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Embrace your family’s sense of adventure without forgoing comfort on this 10-day trip through Morocco. Explore the French-infused port city of Casablanca, wander the labyrinth of tanneries and spice souqs in Fes, discover the rocky landscape of the Atlas Mountains, camp under the starry night sky of the Sahara and sip mint tea with locals in Todra Gorge. Then, be dazzled by the nightly carnival of fortune tellers, performers and acrobats in Marrakech’s Djemaa el-Fna square. Between all the colourful bazaars and tasty tagines, your expert leader will ensure you uncover all the highlights while allowing for plenty of free family time to create treasured memories at your own pace.
Call or email our experts to find out more and help with ideas and planning.
Sarah
Petra
CharlotteSalaam aleikum! Welcome to Morocco. You and your family will be met at Casablanca Airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. There are no activities planned until your welcome meeting at 5 pm. As there's little free time included in Casablanca, it’s recommended you arrive a couple of days early to explore the city. Modelled after Marseille in France, this city is famous for its art deco buildings and the modern-day masterpiece, the Hassan II Mosque. If you do have time to spare, maybe wander the old medina and the city walls, then jump in a taxi to visit the Quartiers des Habous – the new medina. You can also walk along the Corniche, watching the locals play football on the beach, or take it easy with a glass of sweet mint tea in one of the many great cafes.
After breakfast, take a guided tour of the impressive Hassan II Mosque before boarding a train to Fes – the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. Sit back and relax on board as you watch the changing scenery just outside your window. When you arrive, head into the Old City, known locally as Fes el Bali – arguably the world's most fascinating and confounding Old City. Medieval Fes was one of the world's great centres of education and culture, both Islamic and Jewish. Its religious institutions and libraries are legendary, its mosques of great renown. The rest of your day is free, so you might want to relax and take the kids for a swim in the pool.
This morning, you and your family will take a walk through the twisting streets and alleyways of Fes, passing donkeys piled high with goods. Explore the specialty sections that divide the souq, filled with historic khans, madrasas and dye pits, stalls loaded with fruits, herbs and soups, the smell of spices filling the air. Spend the day exploring the Old City, visiting Madrasa Al-Attarine and the local tanneries. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and maybe spend the evening relaxing, away from the buzz of the medina.
Today, it's time to leave the city behind and embrace the simplicity and beauty of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Journey in a private minibus through fertile valleys, pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes. You may see wandering nomadic shepherds as they tend to their flocks or even catch a glimpse of barbary macaques – North Africa's only monkey – before arriving in Midelt. This is a market town, originally built as a base for mining in the area. It’s also surrounded by farms and orchards. You’ll walk through an Amazigh village for an insight into the local farming life and enjoy a special home-cooked lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax or enjoy swimming in the hotel pool.
Travel by private minivan toward the mighty Sahara, stopping along the way to take in the views of kasbahs and palmeries (lush valleys with date palms, fields and orchards). As you pass through frontier towns like Erfoud and Rissani, you'll watch the scenery alternate between barren mountainsides and fertile valleys until you reach the small village of Merzouga. When you arrive, leave your baggage, pack a daypack and saddle up for a camel ride into the desert at sunset – the kids will love this! Erg Chebbi is home to huge windswept dunes that are the quintessential image of Morocco, and tonight, you'll sleep in a luxury desert camp under the stars. The locals will prepare a hearty feast for dinner, so all you and your family need to do is sit back, relax and take in the Milky Way.
Return from the desert and drive to Todra Gorge. On the way, you’ll visit a fossil factory to learn more about the local area before continuing to the beautiful Todra Valley, which follows the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and is dotted with mudbrick villages sitting on hillsides. Take in the remarkable scenery of sprawling green valleys and rocks sculpted into stunning formations by the wind. For lunch, join a local family in their home to see how people live in this largely unchanged culture. The rest of the day is free for you to hike through the gorge, walk through the nearby villages or simply relax.
Travel south to Ait Benhaddou. The scenic drive will take you past ancient kasbah ruins, former military outposts, mountains and valleys of palm trees. You'll pass through Ouarzazate, where productions such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy and Aladdin were filmed (ask the kids if they recognise anything!). When you arrive in Ait Benhaddou, you'll sit down to a delicious lunch at a local NGO restaurant. Located between the river and the palm trees, the restaurant is run by an all-women co-op called the Tawesna Association. After lunch, have fun learning how to make Moroccan pancakes (baghrir) and other sweet treats with the local women in a hands-on cooking class. Later, you’ll explore the UNESCO World -Heritage-listed kasbah. Centuries ago, this fine example of clay architecture was an important stop for caravans carrying salt across the Sahara. Tonight, enjoy a delicious dinner of Morocco's most famous meal – couscous and tagine!
After breakfast, make the journey to Marrakech – a historic city that’s a feast for the senses – arriving in the early afternoon. Opt to join your leader for an orientation walk and be enticed by the alluring scents and brilliant colours of the spice markets, the sounds of the musicians, the rich folds of carpets, the delicious food and perfumed gardens. Or, you can simply take the afternoon to relax and recharge.
Today is a free day for you and your family to relax, do some exploring or join an optional activity. You might like to join an Intrepid Day Trip like the Tajine Cookery Class Experience, where you and the kids can get hands-on in the kitchen and learn to prepare an authentic Moroccan tajine, learn the Arabic words for key ingredients and get to know the locals, all in the traditional setting of a Moroccan riad. In the afternoon, head to Djemaa el-Fna – one of the largest public spaces in the world. When night falls, it transforms into a hive of activity – henna-painters, performers and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar, packed with stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies, including snail soup. Your street food dinner tonight might include some Moroccan pastries with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Maybe finish your day with a cup of tea on one of the roof-top restaurants overlooking the square.
With no further activities planned, your family's adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you have more time, it’s highly recommended you book an additional night in Marrakech to continue exploring this fascinating city. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Our Important Notes and Packing List cover all essentials, from necessary equipment to inclusions, ensuring you're fully equipped and informed for this extraordinary adventure and more.
1. FAMILY TRIPS: Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you. 2. MINIMUM AGE: The minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old unless otherwise approved by Intrepid. 3. CHILD PRICE: Children aged 17 years and under at time of travel on this trip, are eligible to receive 20% off the full adult price. 4. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A single supplement is available for adults wishing to have a private room to themselves. The single supplement excludes Day 5 (Desert Camp) and is availble on request. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 5. INCLUDED TRANSFER: The complementary arrival transfer from Casablanca Airport is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel. 6. OPTIONAL TRANSFER: If you are arriving into Marrakech Airport we can provide an optional transfer to the starting point city of Casablanca. This transfer is on request and requires pre-payment. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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