Day 1
Meet at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) and transport to our hotel in Casablanca. Welcome dinner together and rest for the evening.
Day 2
Tour the largest mosque in Africa -- the Hassan II Mosque. After lunch in the medina, travel one hour and a half hour north to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Afternoon tour at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Hassan Tower, and the Kasbah of the Oudayas. Overnight in Rabat.
Day 3
Bid Rabat farewell and travel north to Tangier, a port city only 20 miles south of Spain. Make a stop at the Cave of Hercules, where Hercules allegedly rested during his labors. Visit the nearby Cap Spartel. In the evening, we will watch the sunset at the Phoenician Tombs.
Day 4
Drive south to Tetouan, a gorgeous white-walled city situated by the Mertil River. Spend a few hours walking through the medina. After lunch, we will continue our trip south to Chefchaouen, Morocco’s famed Blue Pearl. Stay in Chefchaouen for two nights.
Day 5
Spend the full day wandering among Chefchaouen’s blue walls. Optional: group hike to the Ras El Ma waterfall and then up to the Spanish Mosque for a panoramic view of the city at sunset.
Day 6
Travel 3 hours south to Volubilis, an excavated 3rd-century Roman archeological site for a walking tour. Visit Moulay Idriss, one of the holiest places in Morocco. Travel to our hotel in Fes and have dinner.
Day 7
Full day exploring Fes el Bali, the oldest walled part of Fes and Morocco’s largest and most populated medina (home to over 150,000 people). Start the day with a visit to al-Qarawiyyin University, the first university in the world founded by a woman, and then make our way to the Chouara Tannery, Fes’ largest and oldest leather tannery. Optional late afternoon tour of the Jewish Mellah, Jewish Cemetery, and the Ibn Danan Synagogue.
Day 8
Afternoon flight to Errachidia, an airport 2 hours drive away from the Sahara Desert. After arriving at the base of the desert, hop on a camel and ride for around an hour to our luxury desert camp. Watch the sunset and then enjoy a delicious homemade dinner. Enjoy watching nomadic Berbers play music under the bright night sky before heading to bed.
Day 9
Wake up early to watch the sun rise above the sand dunes. After breakfast, hop into a 4X4 car and set out to see the different faces of desert dunes with its black volcanic rocks, passing through small villages where you will drink mint tea with a Berber family in their tent. Afterwards, visit a cave and learn about how the nomads survive in the desert. After lunch, transfer to Rissani to visit historical Kasbahs, open-air markets, and the Sijilmassa ruins before heading back to our luxury desert camp for a second Sahara sunset.
Day 10
Morning flight to Marrakech or flight to Casablanca and car transfer to Marrakech (dependent upon flight schedules). Arrive Marrakech and check into our hotel. Short introduction to the city and dinner.
Day 11
Morning tour of Marrakech’s medina, covering major sights including Djemaa el-Fna Square, Koutoubia Mosque, street markets, Ben Youssef Madrasa (pending completion of renovations), Jardin Secret Garden, and Majorelle Garden. Lunch at the cafe at the Majorelle Garden. Free time in the afternoon to go shopping or book a hammam and/or massage experience at our hotel.
Day 12
Day trip to Ouzoud Falls, the tallest waterfall in Northern Africa, and the second tallest in all of Africa. Hike about 20 minutes down the trail to get up and close to the waterfall. Optional boat ride to get even closer (you will get wet!), and then walk up the steps to have lunch and possible encounters with Barbary macaque monkeys. Return to Marrakech and have dinner.
Day 13
Second morning tour of Marrakech, covering sights including Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace, and Saadiens Tombs. Free time in the afternoon to do last-minute shopping. Farewell dinner together.
Day 14
After breakfast, transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) for your departure flight.
