Description
The culture of the Berbers in northern Africa dates back as many as 5,000 years. Discover their enduring legacy on this 15-day adventure into Morocco?s rich cultural heritage. Explore the souks and streets of Marrakech and Fez; spend a night in a comfortable tented camp in the Sahara; enjoy dinner with a traditional Berber family; and unwind amid the coastal beauty of Essaouira. Throughout this magical ride, open your eyes to each dazzling place ? and earn a new point of view.
What's Included: National Geographic Journeys Exclusives: Islamic Calligraphy Class, F?s
National Geographic Journeys Exclusives: Moroccan Foodie Experience, Marrakech
G Adventures for Good: Meknes Community Lunch, Mekn?s. Arrival transfer. Tour the city of Meknes and ruins at Volubilis. Guided walking tour of Fes medina. Guided night walk of Djemaa el Fna square with local meal. Explore Marrakech with a local guide. Visit the ancient kasbah of A?t Ben Haddou. Sahara Desert excursion by 4x4 with overnight in a comfortable desert camp. Explore the Draa region. Visit to Tafraoute. Explore Essaouira. Visit Menara Gardens and the Jardin Majorelle. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Highlights: Visit a women's co-op and enjoy a local lunch, watch storytellers and acrobats at Djemaa el Fna square, learn about Moroccan cuisine with a cooking class in a traditional Berber house, traverse the Sahara Desert by 4x4, try to mimic a local expert's elegant sweeps in an Islamic calligraphy class.
Group Size Notes: Max 12, Avg 10.
Meals Included: 14 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
Meals: Generally, all meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Breakfasts on tour
All breakfasts are included as part of your tour. Moroccan breakfasts tend to be different from your usual cereal and toast morning fare ? most will be very simple - a croissant or sweet roll with jam and instant coffee and some hotels will have buffets where you will have more variety. While you are experiencing what a Moroccan family would eat, some travellers do find the provided breakfasts a bit ?bread heavy? and enjoy buying fruit the day before to supplement their breakfast.
Lunches and dinners
Moroccan cuisine is world famous and your CEO will be taking the chance to show you the best of it. Staples include cous cous, a type of grain topped with stew, tagine which is actually the name of the pot this tasty dish is cooked in, and brochette, bbq skewers of meat. These meals will generally cost between 45- 70 MAD depending on the type of restaurant and which part of the country you are in. Other tastes not to be missed include pastilla, a sweet pasty with a savoury filling which is traditionally pigeon and harira, a delicious soup based on chick peas and filling enough when teamed with fresh bread to be a whole lunch. If you are heading to the coast the fresh seafood cooked at one of the local markets is a must eat!
Snacks
Morocco's fresh orange juice is highly recommended and you should not leave without trying a glass. The brave can try the tiny snails which are perhaps the local's favourite snack but you might prefer a cone of piping hot bite-size fried cake donuts.
Transport: Private air-con minivan, walking, 4x4.
Minimum Age: You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Max Pax: 15
Travel Style:National Geographic Journeys
Physical Grading:2 - Light
Itinerary
➕ Day 1 Casablanca (1D)
Please note that this tour does not spend any time in Casablanca.
You may wish to come a day early in order to explore Casablanca, and take some time to see its medina, beachfront, and classic examples of Art Deco architecture.
Be sure to also visit the spectacular Hassan II Mosque. Entrance is only permitted via guided tours, which operate from Saturday to Thursday (closed Fridays) at 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, and 14:00. These times are subject to change (particularly around Ramadan), please double check times with your hotel. Tickets can be purchased at the mosque.
In the evening, there will be a brief meeting where you will meet your CEO and fellow group members to go over the details of the tour. Afterwards, go out for a welcome dinner in a nearby local restaurant.
Included Activities:
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
Transport:
Private Vehicle
➕ Day 2 Casablanca/F?s (1B)
Meknes is one of the four Imperial cities and its name and fame are closely linked to that of the Moroccan Sultan Moulay Ismail, who made Meknes the centre of his empire and built many of the monuments that remain today.
Continue through the rolling hills to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco. Once an important Roman town situated near the westernmost border of Roman conquests, Volubilis was listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.
Continue to Fes to spend the night. Stay in the the new city of Fes, built by the French during their Protectorate of Morocco.
Additional Notes:
This is a long and busy day. The times listed are actual driving times and do not include stops. We will stop to explore Meknes and Volubilis, and not arrive in Fes until the evening.
Included Activities:
Meknes City Tour
Volubilis Guided Tour
Transport:
Private Vehicle
➕ Day 3 F?s (1B, 1L)
In the evening, there may be the chance to partake in an optional dinner in a grand old Fes riad that has been converted into a spectacular restaurant. You will not only enjoy a delicious meal of local specialties, but also an evening of singing, music, and belly dancing.
Included Activities:
F?s Medina Guided Tour
Meknes Community Lunch
Islamic Calligraphy Class
➕ Day 4 F?s/Marrakech (1B, 1D)
Included Activities:
Djemaa el Fna Market Square Visit
Transport:
Private Vehicle
➕ Day 5 Marrakech (1B, 1L)
In the morning, take a historical tour of the city, including the Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs. After, visit a historic riad for a hands-on cooking class from a master Moroccan chef, and enjoy the lunch that you have prepared.
Included Activities:
Marrakech City Tour
Moroccan Foodie Experience
➕ Day 6 Marrakech/Ait Benhaddou (1B, 1D)
Included Activities:
A?t Ben Haddou Kasbah Guided Tour
Transport:
Private Vehicle
➕ Day 7 Ait Benhaddou/Erg Chigaga (1B, 1L, 1D)
Spend the night in a simple desert camp which provides a peak into traditional desert living. Each tent is outfitted with sheets, pillows, a raised bed, towels, and covers against the desert cold and it has a separated ensuite with simple portable toilette and wash basin. While the accommodation is basic, it is quite comfortable and offers a truly unique experience.
Included Activities:
Tamegroute Visit
Transport:
Private Vehicle
4x4
➕ Day 8 Erg Chigaga/Zagora (1B)
Cross the desert back to Zagora and enjoy a talk on the history of the Draa region. You?ll also get to visit some of the local historical sites.
Included Activities:
Zagora Orientation Tour
Transport:
4x4
➕ Day 9 Zagora/Taroudant (1B)
Head towards the Anti-Atlas region to the carpet towns of Tazenakht and Taliouine, where saffron is harvested. In Taroudant, visit the famed leather tanneries and local markets.
Included Activities:
Taroudant Markets and Tanneries Visit
Transport:
Private Vehicle
➕ Day 10 Taroudant/Tafraout (1B)
Enter the Anti-Atlas region to view natural rock formations. In the afternoon, explore the town centre and its local markets.
Included Activities:
Tafraout Orientation walk
Transport:
Private Vehicle
➕ Day 11 Tafraout (1B, 1L)
Visit A?t Mansour Gorge, the Painted Rocks, and the Chapeau du Napoleon. Walk through a palm valley and have lunch in a local village house.
Included Activities:
A?t Mansour Gorge and Area Tour
Lunch at Local Village House
Palm Valley Walk
➕ Day 12 Tafraout/Essaouira (1B)
Essaouira is also famous for its music scene and offers a great chance to check out a live performance.
Included Activities:
Orientation Walk
Transport:
Private Vehicle
➕ Day 13 Essaouira (1B, 1L)
Enjoy a day of leisure in this coastal city. Make sure you watch the colourful and lively spectacle of the return of the boats to the port with their baskets full of fish, pick out the best of the bunch, which we?ll take to a local restaurant to cook up for our lunch. Opt to browse the shops and art galleries or take a stroll along the long, sandy beach. The active might choose to take a surfing or windsurfing lesson, or rent a fishing rod.
➕ Day 14 Essaouira/Marrakech (1B)
In the afternoon, have free time to further explore the fascinating city of Marrakech and dive into the labyrinthine souks. Visitors and locals alike find everything they desire here, whether it?s spices, traditional jalabas and slippers, or famous Moroccan lanterns. The selection is exhaustive. Don?t forget to bargain. It's definitely part of the fun. Once you?ve tired yourself out, relax at one of the tea houses around the square, indulge in the ubiquitous sweet mint tea and watch life go by from a shady spot.
Included Activities:
Menara Gardens Visit
Jardin Majorelle & Museum of Islamic Art Visit
Transport:
Private Vehicle
➕ Day 15 Marrakech (1B)
Depart at any time.
Included Activities:
Departure Day
Tour Map
