From CAD 5035
Guarantee
Small Group
Unknown
Rating
(2 reviews)
Experience Overview
Few places on earth match the cultural diversity of Morocco. Join this Premium Adventure to discover the best of it, while staying in a carefully selected accommodation portfolio, which includes traditional riads and a luxury desert camp. We tour diverse cities, including seaside Casablanca, the imperial powerhouse of Fez, and electric Marrakech. And we journey into the Sahara, where we navigate dunes on camelback and stargaze around a campfire. Village visits, kasbah tours, lunch with an Amazigh family and a relaxing hammam session complete a perfectly balanced adventure that captures the best of Morocco in style.
Profile
— Accommodation: 11 Premium nights (5 hotel, 5 riad and 1 desert camp) — Travel by private minibus and camel — Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 11 Premium nights (5 hotel, 5 riad and 1 desert camp) — Travel by private minibus and camel — Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
This trip provides an insight into the enormous variety that Morocco offers, including cities, history, architecture, desert and mountain scenery. Morocco is stunning but large and the cities and country areas are spread out. This means there are sometimes long journeys, but this is the only way to see all the country offers. We are not confined to our vehicle though, as there are plenty of photo stops and opportunities to stretch your legs.The approximate drive times are noted on the daily itinerary.
Morocco is hot in summer but we try to make the most of the coolest parts of the day for our sightseeing so expect some early starts. It can get very hot in the desert from May to September.
Morocco can get cold in winter though usually daytime temperatures are mild. Pack winter clothes for November to March when nighttime temperatures can drop considerably, especially in the desert and mountains. During these months, there can also be rain throughout the country and snow in the mountains. As Morocco is generally mild to hot, it is not set up for colder temperatures, so there may not be heaters available. Please pack winter clothes and nightwear to ensure you are comfortable. You can also ask for more blankets from the hotels.
Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.
Group Description
All departures have a named tour leader, chosen for their expertise. They are fully qualified English-speaking Moroccan guides. In some locations, we are also joined by a guide local to the area.
Eating Drinking
There are 11 breakfasts, three lunches and seven dinners (one of which is a cooking class) included on this trip.
There’s a welcome dinner at our riad in Fez, and home-cooked lunches when we stay in the Sahara and the High Atlas. We also have an included dinner at our lodge in Skoura to sample their homegrown produce. In Marrakech, try creating local delicacies in a master cooking class and then enjoy the results.
Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Meals eaten out are reasonably priced – kebab and bread is approximately 72 Moroccan dirhams (US$7). In main towns, it is possible to find very good French and Moroccan restaurants where a meal and French wine will cost anything from 310 dirhams (US$30) upwards. Generally, dinner is likely to cost 80-155 dirhams (approximately US$8-US$15) not including drinks. Local beer, wine and soft drinks are reasonably priced, but you can pay more for imported alcohol. Your leader will recommend restaurants for each evening.
Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian cous cous, tajine or omelettes, particularly during the more rural sections of the trip. If you have any special dietary requirements inform your sales representative in plenty of time before the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (ie coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some food items with you from home.
Transportation
For most of this trip, we use a private air-conditioned bus. The bus sizes vary depending on group size but has plenty of room for sitting in different seats. The roads in Morocco are reasonably good throughout. On mountain roads, the pace will be slower.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Gray Hotel, Angle Rue Ain El Aouda et Rue Abou Al Kacem El Kotbari, Quartier Casablanca, 20100
Phone: (+212) 5224-27800
Recommended arrival time: Hotel check-in is from 2pm
Airport: Casablanca Airport (CMN)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately a 45-minute drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Marrakech airport (from the end hotel). If you’re not taking the Exodus transfer, allow three hours for check-in, bag drop, immigration and security.
Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Marrakech airport
Upon departure from Marrakech, we suggest allowing three hours to navigate the airport: check in, bag drop, immigration and security can take even longer on exit. The airport doesn’t accept mobile boarding passes, so we suggest having a printed boarding pass to avoid subjecting yourself to further delays.
Weather Information
From April to June and in September, Marrakech and the north are pleasantly hot with temperatures averaging 26C (79F) in the day and 16C (61F) at night. It is unusual for there to be much humidity so it is quite pleasant except at midday when the sun is very strong. Desert temperatures are similar to those in Marrakech, with the nights usually a little cooler and the days a little hotter. Mountain temperatures are cooler than in Marrakech.
In winter, daytime temperatures in Marrakech are around 18C-22C (64F-72F) with night temperatures of 4C-7C (39F-45F). The days should be sunny and a particularly attractive feature of winter is the clear views of the snow-covered Atlas Mountains. The temperatures in the south are generally a little higher than those north of the mountains. There is a small chance of rain and it has even been known to snow very infrequently in January and sometimes February on the higher desert plateau (in which case it is cold at night and early in the morning on the southern side of the Atlas).
Spending Money
We recommend you change your money at the airport into the local currency, as Morocco only allows 2,000 dirhams to be imported or exported. There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency you take. When changing your money, ensure you keep hold of your exchange receipt as you may need to show it at the airport bank at the end of your trip where it’s normally possible to change any unspent dirham notes back into euros, British pounds or US dollars. Allow approximately 30-70 dirhams (US$3-US$6.50) per day to cover small souvenirs, soft drinks etc. See the Eating and Drinking section for more details on expenditure.
Tipping
Tips are included in the tour price for hotel staff, restaurant staff where dinners are included, and other local staff. However, a tip has not been included for your leader.
Tipping your tour leader is entirely at your discretion; however, if you would like to recognise their good service, we suggest around 30 dirhams per day (US$3). Tipping the leader is usually done on the last night of the tour – often groups will pass around an envelope so everyone can put in what they feel comfortable with anonymously.
Highlights
— Discover the culturally rich cities of Casablanca, Marrakech and Fez — Visit the Unesco-listed Roman ruins of Volubilis and the ksar of Ait Benhaddou — Take a camelback ride through the Sahara — Experience a traditional hammam — Join a cookery class and enjoy the results — See the High Atlas Mountains and have lunch with an Amazigh family — Stay for a night in Riad Madu, or Riad Chebbi luxury kasbah-style hotels in the Sahara
Trip Details
Product Code: 4112
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: e slower.
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: AML
Starts: Casablanca, Atlas Mountains
Finishes: Casablanca, Atlas Mountains
Duration: 12 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Unknown
Includes
— All breakfasts, three lunches and seven dinners — Tipping for all hotel, local staff and drivers — Named tour leader, chosen for their expertise and customer service — Free arrival and departure transfers for everyoneAccommodation
Premium hotels and campExperience elevated accommodation on this Premium Adventure, where we mostly stay in four- or five-star properties, plus a luxury Bedouin camp among the Sahara dunes. Find a list of the properties typically used below: Casablanca: Gray Hotel (night 1)Fez: Riad Dilar (nights 2-3)Merzouga: Riad Madu or Riad Chebbi (night 4)Sahara: Jannat Luxury Camp (night 5)Skoura: Kasbah Ben Damiette (nights 6-7)Imlil: Riad Jnane Imlil (nights 8-9)Marrakech: Stars or Bab or 2 Ciels Hotel (nights 10-11) Worth knowing The accommodation shown has been booked and agreed in advance; however, we may need to make changes to a property of similar or higher standard after you have booked. We will endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance, which could, on rare occasions, be at late notice. About riads Riads are traditional Moroccan homes, generally in the old part of the city or medina, where the wealthiest people would historically live. They’re typically built around a central corridor with windows facing an internal courtyard (external windows are rare). Most have a rooftop terrace where breakfast is served. A night in a riad is an authentic Moroccan experience; however, riads do not have hotel-style facilities. Additionally, the rooms are not standardised and come in different sizes and shapes. Riads are built to keep sunlight to a minimum in order to keep the interiors cool in the extreme summer heat.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 5035 (CAD 420 /day)
Itinerary
The adventure begins in the port city of Casablanca. Depending on flight arrival times, your expert leader will meet the whole group for a welcome briefing either this evening or tomorrow morning. There will be information about this meeting at the reception desk. Accommodation: Gray Hotel (five-star)
This morning, before leaving Casablanca, we visit the Hassan II Mosque, which has a soaring 655ft (200m) minaret and a sliding ceiling to enable the sea breeze to cool the building. We have a guided tour of the Mosque and the stunning ablutions hall with a local specialist. Please note knees and upper arms must be covered. We then begin our journey to Fez, stopping en route at Unesco-listed Volubilis, the largest and best-kept Roman ruins in Morocco. There are the remains of the forum, basilica and capitol. There are also well preserved mosaic floors of the wealthy town houses that graced this Roman city. After Volubilis we travel on to the attractive whitewashed holy city of Moulay Idriss to stretch our legs and have a traditional lunch. The town is built around the tomb of Moulay Idriss Morocco's first Islamic leader. We will take a walking tour to see parts of the town. Our final destination is the world-renowned city of Fez, where our accommodation for the night is a traditional Riad. We enjoy a welcome dinner here, a chance for us to try tasty local fare and get to know one another. Accommodation: Riad Dilar Drive time: Six and a half hours
Fez is the intellectual and religious centre of Morocco. Founded more than 1,000 years ago, it is the oldest of the Imperial cities in the kingdom with many mosques and madrasas (theological colleges). It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981. This morning we join our local guide to explore the bustling narrow laneways, visiting different sections of the souq, including those selling leather, brass and copper. We also stop at the tanneries and pottery workshops to see traditional local crafts in action. Outside the medina, we visit the Jewish District (Mellah) and the exterior of the Royal Palace. We drive to a panoramic viewpoint for great photos of the city below. Accommodation: Riad Dilar
We start early for a full day of travelling to the Sahara with a journey through superb scenery and plenty of stops along the way. Our journey takes us over the Middle Atlas, through the picturesque Ziz Valley to the Hamada, a flat, stony desert gradually approaching the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. The journey is undoubtedly worth it, and we’re rewarded with a night at the feature accommodation at Riad Madu or Riad Chebbi. Relax by the pool and enjoy watching the sun set over the desert. Accommodation: Riad Madu or Riad Chebbi (five-star) Drive time: Nine hours
Enjoy a leisurely start to the day (with perhaps another dip in the pool). Later this morning, we travel by 4×4 to Khamlia village for a wonderful cultural experience watching a Gnawa music show and eating a traditional lunch of Medfouna, a surprising take on pizza. The unique instruments used in Gnawa music create a distinctive sound. It is a unique blend of African, Arab and Amazigh influences. This afternoon, we transfer to our luxury desert camp and then undertake a genuine Saharan experience – a camel trek through the dunes to watch the desert take on a rose colour at sunset (it is also possible to walk). After dinner cooked by our local chefs, we sit around the campfire and gaze at the stars. Accommodation: Jannat Luxury camp (four-star)
Leaving the desert, we head towards the little town of Skoura. En route, we pass through the Todra Gorge, sheer cliffs rising dramatically on either side of the road. We take a short walk through this gorge so you can appreciate its majesty and take photos. Following the 1,000 Kasbahs Road for approximately two hours, we see several of these imposing buildings along the way in the palm groves. We stay in an original Kasbah lodge during our two nights in Skoura. Located in the heart of the Skoura Palm grove this lodge is decorated in traditional Moroccan style and all rooms have air conditioning. Accommodation: Kasbah Ben Damiette or similar Drive time: Eight hours
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then join the leader on a guided walk through the palm groves of sleepy Skoura. Dotted around the palm, fig, birch and tamarisk trees are some of the most beautiful kasbahs in southern Morocco, the largest of which is the Amerhidil Kasbah, once owned by the Glaoui family. We take a guided tour through the restored interior with a local guide. During our walk we stop for a picnic lunch. Accommodation: Kasbah Ben Damiette or similar
Leaving Skoura, we rejoin the main road and drive west along the 1,000 Kasbahs Road via the desert city of Ouarzazate and onto the well-preserved ksar (fortified village) of Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most spectacular in the Atlas, and a location for several Hollywood films including Gladiator (2000). After admiring this vast site from the riverbed, we take a walk through the winding village streets. Once a bustling village today the ksar is home to around 10 families. From here we continue our drive through the High Atlas Mountains, crossing Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 7, 415ft (2,260m) above sea level. The drive to the village of Imlil is a winding one with a variety of scenery to enjoy. Accommodation: Riad Jnane Imlil or similar Drive time: Ten hours
Imlil is the starting point for trekkers climbing Mount Toubkal, the tallest mountain in North Africa. Our gentle hike takes us to the small Amazigh village of Armed set into a hillside. The Amazigh are the true indigenous people of North African countries residing mainly in Morocco. Along the way we see many fruit trees including cherries, apricots and quince. We follow a small irrigation channel where we are likely to meet villagers and their mules. Stopping at the edge of a waterfall we will take a break with a fresh orange juice. From here we will carry on uphill to the village where we will enjoy a home-cooked lunch in a local guesthouse. After lunch we do a little more hiking around the village then return to Imlil for your traditional hammam experience. A standard treatment with soap and scrubber is included but it is customary to give a 20 dirham (US$2) tip. The restaurant at our Riad has panoramic views of Imlil village and the surrounding mountains. Accommodation: Riad Jnane Imlil or similar
This morning, we travel over the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. Along the way, we stop at a women’s argan oil cooperative where we see a demonstration of how this multi-use oil is produced. There is also an opportunity to purchase a range of products which make for an unique gift from Morocco. Onwards our journey takes us to the flat arid plains of Marrakech. Here we have a guided tour, visiting the Bahia Palace and the Saadian tombs. The tour ends in the central square of Djemaa el Fna, where the town becomes a maze of bustling bazaars, palaces and mosques. The square comes alive every evening with food stalls, juice-sellers, snake charmers and acrobats entertaining both the locals and the visitor. Our final accommodation on this tour are boutique hotels located in the modern town area of Gueliz. Accommodation: Stars or Bab or 2 Ciels Hotel (four-star) Drive time: One and a half hours
We start the day with a trip to the local market to purchase ingredients before embarking on a cookery class of recipes to impress your friends when you get home. Enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. This afternoon, take free time to see more of Marrakech. You might wish to visit the largest mosque in the city, Koutoubia, or venture through the souqs and old streets of the medina. After bartering for souvenirs, you may have time for a short visit to the Koranic School and Museum of Marrakech. After this, you can unwind by taking a 30-minute ride on a calèche (a horse-drawn carriage) to the Jardin Majorelle. These tranquil gardens are decorated throughout in indigo blue and were once owned by Yves St Laurent. Your expert leader can help plan your free time. This evening, enjoy the vibrancy of Djemaa el Fna together for one last time. Accommodation: Stars or Bab or 2 Ciels Hotel (four-star)
We’ve scaled dunes on camelback, eaten lunch with an Amazigh family and toured the greatest cities in Morocco. But after breakfast, this tour draws to a close. Speak to your sales representative if you’d like to extend your stay in Marrakech and explore the city further.
Similar Experiences
Cycle Indochina & Angkor - Premium Adventure
14 Days from $7980
Climb Mt Toubkal
7 Days from $386
Morocco Kasbahs & Desert
8 Days from $419
Coastal Morocco: Waves & Market Stalls
5 Days from $237
Highlights of Morocco
15 Days from $664
Moroccan Desert Adventure: River Canyons & Camels
7 Days from $300
Best of Morocco::Season: Summer; From:April-2025
11 Days from $2565
Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
Reviews
Sheila N - Traveled, September 2023
Treasures of Morocco Premium Adventures Although we experienced an earthquake it was handled very well by our tour guide, Hassain. He made sure we were safe and it didn’t affect our trip too much. Thoughts on Group Leader He was always ready and willing to support us.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/28/2023
Sheila N - Traveled, May 2023
Treasures of Morocco Premium Adventures Most Inspirational Moment Staying in the desert, having tea with the nomad lady, out tour guide’s enthusiasm and fantastic knowledge. Thoughts on Group Leader He was always ready and willing to support us.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/24/2023
Share a personalized trip brochure!
Why book with us?
Best Rate Guarantee
Mytours.Travel makes sure you always have the best available rate
Best Selection
The best operators from around the world
Trusted Payments
Secure payments with Stripe
Expert Advice
Our expert agents will assist you in booking the perfect experience