Morocco: Historic Cities & Sand Dunes of the Sahara

Arrive at any time. Attend a welcome meeting in the evening to get to know your fellow travellers and CEO. Then, choose to attend an optional group dinner to close out the evening.

Enjoy some breakfast at the hotel and then visit the Hassan II Mosque, which is one of the largest in the world and can accommodate up to 25,000 worshippers inside and 80,000 in the courtyards. Travel northwest towards Rabat and tour the city with a local guide to learn about the history as a Roman settlement and home to pirates. Visit Kasbah des Oudaias, a walled quarter with gardens and pretty views of the Atlantic Ocean. Stroll through the city’s medina and souks with a stop at one of the stalls for mint tea and Moroccan sweets. From there the group will walk to the Mohamed the 5th Mausoleum and the iconic 12th-century minaret known as the Hassan Tower. Lunch will be had on your own at a spot in Rabat before travelling onwards to Meknés, the former capital of the country. Enjoy some time to rest and relax at the hotel, or maybe choose to find a nearby restaurant for dinner.

Start the day on the streets of Meknes’ old medina and vibrant market stalls with loads of handicrafts. Then spend time visiting various historical sites before travelling to ancient Volubilis for an inside look at Morocco’s culture at the partly-excavated Berber-Roman city. Walk along the ancient hilltop ruins with a local expert guide and see the town’s mosaics for yourself. Head onwards to Chefchaouen, or the ‘Blue City’ as it is so fondly known. The evening will be spent free at the hotel for downtime.

In the morning, set off on a CEO-led walking tour of Chefchaouen and witness the beautiful blue alleys and charm of this place for yourself. Stop by the medina and the Kasbah of Chefchaouen. Free time will be given for lunch in the area before the drive to Fes. The group will arrive in the early evening and enjoy a traditional dinner experience together featuring staples of Moroccan cuisine.

Discover the fascinating city of Fes in the cultural heart of the country. Join an expert guide and head into the vibrant, noisy, and sensory overwhelming city medina. Enter through one of the great gates into the chaos. Spend time exploring the artisans’ quarters as well as the many carpenters, bakers, butchers, and spice sellers that you pass along the way. Arrive back at the hotel in the late afternoon for a free evening in Fes.

Travel towards the simplistic nature of the High Atlas Mountains and drive south and inland through fertile valleys and rocky landscapes to the off-the-beaten path town of Midelt. There will be a stop along the way to Ifrane for tea and to learn more about this tiny Switzerland town of Morocco. In the market town of Midelt, lunch will be had with a local family in the area featuring a traditional home-cooked meal highlighting the authentic flavours of Berber cuisine. Stretch those legs with a walk through the lovely Berber villages in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains near town before an introduction to the ancient art of henna from a group of local women. Check-in to the hotel in the late afternoon and opt to swim in the pool before dinner this evening.

Travel through the changing scenery on the journey to the towering dunes of Erg Chebbi outside of Merzouga and just across the border from Algeria. Stop along the way to visit the town of Arfoud. It’s here that you’ll learn about date production and you can buy a desert scarf. Upon arrival to Merzouga the group will climb atop the camels and ride to the desert camp where a cup of tea will be served. Hike up the nearest dune for sunset before a delicious dinner by firelight at the camp accompanied by the melodies of Berber musicians. Fall asleep peacefully under the stars.