Day 1 — Arrival to Casablanca
Salaam aleikum! Welcome to Morocco. You start your adventure on the first day of your trip in Casablanca at 6 pm during a welcome meeting. For early arrivals, Villa des Arts stands as an art deco building from the 1930s which showcases contemporary Moroccan and international art exhibitions. The Museum of Judaism provides visitors with a distinctive opportunity to learn about Moroccan historical traditions. Casablanca offers plenty to see and do but if you wish to extend your stay before the trip starts please contact your booking agent.
Day 2 — Casablanca – Tangier – Chefchaouen
This morning, board the TGV fast train to the coastal town of Tangier – a strategic place in the Mediterranean as the entrance to Africa. Get out on a short orientation walk with your leader, and then enjoy some free time to explore the town. Maybe pop into Café Hafa (which has hosted celebrities such as Sean Connery, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones) to have a cup of mint tea and enjoy the views of Gibraltar. In the afternoon, take a private transfer to Chefchaouen. Set against a wide valley between two peaks in the Rif Mountains, much of Chefchaouen was recreated by Andalusian refugees escaping the Reconquista. Follow your leader on an orientation walk and head to a great sunset viewpoint overlooking the town. If you are hungry in the evening, the local goat’s cheese is a good snack.
Day 3 — Free Day in Chefchaouen
Today is a free day in Chefchaouen. Maybe take a guided tour of the sights, sounds and smells of the medina or taste the delicious local specialities (the orange juice is great!) at a cafe in the Plaza Uta el-Hammam. If not, you may well prefer to get out of town for a hike and a picnic in the surrounding hills. Hikers often choose the Rif Mountains hiking tour. These kinds of tours take you away from the blue city to enjoy Akchour Waterfalls. Akchour presents a natural marvel with its landscapes and running water. Dinner will be served in a local restaurant or spend time at a traditional Moroccan spa known as a hammam. The night will be yours to enjoy.
Day 4 — Scenic Drive to Moulay Idriss – Sacred Hilltop Town Stay
This morning, have some breakfast and then take a scenic drive through the countryside to the holy town of Moulay Idriss. Walking through the medina of this old town and seeing how people live in Morocco. Watch where the faithful come to pay their respects at the grave of Moulay Idriss – the great-grandson of Mohammed who brought Islam to Morocco. The sunset brings beautiful views of the Volubilis plains from your current position. Your local host welcomes you at a traditional guesthouse which provides a satisfying dinner. Share your stories and find out about their culture – this is a really special experience.
Day 5 — Volubilis, Meknes & Fes – Roman Ruins & Imperial Marvels
Today, take a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of Volubilis – one of the most remote bases of the Roman empire. Visitors can’t help but feel impressed by the archaeological site when it emerges from the high long plateau. Your local guide will lead you through the ancient hilltop ruins to explain the historical significance of this place. After, continue to Meknes and take an hour or two to explore at your own pace. Carry on to Fes in the afternoon, where you’ll be spending the next two nights. Fes is the most complete medieval city in the Arab world and the oldest of the imperial cities of Morocco. It is also known as the spiritual and cultural heart of the country and a great place to try and find a local restaurant to have an optional dinner with your group.
Day 6 — Fes Guided Tour – Ancient Medina, Tanneries & Artisan Workshops
Your day will begin with a guided walking tour through the Old City which locals call Fes el Bali. Wander through a medieval maze that combines artisans with markets and tanneries and mosques while experiencing the Middle Ages. Watch donkeys carrying heavy loads of merchandise (this is a major pedestrian-free urban area) while you navigate the specialized market areas. The Medersa Bou Inania stands out as a stunning architectural landmark which reopened to visitors after restoration. Medresse el Attarine and the Funduq al-Najjarin offer a stunning visit since they represent a beautifully restored 18th-century inn. You will observe the world-famous tannery and a ceramics production site where potters work. Use your afternoon to discover the area on your own terms. You could indulge in traditional Moroccan cuisine that includes harira (chickpea soup) and pie-shaped pastries filled with chicken served with couscous.
Special information
The tour group will conduct their purchases at specific designated locations. Intrepid has created a payment distribution system for recommended suppliers to provide commissions and kickbacks through its centralized management structure. You have the freedom to choose whether you want to participate in the shopping experience since you can stay aside while your group completes theirs.
Day 7 — Fes to Marrakech by Train – Medina Walk & Coffee Culture
Take the train from Fes to Marrakech for your departure. The train ride through beautiful countryside ends when it reaches its destination during late afternoon. Your local guide will lead you through a medina walking tour and you will meet a local coffee enthusiast who demonstrates his innovative hot sand coffee brewing method. You can join the large crowds at the main square of Djemaa el-Fna for an optional dinner experience which stands as the largest public gathering place throughout the world. The area transforms into a bustling hub after nightfall where henna artists join performers and storytellers who occupy the square with their food stalls filled with Moroccan delicacies.
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
Day 8 — Marrakech Free Day – Relax, Explore, or Enjoy a Traditional Hammam
You have a free day to explore Marrakech at your convenience. The day remains unorganized until 6 pm when the group gathers to welcome any new members joining the tour. If you need relaxation your leader will arrange a hammam booking service for you.
Special information
The local leader together with your group members will probably switch out during this combination tour.
The lack of hotel availability requires you to change your starting point for the second section of your Marrakech journey. The alternative hotel location will be disclosed by your trip leader along with assistance for taxi arrangements if the new hotel remains beyond walking distance.
Day 9 — High Atlas Journey to Aroumd – Hike & Homestay in a Berber Village
You will drive through the High Atlas Mountains for about an hour until you reach the village of Imlil. Upon your arrival store your major luggage while packing your overnight items onto pack mules. The short one-hour hike leads you to the tranquil village of Aroumd. The small remote village sits atop a rocky peak which gives visitors breathtaking views of the High Atlas Mountains while offering an opportunity to experience Amazigh traditional culture. The family-run mountain gite provides you with traditional hospitality and home-cooked food while the woodstove and bread aromas envelop you. The remainder of your day will be available to discover the village and its nearby agricultural lands. If the group feels ready and weather conditions are suitable the group will tackle a four-hour round-trip hike to the pilgrimage shrine of Sidi Chamharouch. Aroumd’s relaxed atmosphere allows everyone to discover hidden gems beyond the contemporary world regardless of their physical abilities.
Special information
You need to travel for about 2 hours today. The Sidi Chamharouch shrine hike is optional but requires proper footwear. Good walking shoes with a rigid sole and grip will be enough. The paths are well trodden but may be slippery and uneven.
Shared facilities include the bathroom and sleeping arrangements at the homestay but they are cozy and comfortable and definitely a once in a lifetime and unique opportunity to live with a local family.
Day 10 — Aït Benhaddou – UNESCO Ksar & Moroccan Cooking Experience
Today we will travel from Tizi n’Tichka to Ait Benhaddou. Ait Benhaddou, perched on a hilltop and unchanged since the 11th century, is one of Morocco’s most iconic and World Heritage sites. It was an important stop for caravans passing through as they carried salt across the Sahara, returning with gold, ivory and slaves. Does it look familiar? The town has a long list of film and TV credits including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator! Take a leader led walk through the narrow streets of the Old Town up to the top of the hill from which there is a stunning view across the surrounding plains. You have the evening to do as you please and you have the option of joining in a local cooking demonstration and being served Morocco’s most famous dishes; couscous and tagine.
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
Day 11 — Into the Sahara – Draa Valley, Tamegroute & Erg Chigaga Camel Ride
You will have a full day of driving today as you travel south towards the Sahara Desert. After breakfast, drive through the Draa Valley to Zagora and see the original route of the caravans. Then, drive along the rugged and desolate Jbel Tadrart ranges through seas of sand and past the occasional desert oasis of date palms to the township of Tamegroute. Here, you will visit a library with ancient scripts of science, literature and stories of the prophet Mohammed. Then you will join a local guide to explore the underground Kasbah. Continue driving to the frontier town of M’Hamid. From here, your group will get into 4WDs to the massive Erg Chigaga dunes. This is the largest dune in the Moroccan Sahara and one of the less visited – therefore your experience will be further from surrounding towns and villages and away from the tourist trail. You will arrive in the late afternoon and get ready for the experience of a lifetime – ride on the back of the camel into the Saharan sunset. Tonight, the starry sky won’t disappoint.
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours, including 2.5 hours in the 4WDs.
If you’d rather not ride on the back of a camel then you can walk alongside the camels instead. The trip takes about an hour. The camp is simple, with bedding and basic shared toilet facilities. The blankets provided are warm enough between April and October but you may like to bring your own sleeping sheet or jumper for extra warmth during the months between November and March. The camp does not have electricity so it is recommended that you come prepared with fully charged phones, cameras and everything else you may need.
Day 12 — Sahara to Tata via Tissint Waterfalls – Salt Lands & Oases
If you are an early bird you might want to go to the nearest dune this morning and watch the sunrise – this spectacle in the Sahara Desert is worth setting your alarm for. After breakfast, you’ll get back into the 4WDs and drive out of the desert and change to the private vehicle on the way to Tata. On the way, stop at the waterfall of Attiq in Tissint for a break and some nice scenery. These waterfalls are all salt water and the translation of ‘Tissint’ in the local language is ‘salt’. When you arrive in Tata mid afternoon you will have a free evening to relax. If you like, explore downtown with your leader tonight and go out for a great local dinner.
Special information
The total travel time you will need today amounts to 5.5 hours.
Day 13 — Tagmoute Granaries & Arrival in Tafraoute
Your journey begins with a drive to Tleta Tagmoute which is a tiny village that displays its granaries and date palm groves as well as its fruit trees. This unique lifestyle combined with its irrigation system enables you to better understand the traditional way of life that exists here through a visit to an operational granary structure from the past. Your afternoon journey leads you to Tafraoute after visiting the area. The southern Moroccan village exists under the protection of the Anti Atlas Mountain Range. Even though Tafraoute has shifted from a traditional destination into one that caters to campervans it still preserves its authenticity while offering excellent base facilities for exploring the Anti Atlas area. After arriving you will take part in a village excursion followed by visits to traditional markets to watch how babouche footwear gets manufactured.
Special information
Your travel time today is approximately 5 hours.
Day 14 — Ameln Valley Hike & Pierres Bleues – Meet Amazigh Locals
A morning hike in the Ameln Valley takes you through small Amazigh villages that range from ancient to modern. During your hike you will pass beneath palm and almond trees while observing fields of alfalfa that serve as animal feed for local people. You will make a stop at an authentic Amazigh house that your host preserves to demonstrate the disappearing traditional way of life from the modern era. Your visit to the traditional Amazigh household provides insight into its operating methods while your host shares their life story from childhood through serving fresh mint tea. Most parts of the terrain remain rocky thus strong footwear becomes essential for this area. The lunch takes place while looking out at the breathtaking view of the valley. Your afternoon excursion leads you to Pierres Bleues which remains one of the most disputed attractions in the area. People continue to argue about the nature of Jean Verame’s artwork since he used a spray gun to paint these boulders back in 1984 (you can form your own opinion). The evening is yours to spend.
Special information
Your hiking time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Day 15 — Tafraoute to Essaouira – Argan Oil Cooperative & Atlantic Views
The day brings a lengthy journey into the Atlantic direction. Your drive passes through desert landscapes while traveling through an area that functions as an Indigenous argan tree conservation zone. You should visit a local women’s cooperative during your journey because they specialize in Argan oil production. The cooperative serves as a community resource that delivers additional earnings to rural families to boost their economic independence. The process of Argan tree extraction and production along with fresh Amlou paste tasting awaits you at this location. The drive continues to Essaouira (meaning “pretty picture”). The stone barriers enclose white buildings with blue shutters and artistic workshops and galleries that create an ideal location for photographs. You will have complete freedom to discover new places or unwind during the evening.
Special information
Your travel time today is approximately 7 hours.
Day 16 — Essaouira Guided Tour – Fishermen, Jewish Mellah & Surf Culture
Your day begins after breakfast by following a local guide to explore the historic medina as well as the Jewish mellah and port and skala (sea wall). The town of Essaouira stands as one of Morocco’s oldest port facilities and traditional fishing remains dominant in its waters. You will meet an experienced fisherman at the harbour who will share their life story to the group while demonstrating the fishing techniques along with the fish species and fishing seasons. You will have unassigned time for the entire day following lunch. Jimi Hendrix spent a lot of time here during the 60s, so you know this is a great spot to sit, people watch and listen to the sound of the ocean. You should try the daily fish preparation at the harbour followed by a visit to the numerous stores and artistic galleries. If you enjoy surfing you should take advantage of lessons at this popular destination. A visit to a local hammam (Moroccan day spa) or traditional bath provides an excellent opportunity to relax while experiencing local customs.
Day 17 — Return to Marrakech – Bahia Palace, Jemaa el-Fna & Farewell Dinner
After spending your free morning in Essaouira you will board a bus to return to Marrakech during the afternoon hours. Upon arrival you have unassigned time available to either discover new places or choose from available activities. The famous Djemaa el-Fna offers perfect conditions for getting lost because it features both performers and fire dancers and street food vendors. Visitors should travel to the Palais Bahia to see its magnificent Muslim architecture and the ancient ruins of the Palais Badi. The group invites you to join them for an optional farewell dinner.
Special information
Travel duration for today amounts to about 3 hours.
Day 18 — Departure from Marrakech – End of Your Morocco Tour Adventure
Breakfast marks the conclusion of your travel experience. The hotel offers pre-booking for extra nights for guests who want to explore Marrakech beyond their initial stay (based on availability).
Contact your booking agent before your trip to make the necessary arrangements.