Our Grand Tour of Morocco is a comprehensive private tour of Morocco that brings together the sights and sounds of this fantastic destination and the chance to discover more than the well-trodden paths around Marrakech. Furthermore, you’ll be staying in lovely boutique hotels and riads.
You begin in Casablanca, Morocco’s most cosmopolitan city. You’ll spend a night here, also dipping into the Medina and seeing a little of the town.
Without a doubt, having the same driver throughout your time in Morocco is a massive advantage. You first drive to Fez, taking about 3.5 hours of driving, yet you can stop at Volubilis, a Roman town that contains some superbly preserved mosaics. You also visit Meknes, which was once the heart of the Moroccan sultanate.
Fez is one of the oldest medinas globally, steeped in history and less discovered than Marrakech. Stay in a beautifully restored riad in the heart of this ancient city.
Firstly, drive south through dramatic scenery as you cross the Atlas Mountains and then arrive into the desert. Afterwards, arrive at Erg Chebbi, which offers superb desert scenery, with some dunes rising to 800 feet. After freshening up at your private desert camp, ride into the Saharan sunset on the back of a camel. Afterwards, you will return to a hearty evening meal under the stars before retiring to your tent for the night.
You will then drive west towards Skoura via the palm plantations of Tinerhir and the sheer cliffs of Todra Gorge. We suggest spending two nights in the boutique Jardin De Skoura, or you may wish to opt for the deluxe Dar Ahlem nearby.
You will pass Ait Benhaddou on the road to Marrakech, unquestionably one of the more impressive Kasbahs in Morocco. The route takes you over the Atlas Mountains, where you will stay for two nights at the Kasbah Bab Ourika. Spend your second day on a leisurely walk through Berber villages and visiting a local home for a mint tea.
We then suggest driving to Essaouira, located on the Atlantic Coast and a chance to see this side of Morocco. The artsy town is certainly worth exploring, with its pocket-book souk.
You then drive to Marrakech, where you will spend three nights in Dar Zemora. The city itself is a maze of souks, sights and sounds and the best policy is to explore on foot and see where you end up! Explore the busy souks, mosques and palaces for a few days and feel the buzz of the city, particularly the Djemaa el Fna which comes alive at night with acrobats, snake handlers and storytellers.
Our Grand Tour of Morocco can also be adapted to include stays in Rabat, Tangiers and Chefchaouen should you have more time to spend in Morocco.
| £2550 |
|---|
| Days | Location | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Casablanca | Four Seasons Casablanca |
| Day 2-3 | Fez | Riad Fes |
| Day 4 | Merzouga | Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp |
| Day 5-6 | Skoura | Les Jardins De Skoura |
| Day 7-8 | Ourika Valley | Kasbah Bab Ourika |
| Day 9-10 | Essaouira | Dar Maya |
| Day 11-13 | Marrakech | Dar Zemora |
| Day 14 | Farewell | Fly Home |
You begin with Casablanca, where we will have a fast-track VIP visa service. Afterwards, we will meet you and transfer you to the Four Seasons Casablanca. Later, take a short afternoon tour of the city with your private guide.
Firstly, set off through the Moroccan countryside on your way to Meknes. A cultural centre for more than ten centuries, Meknes boasts a fascinating medina (old city) as well as a maze of streets filled with colourful stalls and architectural delights such as the intricately carved Bab el-Mansour. Continue to Moulay Idriss, undoubtedly Morocco’s holiest city. Afterwards, continue to the Roman ruins at Volubilis to see the Triumphal Arch and exquisite mosaics. Finally, later this afternoon, arrive in Fez. The drive time is four to five hours, but with the stops, it will however take most of the day.
Fez el-Bali is unquestionably one of the world’s most beautiful living medieval cities. Firstly, tour the 14th-century Medersa Bou Inania (theological college), which is famous for its Koranic scriptures in stucco, zellij tiles and carved wood. Explore the 13th-century tanneries and henna and also the spice souqs (markets) as you wind your way through the labyrinth of streets and alleys. Similarly, discover hidden squares like the Place an- Nejjarine. Along the way, also stop in at some of the traditional shops to enjoy a cup of mint tea and some friendly haggling over a piece of jewelry or a carpet.
To begin with, drive through fertile valleys and into the cedar forests and beautiful lakes of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Stop for a picnic lunch at the nature reserve of Midelt before descending into the impressive palm groves and fortified villages of the Ziz valley. Afterwards, head into the desert by 4×4 vehicle and camel, and watch the sunset over the dunes. This evening, savour a candlelight dinner with entertainment by local Bedouin around a campfire. It’s a long day of driving, some nine hours, but your reward is feeling totally off-the-beaten-track in the Sahara Desert.
Depart for Rissani, a former trading caravan post. Visit My Ali Cherif Mausoleum and one of the surviving medieval ksours (castles). Continue through a succession of Berber villages and the impressive canyons of Todghra Gorges in the Atlas Mountains. Afterwards, drive through the Dades Valley until you arrive in the oasis of Skoura. The drive today generally takes about five hours.
Step back in time and spend the day exploring the wonderful groves and mountains surrounding Skoura. Explore villages and travel by 4×4, camel or even donkey.
On your way to the Atlas Mountains, visit the sumptuous kasbahs of Taourirt and Ouarzazate including the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou. Afterwards, drive to the top of the breathtaking Tizi-N-Tichka Pass before arriving in the Ourika Valley. The drive generally takes about four to five hours.
You can spend your day here either relaxing or heading out on a short, or long day walk in the Ourika Valley.
Drive to the quaint fishing village of Essaouira (four hours), which stands on a peninsula swept by the trade winds. Everyone from the Phoenicians to the French has left their touches on this coastal town. And in 1949, Orson Welles chose Essaouira’s imposing battlements as the setting for his movie, Othello.
We suggest a leisurely time during your time in Essaouira. We can arrange a half-day walking tour of the medina and the souq, leaving you to then meander the town under tour own steam in the afternoon.
Drive to Marrakech (three hours), and afterwards spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Today, tour the gorgeous Saadian Tombs, elegant El Badi Palace and the 12th- century Koutoubia mosque. Meander through the medina, exploring an endless procession of souqs, mosques and medersas. Just before sunset, visit the Djemaa el-Fna, the enormous square and atmospheric wonderland of torch-lit food stalls, snake charmers, storytellers and acrobats.
Today is always tailored to what you want to see and do. For instance, this could just be spending the day at leisure. However, if you want to get out and about, we can show you some of the quirky museums, hidden souks, the superb gardens of Marrakech, a hot-air balloon flight or mountain biking.
Finally, take a private transfer to the airport for your flight home. Any element of our Grand Tour of Morocco can be tailored and tweaked to your particular interests.
We can tweak and change any element of this itinerary and you can depart on any day you want, add nights here and there, and we can fully customise your day-to-day experiences depending on your interests. Here are just a few ideas of many that we can look at and discuss when we come to plan your tailor-made itinerary.
If you want to add another mountain experience in Morocco, then Chefchaouen will be perfect. It generally fits in between Casablanca and Fez. We would suggest about two nights here, so you can explore the Medina. We can also arrange a series of day treks in the local area.
We can include both Rabat and Tangiers in your itinerary. You would firstly visit Rabat, before continuing onto Tangiers before heading south to Fez. We would suggest this would add three to four nights onto the itinerary. Chefchaouen (above), would fit in between Tangiers and Fez.
Zagora is an equally impressive section of the Sahara Desert, and you could potentially link Merzouga and Zagora. The adventurous way is to link them is along the Dakar Rally route - all over the sand and stopping for a fly-camp midway. You could drive south from Skoura, but you would need to stop back in Ouarzazate on your return journey. Adding Zagora would take about three to four extra nights.
There is something impossibly romantic in delving into the great dunes of the Saharan Desert. Nights under canvas, sunsets and camel rides; experiences that undoubtedly make you feel like you have escaped.
A trekking holiday in the Atlas Mountains allows you to walk through timeless Moroccan Berber villages and along dramatic scenic valleys overlooked by the towering peaks. You’ll be staying in the best possible lodges and boutique hotels.
Explore the bustling souks of Marrakech, the breathtaking scenic beauty and Berber villages of the Atlas Mountains and the sleepy fishing town of Essaouira. In short, this brief taste of Morocco is an ideal first visit to this vibrant country.
Fez and Marrakech are undeniably Morocco’s most iconic and evocative cities, packed with all the magical charm that makes Morocco so mesmerising. This itinerary allows you an immersive experience of both, and additionally, some gentle R&R in the mountains to conclude your trip.
Combine the bustling souks of colourful Marrakech before experiencing the timeless Berber culture and stunning views in the High Atlas Mountains.
Marrakech makes for a beautiful long weekend from any European city. With five days, you will have plenty of time to both explore and relax. The weather is perfect in the winter, and you can also immerse yourself in a fascinating culture.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.