‘Ahlan Wa Sahlan’ to Casablanca, Morocco's largest and most modern city, made famous by the movie of the same name starring Humphrey Bogart. We don’t want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don’t, we recommend you arrive at your hotel by 4.00pm This evening meet your fellow travellers and Tour Director for a welcome drink.

Today we explore the busy streets of Casablanca and acquaint ourselves with its European-influenced architecture along the Ain Diab Esplanade and in the Central Market. We’ll visit the Hassan II Mosque – the largest in Morocco and second-largest in the world. After some free time for lunch, we’ll tour the Quartier Habous, laid out by the French in the 1920s. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a group welcome dinner at a typical Moroccan restaurant.

This morning we depart for Essaouira, a charming town on Morocco’s Atlantic coast that was once the old Portuguese city of Mogador. The city was strengthened by a French architect who was a follower of Vauban. Combine these influences and the result is the very attractive and picturesque town it is today. Over time more and more artists have flocked to Essaouira, making it a fascinating place to visit. On arrival, the rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure and begin acquainting yourself with the city.

We’ll begin our day of sightseeing at the city’s port to experience the lively atmosphere as the boats come in and fish are sold. It’s one of the most animated spots in town and a spectacle not to be missed! We’ll then discover the ‘Door of the Navy’, built in year 1184 of the Hegira (Hegira is the journey of Islamic prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Yathrib/Medina which is believed to have happened in AD 622) to connect the city with the port. Moulay el-Hassan place and a stroll through the town’s colourful Kasbah are also on the agenda for today.

Travelling inland, we make our way to the magical ‘Rose City’ of Marrakesh. Marrakesh is one of the four Imperial Cities of Morocco and was founded in the 11th century by the Berber dynasty Almoravid. It soon became the capital of the Islamic Empire that stretched as far as Spain and western Africa. During the rule of Yousef Ben Tachfine, Marrakesh was blessed with fine gardens, palaces, mosques and legendary walls, and was influenced by the Almoravid conquest of southern Spain. Morocco was colonised by the French in the 20th century and the strong influences from these countries can be felt today.

Special Experience

Experience the atmosphere of Marrakesh’s main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa. Pass through a wondrous mix of food, music and entertainment, getting a taste of this lively city.

We’ll experience a real taste of Morocco at dinner, complete with dancers and musicians, in a local restaurant

The red royal city of Marrakesh is the real heartbeat of Morocco, set within sight of the snowy peaks of the High Atlas Mountains. Our entire day is dedicated to sightseeing here. First, we visit the 16th century monument site of the Saadian Tombs which remained sealed until 1917 when they were rediscovered. The tombs are brilliantly decorated with intricate carvings, colourful tiles and Arabic scripts. We’ll then continue to the aristocratic Bahia Palace which functions as a Royal residence and see the Koutoubia Mosque, considered a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Its minaret is even a reference point for international architecture – the 12th century 70-metre-high tower is the prototype for Seville’s La Giralda and Rabat’s Le Tour Hassan. Our last stop is a visit to the enchanting Jardin Marjorelle, gifted to the city by famous French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent.

Special Experience

We’ll take a cooking lesson in a beautiful Moroccan riad, then enjoy the food we’ve prepared for lunch.

The afternoon is at leisure to explore at your own pace. Why not shop for carpets and crafts in the city’s labyrinth of souks?

Today we make our way to Skoura in the Ouarzazate province via the scenic Atlas Mountains and the twisting Tizi n’Tichka pass. Ouarzazate is also a noted film-making location with films such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven shot here. En route, we stop in the picturesque fortified Berber village or ‘ksar’ of Ait Ben Haddou. A traditional Mud Brick city and a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco, the town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Once we arrive in Ouarzazate, we visit the Taourirt Kasbah, a majestic structure built by the Glaoui and one of the most beautiful in Morocco, before we continue to Skoura.

This morning we stop at the famous palm grove of Skoura, one of the few that is still inhabited and cultivated in Morocco. We’ll then visit 17th century wonder of Kasbah Amridil, which appears on Morocco’s 50-dirham note. Amridil is a living museum, showcasing typical life in a Kasbah over the centuries. A local pottery is also on the agenda for today, where we’ll get to see gorgeous locally made handicrafts. After lunch we’ll take part in a traditional calligraphy workshop with a local artisan using the typical reed pen.

The town of Merzouga is often referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Sahara’ and is the gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes. The dunes are among the largest in Morocco and measure up to 160 metres high. We depart Skoura through the Dades Valley, continuing past Erfoud, on the edge of the majestic Sahara Desert. We then make our way into the vast Erg Chebbi dunes before arriving in Merzouga. Our accommodation for the next two nights is a traditional Moroccan kasbah!

Special Experience

Experience a breathtaking sunrise over the endless dunes of the Sahara Desert.

Optional Excursion

Merzouga Camel Ride - Admire the magnificent Saharan sand dunes whilst riding on a ‘Ship of the Desert’. Each sand dune takes on a unique shape as no two are the same. 1hr – from Euro 25pp (minimum of 4 pax)

Fez is arguably the symbolic heart of Morocco, set in the gentle rolling countryside of the mid Atlas Mountains. The World Heritage-listed medina of Fez el-Bali (old Fez) is one of the largest living medieval cities in the world, and its gates and walls are magnificent. En route to Fez we cross the desert again and make our way to the small village of Midelt, driving through the spectacular wooded Middle Atlas Mountains. Midelt is a market town and former French administrative post and is also one of Morocco's principal cities for the mining of several minerals. Here we’ll stop and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Sit back and enjoy the mountainous scenery this afternoon as we continue to Fez, one of the oldest Imperial Cities. Fez is also a great place to purchase beautifully decorated ceramics, make sure you barter though!

We spend the day discovering the sights of this unique city. This morning we visit the famous Medina, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1981. Here the narrow lanes and colourful traders make for some fantastic photo opportunities. We see the souks with the myriads of craftsmen, the famous tanneries and carpet stalls. Our sightseeing in the Medina includes the Karaouine Mosque and the fountains of Carpenter's Square. The Mosque is one of the oldest of its kind in the western Muslim world and does not allow non-Muslims to enter, so the best place to view this magnificent building is from the top of Medersa Attarine (when open). We’ll also visit the famous ancient old operation tannery, processing the hides of sheep and goat in stone vessels filled with a range of colourful dyes. The rest of the evening is at leisure for you to explore.

From Fez we head north to Morocco’s smallest imperial city, Meknes, founded in the 11th century. Quieter and smaller than Fez, it’s also more laid-back but still has the winding narrow Medina streets and grand buildings of an imperial city. Here we’ll enjoy an orientation tour of the old city known as the ‘Versailles of Morocco’ and see the old medina, Royal Stables and the Bab el Mansour Gate. Next we continue to the ancient archaeological site of Volubilis. UNESCO World Heritage-listed Volubilis is a partly excavated Roman city, developed from the 3rd century BC as a Phoenician settlement. Volubilis was a central administrative city for this part of Roman Africa, responsible for grain production and exports to Rome. Volubilis is in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh’s Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. Here it is quiet and free from the hordes of locals and tourists, providing the perfect opportunity to stop and reflect whilst soaking up the impressive Roman ruins and preserved mosaics. After a guided tour we return to Fez.

After a morning at leisure we travel to the town of Chefchaouen, undoubtedly one of the prettiest in Morocco, washed with hundreds of shades of blue.

Special Experience

In Morocco, many neighbourhoods have a communal oven where the local women bring their dough to bake bread. We’ll learn how this traditional bread is made in a demonstration.

Today we’ll explore the town’s picturesque streets on foot. Wandering the streets is an indulgence for the senses – the variety of colours from different wares and shops contrast with the dazzling blue buildings. This town is also the perfect place to shop for souvenirs such as woven blankets and wool that are not commonly available elsewhere in Morocco. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to experience the delights of this stunning town at your own pace. There is an option to walk with your Tour Director towards a stunning lookout point over the town and surrounding mountains.

We continue to Rabat today, the capital of Morocco. While smaller than many of the other cities we’ve visited, it certainly has plenty of charm. From palm-lined boulevards in the ville nouvelle to an ancient walled medina, you’ll find less tourists but the same vibrant culture. We enjoy a city tour here, first visiting the Kasbah of the Oudayas which illustrates the Islamic and French colonial heritage of the city. We’ll also see the medina, Mohamed V Mausoleum and the iconic Hassan Tower, a 12th century minaret that overlooked the remains of a mosque. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure before our group farewell dinner at a local restaurant tonight.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to mesmerising Morocco. We hope you leave with the memories of a lifetime.