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Marvellous Morocco
9 days, Casablanca to Marrakech
Itinerary Notes
Please note that for all departures before Oct 15, 2014 the maximum group size for this trip will be 15, for all departures after that date, the maximum group size will be 16.
Itinerary
Day 1Casablanca
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included.
There are no activities planned for the day, leaving you free to enjoy this beautiful city at your own leisure.
With its art deco and French colonial buildings, the Old Medina, great restaurants and entertainment—there is plenty to keep you busy!
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Casablanca/Fès
Enjoy a G Adventures-supported traditional lunch before taking a guided tour of the imperial city of Meknes. Continue on to the ruins of Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, before arriving in Fes.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your G for Good Moment: AFER Association Community Lunch
Enjoy a G Adventures-supported traditional lunch that benefits rural Moroccan women and children with disabilities. The association provides vital services including literacy and vocational training, health services, disability assistance, and the operation of a local ambulance. AFER’s training center hosts culinary programs recognized by the state, and each year it graduates 30 students, many of whom go on to work in the project. Through this work, AFER creates sustainable employment, fosters community cohesion, and showcases Moroccan culture to travellers. During your visit, enjoy a traditional home-cooked Moroccan meal, featuring classic dishes such as vegetable tagine or roasted chicken with onion sauce, and meet some of the women that are part of this important community program. This experience not only supports livelihoods but also celebrates Moroccan heritage and rural resilience.
Meknès City Tour
Enjoy a guided visit of the Imperial City of Meknes. The least visited of the Imperial cities; Meknes has a unique feel to it. Visit the Bab Mansour historic landmark, and 18th-century Bab El Khmiss, the ornamental gate to the city. Wander the bustling souk to browse the vast array of clothes, spices, handicrafts, and of course food. The visit also includes stops at Dar Jamai: The National Museum of Music and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.
Volubilis Guided Tour
Listen to a certified local guide explain life in the Roman Empire at this UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the impressive, well-preserved Roman ruins. Peer into old bathhouses, marvel at the still-present mosaic floors, and gaze up at towering marble pillars. Hear stories about life in this Roman city that will leave you in awe of just how far their empire stretched.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 3Fès
Embark on a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Fes medina, exploring the winding lanes and alleys while visiting the many artisans and shops.
Take a half day medina walking tour, after which enjoy free time to explore. The the traditional Jewish quarter, King’s Palace and the Nejjarine Fountain are all great spots to visit.
In the evening there may be the chance to partake in an optional dinner in a grand old Fes riad which has been converted into a spectacular restaurant. Savour delicious, local specialities while entertainers sing, play music and belly dance.
Fès Medina Guided Tour
Follow a local guide through the Fès medina, one of the world’s largest medinas with more than 9000 winding streets lying within 365 hectares. See buildings in the medina that date back to the 9th century; there are 350 mosques in the medina that are still in use today.
Enter through one of the great gates into the chaos. Explore the artisans’ quarters as well as the many carpenters, bakers, butchers, and spice sellers. Visit the mausoleum and the Al Qarawiyin University.
A highlight of the tour is the view of the famous Fès tannery from the balcony of a leather shop, where you can observe the men hard at work treating and dyeing the different hides. Take some time to shop for leather goods before returning to your hotel.
Free Time
Free time to explore the city. Opt to enjoy a grand dinner with local entertainment in a historic Riad.
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Dinner in Converted Fès Riad
400-500MAD per personSit down to a fantastic meal in a renovated riad, a Moroccan palace that has been transformed into a restaurant. Tantalize your taste buds and senses with delicious, local cuisine accompanied by music and belly dancing.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Fès/Merzouga
Travel through the Middle Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert, overnighting in a kasbah-style desert hotel at the edge of the dunes.
Early morning start, watch the scenery of this diverse country change while travelling over the Middle Atlas mountains. Pass through cedar forests and the ski area of Ifrane into the desert regions. Drive by the vast palm groves of the Ziz Valley and right up to the majestic Saharan sand dunes. Keep your eyes open for a glimpse of Barbary apes en route.
Spend the night in a comfortable kasbah style desert hotel at the edge of the dunes. Overnight in Merzouga, enjoying local food for dinner at our hotel.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 5Merzouga/Tinghir
Explore the Sahara on a thrilling 4x4 dunes tour. Continue on through a stone desert to the breathtaking Todra Gorge, followed by a visit to a palm grove.
After the 4x4 excursion, travel through a stone desert to the breathtaking Todra Gorge followed by a visit to the palm grove. Final stop of Tineghir for a well deserved night's rest.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Sahara Dunes & Culture Excursion
View the golden dunes of the Sahara desert on a 4x4 excursion. Drive around the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi and take in the view of the seemingly endless sea of sand. Watch the dunes as the colours creep across the landscape and look out for the kohl mine en route to the village of Khamlia. Here you will meet Gnaoua musicians and learn about the history of Gnaoua music in the Sahara. Enjoy a performance by these talented artists. Depart back through the desert region and visit local Amazigh living in the area, learning about their way of life and sharing in some mint tea in one of the homes.
Todra Gorge Visit and Walk Through Palm Groves
Enjoy a stop at the beautiful Todra Gorge canyon. Take a walk through a palm grove to see how farmers live from the land, while learning about local farming and irrigation techniques.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 6Tinghir/Ouarzazate
Visit Dades Valley then continue along the 'Route of 1,000 Kasbahs' with an included visit to Kasbah Taourit. Opt to visit a Berber herbalist in Ouarzazate.
Start the morning with a visit to the Dades Gorge with its unusual natural rock formations and stunning scenery. Continue with a scenic drive along the "Route of a 1000 Kasbahs" with an included visit to Kasbah Taourit.
After lunch continue to Ouarzazate, a former Foreign Legion stronghold. In Ouarzazate opt to visit a Berber herbalist and find out about the traditional medicines and cooking spices of the Berber people.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Dades Valley and Route of 1,000 Kasbahs scenic drive
Drive through the scenic Dades Valley and “Route of 1,000 Kasbahs”, passing by many of the mud-brick fortresses and abandoned villages. Stop at the Dades Gorge to admire the formations of the rock and the kasbahs built with their backs against the rock for protection.
Guided Tour Ouarzazate
Visit the Taourirt Kasbah, a palace built in the 19th century for the relatives and servants of the ruling el Glaoui family. Originally, the Kasbah had hundreds of rooms and riads, but now the structure is partially destroyed. UNESCO has helped with the restoration of the Kasbah, allowing travellers to wander through the halls and rooms. It feels like you’ve stepped back in time.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Amazigh (Berber) Herbalist Lesson
FreeLearn about the traditional, natural remedies and cooking spices of the Amazigh people. Both herbalists and pharmacists swear by the healing properties of natural ingredients like ginger, argan oil, and mint leaves. Even ingredients usually found in a yummy tajine like saffron and cumin are used as pain relievers and to help with circulation.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Ouarzazate/Marrakech
Visit Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then continue to Marrakech.
Continue on to the village of Aït Benhaddou. During our visit to the Kasbah, lose yourself in the narrow, winding passageways and feel the magical atmosphere of this incredible structure.
Travel to Marrakech through the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2200m in the High Atlas mountains, on winding mountain roads with breathtaking views over the highest peaks of Morocco.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah Tour
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site and kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, the most famous ksar in the Ounila Valley, located in the foothills of the southern slopes of the High Atlas Mountains. Of all the remaining kasbahs in Morocco, the walls and interior of this area are the most intact. It's a collective grouping of dwellings inside defensive walls and was once one of the many trading posts on the route linking Sudan to Marrakech. The kasbah still houses a few families, but many now live in the adjacent village. Like many of the earthen built fortresses in Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou has been used in many film and television productions like Gladiator, Babel, and Game of Thrones.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Marrakech
In the morning, take a historical tour of the city, including the Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the souks and sites of Marrakech.
Free time in the afternoon to explore the fascinating city of Marrakech and dive into the labyrinthine souks. Tourists and locals alike find everything they desire here; whether it’s spices, traditional jalabas and slippers, or famous Moroccan lanterns. The selection here is exhaustive, and don’t forget to bargain - it's definitely part of the fun.
Opt to indulge in the chaos of the famous Djemaa el Fna square to watch acrobats and fortune tellers playing their trade.
Marrakech Medina Walk and Spice Shop
Let a local guide show you the best of Marrekech. Head into the maze of tiny streets and alleyways of the ancient medina to really get a taste of everyday life in Marrakech. See the Koutoubia Minaret and head to a spice shop to discover an array of Moroccan spices.
Free Time
Spend free time relaxing at one of the tea houses around the square, indulging in the ubiquitous sweet mint tea, watching the hustle and bustle from your shady spot. Or head to Djemaa el Fna Market for some lively entertainment.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Djemaa el Fna Market Square Visit
FreeWander past fresh orange juice stalls and water sellers in colourful costumes reminiscent of an era past. See storytellers, magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines as the day progresses. When the sun sets, the square fills with dozens of food stalls, and is packed with locals, entertaining chefs, and waiters. Grab a spot on a bench with other diners and try the “tanjia” (slow cooked lamb), harira soup, grilled seafood, famous Moroccan couscous, tajine, snails, or even sheep’s head (for the truly adventurous). Wash it all down with some spiced tea.
Jardins Majorelle
200MAD per personVisit this enchanting garden in the heart of the city designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962). Follow the pathways through trees, exotic plants, streams, and pools while watching the numerous birds who call this peaceful paradise home. (Please note that the entrance fee to Musée Yves Saint Laurent is an additional 30 MAD.)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Marrakech
Depart at any time.
Please note that check-out time from the hotel is normally mid-morning, but luggage storage facilities are available.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.