Essential Morocco
Experience Overview
From couscous to camels, mint tea to tanneries, you’ll get a taste of Morocco’s best bits on this 12-day adventure through mountains, gorges, desert and Amazigh villages. Kick-start in the French-infused port city of Casablanca, hang out with a local family on a homestay in Moulay Idriss, navigate the mother of all medinas in the cultural capital of Fes, wind your way up through Tizi n’Tichka and the High Atlas Mountains, before riding camels along the sand dunes during sunset and setting up camp under the Saharan stars. From the colourful and chaotic Marrakech markets to the blue washed city of Chefchaouen – this adventure through Morocco hits all the essentials.
Highlights
- Prepare for the best mint tea of your life on a visit to the Tawesna teahouse. This experience is more than just a cuppa, it’s about discovering a culture and contributing to the economic inclusion of women.
- Enjoy a street food experience with multiple Moroccan favourites at a local restaurant with your group and trip leader – the best way to sample all the delicious goods in Djemaa el-Fna!
- Watch the sunset from a camel’s back in the Sahara Desert and camp beneath a blanket of stars – now this is a bucket list experience!
- It's easy to get lost in a labyrinth (think less David Bowie film, more medieval maze), especially when there are enticing distractions at every turn. Never fear, your local guide knows the city of Fes like a lifelong friend.
- Traverse blue washed streets (with some new feline friends) in Chefchaouen – named after the two mountains that hug the city.
Trip Details
Product Code: 3099
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Camel,Private Vehicle,Taxi,Train
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: XMYM
Starts: Casablanca, Morocco
Finishes: Marrakech, Morocco
Duration: 12 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (11), Lunch (1), Dinner (3)Accommodation: Desert camp (1 night),Guesthouse (3 nights),Hotel (7 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $716 ($60 /day)
Itinerary
Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco. Your adventure will begin with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you have time, why not check out bustling Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, at your own pace. Modelled after Marseille in France, this port city has an eclectic architectural style, a fusion of Art Deco French buildings and Mauresque (Moorish) government institutions. A great way to spend the day is to wander around the Old Medina and city walls, then jump in a taxi and visit the Quartier Habous – the new medina full of shaded squares, narrow streets and arcades that lead from one souk to another. This is a great place to enjoy a Moroccan coffee and maybe start working on your bargaining skills.
Optional Activities:
- Casablanca - Religious Casablanca Urban Adventure (1850 MAD)
- Casablanca - The Medina and Beyond Urban Adventure (700 MAD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, opt to take a guided tour of the Hassan II Mosque. More than 6000 craftsmen joined forces to build this beauty in 1993, and it's one of the few mosques in Morocco that foreigners can enter. Later, head to the station and take a local train to Meknes before jumping in a taxi and take a drive through the rolling hills to Volubilis. Head out on a guided tour of these epic Roman ruins, then head to the whitewashed village of Moulay Idriss – one of Morocco's most important pilgrimage sites. Here, you’ll witness a demonstration of the art of mint tea making – this sweet treat is a Moroccan speciality! Tonight, you'll get to hang out with a local family – an experience only allowed foreigners since 2005. Your guesthouse, an old traditional riad, has a family atmosphere and all the optional meals are homemade, so you can get an authentic taste of Morocco in your free time.
Included Activities:
- Moulay Idriss - Mint tea making demo
- Volubilis - Entrance and guided tour
Optional Activities:
- Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque (130 MAD)
Accommodation:
- Multi-Share Guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, take a private transfer to Chefchaouen – which translates to ‘look at the horns’, after the two mountain peaks that overlook the city. Known for the striking, blue-washed buildings (made to represent the Mediterranean Sea) and steep, cobbled lanes, Chefchaouen is a gorgeous place to spend the day wandering. This afternoon is free for you to explore, so why not head to the red-walled Kasbah, the 15th-century fortress and dungeon, or the ethnographic museum. Or, just spend the day on foot, traversing the winding roads and stopping to pat the many cats that call this city their home.
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today is another free day in Chefchaouen. If you want the streets to yourself for the best photo ops, it’s recommended you get up early and explore the iconic sites as the city wakes up. Maybe take a guided tour of the sights, sounds and smells of the medina, or sample the delicious local specialties (the orange juice is delicious!) at a cafe in the Plaza Uta el-Hammam. Alternatively, you might prefer to get out of town and enjoy a hike and picnic in the surrounding hills. The hike is a popular option, as you can leave the shades of blue for a journey across the Rif Mountains and join your guide to Akchour Falls – a natural wonder, abundant with lush mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Cross the remarkable rock formation The God’s Bridge and then hike back along the forest, soaking in the nature that surrounds. In the evening, how about tucking into a tagine at a local restaurant or visiting a hammam – a traditional Moroccan spa. The night is yours to enjoy.
Optional Activities:
- Chefchaouen - Hike with Local Guide (excluding transportation) (485 MAD)
- Chefchaouen - Picnic lunch for hike (70 MAD)
- Chefchaouen - Kasbah (60 MAD)
- Chefchaouen - Hammam (public baths) (150 MAD)
- Chefchaouen - Henna Tattoo (50 MAD)
- Chefchaouen - Goat Cheese Tasting (100 MAD)
- Chefchaouen - Medina visit with local guide (300 MAD)
- Chefchaouen - Walking Tour with Local Guide (350 MAD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today you’ll journey to the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco – Fes. Vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming, Fes is a visual and pungent feast for the senses, with a huge, well-preserved medieval city that’s the mother of all medinas. Later this afternoon, enjoy some free time and perhaps check out the exquisite carvings and tile work at the Medersa el Attarine near the spice and perfume market. Alternatively, Fes is a shopping heaven for those wanting to pick up a souvenir (or three).
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Getting lost in Fes is half the fun, but you'll have your local leader with you to help you get the lay of the land. Join your group through this vibrant labyrinth of a city, alive with the many craftsmen, markets, ceramics and beautiful mosques. Look out for the Medersa Bou Inania, one of the city's coolest buildings, recently restored and now open to visitors. You'll also visit the famous tannery and its dye pits and a ceramic factory where you can see potters working in the traditional way. Today will be a big day, so remember to keep hydrated and pack some snacks.
Included Activities:
- Fes - Medina walking tour
- Fes - Medersa El Attarine
- Fes - Tannery visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning after breakfast, buckle in for a long travel day. As you make your way towards the rolling dunes of the Sahara Desert, watch the ever-changing scenery pass you by, get stuck into your book, play some of your favourite music, get to know your fellow travellers and enjoy some scenic stops along the way to stretch your legs. Arrive in Merzouga, drop your bags off at your overnight camp, and get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The mode of transport? Camel, of course! Brace yourself for one heck of a sunset, as you ride through the vast expanse of sand and loop back to your private camp for an overnight stay. In the camp, you'll have a thin mattress, blankets and sheets. Make sure you bring an extra sleeping sheet and a jumper if it's winter (you'd be surprised how cold it can get, even in the desert). Sleep under the stars and have one of those 'I’m so far from home' moments.
Included Activities:
- Sahara Desert - Camel ride
- Sahara Desert - Overnight Desert Camp
Accommodation:
- Desert camp (Number of Nights: 1)
You'll be getting up well before the crack of dawn this morning, so don’t forget to set your alarm. Climb to a nearby sand dune to catch the sunrise and experience the amazing interplay of light as the Sahara slowly comes alive. Head back for brekkie, collect the rest of your gear, and then travel west to Todra. You’ll come across a bright tablecloth of green that might seem so out of place you'll think you are dreaming. This valley is pretty impressive, with all the palm trees and mud-brick villages. Arrive at your hotel at the top of the valley, then perhaps take a hike into the gorge, where sheer cliffs rise more than 1000 feet above you.
Optional Activities:
- Todra Gorge - Hike (350 MAD)
Accommodation:
- Guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
From Todra Gorge, travel along the ‘Road of 1000 Kasbahs’ and enjoy views of the Dades Gorge. You'll also travel past Skoura, home to the beautiful little houses rising like a mirage beyond a dry riverbed. Quench your thirst with a mouthful of mint tea (the best in the world) at Tawesna teahouse, whose profits are devoted to the projects of the women association in the village. This experience is more than just a cuppa – it’s about discovering a culture, sharing a true moment and contributing to women’s economic inclusion. Continue to the medieval mud-brick town of Ait Benhaddou, which is at its best in the late afternoon sun. If you wonder why Ait Benhaddou looks familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen it before! Perhaps not live, but certainly on the silver screen – think Gladiator and Game of Thrones – loads of movies and shows were filmed in this kasbah! Explore the many old streets and climb the fortress for a superb view of the Old Town. You can also (for a small fee) enter one of the most interesting old houses and climb up to the turrets for a view over the river. You'll spend the night just outside the walls.
Included Activities:
- Ait Benhaddou - Tea at Tawesna association
Accommodation:
- Guesthouse (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast today, continue west, taking in those countryside views as you wind your way up towards Tizi ‘n Tichka. This is a whopping 2260 m above sea level – the highest pass on the road to Marrakech. Leaving the Atlas behind, you'll descend into the plains surrounding Marrakech and arrive in the late afternoon. With no planned activities, this is a good chance to get lost in the fun of Djemaa el-Fna Square, where there are many fire eaters, fortune tellers, actors, musicians and hawkers vying for your attention.
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Marrakech is a feast for the senses, and this morning you’ll get to venture out in the maze of streets with a local expert. Set off on a tour of the old medina, through the bustling souks and sample some sweet and savoury specialities in a tasting experience at a local restaurant. Think barbequed meats, fresh salads, mint tea and couscous. The rest of the day is free, so why not head out on a cycling trip, go quad-biking or indulge in a Luxury Hammam and Spa – the options are endless! You might also like to visit Le Jardin Secret – a traditional medina garden revived for the 21st century. Once owned by a powerful local chief U-Bihi – who was poisoned by Mohammed IV – this historic riad has one of the most beautiful courtyards in Marrakech, combining exotic and traditional Islamic gardens that are fed by original khettara, an underground irrigation system. Maybe visit AMAL Women’s Training Center for lunch – Amal is a non-profit organisation that helps disadvantaged women gain work experience by providing comprehensive training in gastronomy. Every year, 30 to 40 women complete the training, which helps them find appropriate employment and improve their living conditions. In the evening, you’ll undoubtedly be drawn back to Djemaa el-Fna for a night out on the town.
Included Activities:
- Marrakech - Medina walking tour
- Marrakech - Street food tasting in Old Medina
Optional Activities:
- Marrakech - AMAL Women's Training Center and Moroccan Restaurant (110 MAD)
- Marrakech - Luxury Spa Hammam & Massage (750 MAD)
- Marrakech - Quad Biking the Rock Desert & Palmgrove (715 MAD)
- Marrakech - Magical Marrakech City Cycling Tour (438 MAD)
- Marrakech - Le Jardin Secret (60 MAD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
No activities are planned after breakfast this morning, why not become a Moroccan MasterChef in an Urban Adventure’s cooking masterclass with a local guide? Journey through the souks of Marrakech and shop for the best ingredients before learning the insider tricks to whip up a deliciously authentic tagine in a classic riad setting while getting to know the family that lives there. To find out more about ‘Tajine Cookery Class’, visit urbanadventures.com.
Optional Activities:
- Marrakech - Palmery Cycling Tour (540 MAD)
- Marrakech - Heart of the Atlas Mountains cycling day trip with lunch (2000 MAD)
- Marrakech - Quad Biking the Rock Desert & Palmgrove (715 MAD)
- Marrakech - A Taste Of Marrakech: Inside the Medina Urban Adventure (605 MAD)
- Marrakech - Quad Biking Barrage Lalla Takerkoust (1650 MAD)
- Marrakech - Magical Marrakech City Cycling Tour (438 MAD)
- Marrakech - Hot Air Balloon Ride (2090 MAD)
- Marrakech - Luxury Spa Hammam & Massage (750 MAD)
- Marrakech - Tajine Cookery Class Urban Adventure. (640 MAD)
- Marrakech - Cascades d'Ouzoud Day Tour (2207 MAD)
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Ella - Traveled, March 2024
The trip was absolutely incredible. Ayoub was an amazing guide with so much knowledge of every area and he always went above and beyond for the group. The included activities were all amazing.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2024
Amelia - Traveled, March 2023
Oudad Ayoub was an excellent leader, he put each and every one of us before his own needs, he was overly generous and very interesting. I hope to stay in touch with him. The tour itself was superb, the included activities gave us so much insight into the beautiful traditions and culture in Morocco. I hope to do another tour with Intrepid in the future!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2023
Vignesh - Traveled, March 2024
AYOUB OUR TOUR LEADER WAS THE BEST TOUR LEADER EVER!! Please do take this tour and specifically request for him if possible. He went out of his way to make every day special. He is a gem of a human being and I feel honoured to have been part of his lovely tour group. Best tour ever!??
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/08/2024
Erin - Traveled, March 2024
The trip was overall brilliant. Our leader Hussain was great and kept us safe/informed at every point. My only complaint would be both the activites and accommodation in Fes. The accommodation felt like something out of a horror movie and the activities were essentially just us being encouraged to spend money in a leather shop/fabric shop. But, given that was only 2 days out of the whole trip - I loved the rest and would absolutely recommend it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/26/2024
Matilda - Traveled, February 2024
A truly incredible trip. Abdel was such a good leader and Morocco is such a beautiful country. I hope I'm lucky enough to come back one day.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/06/2024
Lutz - Traveled, February 2024
What an adventure! Great people, beautiful scenery, delicious food, and all without having to organize a thing yourself. The desert and Marrakech were my personal highlights.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/07/2024
Harry - Traveled, February 2024
Excellent trip! Morocco is such a vibrant and varied country and Intrepid was a great way to see it. Warning, busses will be extremely hot in summer and do your own research for Marrakesh optional activities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/07/2024
Rohan - Traveled, February 2024
A great trip to take to explore the arabic and french influence of an African nation.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/21/2024
Jente - Traveled, February 2024
This trip was so amazing. All the things we did were great. The tour guide was such a great guy with so much extra information. And for my group I think this was the best I could wish for. <3
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/23/2024
Anna - Traveled, February 2024
This trip was brilliant- our group leader was fantastic, the group dynamic was so much fun, and the places we went were extraordinary. It is an experience you could never have on your own, and made it so much easier and safer to see Morocco. Absolutely recommend.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/24/2024
Grace - Traveled, February 2024
This trip to Morocco was absolutely outstanding. Mohammed could not have been a better guide—he was thorough in his knowledge, enthusiastic towards his surroundings, and cared deeply about each individual on the trip. I was very lucky to have a wonderful group of 14 to explore Morocco with. My only complaint is that the trip came to an end way too quickly! I know I will be back to Morocco again and my next trip, wherever it may be, will definitely be through Intrepid.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/25/2024
Julia - Traveled, February 2024
Very enjoyable trip that’s definitely worth going on. Given the price of the tour I felt it was definitely worth my money. Our tour leader, Mohamed, was amazing. The trip is very fast paced and there is quite a bit of driving so keep this in mind when booking!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/26/2024
Maansa - Traveled, February 2024
I loved this trip because of the people and our local leader who made it so fun for someone who has never done guided group travel before.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/17/2024
James - Traveled, January 2024
Essential Morocco is a brilliant itinerary to discover the country’s history and some hidden gems. The Sahara camp was the highlight of the trip and tour guide Mohamed was very friendly. Highly recommend if you want to learn about the history and like hiking.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/08/2024
David - Traveled, January 2024
Great trip - affordable and packed with fun activities and destinations. Driss was a fantastic tour guide. The tour gave a great insight into Moroccan culture.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/25/2024
Jananee - Traveled, January 2024
If you’re thinking about booking this trip - do it! Morocco is such a beautiful and diverse country and this tour does such a good job in letting you experience so much of it. I went in thinking the Sahara would be the highlight and whilst it was amazing, there were so many other memories made on this trip that I will cherish for the rest of my life!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/26/2024
Jasmine - Traveled, January 2024
This trip was an absolute dream! Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of moving from place to place and lots of time sitting in transportation but there is no other way to see as many places as you do in such a short amount of time. Every penny was a penny well spent and all of the activities and meals that we got to share with local guides and local families were absolutely incredible! I highly recommend this trip to anyone!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/27/2024
Max - Traveled, January 2024
Fantastic trip!! Saw and did so much in just 12 days; brilliant value for money and got to really explore an amazing country! Driss is the best trip leader we could have asked for!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/25/2024
David - Traveled, January 2024
Great trip - affordable and packed with fun activities and destinations. Driss was a fantastic tour guide. The tour gave a great insight into Moroccan culture.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/25/2024
Indy - Traveled, January 2024
The intrepid tour was such an amazing experience. I got to experience the best foods and see the best places , being a 21 year old girl I felt safe the whole time! Our guide Mohamed Inti ensured we had the best experience and was such a wonderful presence over the 12 days. I can’t recommend this trip enough :)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/23/2024
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