Explore Morocco

Fly to Marrakech

Let’s begin our Moroccan adventure with a flight to Marrakech. Upon arrival, we will be met by our local expert guide and transferred to our riad accommodation in the centre of Marrakesh. A riad is a traditional large house in Morocco, built around a central courtyard or garden and often converted into a hotel. A riad stay will give you an authentic local experience together with simple home comforts. You will have time at leisure on arrival to settle in and get to know your new surroundings.

Explore Marrakech

Evening

Marrakech is home to impressive mosques, imposing palaces and beautiful gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating back to the Berber Empire, with maze-like alleys and thriving marketplaces. In the evening, let’s enjoy a welcome meal at our riad so we can get to know our fellow travellers while enjoying a traditional taste of Morocco.

Accommodation

Overnight

Marrakesh walking tour

Morning

Let’s explore more of Marrakesh with our local expert guide on a short orientation tour. Let’s wander the green cooling gardens surrounding the Koutoubia mosque before exploring Marrakesh’s world famous colourful souks where trade and barter still win the day. Our walking tour will finish in the Djemma-el-Fna square, where the city never sleeps and is full of traders, music, and life at all hours of the day.

Travel to Casablanca

Afternoon

After our tour, let’s continue onwards to the seaside town of Casablanca. (Driving time approx. 3.5 hrs / 250km)

Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Casablanca is Morocco's chief port and one of the main financial centres on the continent of Africa.  Casablanca is also the setting of the well-known 1942 film of the same name starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. We will arrive in Casablanca in the late evening. Your local guide will be happy to suggest local restaurants where you can eat dinner at your leisure.

Accommodation

Overnight

Hassan II Mosque

Morning

Let’s explore more of Morocco today with a jam-packed day exploring many of Morocco’s top historical highlights on our way to Fes.

First let’s enjoy a morning visit to Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the largest mosque in Morocco. Marvel at how modern technology is mixed with traditional Islamic architecture and tradition in this mosque which was finished in 1993.

Explore Rabat, Meknes & Volubilis

Full day

Next let’s journey onwards to Rabat. (Driving time approx. 1.5 hrs / 90km) Situated on the coast, Rabat is the second largest city in Morocco and the country’s capital, home to its royal family and governmental buildings. Let’s embark on a tour of the iconic sights of this up-and-coming city including Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Udayas in the old quarter of town with our local expert guide. There will be some free time for lunch at your leisure in Rabat, before departing for the Imperial City of Meknes. (Driving time approx. 2.5 hrs / 160km)

In Meknes, let’s explore the Medina and spend the afternoon enjoying the sights with our local expert guide including the 12th century Grand Mosque, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the ornate mosaics of the city’s gates. We will then travel on a guided tour of the famous ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, one of the most southern parts of the ancient Roman empire before continuing the journey to the city of Fes. (Driving time approx. 2.5 hrs / 120km)

Explore Fes

Evening

In the late evening, we will arrive into Fes, also known as the ‘Athens of Africa’. Located to the northeast of Atlas Mountains, the old city is penetrated by the River of Fez flowing from the west to east. In the Fes medina, donkey carts still wander down the narrow alleyways, as they did in medieval times.

Accommodation

Overnight

3 star Hotel in Fes (2 nights)

Fes City tour

Morning

This morning let’s discover more of Fes, the world’s oldest and largest medieval city with a guided tour with our local expert guide. Let’s visit the city’s Jewish quarter, world’s oldest and continuously functioning university, the University of Karueein. Let’s also adventure through the wandering street of the souks, and explore the dye-pits and tanneries of the UNESCO listed medina of Fes, admiring the wares of the local artisans on the way. The bustling city of Fes is a highlight of any trip to Morocco.

Cooking class in Fes

Afternoon

This afternoon let’s get to know Morocco more through its cuisine as we join in a cookery class with a local chef. Let’s learn to make dishes such as Tajine with couscous, a common local dish, and learn about the spices which are used extensively in Moroccan cuisine as well as ingredients like olives, mint and lemon.

Travel to the Sahara Desert

Early morning

Let’s enjoy an early breakfast at our hotel before saying goodbye to the city of Fes and starting the journey south towards the Sahara Desert, passing through Ifrane, the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains and the cedar forests of Azrou along the way. Let’s keep our eyes peeled for wild monkeys in Azrou! Regular comfort stops will be made throughout the journey today. (Approximate distance between Fes and the Sahara Desert is 500km / 7 hours)

Camel ride

Afternoon

Let’s continue our journey towards the Sahara Desert this afternoon. At Ziz Valley we will enjoy a brief stop to take advantage of the fantastic photo opportunities of its desert oasis before arriving into the small village of Merzouga.

From Merzouga let’s see Morocco from a different vista as we continue by camel, riding into the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert (duration 1 hour), witnessing the sunset as we make our way towards our Berber camp for the night. The Berbers are an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa, and during our time at their desert camp we will experience a unique glimpse into the Berber way of life. Let’s indulge in authentic food during the camp dinner and enjoy traditional music before sleeping under the stars. There is truly no better way to experience the Sahara Desert!

Accommodation

Overnight

Overnight camp in the Saharan Desert (1 night)

Rissani & Todgha River

Early morning

We highly recommend waking up early to catch the desert sunrise over the sand dunes before breakfast at the camp. After breakfast embark on a 1-hour camel ride back across the dunes before we continue on our discovery of Morocco, through the Sahara desert and back into the Atlas mountains.

First we will pay a short visit  to the holy town of Rissani, the birthplace of Moulay Ali Cherif, the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty, the current Moroccan royal family. Afterwards let’s head to the oasis of Tinghir, set in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountain range. Here let’s embark on a short walk along the Todgha River and through the Todgha Gorge, admiring the steep cliffs and clear gorge water along the way. (Driving time approx. 3 hrs / 170km)

Road of 1,000 Kasbahs

Afternoon

In the afternoon, let’s continue our travels with a drive through the Dadès Valley, a series of rugged wadi gorges carved out by the Dades River. Let’s travel along the famous ‘Road of 1,000 Kasbahs’, the ancient caravan route to the Sahara Desert that was used by sultans and traders and admire the scenery of the Atlas Mountains along the way. Upon reaching our riad in the hillside town of Boumalne du Dadès, let’s enjoy an included dinner with our group and enjoy a night in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains.

Accommodation

Overnight

Explore Aït Benhaddou

Morning

After breakfast, let’s depart Boumalne du Dadès and travel through the Valley of Roses and Ouarzazate (also known as ‘The Gate of The Sahara’), towards the UNESCO-listed Aït Benhaddou. Aït Benhaddou is a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture with some families still living within the ancient village of the kasbah.  (Driving time approx. 2.5 hrs / 150km)

Here, let’s explore the kasbah with our local expert guide and hear of the many famous films and photo shoots which have taken place here over the years as we wind your way through the many narrow alleyways. You will also have some free time to grab lunch independently in the Aït Benhaddou kasbah.

Tizi-n-Tichka Mountain Pass

Afternoon

In the afternoon, let’s continue to admire the scenery of the High Atlas mountains as we take the Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass, which is at an elevation of 2,260 metres above sea level. The views, the villages and the time spent on the Tizi n’ Tichka Pass are a truly unique experience. Here, Berber villagers still herd their flocks as they did in ancient times.  (Driving time approx. 4 hrs / 180km)

In the early evening, we arrive back to Marrakech where we will enjoy a farewell meal with your group and chat over the memories of a fantastic trip in Morocco.

Accommodation

Overnight

Morning

This morning it is time to say goodbye to Morocco as you transfer to the airport for your return flight home to Dublin full of fond memories.