Essential Morocco

Day 1 Casablanca            
Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco. There are no planned activities until your important welcome meeting at 6 pm, if you have time, why not check out Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco. Wander around the Old Medina and city walls, then jump in a taxi and visit the Quartier Habous – the new medina full of shaded squares, narrow streets and lined with arcades that lead from one souk to another. This is a great place to enjoy a Moroccan coffee and maybe start working on your bargaining skills.            

Day 2 Casablanca to Moulay Idriss            
Today you’ll head to the whitewashed village of Moulay Idriss – one of Morocco's most important pilgrimage sites – then go for a stroll and indulge in a rather unusual lunch, a camel burger! However if you’re a vegetarian, don’t get the hump, there’ll be an option for you too! You’ll also witness a demonstration on the art of mint tea making, this sweet treat is a Moroccan speciality. Tonight, you'll get to hang out with a local family, an experience that’s only been allowed for foreigners since 2005 – lucky you!            

Day 3 Moulay Idriss to Fes          
Take a drive through the beautiful rolling hills to Volubilis and enjoy a guided tour of these epic Roman ruins, then head back to Meknes where you'll meet your local guide for a tour of the city. Continue your adventure on a 40-minute train ride to the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco – Fes.

Day 4 Fes            
Getting lost in Fes is half the fun, but you'll have an orientation walk this morning to help you get the lay of the land first. Join your leader on an orientation walk through this vibrant labyrinth of a city – alive with the many craftsmen, markets, ceramics and beautiful mosques – navigate the narrow alleyways and visit the famous tannery and stop for that iconic view, overlooking the dye pits.        

Day 5 Fes to Midelt          
Travel south to Midelt. This smallish market town, surrounded by farmland and orchards, is a great spot to break up the journey to the Sahara and watch Berber people and nomadic shepherds tending to their flocks. You'll stay the night in Midelt, but first it's time for a nice walk. The walk itself is easy, but the terrain is rocky in some places, so wear your best walking shoes.    

Day 6 Midelt to Merzouga        
Today you will continue to Merzouga. When you arrive, drop your main bags off at your overnight camp set next to a simple Auberge (that's French for ‘inn'), and get ready for a once in a lifetime experience – a desert full of awesome. The mode of transport? Camel, of course! Brace yourself for one heck of a sunset, this ride takes about an hour, going through the vast expanse of sand, and loops back to your private camp for an overnight stay under the stars.      

Day 7 Merzouga to Dades Valley        
Hope you remembered to set your alarm this morning, because you'll be getting up well before the crack of dawn. Climb to a nearby sand dune to catch the sunrise and experience the amazing interplay of light as the Sahara slowly comes alive all around you. Head back for brekkie, collect the rest of your gear together and then travel west to Todra. This valley is pretty impressive, with all its palm trees and mud-brick villages. Arrive at your hotel at the top of the valley, then take a hike into the gorge where sheer cliffs rise more than 1000 feet above you.

Day 8 Dades Valley to Ait Benhaddou          
Continue to the medieval mud-brick town of Ait Benhaddou, which is at its best in the late afternoon sun. Explore the many old streets and climb up to the fortress for a superb view over the old town, you can also (for a small fee) enter one of the most interesting of the old houses and climb up to the turrets for a view over the river. You'll spend the night just outside the walls.    

Day 9 Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech          
Continue west, passing a few Berber villages before stopping for a delicious barbecue lunch in one of the many townships along the way. Continue to take in those epic views of the countryside as you wind your way up towards Tizi ‘n Tichka. This is a whopping 2260 metres above sea level, the highest pass on the road to Marrakech and often gets covered with snow during the winter months. Leaving the Atlas behind, you'll descend into the plains that surround Marrakech and arrive late afternoon.  

Day 10 Marrakech          
Marrakech is a feast for the senses, and this morning you’ll get to venture out for some street food tasting in the maze of Marrakech streets with a local expert. Set off on a tour of the old medina, through the bustling souks that are the lifeblood flowing through the city and sample some sweet and savoury specialties. The rest of a day is free so where to do you start? Why not head out on a cycling trip, go quad-biking or indulge in a Luxury Hammam and Spa, the options are endless.    

Day 11 Marrakech            
Depart at any time.