12-Day Majestic Morocco (Guided tour)

Today we’ll experience another medina, which is a historic part of a city, typically walled and with labyrinthine streets. After a sumptuous morning meal, we’ll travel to Marrakech, home of a UNESCO World Heritage medina. Our afternoon tour starts at the 16th-Century Saadian Tombs and continues to the Koutoubia Mosque and a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture, Bahia Palace. The highlight will be wandering past palm readers, snake charmers, acrobats, and musicians to the medina’s main square, the famous Jemaa el-Fna. The evening is at leisure.

Our destination for a full-day excursion is Essaouira, a town on the Atlantic coast with beautifully preserved Moroccan charm. Along the way, we’ll stop at the Marjana Cooperative to see how argan oil, highly in demand for cosmetics and cooking, is extracted. In Essaouira, we’ll walk along a beautiful fortified wall north of Moulay Hassan Square and on to Skala de la Ville for gorgeous views of bright blue fishing boats in the harbor. We’ll have time to explore yet another medina, where artists hone centuries-old crafts and merchants in the many souks (markets) sell spices and jewelry, before returning to Marrakech for a free evening.

A free day to explore Marrakech! Your Tour Director will have plenty of ideas, but we recommend two optional experiences. The first is a half-day tour that combines a couscous cooking demonstration with a visit to the exquisite Majorelle Gardens. In the evening, your second option features a horse-drawn carriage through Marrakech followed by an authentic Moroccan dinner with live music and belly dancing.

Our journey through majestic Morocco continues across the High Atlas Mountains and the spectacular Tichka Pass to Boumalne Dades. We’ll stop for a brief tour of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This giant fortification, which showcases a unique example of pise clay architecture, has been a filming location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones. You’ll have time for midday meal on your own before we continue to our final destination today: Boumalne Dades. Prepare to be wowed by this town set on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Tonight, savor an included dinner at your hotel.

Today, we’ll marvel at one of Morocco’s most visited natural sights, the lush Todra Palmeraie Gorge with its dramatic 985-foot-high walls. Our walking tour affords plenty of spectacular photo ops! Our travels continue to Erfoud, described as an oasis and “the Door to the Desert.” Enjoy dinner at the hotel and rest up for tomorrow’s once-in-a-lifetime Sahara itinerary.

The only word for today’s full-day excursion is unforgettable! We’ll start in Rissani, a caravan center with a large vibrant souk at its heart, where we’ll hop into a 4×4 caravan to venture into the desert, winding through small villages before stopping in serene Tissardmine for a picnic midday meal. As we ascend the peak of Erg Chebbi, prepare to be blown away by the desert vastness. We’ll “trade up” to camels for the real deal: a ride through the Merzouga dunes on camelback! Loaded with memories (and photos) you can’t wait to share, we’ll return to the hotel after sunset for dinner together.

After departing Erfoud, we’ll journey through the scenic Middle Atlas mountain range, while admiring it’s lush forested slopes brimming with cedar and oak trees. You’ll have a chance to see Ifrane, a picturesque ski area, and in the evening, when we reach Fez, catch the magical city lights as we arrive.

Fes is home to the oldest university in the world, and today we’ll join a local expert to learn more about this 1,200-year-old city, which was Morocco’s capital for 400 years and stands as one of the world’s largest, best-preserved medieval fortified cities. Our full-day exploration includes the Fez el Bali Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where life unfolds as it did centuries ago. We’ll wander the famous souks known for authentic Moroccan carpets and ceramics. After the high energy of the souks, a quiet midday meal in a riad (a traditional Moroccan house with an interior courtyard) will be most welcome. We will also see the Nejjarine Fountains and Museum and the 14th-century Attarine Medersas (a place of education) before visiting Fes Jdid, the modern district of the city, in the afternoon. Here, we’ll explore the Jewish Quarter and the Royal Palace.

From the ancient capital of Morocco, we’ll drive to its modern-day capital, Rabat. En route, we’ll stop at an important outpost for the Roman Empire at Volubilis. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features wonderfully preserved mosaics, a Roman road, and a remarkable layout. Then continue to Meknes and see the magnificent Bab Mansour gate, featuring marble columns taken from Roman ruins and ornate zellij mosaics. Enjoy the rest of the day on your own.

After morning meal, we’ll tour Rabat’s fascinating historic sites, including the 19th-century Royal Palace, the “Gate of the Winds” (also known as Bab Rouah), and Hassan Tower, the minaret of an incomplete mosque that was originally intended to be the world’s largest. Our tour continues to the picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas, built in the mid 12th century, where you’ll walk through the French-colonial gardens and explore the fortress built to shield royalty from attacks. We’ll end at Chellah, a necropolis and the site of the ruins of the Roman town, Sala Colonia. After some free time in the afternoon, we’ll gather together for a farewell dinner.

Early this morning transfer to the airport for your return nonstop flight. Your memorable tour of Morocco concludes with your arrival in your home city later today.