all the kasbahs dotted around Morocco, Ait-Ben-Haddou is arguably the most impressive. Feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you explore this Unesco World Heritage site, which you may well recognise from Game of Thrones (2011-2019) and Gladiator (2000). Stop by a tea house for a thirst-quenching mint tea and home-baked Moroccan pastry before hitting the road to Marrakech. Explore the legendary Djemaa El-Fna square as it comes alive at night.

   Accommodation

   2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hôtel & Spa

   Activities Included

   • Kasbah Ait-Ben-Haddou visit
   • Tea at a local tea house
10. Day 10 Unlock the secrets of Moroccan cuisine in a cooking class

    Now familiar with Moroccan food, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to make it for yourself. After discovering the core techniques and flavour combinations used in Moroccan cuisine, enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring the city at leisure or treat yourself to a soothing massage at the hotel spa. Reconvene for a farewell group dinner at L’mida restaurant and embrace an innovative, modern twist on classic Moroccan dishes. The candlelit roof terrace, overlooking the medina, is the perfect spot to conclude your epic Morocco trip.

    Accommodation

    2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hôtel & Spa

    Activities Included

    • Cooking class
    • Farewell dinner
11. Day 11 Depart from Marrakech

    After one last breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your new friends as your Moroccan adventure comes to an end. Check out of the hotel at midday and make your way to the airport to catch your flight home from Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) – or extend your stay and explore what else Morocco has to offer.