At a glance

• Group size: Small group, maximum of 12 travellers
• Included: 14 nights' accommodation (13 hotels and riads plus a Sahara Feature Stay), 27 meals (14 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 9 dinners), private vehicle throughout, local leader and expert guides, and 35 activities and experiences
• Not included: International flights, travel insurance, visa fees, meals not listed and optional activities

 

Morocco, unhurried and beautifully put together

Morocco is a country best met slowly, and this journey gives it the time it deserves. Over fifteen days we travel from the coast at Casablanca to the red walls of Marrakech. Along the way come blue-washed mountain lanes, medieval medinas, Roman ruins, palm oases and the golden silence of the Sahara. A local leader guides every step, and the group never exceeds twelve, so the experience stays personal.

Imperial cities and the blue town

We begin in Casablanca with a welcome dinner and a tour of the soaring Hassan II Mosque. We then wander Rabat's medina and the Kasbah des Oudaias, where mint tea is served among the whitewashed lanes. From Meknes we visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis for a guided tour and a picnic lunch. Then comes Chefchaouen, the blue-washed mountain town, where we stay two nights and have time to explore at our own pace. In Fes, a walking tour of the old town takes in the Al-Attarine Madrasa and the tanneries. One evening we are welcomed into a local home for a home-cooked pastilla dinner.

Into the desert and the mountains

The journey turns wild beyond Fes. We taste dates with the growers of Erfoud, then reach Merzouga for the highlight of the trip, a night at the Golden Camp. After a camel ride across the dunes, we share a traditional feast with live Gnaoua music beneath the stars. The tents have ensuite bathrooms, so the setting is wild and the comfort is still there. In the Todra Gorge and Dades Valley we walk among towering limestone walls. We also take tea with an Amazigh family in their village. At Ait Benhaddou we explore the ancient ksar, and we spend a night in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains at Ouirgane.

Marrakech, and a farewell worth savouring

In an organic garden near Tahanaout, a celebrated chef leads a hands-on cooking class, and we sit down to enjoy the tagines we have prepared. In Marrakech we explore the medina and souks, the Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque. The evening ends in the great square of Djemaa el-Fna. Our final night is a storytelling dinner at an upscale riad, where Moroccan history and legends come to life over the table.

Good to know

The Dades Valley hike is customisable, and moderate fitness suits the overall pace. There are some long driving days, and Ramadan dates can affect services. We'll talk through all of this with you before you book.

 

Let's plan it together

Morocco rewards a well-organised journey, and that's where we come in. Your YOU Travel & Cruise Consultant can look after your flights, any stopovers before or after, travel insurance and the finer details, and will be there for you from the first conversation until you're home again. Let's meet and start planning your Moroccan adventure together. Call us on 09 424 2345 or email travel@youmanly.co.nz.