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Uncover the heart of Morocco from Casablanca to Marrakech

Morocco is an intoxicating fusion of cultures, with a history as diverse and varied as the colours woven into each carpet sold on the street. Uncover the essence of this enticing country on a two-week adventure through ancient cities, medieval bazaars and high mountain villages. Admire the impressive Roman ruins of Volubilis, go behind the scenes of a film makers heaven in Ait Benhaddou, discover the dramatic red dunes of the Sahara Desert and stroll through the blue streets of Chefchaouen. Journey into Morocco’s heart through its food, religion, language and culture to better understand this exciting nation and passionate people.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Casablanca, Morocco
Finish
Marrakech, Morocco
Destination
Morocco
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
XMKC
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Travel by camel across the dramatic red dunes of the Sahara Desert and spend the night camping under North African stars.

  • Spend time in two of Morocco’s most picturesque towns – the 11th century kasbah of Ait Benhaddou and Chefchaouen with its striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs, and artistic doorways.

  • Tuck into a memorable dinner in Fes and dine on one of the city’s signature dishes, the salty and sweet pastilla, one of the best pies you’ve ever tasted!

  • Join expert local guides to explore medinas, Roman ruins and rural areas and gain a deeper understanding of significant sites in Rabat, Volubilis, Fes, M’Goun and Marrakech.

  • Visit the Tawesna teahouse, a community-run establishment that provides local women with an income to support themselves and their families.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Our Sahara Desert Camp is on the edge of the desert. In 2019 the Moroccan government put measures in place to improve the safety, quality and impact of desert camps, which means that camping inside the Erg Chebbi dunes is no longer possible.

  • Several days include a great deal of time spent on your feet, particularly Day 5 (Fes) and Day 9 (M’Goun Valley). A moderate level of fitness and comfortable walking shoes will ensure you get the most out of your trip.

  • As a desert country, Morocco can have extreme weather. Please consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season. Refer to the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

  • Morocco has a tipping culture and travellers are expected to tip small amounts for most services. Your trip leader and the Money Matters section of the Essential Trip Information can assist you with this.

  • Although you shouldn’t expect any aggressive selling techniques in Morocco, it’s common to be approached by shop owners and street vendors offering their goods.

  • We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid style of travel, but please note that service and accommodation in Morocco may differ from standards at home.

  • Ramadan is an annual month-long festival, during which travel can be a rewarding cultural experience, however some regular services may not be available during the day, such as restaurants or cafes, and occasionally travel can be disrupted by events. Your leader will adjust the itinerary accordingly, but please consider this when selecting your travel dates. You’ll find dates and further information in the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information.

Intrepid Travel group and local woman standing in colourful doorway, Fes, Morocco
Leather tanneries and city buildings view, Fes, Morocco
Intrepid Travel group walking down stairs in blue streets of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Local women walking through archways of Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco
Traveller and local berber woman preparing food at Sahara desert camp, Morocco
Travellers sitting on camels in Sahara Desert, Morocco
Ait Benhaddou fortified village kasbah buildings, Morocco
Locals sitting in colourful market medina, Marrakech, Morocco

Itinerary
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Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco, and the great city of Casablanca, the perfect place to acclimatise to the culture. Your adventure begins today with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, if you arrive with time to spare, then perhaps visit the art deco Villa des Arts, this gorgeous gallery dates back to the 1930s and holds numerous exhibitions of contemporary Moroccan and international art. If you are looking for a different type of cultural experience, then you can discover a unique and fascinating part of Moroccan history at the Museum of Judaism.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Optional Activities
  • Casablanca - Villa des Arts Gallery & Museum (entrance fee) - Free
  • Casablanca - Jewish Museum (entrance fee) - MAD50
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

Some travellers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions before their Intrepid trip commences. This has been particularly prevalent in and around the hotels used by Intrepid. These guides are in no way connected to Intrepid and we cannot guarantee the safety or quality standards of their tours. We strongly advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised

After breakfast, Casablanca exploration beckons. Tour the Hassan II Mosque which is one of the only religious sites open to non-Muslims and can accommodate 25,000 worshippers. Next, drive to the capital of Rabat where you’ll meet an expert local guide. Rabat's history is long and colourful, having been host to Roman settlements, pirates, and more recently the Moroccan parliament. It contains numerous fine Arab monuments, some dating from the 10th to 15th century Almohad and Merenid dynasties, and others that are far older. Discover the city’s medina and souks, then explore the lovely walled quarter known as the Kasbah des Oudaias and enjoy a glass of mint tea and some local sweets. Afterward, continue the walk to visit Mohamed the 5th Mausoleum and the vast minaret of the Hassan Mosque. You’ll have some free time to explore Rabat before driving to Meknes, the former capital of Morocco, where you’ll spend the night.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque
  • Rabat - Kasbah des Oudaias
  • Rabat - Hassan Tower
  • Rabat - Mausoleum Mohammed V
  • Rabat - Mausoleum Hassan II
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.

Join your leader and explore the winding streets of Meknes’ old medina and their elaborately decorated public buildings while the shrine of Moulay Ismail is closed for renovation. Next, drive to the nearby archaeological site of Volubilis, the remains of which make an undeniably impressive sight as they come into view on the edge of a long, high plateau. Tour the ancient hilltop ruins with an expert local guide, and discover the town’s elaborate mosaics along the Decumanus Maximus, many of which remain intact. Afterward, travel to Chefchaouen, or the ‘blue city’, which is arguably one of the prettiest places in Morocco. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen has been lovingly cared for with striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs, and artistic doorways. Take an orientation walk with your leader through the ancient medina and shop for handicrafts, or sit at a cafe and enjoy the pleasure of time passing by. If you're feeling peckish, the local goats' cheese is a popular treat.
Accommodation
  • Riad (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Meknes - Medina walking tour
  • Chefchaouen - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Volubilis - Entrance and Guided Tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.

Enjoy a free morning to further discover Chefchaouen and perhaps enjoy lunch before boarding your private minibus for the journey to Fes. The living museum of Fes has disputable origins, some believe its origins come from ancient Greece, others claim it comes from the Balkans. Nevertheless, the city is the best example of the medieval Arab world, and you are soon to find out more about its past and modern times. After checking into your hotel in the late afternoon, join your group for a memorable dinner of one of the city’s signature dishes, the salty and sweet pastilla.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 4 hours.

Today you will discover the city of Fes, the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco – vibrant, noisy, fascinating, and occasionally overwhelming – a visual and pungent feast for the senses. Join an expert local guide and head into the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali, arguably the world's most fascinating and confounding old city. Walk along the twisting streets and alleyways, passing donkeys piled high with goods, and explore the specialty sections that divide the souk. Filled with historic khans, madrassas and dye pits, stalls loaded with fruits, herbs and soups, and where the squawk of chickens, the smell of spice, and sound of hammering of copper fills the air, it’s not hard to imagine yourself back in the Middle Ages. Spend the day exploring the old city, visiting Medersa el Attarine, the tanneries, and the Fondouk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th-century inn. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon for a free evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Fes - Funduq al-Najjarin
  • Fes - Medersa El Attarine
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s experience will include shopping in carefully selected places. As the receipt of commissions or kickbacks in exchange for recommending particular shops, services or activities is ingrained in the culture of the Moroccan tourism industry, Intrepid has established a centralised system of receiving and distributing payments from these recommended suppliers. For more information, please refer to the ‘Money Matters’ section of the Essential Trip Information or speak to your leader.

If you are not interested in shopping, please speak to your leader about your options. The medina is complicated to navigate so leaving and rejoining the group can be difficult.

Today, leave the intensity of the city behind for the simplicity of the High Atlas Mountains. Drive south, inland through a variety of spectacular scenery – fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes – to the small town of Midelt. Originally built as a base for mining in the area, this market town is nestled between the Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains at an elevation of just over 1500 metres. It's a perfect spot to break up the journey to the Sahara and is a great base for an easy walk through the valley to one of the local villages. Your leader will choose a route based on the group and the weather that makes the most of the astonishing views of the Atlas Mountains, with snowy peaks almost touching the sky. Wander through plantations of apple trees on the way back to your accommodation for a relaxing evening, resting up before the Sahara tomorrow.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Midelt - Hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s driving time is approximately 3.5 hours.

Drive through changing scenery, from barren mountainsides to fertile valleys, on the journey to Merzouga this morning which takes in the Erg Chebbi with its towering dunes up to 150 metres in height. Located at the end of a sealed road and just 20 kilometres from the Algerian border this really feels like frontier country. You will leave your gear at your overnight camp next to a simple hotel and then ride camels into the edge of the Sahara Desert, enjoying a spectacular sunset along the way. The dunes are stunning, especially as the evening light plays across them and sets off the colours. Tonight you will camp out in traditional style, with the chance to try some fantastic local cuisine while you sit around an open fire, enjoying lively music and dancing under the stars.
Accommodation
  • Desert camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sahara Desert - Camel ride
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s camel trek is a loop from your camp on the edge of the desert and back. If you don’t wish to ride a camel, you can walk alongside the camels or relax at the camp.

Tonight’s accommodation will be in nomadic style tents, with a dining tent and a bathroom tent. Blankets and mattresses are provided, but during the winter months from November to March, you may consider bringing your own sleeping bag for extra warmth and comfort. Electricity is very temperamental and relies on batteries, therefore it’s better to come prepared with devices fully charged.

It’s worth getting up early to catch the sunrise before the drive to Todra Gorge, a massive trench that rises over 250 metres to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco. Explore the towering limestone stacks on a short 45 minute walk through the sheer cliffs. Continue your journey inland for tonight’s destination, M’goun. You will get closer to the customs and lifestyle of the Berber this evening with the night spent in a traditional Berber house called a gite, a simple yet charming abode made from mud-bricks.
Accommodation
  • Gite (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Todra Gorge - Leader-led walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 6 hours.

You have a full day to explore the beauty of this largely untouched Moroccan backcountry. On foot is the best way to discover the natural and man-made landscape and the rural way of life. There are a couple of circuits to choose from, but the most popular choice, and the one we recommend, is a 10-kilometre circuit that will take about 4 hours. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll walk a trail that undulates slightly here and there, but isn't too challenging if you have a basic level of fitness. The surrounding mountains and the famous Rose Valley make a sensational setting.
Accommodation
  • Gite (1 night)
Included Activities
  • M'goun Valley - Guided Half Day Hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Leaving the M'goun Valley today, set off on the fabled ‘Road of 1000 Kasbahs’. The first stop is at Skoura Oasis, home to several privately owned kasbahs. Here you’ll visit the Kasbah Ameridhl, with its extravagant decorations and mud-brick fortifications before continuing on your journey to Ait Benhaddou. Perched on a hilltop and almost unchanged since the 11th century, Ait Benhaddou is one of Morocco's most iconic sites. If you think you recognise the place, you probably do, as the town has a long list of film and TV credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator. Enjoy a walk through the winding streets of the old town, making your way to the top of the hill, from where you can enjoy the views across the surrounding plains. Pay a visit to the Tawesna teahouse on the river, a community-run establishment that provides local women with an income to support themselves and their children. Using ingredients sourced from local cooperatives, the women prepare delicious tea and pastries while sharing their stories with those who pop in to visit. After heading to your nearby hotel for the night, maybe sit back on the rooftop terrace and watch the sun setting over the kasbah.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Skoura - Kasbah and Oasis visit
  • Ait Benhaddou - Leader-led ksar walk
  • Ait Benhaddou - Tawesna Tea Break
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.

Today you will drive along the winding roads of the Atlas, bound for Marrakech, an ancient city wrapped in European modernity. There’s no rush as the scenery through the High Atlas Mountain passes is magnificent, and there will surely be calls for several photo stops along the way. After checking in to your hotel, you might like to head to the great square of Jemaa el Fna, one of the largest public spaces in the world and unique to Marrakech. When night falls it transforms into a hive of activity. Henna painters, performers, and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar, packed with stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies. Perhaps finish your day with a cup of mint tea on one of the roof-top restaurants overlooking the square.
Accommodation
  • Riad (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.

After breakfast today, meet your local guide and set off on a morning tour of the old medina, through the bustling souks that are the lifeblood flowing through the city. Explore tranquil courtyards filled with the scent of orange blossom, and the many salons and chambers that make up Bahia Palace. This splendid mansion was built in 1866 for a former slave who rose to power within the government. Stop by the Koutoubia Mosque, its famous minaret is the prototype for others of its kind around the world, including La Giralda in Seville. Then walk back through the streets of the old medina to the Jemaa el Fna to enjoy a refreshing glass of fresh orange juice. The rest of the day is free to explore further or shop in the bazaar. Perhaps visit the tropical gardens of the French painter Jacques Majorelle or check out the ruins of the Palais Badi, once one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Otherwise, you might like to head back into the medina, where every step brings a new smell, a new sight or a new gift to buy. Watch skilled artisans perfect their craft, practice your haggling skills, or take a break from the hustle to sip on tea or share a tajine, filled with the pure scent of Morocco.
Accommodation
  • Riad (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Marrakech - Medina walking tour
  • Marrakech - Palais Bahia
  • Marrakech - Fresh Orange Juice
Optional Activities
  • Marrakech - Marjorelle Gardens - MAD70
  • Marrakech - Palais Badi - MAD70
  • Marrakech - Saadian Tombs - MAD70
  • Marrakech - Medersa Ben Youssef - MAD40
  • Marrakech - Museum of Marrakech - MAD40
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

There are no activities planned after breakfast so you are free to leave your accommodation at any time. It’s worth adding a night or two in Marrakech so you can do some extra activities like cooking classes and cycling tours, exploring nearby towns or visiting a hammam. If you wish to spend more time here, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Optional Activities
  • Marrakech - Hot Air Balloon Ride - MAD2050
  • Marrakech - Tajine Cookery Class Urban Adventure. - MAD640
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

12 breakfasts, 5 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Taxi, Camel

Accommodation

Desert Camp (1 night), Gite (2 nights), Riad (3 nights), Hotel (6 nights)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque
  • Rabat - Kasbah des Oudaias
  • Rabat - Hassan Tower
  • Rabat - Mausoleum Mohammed V
  • Rabat - Mausoleum Hassan II
  • Meknes - Medina walking tour
  • Chefchaouen - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Volubilis - Entrance and Guided Tour
  • Fes - Funduq al-Najjarin
  • Fes - Medersa El Attarine
  • Midelt - Hike
  • Sahara Desert - Camel ride
  • Todra Gorge - Leader-led walk
  • M'goun Valley - Guided Half Day Hike
  • Skoura - Kasbah and Oasis visit
  • Ait Benhaddou - Leader-led ksar walk
  • Ait Benhaddou - Tawesna Tea Break
  • Marrakech - Medina walking tour
  • Marrakech - Palais Bahia
  • Marrakech - Fresh Orange Juice

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Morocco Uncovered trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 7 (Sahara Camp) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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