Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Morocco. Upon arrival, please make your way to the starting point hotel. Today you can arrive at any time as there are no organised activities until your welcome meeting with your tour guide at 6pm.

Hotel check-in is at 2pm. If you arrive earlier, hotel staff will try to give access to your room as soon as possible; however, should your room not be ready, you are welcome to leave your luggage at reception and explore the surrounding area.

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.

Afterwards, we depart Casablanca for Meknes, once the imperial capital of Morocco.

Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, Meknes became a capital under Sultan Moulay Ismaïl (1672–1727), the founder of the Alawite dynasty. The sultan turned it into an impressive city in Spanish-Moorish style, surrounded by high walls with great doors, where the harmonious blending of the Islamic and European styles of the 17th century Maghreb are still evident today.

Upon arrival, enjoy an evening at leisure.

Some free time this morning to explore Meknes.  Try a regional delicacy of camel burger at a local restaurant, 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 Volubilis 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.

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.

The rest of your afternoon is spent at leisure exploring this magnificent city.

Leave the intensity of the city behind today, for the sands of the Sahara Desert. Today will be a long travel day so sit back and enjoy the scenery along the way.  With a backdrop of the orange-coloured Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the charming Saharan village of Merzouga feels wonderfully isolated, like the modern world has left it behind. Store your main baggage in your overnight camp on the edge of the desert and mount a camel for a 1-hour sunset ride into the desert. The Erg Chebbi dunes are the most stunning in the country and an essential part of any visit to Morocco.

Upon arrival at the desert camp, you will have the opportunity to unwind, gaze at the stars and enjoy dinner.

Walk up the nearest dune for a spectacular sunrise over the Sahara, break your fast with traditional food, and begin the drive to Todra Gorge. On the way visit the oasis museum of El Khorbat, before continuing on to the beautiful Todra Valley,, which follows the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and is dotted with mud-brick villages perched on hillsides. The remarkable scenery – sprawling green valleys and rocks sculpted into stunning formations by the wind – will be your home for the next two nights. This area is best discovered on foot, so you’ll take a short walk through the surrounding farmland and a ruined village.

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. A must on any visit is an exhilarating walk through the narrow orange limestone walls.

Today is yours to explore Todrag Gorge at your own pace, and you can choose from one of the many walks that are available to you.

This morning we leave Todra Gorge behind us and continue our journey across Morocco.

On the way, we enjoy a lunch where we will get the chance to meet a local family. Our destination The first stop for us today is the majestic 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.

After breakfast, our guide will take us on an orientation tour of Ait Benhaddou to see it’s grand clay kasbah, a World Heritage site.

Our journey will then take us to Toubkal National Park, past snow-capped mountains. We will arrive at Imlil, where you will store your luggage before a beautiful one hour trek to the peaceful village of Aroumd. If the walk isn’t suitable, you can have another authentic experience instead, and take a mule. 

The village of Aroumd is perched in the High Atlas Mountains, and is the perfect place to experience Berber culture. Tonight, we will be sleeping in a local homestay. Surrounded by mountains, meet the host family and enjoy Berber hospitality and food.

After spending the night at the homestay, a soft hike to take in the morning air will be the perfect start to the day after breakfast. Weather depending, take in the atmosphere of the trails and the valleys of the High Atlas Mountains.

We then depart for the coast, and drive to the seaside gem of Essaouira. A city where the medina sits up against the Atlantic ocean. This artists' town was once home to sizable British and Jewish populations, and its charm has seduced people like Orson Welles and Jimi Hendrix, who (according to local legend) spent much of his time here in the 1960s.

Join your guide for a walking tour through the old medina, Jewish mellah, the fortified seawall and the port. 

Afterwards, you have the rest of the day to explore Essaouira at your own pace. 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.

Time to leave the quaint seaside Essaouira for the bustling hub of Marrakech. Upon arrival, our guide will whisk us on a city sightseeing tour including the Koutoubia Tower, twin tower of the Giralda in Seville, Saadines Tombs and Bahia Palace. We explore medinas and souks on foot before walking into the magic of Jemaa El Fna, packed with fortune tellers, smoking food stalls, fresh juice sellers, acrobats and residents of this great city, all making for the best open air theater. Don’t forget your camera. After some time at leisure, enjoy a typical local dinner

After yesterday’s tour, today is yours to explore Marrakech at your own pace. 

Explore the medina and the endless market stalls, Jamma El-Fna square also awaits, where you can finish your day on one of the many rooftop squares overlooking the square.

Our journey across Morocco sadly comes to an end after breakfast.