Morocco North and South: Mountain Villages and Ancient Kasbahs - 16 Days

Itinerary

• Days 1-0: Casablanca: An Immersion into MoroccoArrival Day

  Allow your imagination to run wild, dreaming of kasbahs, medinas, and exotic lands as you make your way from the airport to the hotel. A bustling seaport, Casablanca is a mix of old and new with a blend of architectural styles and yet singularly Moroccan. We welcome you to Morocco, and invite you to bring your imagination to life as you explore the country's diverse landscapes and delicious food. Arrive to Casablanca at any time and transfer to your hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the welcome meeting in the evening and get all the important information about the adventure ahead. Afterwards, head to a nearby restaurant for a delicious welcome dinner with new friends.

• Days 2-1: Chefchaouen: The "Blue City"

  See the landscapes change as you head north, past farmland and through small villages and watch for large stork nests on the tops of buildings and mosques. Fall in love at once with the charm of Chefchaouen as you arrive with picturesque alleyways and shades of blue in all directions. Drive to Chefchaouen with a stop in Ouezzane for lunch. Take a CEO-led orientation walk through Chefchaouen and enjoy a free evening to choose from one of the many great restaurants or join the CEO at their local favourite.

• Days 3-2: Chefchaouen: Your OMG Day

  Let your interests and energy level guide you today as you have the choice of 2 fantastic and different hikes in the Rif Mountains. The range is known for its narrow valleys, rivers and waterfalls with incredible views and lush scenery. There are so many great hiking options and we've picked our two favourites for you to choose from, both of which allow you to experience local culture and dramatic views. Choice of 2 different hikes, both including a delicious lunch. Return in the mid afternoon for some time to explore the "blue city" on your own. Later if you are up for it join your CEO for a walk up to the Spanish Mosque to see the sun set over Chefchaouen.

• Days 4-3: Fes: Volubilis and Meknes

  Morocco is a land of beautiful landscapes and today as you make your way from the Rif mountains to the plains of Fes you'll experience why. Pass through traditional villages and lush farmland, see rural life unfold as you prepare yourself for the next experience, feeling ready to discover Roman ruins and Imperial cities. Travel from Chefchaouen to Volubilis for a guided tour of the best Roman ruins in Morocco. Then, visit the Imperial city of Meknes and afterwards, enjoy an included lunch of traditional dishes. Continue to Fes, arriving in the evening.

• Days 5-4: Fes: The Medina

  Walking through the maze-like medina in Fes is like stepping back in time. Brush shoulders with the locals going about their shopping as people here have done for the past thousand years. Make way for the occasional donkey and embrace the frenetic energy within the market, it is beautiful chaos like nothing you've ever experienced. Experience the medina up close, your CEO will take you through the historic medina famous for its colourful tanneries, stay close by and see if you can remember your way as you are guided through the maze of streets. End the morning with a special lunch at a traditional riad. Later choose to spend more time in the Medina or return to the hotel to freshen up. The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy.

• Days 6-5: Bin El Ouidane: Through the Atlas Mountains

  Another day of gorgeous scenery is on the menu. Wind your way from the plains back into the Middle Atlas mountains, an area not often explored by tourists; here you find a very authentic Morocco. Stop at viewpoints, villages and to stretch your legs with photo opportunities around every corner. You'll be amazed at the beauty of water as you approach Bin El Ouidane and settle into the serene lakeside hotel in the evening. Drive from Fes to Bin El Ouidane with a stop for a picnic lunch along the way, as well as a visit to Ain Asserdoun. Enjoy time to relax, get settled in at your lakeside resort, and drink tea in a serene setting before dinner at the hotel.

• Days 7-6: Bin El Ouidane: Imsfrane Cathedral

  Immerse yourself into the natural and beautiful landscapes on a hike to a massive natural rock formation resembling a cathedral. Sculpted over eons by wind and water, this geological wonder showcases the Earth's history, with layers of sedimentary rock narrating tales of ancient seas and shifting continents. Take yourself even deeper into the culture with a delicious lunch in a family home. Hike to Imsefrane Cathedral and have lunch with a local Amazigh family, learning how they make their traditional bread. In the evening, free time to view sunset on the lake near the hotel.

• Days 8-7: Marrakech: Into the Souk

  Another natural wonder awaits you at Ouzoud Waterfall on the way to the bustling city of Marrakech. Throw yourself into the city's ancient historical sector and the lively marketplace full of souvenirs, hopeful shopkeepers, and food stalls for you to practice your bargaining skills. Marrakech brims with energy, history and beautiful architecture and epitomizes Morocco's diversity in cultures, people and delicious food. Drive to Marrakech with a stop at and short walk at the Ouzoud Waterfall. Take a guided walking tour through the city's historic medina and visit the Saadian Tombs. Enjoy a delicious farewell dinner at a local restaurant in the evening.

• Days 9-8: Marrakech - Ancient sites and guided spice market walks

  See the mix of the old and new as you spend a full free day in Marrakech. Pass modern buildings and ancient structures that begin to tell the story of this bustling city and embrace all of the new cultural traditions, landscapes and delicious food that await. Enjoy a free day to explore the city, visiting sites like the Jardin Majorelle and Jardin Secret. This evening, delight in a flavourful Moroccan feast with your group.

• Days 10-9: Dades Gorge: Gateway to the Sahara

  See the landscape change dramatically as you pull away from Marrakech, passing verdant green farmland and rocky desert outcroppings before crossing the Atlas mountains along a winding road. You arrive to Ouarzazate, considered to be at the crossroads of the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara desert, where the land becomes more stark as you approach the striking valley of the Dades Gorge. Drive from Marrakech to the Dades Gorge via the Atlas mountains, stopping in Ouarzazate along the way for lunch and a chance to stretch your legs. Make your way to Dades and enjoy an afternoon walk through the gorge before dinner.

• Days 11-10: Merzouga: Desert Camp

  Keep the camera handy as you continue east to the sprawling expanse of the Sahara Desert wilderness. There is something magical about the sea of sand for as far as the eye can see, and particularly stunning at sunset. Reaching your comfortable desert camp by 4x4 and riding a camel up the dunes for sunset will be an unforgettable experience, and watching as the sky starts to glimmer with stars as you take it all in from around a campfire. Drive to Merzouga with a stop in Arfoud for lunch and a brief visit. You arrive in Merzouga and continue by 4x4 to the desert camp. Climb a nearby sand dune riding on the back of a camel at sunset and enjoy a mint tea accompanied by melodies from bedouin musicians as you settle into the evening.

• Days 12-11: Merzouga: Your OMG Day

  The people who live in this area have thrived despite the harsh environment, settling near natural oases where water and date palms provide some essential elements to survive. Set off into the dunes in 4x4s where you'll have the choice to focus more on the cultural traditions of the Sahara meeting with nomads and villagers, or to focus more on the natural history of the desert, exploring an oasis and meeting with a local farmer. Choice of activity in the morning, both including lunch. Enjoy some free time in the late afternoon for optional sandboarding or a buggy ride before settling into camp again for the night.

• Days 13-12: Aït Ben Haddou: The Caravan Route

  Leaving the desertscape behind, you'll head back through farmland and dusty, rocky terrain on the way to the ancient kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. Wandering the narrow alleyways next to massive clay buildings, picture yourself in one of the many famous movies or tv shows which have been filmed here, all of which the locals will be thrilled to tell you about. Drive from Merzouga to Aït Ben Haddou and take a guided tour of the site. In the evening enjoy dinner, likely of traditional tagine at a nearby local establishment.

• Days 14-13: Ouirgane: The High Atlas

  The views are stunning as you head up into the High Atlas Mountains, passing through Amazigh villages and along lush valleys on the way to Ouirgane. The town itself sits next to a reservoir of the river amongst olive trees, and is the perfect base for exploring the area. Travel to Ouigane with some stops along the way to take in the beautiful Atlas Mountain scenery, visit a tree nursery, and enjoy lunch made by women of the the tour operator—supported Zarbiat Achbarou Cooperative. Here, you'll get a sense of how this project is changing peoples' lives and enjoy a brief carpet weaving demonstration while hearing stories from members of the cooperative. Arrive to Ouigane in the late afternoon and choose to enjoy a stroll in the beautiful and fragrant gardens of the hotel before dinner.

• Days 15-14: Ouirgane: Amazigh Villages

  The picturesque mountain scenery will be your playground as you set off on a hike through olive and juniper trees and quaint villages. Immerse yourself into the daily life of a Amazigh family and enjoy a tea demonstration while hearing stories about their lifestyle and traditions. Share a delicious traditional meal with them before hiking back down to Ouirgane. Hike from Ouirgane in the surrounding mountains and spend time with a local family in a Amazigh village. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the garden of the hotel in the evening.

• Days 16-15: Marrakech

  Today your adventure comes to an end, but the memories made during your time in Morocco will live on. Drive to Marrakech in the morning, where the tour ends on arrival. Outbound flights should depart no earlier than 2pm.