18 Day Magical Moroccan

Today begins the adventure of a lifetime as you depart on your Moroccan adventure.

Welcome to Morocco! Upon arrival you'll be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Check-in at the hotel begins after midday, and there will be a welcome meeting with your tour leader this evening.

Depending upon your arrival time you may wish to participate in an optional tour of one of the local galleries or museums. The Art Deco Villa des Arts de Casablance is a great option; this gorgeous gallery dates back to the 1930s and holds numerous exhibitions of contemporary Moroccan and international art. Other highly recommended local attractions include the Moroccan Jewish Museum, which is the only Jewish museum in the Arabic-speaking world.

This morning we'll visit one of the most impressive sites in Casablanca – the imposing Hassan II Mosque. Opened in 1993, and second only in size to the great mosque at Mecca, the huge building is part on land and part on sea; in one area water can even be seen through a glass floor. The mosque can accommodate 25,000 worshippers and the main roof is retractable to create an open courtyard. It's one of the only religious sites open to non-Muslims.

Later this morning, you will leave Casablanca and drive to the northern coastal town of Tangier, a place of strategic importance to the Mediterranean and the gateway to Africa from Europe.

This evening is at leisure to explore the labyrinth of alleyways in the medina of Tangier.

After breakfast we’ll travel to Chefchaouen, or the blue city, the centre of a mountainous agricultural region. On arrival, enjoy an orientation walking tour with your leader. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen may take you by surprise. It’s picture perfect, with striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs and artistic doorways. Its small but authentic medina has been lovingly cared for and the walled fortress of the kasbah provides a haven in the heart of the city. Wander the tranquil gardens and enjoy the views over the valley from the tower.

After an optional lunch, we’ll continue to Meknes, the sixth largest city in the kingdom and former capital of Morocco.

This morning we'll discover the charming streets of Meknes’ medina – the ancient walled section of the city. Enter via the northern gate, the magnificent Bab Berdaine, and walk to the shrine of Moulay Ismail who, in the 17th century, turned Meknes from a provincial town to a spectacular Imperial city. We'll explore the elaborately decorated public buildings hidden in these winding streets, including the royal granary of Moulay Ismail, known as Hri Souani.

Take some time to soak up the bustling atmosphere of Meknes' old souk (market) before driving out of the city to the ancient ruins of Volubilis. Once a provincial Roman capital, Volubilis was a distant outpost of the empire, and the well-preserved archaeological remains make for an impressive sight. Volubilis is the foremost Roman site in Morocco and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Upon arrival we'll take a tour around the ruins with a local guide. Don’t forget to take your camera as the town is filled with fantastic mosaics, many of which remain intact.

After time spent exploring Volubulis and imagining the bustling city it once was, continue on to the living museum of Fes. After checking in to your hotel in the late afternoon, the remainder of the day is free for you to spend as you please.

You may choose to include two optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package.

Fes is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco; vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming – a true feast for the senses. It is made up of three distinct ‘cities’, or quarters, and we will stay on the edge of the huge, well-preserved medieval old city in elegant, riad-style accommodation (a riad is a large traditional Moroccan house built around a central courtyard).

Today we'll head into the old city, known locally as Fes el-Bali, arguably the world's most fascinating and confounding old city. Medieval Fes was one of the world's great centres for education and culture, both Islamic and Jewish. Its religious institutions and libraries are legendary, its mosques of great renown. Walk through the twisting streets and alleyways, passing donkeys piled high with goods, and explore the speciality sections that divide the souk. Stalls loaded with fruits, herbs and soups line the passageways; the fragrant smell of spices floods the air; and the sound of metalsmiths hammering at copper can be heard echoing throughout the labyrinthine streets.

Spend the day exploring the old city, visiting Al-Attarine Madrasa (one of the many Islamic schools of higher learning); admiring the leather tanneries with their vast dye-pits in a rainbow of colours; and gazing up at the splendid Funduq al-Najjariyyin, a beautifully restored 18th-century inn.

Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy a memorable dinner of a salty yet sweet pastilla (Moroccan pie).

Leave the intensity of the city behind today, for the simplicity of the High Atlas Mountains. Drive south, inland, through a variety of spectacular scenery – fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes – to the small town of Midelt. Midelt is a market town, originally built as a base for mining in the area. It's nestled in the high plains surrounding the Moulouya River, between the Middle and High Atlas mountain ranges, at an elevation of just over 1,500 metres. It's a perfect spot to break up our journey to the Sahara. Many of the locals are of the Berber ethnic group, and the town can offer a rich insight into their way of life. Here we stop and enjoy an Inspiring Taste lunch with a local family at their farm for an authentic meal of traditional Moroccan dishes, such as tagine (a slow-cooked, savoury stew).

After lunch we'll drive through changing scenery, from barren mountainsides to fertile valleys, on our journey to Merzouga. With a backdrop of the tangerine Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the charming Saharan village of Merzouga feels wonderfully isolated, like the modern world has left it behind. You’ll arrive in Merzouga at the end of the day and be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before you check-in to your traditional Moroccan riad.

The Erg Chebbi is one of the world's most iconic landscapes, with towering dunes up to 150 metres high. Located at the end of a sealed road, and just 20 kilometers from the Algerian border, this wild stretch of land truly feels like frontier country. Leave your large bags at the riad, ready to ride camels into the edge of the Sahara Desert, and enjoy a spectacular sunset along the way. The dunes are stunning, especially as the evening light plays across them and sets the landscape ablaze with colour.

Tonight we'll enjoy an Inspiring Stay, taking cues from the Berbers and bedding down in a desert camp, with the chance to try some fantastic local cuisine while we sit around an open-air fire. After dinner, lively music, drumming, Berber stories and dancing under the stars await.

Please note - if you do not wish to ride a camel, there is the option to travel to and from the camp by 4WD.

Enjoy a real Lawrence of Arabia moment this morning, with a sunrise camel ride across the desert on the return journey to the riad. From here we'll continue on to the Todra Gorge, a canyon, or wadi, that rises for more than 250 metres to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco. We'll enjoy a short, yet exhilarating, walk through the narrow orange limestone walls.

Later we'll drive on to the beautiful Dadès Valley, where we'll spend the night. The valley is a popular spot for tourists and spans several kilometres, offering a wide variety of activities for adventurerous types. Tonight's accommodation is a traditional, locally owned, Moroccan kasbah with spectacular views over the Dadès Valley.

Enjoy a full day exploring the beautiful, largely untouched, Moroccan backcountry. Travelling on foot is the best way to get a closer look at the natural landscape and the rural way of life. We'll begin by taking a short transfer to the start of the trek. On the walk you'll pass Berber villages, meeting the incredibly friendly local people along the way. You'll also learn the tea-making secrets of Berbers at an exclusive demonstration with a local family; listen to their stories and discover what family life is truly like in the Dadès Valley.

Today we'll leave the Dadès Valley to set off on the fabled Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. A kasbah is a type of keep, or citadel, usually a part of the defensive structure of a city and often where the local leader would reside.

The first stop for us today is the majestic oasis of Skoura, home to several privately owned kasbahs. Here we'll visit Kasbah Amridil, with its extravagant decorations and mud-brick fortifications, before continuing on to Aït Benhaddou, perched on a hilltop and left almost untouched since the 11th century. Aït Benhaddou is one of Morocco's most iconic sites, its grand kasbah one of the most beautiful in Morocco and the fortified village a fine example of clay architecture. If you think you recognise the place, you probably do, as the town has a long list of film and TV credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the winding streets of the old town, making your way to the top of the hill, from where you can enjoy the views across the surrounding plains.

After heading to your nearby hotel for the night, you’ll have the opportunity to sit back on the rooftop terrace and watch the sun set over the magical Kasbah.

After breakfast we'll leave Aït Benhaddou to begin our long drive through the winding roads of the Atlas Mountains, bound for Marrakech, an ancient and exotic city laced with European touches. There’s no rush as the scenery through the High Atlas Mountain passes is magnificent, and there will surely be calls for several photo stops along the way.

On arrival in Marrakech you'll check in to your beautifully decorated and cosy riad. This evening you’ll have the opportunity to head to the great square of Jamaa el-Fna, within the medina quarter. When night falls it transforms into a hive of activity: henna artists, snake charmers and storytellers all share the square with street food stalls peddling Moroccan delicacies. Enjoy a Moroccan pastry with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and then finish your day with a cup of tea on one of the rooftop restaurants overlooking the square.

You may choose to include two optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package.

Today will begin with a morning tour of the old medina with your local guide, who will take you through the bustling souks that are the lifeblood of the city. Explore tranquil courtyards filled with the scent of orange blossom, and the many salons and chambers that make up Bahia Palace. This splendid property was built in 1866 for a former slave who rose to power within the government. From here we continue to the Maison de la Photographie, housed within a former palace and featuring a fine collection of Moroccan art and sculpture. Next we'll stop by the Koutoubia Mosque; its famous minaret (a tower with a balcony from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer), is the prototype for others of its kind around the world, including La Giralda in Seville. From here we then walk back through the streets of the old medina to the Jamaa el-Fna, the main square of Marrakech.

The rest of the day is yours: explore further, relax back at the riad or go shopping in the souk. Perhaps you’ll visit the tropical gardens of the French painter Jacques Majorelle, or check out the ruins of the Palais Badi, long known as one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Otherwise, head back into the medina, where every step brings a new scent or sight. Watch skilled artisans perfect their craft, practice your haggling skills or take a break from the hustle to sip on tea or share a tajine. For your final evening, feast with new friends in one of the many great restaurants lining the square.

You may choose to include two optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package.

After breakfast this morning we'll head for Essaouira, a city where the medina brushes up against the Atlantic Ocean, where we'll spend the next two nights. The narrow streets of Essaouira discourages cars, meaning it's an ideal city to explore on foot. Sandstone walkways contrast with whitewashed houses, the bright blue sky and the sand of the surrounding beaches and dunes. Surely one of North Africa's most attractive destinations, you'll soon find yourself slipping into the easy-going pace of this Moroccan town with a European seaside twist. The fishing port is a serious commercial operation and there’s much fun to be had observing the daily catch and its subsequent auction. Elsewhere there are numerous shops and several fine art galleries to distract you, along with a wide variety of restaurants. Your tour leader will help guide you through the maze of options. This evening you might like to indulge in a luxuriating massage and hammam in a local spa.

This artists' town was once home to sizeable British and Jewish populations, and its charm has seduced the likes of Orson Welles and Jimi Hendrix, who (according to local legend) spent much of his time here in the 1960s.

On this free day perhaps grab a traditional Moroccan breakfast and wander the streets, giving way to the cart-haulers calling "balak, balak" (meaning, 'excuse me'). Pass the harbour, filled with colourful boats, and witness camels and surfers sharing the beach.

For lunch your guide will take you to the fish souk for our second Inspiring Taste. Here you'll choose your own freshly caught fish before taking it to a restaurant packed with locals – following your guides lead, hand over your market purchase for it to be grilled. Your guide will also take you to the fruit and vegetable market, where you'll choose the salads and veggies to accompany your seafood lunch. Enjoy this delicious meal together with the rest of your group.

Take the rest of the day to explore the medina; discover the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah Museum and its collection of artifacts, woodwork, carpets and stringed instruments; enjoy café life on the main square; or sit back and watch the kitesurfers ride the crashing waves. You can also discover the taste of Morocco in a cooking class, or head outside of the city to the beautiful surroundings on a day trip.

Today we'll travel to Casablanca for your last night in Morocco. Tonight enjoy our last Inspiring Taste experience at the Humphrey Bogart-inspired Rick’s Café, with some drinks included to help celebrate your last night in Morocco. While it is not the actual bar used for the movie (that was in a studio in Hollywood) it has been recreated to allow you to imagine that you could be an extra on set in the famous movie.

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your incredible tour through Morocco. At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight home. Say farewell to your wonderful tour guide and new-found friends and bring home with you memories of this extraordinary journey.

Arrive home today.

Please note, some flights will arrive home early the following morning.