Simply Morocco – 8 Days

We head straight to stunning Hassan II Mosque for an optional visit followed by some free time at La Corniche. It is now time to head to Meknes for a community village midday meal. We move on to the Roman settlement of Volubilis for a guided tour; it is the largest ancient site in Morocco and is a UNESCO listed site dating back to AD 40. Afterwards, we continue to Fes, the oldest and largest medieval city in the world. Enjoy a free evening in one of the many restaurants or enjoy a refreshing mint tea.

Overnight – Fes (Breakfast and Lunch included).

Today, we take the guided tour of Fes. Its medina, home to 400,000 inhabitants, with only donkeys and bikes as a means of transportation, is a heady mix of aromas, sights, and sounds. There are plenty of mosques and palaces to visit but be aware that only Muslims can enter Mosques in Morocco. After exploring the dye-pits, tanneries, pharmacy, pottery and restaurants, we return to our hotel to freshen up for tonight, where we have the chance of an optional local cuisine in the city with live Moroccan entertainment including traditional music, belly dancing and magicians. Or have a free evening and eat at a restaurant of your choice.

Overnight Fes (Breakfast included).

Excitement is in the air as we head towards the mighty Saharan Dunes. En-route we stop off for an optional midday meal and in the summer, we may even have time for a relaxing swim. It is then time to head towards the great desert dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga where we transfer to our camels and trek into the vast Sahara Desert in time for sunset. We then return to our authentic Berber Camp on the edge of the desert to spend the night enjoying local food, music, and an amazing night out under the Saharan stars.

Overnight Berber base camp (Breakfast and Dinner included).

After sunrise and morning meal, opt to explore the dunes further or book a desert excursion before we move on to Todra Gorge. This 1000ft gorge is hemmed in on all sides by vertical limestone cliffs and is also called Morocco’s Grand Canyon. The afternoon can be spent exploring the Gorge, walking through the Palmerie and watching the locals cooling off in the river. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west.

Overnight Todra Gorge (Breakfast included).

We must bid a fond farewell to Todra this morning en-route to Ait Benhaddou via Ouarzazate. We will stop to buy midday meal along the way and have a chance for an optional tour of the Film studios in Ouarzazate, famous for films such as Gladiators, The Last Temptation of Christ, and the Living Daylights. On a hill along the Ouarzazate River we find Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which boasts great examples of Kasbahs, some of which remain inhabited. This afternoon we have a guided tour of the famous Kasbah and village. There is also the option to participate in a tagine cooking class.

Overnight Ait Benhaddou (Breakfast included).

We traverse the High Atlas today enjoying stunning views of Tizi n Tichka pass at an altitude of 2260 metres en-route to Marrakech. Its great pride and landmark is the Koutoubia Tower, sister to the Tower of Hassan in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Seville. No visit to the city is complete without a visit to the city’s UNESCO-listed medina and Djemaa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and marketplace.

After midday meal, we will take a guided city tour of the Medina and include Bahia Palace (optional cost), souks and the square. The rest of the afternoon you have free time to relax by the pool or do a little shopping for souvenirs.

Overnight Marrakech (Breakfast included).

Your adventure tour ends after morning meal. If time allows, you could book a morning hot air balloon ride.

(Breakfast included).