Colors of Morocco

We will pick you up directly from the airport where you will see our Best Travel sign, from where we will take you right to your hotel. An optional dinner is available where you would be able to get to know your fellow travelers.

Breakfast will be served at your Riad, after which a knowledgeable local guide will lead you through the labyrinth of Marrakech's winding alleyways, hidden gardens, and secret souks. You will continue to the Djemaa el Fna, the principal cultural space in Marrakech and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, beside which the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque can be seen towering into the sky.

In the evening this square overflows with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians, and henna artists. Following your tour you will have the full day to spend at your leisure, whether it’s pampering yourself at a local hammam or further exploring the souks of the medina. We will spend the night at our hotel in Marrakech.

We will meet you upon your arrival in Marrakech or directly from your accommodation, and escape the hustle and bustle of the city towards the High Atlas Mountains. Through the highest mountain pass in North Africa and across the Glaoua territory, we will pass countless ancient kasbahs and fortified granaries that dot the countryside.

From there we continue on to Ouarzazate, a bustling southern city often referred to as "The Hollywood of Morocco" owing to the many famous films shot on location such as Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Kingdom of Heaven, as well as several seasons of the hit show, Game of Thrones. Here, we will stop for lunch and explore the nearby Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, the most famous kasbah inMorocco, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the backdrop for many of the films and shows shot on location. As the afternoon sun wanes, we will wind through several oases and end our drive for the day in the lush Dades Valley.

Following breakfast we continue our drive along the banks of the Oued Todra, where olive, pomegranate, and orange trees flourish, until we reach the Todra Gorge, where we will take some time to wander among the towering rock walls of the narrow corridors. As we descend into the desert plains, the landscape gives way to a vast stony plain that marks the edges of the Sahara.

Upon our arrival, we will leave all unnecessary luggage behind in safe rooms at a nearby hotel before mounting our camels and trekking into the towering dunes of the Moroccan Sahara. Here we will have ample free time for you to explore and take in the beauty and vastness of the desert dunes. Once the sun sets, a Moroccan dinner will be served alongside live music around the campfire, after which you are free to explore again - this time in the company of a million stars exploding against the pitch-black sky, and the all-encompassing silence of the Sahara at night.

After waking up to a desert sunrise and having breakfast, we will be able to relax for a couple hours before taking a 4WD off-road tour around the dunes. On the tour we will visit the oasis of Merzouga, the nomadic depository, and Khamlia Village, where we will be able to hear gnawa music from the local people, who are descendants of ex-slaves that found their way to Morocco from Senegal via the Salt Route. We will continue on to meet desert nomads in their tents and discover their way of life.

We will also visit the nearby Lake of Merzouga, with its diverse population of birds. After lunch ( Homemade berber pizza ), we will the drive back to our kasbah, where we will be greeted with a glass of tea and have some time to relax beside the pool.

Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of the desert as you enjoy a day at leisure in the expansive sands of the Sahara. Take advantage of the various optional activities available to enhance your desert experience such as horse riding, ATV Quads or Dune buggies.

In late afternoon you will enjoy another sunset camel ride  through the dunes, you also may consider  dune buggies or ATV quads biking with a professional guide take you through the golden dunes back to your tents at the camp where you will enjoy another night under the starry night sky.

After breakfast, we will retrace our steps through Erfoud to the dramatic Ziz Valley, a spectacular gash in the hills that surround the Ziz Oasis, the largest oasis in Morocco. The region is dotted with deserted kasbahs, palm trees, and mud-brick villages, and is a photographer's paradise. After passing through a barren plain of scrub and desert on the other side of the mountains, we will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, from which we will have a fantastic view of the dramatic peaks of the High Atlas Mountains rising behind the town.

The different landscapes we will cross is unbelievably diverse, ranging from rocky, sun-baked plains to cedar-covered mountains and deep, spectacular canyons. In the hills south of Azrou we might be lucky enough to spot a troupe of the Barbary Apes that still make their home in the local forests. We head onward to Ifrane, the Switzerland of Morocco. After having crossed the plains we will arrive in the evocative city of Fes, which is the cultural capital of Morocco and one of the most complete medieval Islamic cities in the world. Our guide will help you find your riad and leave you to settle in for the night.

After having breakfast we will begin our tour of Fes at the Merenid Tombs, before stopping at the Musée des Armes, a fortress that once protected the city. Today it is possible to see a display of 8,000 pieces of artillery from Makina, the arsenal built by Sultan Moulay Hassan. We will enter the Fes el Bali, best described as a sea of rooftops embellished with minarets and domes, with streets much too narrow for cars. Aside from walking, donkeys and mules are still a popular transportation option within the old city's walls. We will make our way to the Karaouine Mosque, one of the oldest in the world, which functioned as the first university in Morocco.

After our visit to the mosque we will continue along the streets, passing some of Fes' most important buildings including the Dar al-Magana, a 14th- century water clock, and the Zaouia al-Tijaniyya. We will stop to visit the Ech Cherabliyine Mosque (Mosque of the Slipper-makers) before browsing the souks, selling everything from henna and slippers to jewelry and spices.

We will continue into the UNESCO-recognized Fondouk el Nejjarine. Within the fondouk's three floors we will find the Musée de Bois, which displays carved doors from the Bou Inania Madrasa. We will stop for lunch within the medina at one of the fine Moroccan palace-restaurants that serve an extravaganza of mezas (Moroccan tapas) common among the Fassis tradition. After lunch we will visit the Musée Dar Batha to view its collection of pottery, leather-work, wood, books, and 19th-century manuscripts.

We will continue onward to the Bab el-Ftouh, the "Gateway of the Aperture", to explore the Andalusian Quarter, a residential part of the medina dotted with monuments. Our final part of the tour will take us into the Fes el-Jdid, a kasbah which functioned as Morocco's administrative center until 1912. We will explore the royal palace and many interesting quarters including the Moulay Abdallah Quarter, the Mellah (Jewish Quarter), and a little farther south, the Ville Nouvelle (New Quarter).

After breakfast, you will set out for the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. This important Roman town still features detailed and gorgeous mosaics that will give you a unique perspective on Morocco's ancient history. Afterwards we will continue our journey to Meknes, one of Morocco's greatest imperial cities, often called the "Versailles of Morocco'' due to the grandeur and intricacy of its buildings and monuments.

We will take some time to explore the highlights of Meknes, including the Bab Mansour, Sahrij Souani, and the old Medina; After lunch we will continue our journey to Chefchaouen, our road ascending into the valleys of the Rif Mountains. The valley forms a dramatic entrance to the vividly blue-colored town of Chefchaouen, which is set like a sapphire among the jagged mountain peaks.

We will go directly to your Riad to settle in and relax before going for a walk among the blue and white walls of the medina and the unique local crafts markets. With its unique, colorful style and its unforgettable view over the mountains, Chefchaouen is also a one-of-a-kind destination for photography. In the evening you can enjoy an aromatic glass of red wine and a Tagine and couscous meal at one of the hotel's three rooftop terraces before relaxing under the crystal-clear Moroccan night-sky.

After breakfast you will have a tour of this striking blue-rinsed town, truly one of Morocco's must-see places and a hidden gem, tucked away in the mountains. You will walk through the local markets where you will see the unique offerings of the Moroccan highlands.

If your physical ability allows, you might choose to go for an amazing (around 4H) trekking trip to Akchour waterfalls. In the afternoon you'll be able to relax and enjoy the calm atmosphere of the Rif Mountains.

On the way we will visit Asilah, a beautiful coastal town with whitewashed houses, blue walls and doors, and many murals, before stopping in imperial city of Rabat and explore the Mechouar (the ramparts and walls surrounding the Royal Palace), the majestic Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Hassan tower, and the Kasbah des Oudayas, which overlooks the water and offers fantastic views over the Atlantic Ocean as well as being home to many Moroccan artisan workshops.

After breakfast you will be led through the history of Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. Your guide will escort you on a walk around the picturesque Almohad northern walls of the Oudaïa Kasbah, and then continue to the Hassan Tower, which towers over the Wadi Bou Regreg. The Hassan Tower is a gigantic mosque, emblematic of Rabat and famous for its unfinished minaret where storks make their nests.

Next, we will visit the beautiful Mausoleum of Mohammed V, decorated with stained glass windows, white marble, and a wrought-iron entryway with a stairway leading up to an impressive dome. After we finish we will depart for Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, where we will spend the night.

After breakfast, we will take a  tour of the city. We will visit the grounds of the immense Hassan II Mosque, one of the Islamic world's greatest monuments, which features the world's tallest minaret and is the only working mosque in Morocco that can be visited by non-Muslims. After our tour we will depart to Marrakech.

NB: Alternatively, you can choose to be taken to Casablanca airport if you don’t want to return to Marrakech.

Today we will make as much use of our time as possible, wandering around the souks of Marrakech and finding souvenirs or gifts for friends before we take you to Marrakech Menara airport with plenty of time to catch your departure flight.