Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Transport

There are some long travel days and some rough travelling in areas away from the main tourist routes. High passes, windy roads, and rough surfaces make for some challenging travel experiences. On some long travel days, we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise our time at our next destination. If you experience travel sickness we recommend you consider medication to help ease the discomfort. The best part about all of these long drives is the spectacular views and fun stops en route such as mountain passes, kasbahs, palmeries, sand dunes, goats up trees, etc. We also use public transport on some of our trips around Morocco. Be it a train or a public bus, remember that the best part of it is the possibility to interact with local people traveling along with you. Private vehicle , Camel

Others

Complimentary Arrival Transfer Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque Moulay Idriss - Leader-led village walk Volubilis - Entrance and guided tour Fes - Pastilla dinner Fes - Medersa El Attarine Fes - Tannery visit Fes - Medina walking tour Fes - Funduq al-Najjarin Sahara Desert - Camel ride Todra Gorge - Palmeraie and farm walk Ait Benhaddou - Leader-led ksar walk Ait Benhaddou - Tawesna Tea Break Ait Benhaddou - Panoramic painting lesson Marrakech - Medina walking tour Secret Garden in Marrakech Medina Marrakech - Lunch at AMAL Women’s Training Center

Meals

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners

Accommodation

We’ve sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid style of travel, but please note that service and accommodation in Morocco may be different from standards you are used to at home. OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances. RIADS: On each departure of this trip, we aim to spend at least one night in a traditional Moroccan riad. In the height of the season, however unlikely, there may be an occasion when contracting a full group in a riad will be impossible due to high demand and availability. TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS: Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite (even if you paid for single room supplement) and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own. HEATING: Some of our guesthouses/hotels are unable to supply heating as this would be a major financial and environmental strain. It’s also a case of energy supply and timing provisions, which is limited in some places. Please be prepared for cold showers, which are a pleasure for most of the year. Air-conditioning systems (if available) don’t always function. CHECK-IN TIME: Throughout the trip, we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION: If you’ve purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights. Hotel (4 nights), Desert camp (1 night), Riad (2 nights)

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Flights

International flights are not included

Optional

Casablanca - The Medina and Beyond Urban Adventure - MAD700 Casablanca - Villa des Arts Gallery & Museum (entrance fee) - Free Casablanca - Jewish Museum (entrance fee) - MAD50 Todra Gorge - Hike - MAD300 Marrakech - Imlil & Aroumd day trip - MAD1817 Marrakech - Tajine Cookery Class Urban Adventure. - MAD640 Marrakech - Hot Air Balloon Ride - MAD2050 Marrakech - Asni & Ouirgane day trip with lunch - MAD1806 Marrakech - Heart of the Atlas Mountains cycling day trip with lunch - MAD2000

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Casablanca
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Casablanca

Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco and the great city of Casablanca. If you’re arriving today, you’ll take a private transfer from the airport to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe you’d like to visit the art deco Villa des Arts – this gorgeous gallery dates back to the 1930s and holds numerous exhibitions of contemporary Moroccan and international art. If you’re looking for a different cultural experience, you can discover a unique part of Moroccan history at the Museum of Judaism.
Day 2 Day 2: Fes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Fes

After breakfast this morning, visit the Hassan II Mosque – one of Casablanca’s most impressive sites and the Islamic world’s third-largest mosque. This colossal building sits partly on land and partly on the sea, allowing visitors to look through a glass floor in one area, straight down to the water. This is one of the only religious sites open to non-Muslims. Travel by private vehicle to the village of Moulay Idriss, the holiest Islamic town. Head out on a leader-led walking tour, stopping for an optional home-cooked lunch before setting off again. Your next stop is Volubilis – a partly-excavated Amazigh-Roman city outside of Meknes. Explore the ruins and abandoned stones with a local guide, which are covered in wildflowers in the spring. Arrive in Fes, your final destination, and sit down for an included pastilla dinner. This Moroccan specialty is a delicious sweet and savoury pastry parcel of shredded chicken and almonds.
Day 3 Day 3: Fes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Fes

Today, you’ll discover the city of Fes. The spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco – Fes is a feast for the senses. Join an expert local guide and head into Fes el Bali – arguably the world’s most fascinating Old City. Walk along the twisting streets and alleyways, passing donkeys piled high with goods. Filled with dye pits and traditional stalls loaded with fruits, herbs and soups, it’s not hard to imagine yourself back in the Middle Ages. Visit the Al-Attarine Madrasa, built by the Marinid sultan Uthman II Abu Said in 1323-5. Functioning as a religious school, this is one of several such schools located within the medina. You’ll then explore the tanneries and the Fondouk Nejjarine – a beautifully restored 18th-century inn with a courtyard. Stop for a refreshing mint tea at a local café and take in the views of the bustling medina. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon for a free evening.
Day 4 Day 4: Sahara Camp
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Sahara Camp

After breakfast, hit the road again and drive through ever-changing scenery, from barren mountainsides to fertile valleys, on the journey to Merzouga. Stop for coffee in Ifrane in the Atlas Mountains and spot some macaque monkeys in the Cedar Forest along the way. Take in the views over Ziz Valley and stop for lunch in Midelt – a town in the high plains between the Middle Atlas and High Atlas Mountain ranges. When you arrive, leave your gear at your overnight camp, then climb aboard your designated camel for a ride into the edge of the Sahara – what better way to enjoy the sunset? Tonight, sit under the expansive night sky and try some fantastic local cuisine around an open fire, enjoying live music and dancing.
Day 5 Day 5: Todra Gorge
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Todra Gorge

Rise and shine nice and early this morning and climb one of the sand dunes to watch the sunrise over the Sahara. Then drive to Todra Gorge – a massive trench that rises over 250 m to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco. When you arrive, head out on a leisurely walk through the Todra Valley with your leader. You’ll walk through shaded palm groves and local farms – thanks to the abundance of water here, there are orchards of almost every variety! Think apples, pears, plums, apricots, quinces, pomegranates, figs, almonds and peaches as well as tomatoes, mint, squash, carrots, turnips, beans and grapes. All these plantations belong to locals who you’ll meet along the way, learning how they take care of the land using traditional irrigation techniques. Tonight, you might like to enjoy an optional dinner of all the local produce you’ve seen growing around you.
Day 6 Day 6: Ait Benhaddou
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Ait Benhaddou

This morning after breakfast, you’ll drive to Ait Benhaddou. Sitting on a hilltop and almost unchanged since the 11th century, this is one of Morocco’s most iconic sites. If you think you recognise the place, you probably do, as the town has a long list of film and TV credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator. Enjoy a walk through the winding streets of the Old Town and ksar, making your way to the top of the hill, from where you can enjoy views of the surrounding plains. Then, join a local artist for a painting workshop. You’ll create your own image of the iconic view of the ksar. Visit the Tawesna teahouse – a community-run establishment that provides local women an income to support themselves and their children. Using ingredients sourced from local cooperatives, the women prepare mint tea and pastries while sharing their stories with those who pop in. After heading to your hotel for the night, maybe sit back on the rooftop terrace and watch the sun setting over the kasbah before a group dinner.
Day 7 Day 7: Marrakech
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Marrakech

Today, you’ll drive to the bustling Marrakech. Upon arrival, you are invited for lunch at the Amal Association – a restaurant and non-profit organisation that supports local women through employment and training on their path to financial independence. After experiencing Amal’s delicacies, meet your local guide who will lead you through the medina, sharing the city’s history and hidden tales during the walk. Visit Le Jardin Secret – a 19th palace complex with traditional gardens, a shop and a cafe. Then, head to the great square of Djemaa el-Fna – one of the largest public spaces in the world. Tonight, you might like to head back to Djemaa el-Fna – when night falls, it transforms into a hive of henna painters, performers and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar of stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies. You might also like to head out to an optional final dinner at a local restaurant with your fellow travellers and tour leader.
Day 8 Day 8: Marrakech
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Marrakech

There are no activities planned after breakfast today, so you’re free to leave your accommodation at any time. It’s worth adding a night or two in Marrakech, so you can do some extra activities like cooking classes and cycling tours, exploring nearby towns or visiting a hammam. If you wish to spend more time here, just speak to your booking agent.

8 days tour

Classic Morocco (5 Destinations)

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Classic Morocco (5 Destinations)

Day 1: Casablanca

Day 2: Fes

Day 3: Fes

Day 4: Sahara Camp

Day 5: Todra Gorge

Day 6: Ait Benhaddou

Day 7: Marrakech

Day 8: Marrakech

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