Highlights of Morocco

Buzzy Marrakech is a whirlwind of tradition and culture, an invigorating introduction to Morocco. However, today is a relaxing one, a chance for our group to congregate and settle in. Usually around 6pm, you'll say hello 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 together. 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

We drive (3hr 30min, including a coffee stop) to Casablanca this morning, a modern and commercial seaport. Here, we visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world, 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. After, we drive (1hr 30min) to Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, but second to Casablanca in importance. 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 the special almond paste, amlou.

Strike out from Rabat on a 2hr 30min drive (with a stop in Khemisset) over the northern plain towards Meknes. The scenery changes as the land becomes more cultivated, this being one of the most fertile areas of Morocco. In Meknes, we meet our local guide for an exploratory walk in the old town. Built in the Spanish-Moorish style, the medina has crumbling ramparts with nine immense gates. We plunge into a busy local market, where vendors vie for attention and craftsmen sharpen their tools, before walking to El Hedim square, a scaled-down version of Djemaa El Fna in Marrakech. Then, we stand before the monumental Bab El Mansour gate, which was built in 1732. In the afternoon, we take a 45-minute drive to the largest and best-kept Roman ruins in Morocco: Volubilis, once a large Roman town and now a World Heritage site. 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 continue our drive (approximately two hours) to the ancient city of Fez, where we spend two nights.

The fascinating city of Fez is the intellectual and religious centre of Morocco. Founded more than 1,000 years ago, it has many mosques and medersas (theological colleges), including the ninth-century al-Karaouine University, whose architecture is very similar to that seen in Moorish Spain. Fez medina is 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. Noisy and pungent, the medina is an absorbing experience. Our city guide walks us through different sections of the souk, including those selling leather, brass and copper. No visit to Fez is complete without a visit to the tanneries. Outside the medina, we visit the Jewish District (mellah), the exterior of the Royal Palace and drive up to a panoramic viewpoint over the city.

Today, we travel to the edge of the Sahara, the largest hot desert in the world. It’s a nine-hour journey but with frequent stops and beautiful scenery along the way. We travel over the stunning Middle Atlas, down through the picturesque Ziz Valley and to the spectacular site of the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. We stay in a small and welcoming auberge (inn) by the dunes. Tonight is a good time to pack your overnight bag for the Sahara. Total drive time: Nine hours

A free morning means we have time to explore the largest erg (sand sea) in Morocco, or to relax in the shade of a palm tree by the dunes. The sand sea is famed for its pink tones that take on a spectacular rose colour at sunset. In the late afternoon, we take part in a classic Saharan experience – a 45-minute camel trek through the dunes, where we watch the sunset (it is also possible to walk). We then return to the edge of the desert to spend the night in a camp. This evening, we enjoy a home-cooked meal and sit under the stars.

After sunrise, we leave our desert camp and head towards the little city of Skoura, which is nestled on a beautiful palm grove near Ouarzazate. Following the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs, we have vistas of ancient kasbahs nestled in lush palm groves. After around four hours of driving, we stop to explore Todra Gorge. We take a short walk along a narrow road through the gorge and have time to take photos. Of course, there is also the usual pop-up souvenir stalls to tempt you. Total drive time: 7hr 30min with three stops