Essential Morocco - 12 Days

Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco. Your adventure will begin with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you have time, why not check out bustling Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, at your own pace. Modelled after Marseille in France, this port city has an eclectic architectural style, a fusion of Art Deco French buildings and Mauresque (Moorish) government institutions. A great way to spend the day is to 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 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.

After breakfast, you may opt to take a guided tour of the Hassan II Mosque. More than 6000 craftsmen joined forces to build this beauty in 1993, and it’s one of the few mosques in Morocco that foreigners can enter. Later, head to the station and take a local train to Meknes before heading to the whitewashed village of Moulay Idriss – one of Morocco’s most important pilgrimage sites. Here, you’ll witness a demonstration of 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 only allowed foreigners since 2005. Your guesthouse, an old traditional riad, has a family atmosphere and all the optional meals are homemade, so you can get an authentic taste of Morocco in your free time.

Explore the rolling hills of Volubilis this morning on a guided tour of these epic Roman ruins. Then take a private transfer to Chefchaouen – which translates to ‘look at the horns’, after the two mountain peaks that overlook the city. Known for the striking, blue-washed buildings (made to represent the Mediterranean Sea) and steep, cobbled lanes, Chefchaouen is a gorgeous place to spend the day wandering. This afternoon is free for you to explore, so why not head to the red-walled Kasbah, the 15th-century fortress and dungeon, or the ethnographic museum. Or, just spend the day on foot, traversing the winding roads and watching the many cats that call this city their home.

If you like, wake up early today and enjoy the streets to yourself for the best photo ops – it’s a great time to explore the iconic sites as the city wakes up. Then, join your group for a guided walk around the medina – soak up the sights, sounds and smells and buy some food for your picnic lunch. Then, leave the shades of blue for a journey across the Rif Mountains to Akchour Falls – a natural wonder abundant with lush mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Take a short walk, enjoy the falls and maybe go for a swim. Head back to Chefchaouen, where you can tuck into a tagine at a local restaurant or visit a hammam – a traditional Moroccan spa. The night is yours!

Today you’ll journey to Fes – the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco Vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming, Fes is a visual and heady feast for the senses, with a huge, well-preserved medieval city that’s the mother of all medinas. Later this afternoon, enjoy some free time and perhaps check out the exquisite carvings and tile work at the Medersa el Attarine near the spice and perfume market. Alternatively, Fes is a shopping heaven for those wanting to pick up a souvenir (or three).

Getting lost in Fes is half the fun, but you’ll have your local leader with you to help you get the lay of the land. Join your group for a wander through this vibrant labyrinth of a city, alive with the many craftspeople, markets, ceramics and beautiful mosques. Look out for the Medersa Bou Inania, one of the city’s coolest buildings, recently restored and now open to visitors. You’ll also visit the famous tannery and its dye pits and a ceramic factory where you can see potters working in the traditional way. Today will be a big day, so remember to keep hydrated and pack some snacks.

This morning after breakfast, buckle in for a long travel day. As you make your way towards the rolling dunes of the Sahara Desert, watch the ever-changing scenery pass you by, get stuck into your book, play some of your favourite music, get to know your fellow travellers and enjoy some scenic stops along the way to stretch your legs. Arrive in Merzouga, drop your bags off at your overnight camp, and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The mode of transport? Camel, of course! Brace yourself for one heck of a sunset, as you ride through the vast expanse of sand and loop back to your private camp for an overnight stay. In the camp, you’ll have a thin mattress, blankets and sheets. If it’s winter, you’ll want to bring an extra sleeping sheet and a jumper (you’d be surprised how cold it can get, even in the desert). Sleep under the stars and have one of those ‘I’m so far from home’ moments.

You’ll be getting up well before the crack of dawn this morning, so don’t forget to set your alarm. Climb to a nearby sand dune to catch the sunrise and experience the amazing interplay of light as the Sahara slowly comes alive. Head back for breakfast, collect the rest of your gear, then travel west to Todra. You’ll come across a bright tablecloth of green that might seem so out of place you’ll think you’re dreaming. This valley is pretty impressive, with all the palm trees and mud-brick villages. Arrive at your hotel at the top of the valley, then perhaps take a hike into the gorge, where sheer cliffs rise more than 1000 feet above you.

From Todra Gorge, travel along the ‘Road of 1000 Kasbahs’ and enjoy views of the Dades Gorge. You’ll also travel past Skoura, home to the beautiful little houses rising like a mirage beyond a dry riverbed. Quench your thirst with a mouthful of mint tea (the best in the world) at Tawesna teahouse, whose profits are devoted to the projects of the women association in the village. Continue to the medieval mud-brick town of Ait Benhaddou, which is at its best in the late-afternoon sun. If you wonder why Ait Benhaddou looks familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen it before! Perhaps not live, but certainly on the silver screen – think Gladiator and Game of Thrones – as loads of movies and shows were filmed in this kasbah! Explore the many old streets and climb the fortress for a superb view of the Old Town. You can also (for a small fee) enter one of the most interesting old houses and climb up to the turrets for a view over the river. You’ll spend the night just outside the walls.

After breakfast today, continue west, taking in those countryside views as you wind your way up towards Tizi ‘n Tichka. This is a whopping 2260 m (7415 ft) above sea level – the highest pass on the road to Marrakech. Leaving the Atlas behind, you’ll descend into the plains surrounding Marrakech and arrive in the late afternoon. With no planned activities, this is a good chance to get lost in the fun of Djemaa el-Fna Square, where there are many fire eaters, fortune tellers, actors, musicians and hawkers vying for your attention.

Marrakech is a feast for the senses, and this morning you’ll get to venture out into the maze of streets with a local expert. Set off on a tour of the old medina through the bustling souks and sample some sweet and savoury specialities at a local restaurant. Think barbecued meats, fresh salads, mint tea and couscous. The rest of the day is free, so why not head out on a cycling trip, go quad-biking or indulge in a hammam and spa session. You might also like to visit Le Jardin Secret – a traditional medina garden revived for the 21st century with one of the most beautiful courtyards in Marrakech. Maybe visit AMAL Women’s Training Center for lunch – a non-profit organisation that helps disadvantaged women gain work experience by providing comprehensive training in gastronomy. Every year, 30 to 40 women complete the training, which helps them find appropriate employment and improve their living conditions. In the evening, you’ll undoubtedly be drawn back to Djemaa el-Fna for a night out on the town.

No activities are planned after breakfast this morning. Why not become a Moroccan chef in an Urban Adventure’s cooking masterclass with a local guide? Journey through the souks of Marrakech and shop for the best ingredients before learning the insider tricks to whip up a deliciously authentic tagine in a classic riad setting while getting to know the family that lives there. To find out more about ‘Tajine Cookery Class’, visit urbanadventures.com If you’d like to spend more time in Marrakech, just speak to your booking agent.