Discover Morocco

The adventure begins in buzzy Marrakech, a whirlwind of tradition and culture and an invigorating introduction to Morocco. Around 6pm, say salaam alaikum to your tour leader and fellow travellers at the hotel, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Moroccan welcome over dinner. Want to explore further? Secure pre-tour nights through your sales representative. Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Join your tour leader this morning for an exploration of the city, which takes in: Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech; Djemaa El Fna, the main city square, packed with stalls and performers; and the souks, where you can meet the vendors and learn how to properly barter thanks to the guidance of your tour leader. Then enjoy free time in the afternoon for solo exploration. For a spellbinding evening, consider visiting Chez Ali restaurant to watch their nightly show, which combines traditional songs, dances, fantasia and even equestrian aerobatics. Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Bid farewell to Marrakech and transfer (2hr 30min-3hr) to Casablanca, taking a route through semi-arid plains with views of the Atlas Mountains. Upon arrival, we visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world, which has a soaring 689ft (210m) minaret and a retractable roof 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. After, we drive (1hr 30min) to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Here, we have free time to explore. Although mostly modern, Rabat has an excellent old town, where you can see distinctive buildings with Moorish and Andalusian designs. Also visit the Jewish Quarter (Mellah) before continuing to the busy souk to sample locally made treats, such as harsha (a semolina bread) with amlou (a special almond paste).

Depart Rabat this morning and transfer (4hr 30min) to Volubilis, the largest and best-kept Roman ruins in Morocco. Under the Romans, it was an affluent city. This can be seen in the beautiful second-century forum, the basilica and the capitol. We wander through the streets, discovering remains of townhouses with mosaic floors and see baths, oil presses, aqueducts and shops, all of which reveal the daily lives of the inhabitants. After exploring this site with a local guide, we transfer (one hour) to the ancient city of Fez.

Join your tour leader today for an immersive guided tour of Fez, the intellectual and religious centre of Morocco. Our five to six-hour exploration takes us to landmarks of the city, including the ornate city gate known as Bab Boujloud and the historic madrasas (theological colleges) of Al-Attarine and Bou Inania, plus the Jewish District (Mellah). No exploration of the city would be complete without a visit to the medina, one of the largest in the world, an immense warren of souks, home to thousands of craftsfolk with their tiny shops opening onto the narrow alleyways.

Bid farewell to Fez and transfer (five to six hours) to the Ziz Valley. En route, we stop at a women’s co-operative to learn more about their work, while also having the opportunity to contribute to the rural economy. Upon arrival, we have a guided tour in the Ziz Valley, before settling into our accommodation for the night.

Continuing our journey, we drive (one hour) to Erfoud. Though small, this oasis town has become known for fossils, which are excavated locally and cut, carved and polished by master crafters. Spend time here browsing the fossil markets and enjoying lunch before we complete our journey (one hour) to Merzouga, on the edge of the Sahara. Upon arrival, we leave our main luggage at a local inn, taking only what we need for the desert in an overnight bag. We then meet our transport: a caravan of camels led by cameleers. They’ll show you how to mount and ride your camels, before we start our trek (45-60 minutes) into the dunes. There’ll be time for photo stops and to watch sunset, before we arrive at our camp, where we enjoy dinner and music under the stars.