DAY 1: Tangier → Tetouan → Chefchaouen

Whether you're arriving by ferry or plane, we will meet you upon arrival and go on a short tour to introduce you to Tangier's old medina. From there we will drive up into the valleys of the magnificent Rif Mountains, its peaks rising as high as 2456 meters at Jbel Tidirhine. After crossing the mountains we will continue across the fertile plains of Tetouan and limestone cliffs covered in cork oaks, pines, and wild olive trees before arriving in the mountain town of Chefchaouen, set like a gem between two Rif Mountain peaks. Chefchaouen is renowned for the distinctive blue-washed facades of its houses, painted that way by Jewish refugees who lived there in the 1930s, and is an unreal and unmissable destination for any trip to Morocco. The Chefchaouen medina features a Spanish-style plaza surrounded by numerous cafes, rooftop restaurants, and crafts stores that sell items unique to the Moroccan highlands. We will explore Chefchaouen in the afternoon and settle into our hotel, from which we will be able to enjoy the relaxed environment and spectacular mountain views of this one-of-a-kind town. (BB)

DAY 2: Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes

After breakfast we will continue our journey to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the best preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. This important Roman town features detailed and gorgeous mosaics that will give you a window into Morocco's ancient history. We will also visit the nearby town of Moulay Idriss, where Moulay Idriss I, who brought Islam to Morocco, is entombed. Moulay Idriss is considered to be the holiest town in Morocco. From Moulay Idriss we will continue to Meknes, often called the "Versailles of Morocco" due to the grandeur and intricacy of its buildings and monuments. We will take some time to explore its highlights, including the massive Bab Mansour Gate, the old Medina, and Moulay Ismail's shrine. From Meknes we will continue to Fes, where we will check in at your hotel before having dinner and settling in for the night. (BB)

DAY 3: Fes Sightseeing escorted by a local guide

After breakfast you will enjoy a guided half-day city tour of Fes, Morocco's spiritual and intellectual capital and home to the largest old medina in the world. There you will visit Jemaa El Karaouine, the first university to be established in the world. As you enter the shady souks, you will encounter aromas from the market stalls where countless spices and perfumes are traded. In stark contrast, you'll brave the stink emanating from the leather tanneries where men often stand up to their waists treating leather in noxious baths in the same way that it has been done for centuries. Despite the smell, the ethnic leather products produced by these craftsmen are world-class and are the perfect thing to take home with you. In the evening you can have dinner in one of the local restaurants and spend the night at your hotel. (BB)

DAY 4: Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Ziz Oases → Erfoud → Merzouga

After picking you up from your hotel in Fes we will embark on a picturesque journey towards Ifrane, through hills covered in forests of cork oak and giant cedar in which a few Barbary apes still make their home. Crossing strikingly beautiful passes over both the Middle and High Atlas ranges we will catch our first glimpse of the South’s incredible architecture. 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 rising behind the town. Crossing Tizi-n-Talremt (the She-Camel Pass), we will descend into a desert plain along the Ziz valley. We will then head south to Erfoud and Rissani, into a huge oasis containing over six million palm trees and edged by many ksours (fortified villages). Our route will continue through an immense palm oasis and a vast area of stony plain that marks the transition to the desert before reaching the tranquil desert town of Merzouga, where we have selected a charming kasbah hotel on the outskirts of the Erg Chebbi golden sand dunes. There you will be able to relax beside the swimming pool, and in the evening enjoy a live show by a desert blues band. (HB)

DAY 5: Merzouga Culture and Traditions → Tea with Nomads → Camel Trekking in the Sahara

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. Afterwards we will leave for Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans coming from Timbuktu, Mali. Here you'll be able to walk through the souk, where you will be able to find spices, vegetables, and clothes. After having a pizza lunch in Rissani we will drive back to our kasbah, where we will be greeted with a glass of tea and have some time to relax.You will have a chance to leave all unnecessary luggage behind in safe rooms at a hotel before mounting your camel (or 4WD if you can't do the camels) and riding into the Moroccan Sahara, We will have time to wander around the dunes before watching the sunset. Your camel will take you to a Berber camp in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the highest in North Africa, with some dunes rising to 820 feet: In the evening we will dine on Moroccan cuisine and enjoy traditional live music around the campfire. You will spend the night in warm Berber tents in the silence of the desert, and you can relax outside and marvel at the crystal-clear Milky Way spreading across the pitch-black night sky. (HB)

DAY 6: Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Canyon → Dades Valley

If you would like to wake up early so that you can watch the spectacle of sunrise, when the color of the sand contrasts beautifully with the play of shadows on the dunes - after which you might want to try your hand at sand-boarding down them. After a refreshing shower and breakfast, we will ride the camels or fun 4X4 off-road drive through the dunes back to the kasbah in Merzouga town, where we will be able to freshen up before heading to the fortified village of Rissani in the Tafilalet region. Nestled at the edge of the Ziz Valley, Rissani is a traditional desert village, yet houses the impressive Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sharif, the first ruler of the Alawite dynasty which ruled here in the 17th century. After leaving Rissani we will journey through the Todra Gorge and past the eastern slopes of the Atlas Mountains to the Tinghir Oasis, surrounded by green palm valleys and local Berber villages, before arriving in the beautiful Dades Valley, known as the "Valley of 1000 Kasbahs" due to the ruins of ancient kasbahs dotting the landscape alongside the palm trees. We will spend the night among the spectacular rock structures of the Dades Valley. (HB)

DAY 7: Dades Valley → Boutarar → Roses Valley → Skoura Oasis → Ouarzazate

After having breakfast at our hotel in the Dades Gorge we will have time to relax on the terrace and enjoy the views across the fertile Dades Valley. You may also decide to take a 1-2 hour trek through the villages of the area, passing fields cultivated by the local Berber women with the peaks of the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. We will continue our journey towards Ouarzazate, first going off-road along the Boutarar piste to visit local Berber nomads in their caves and join them for a glass of tea. From here we will continue through the Kelaa M'gouna, the "Valley of the Roses", which is famous for its Rose Festival in May and its locally-made cosmetics, made from the valley's abundant roses, that are highly valued throughout Morocco. Further on our way we will pass the Skoura Oasis, where numerous ancient kasbahs, some now sadly in ruin, stand among the palm trees, before arriving in the bustling southern city of Ouarzazate, known as "Morocco's Hollywood" due to the many Hollywood blockbusters its film studios have produced. We will have dinner and spend the night in Ouarzazate. (HB)

DAY 8: Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou → Atlas Mountains → Marrakech

After breakfast we will head to the nearby Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, the most famous kasbah in Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the backdrop for many of Ouarzazate's films including notably "Lawrence of Arabia". After enjoying the kasbah we will continue north across the High Atlas Mountains to Telouet, a village set right in the middle of the mountains which was the former seat of the last Pasha of Marrakech, El Glaoui, who used the location to control the mountain pass. We will go through this very same pass on a road which was completed by the French Foreign Legion in 1936 and winds up over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, offering stunning views over the mountains before descending past Berber villages to the plains surrounding Marrakech. Even today, the name Marrakech conjures up imagery right out of Arabian Nights - alleyways, souks, and market stalls. This remarkable city, with the graceful architecture of the renowned 11th-century Koutoubia Minaret dominating the skyline, never fails to satisfy the curiosity of adventurous travelers. We will arrive in Marrakech by the afternoon, after which we will check into our hotel and you will be able to explore the vibrant markets of the famous Djemaa el Fna square before settling in for the night. (BB)

DAY 9: Marrakech Sightseeing escorted by a local guide

Today after breakfast you will explore Marrakech, the second oldest imperial city, known as the "Southern Pearl" of Morocco, which has for centuries been an important stop for traders and travelers alike. A guided tour will lead you through the labyrinth of Marrakech's winding streets and past hidden gardens and souks. You will continue to the Djemaa el Fna, which is one of the main cultural spaces in Marrakech and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque towering alongside. In the evening this square is overflowing with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians, and henna artists. You will have a chance to relax at one of the many cafes surrounding the square to take in all the sights. You will have the afternoon to spend at leisure, pampering yourself at a local hammam or exploring the souks of the medina for yourself. We will spend the night at our hotel in Marrakech. (BB)

DAY 10: Marrakech → Essaouira

We will depart Marrakech for the seaside town of Essaouira. A relaxing drive through lush valleys filled with orange groves, ancient olive trees, and argan oil cooperatives will take you to this UNESCO World Heritage listed city. This windswept fishing port, with broad beaches and an ancient walled medina has long been a popular destination where many of the country's wood carvers and artists have made their home. Stroll along the ramparts and beach as you take in the relaxed vibe of the small but lively medina, or visit the port to see the catch of the day. Essaouira also hosts the Gnaoua Music Festival every June. We will have dinner in Essaouira and spend the night in a tranquil local hotel. (BB)

DAY 11: Essaouira sandy beach at leisure 

After breakfast at your riad you will be able to freely explore the maze of alleyways that make up this relaxed seaside port town. Here you'll be able to meet local artists in their studios and browse their artwork, or head to the lively fish market for a savory lunch of fresh grilled fish. Since it's right on the coast, Essaouira's seafood comes right from the sea, and you can expect the freshest, more sustainable, and widest variety of seafood to choose from. You can find a space on the wooden benches and tables alongside the locals and pick your own fish for the grill while enjoying a picturesque view out over the fishing port and the walled medina from the bastion of Skala du Port. You might decide to go for a walk along the beach at low tide to see the crumbling ruins of the fort of Borj El Baroud, or the ruined sultan's palace outside of Diabat, or even to take a boat to the island of Mogador, breeding ground for the rare Eleanora's falcon. If you love watersports, you might also want to try one of the many popular options offered on the local beaches, including surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, and kayaking. Alternatively, you might prefer to simply sit in one of the many beachside cafes on Place Moulay Hassan, relax, and watch the waves roll in with a coffee or mint tea and a Moroccan pastry. We will once again spend the night in our Essaouiran riad. (BB)

DAY 12: Essaouira → Casablanca

On your last day of travel you will leave the Atlantic coast and head back to the bustling modern city of Casablanca, visiting the tiny coastal city of Oualidia on the way. We will drive along the coastline to El Jadida where we will visit the citadel and be able to see the underground cistern. From there we will make our final journey to Casablanca where we will have dinner and spend the night at our hotel. (BB)

DAY 13: Casablanca → Transfer to the Airport

We will help you with any departure formalities and you will be taken directly to Casablanca airport with plenty of time left over to catch your departure flight.