CASABLANCA to MARRAKECH (8 days) Moroccan Highlights
CASABLANCA to MARRAKECH (8 days) Moroccan Highlights
8 Days Starting in Casablanca, Morocco and ending in Marrakech, Morocco
Visiting: Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Atlas Mountains, Todra Gorge, Ouarzazate, Marrakech
Tour operator:
Tour code:
519
Specialist Group:
Singles Solo
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 10
Age range:
5-85
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an 8-day adventure from Casablanca to Marrakech, exploring the rich cultural tapestry and stunning landscapes of Morocco. This tour takes you through the historic cities of Rabat, Meknes, and Fes, where you'll visit the Royal Palace, ancient Roman ruins at Volubilis, and the bustling medina with its famous dye-pits and tanneries. Journey across the breathtaking Atlas Mountains to the majestic Erg Chebbi sand dunes for a camel trek and an unforgettable night in a traditional Berber desert camp. Discover the iconic Ksar of Ait Benhaddou and the dramatic Todra Gorge, before concluding your trip in the vibrant city of Marrakech. Enjoy guided tours, comfortable accommodations, and authentic Moroccan cuisine along the way.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Casablanca, Transfer To Hotel
Location: Casablanca
Accommodation Name: Casablanca hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Morocco! We will meet you at the airport today and transfer you to your hotel in the city centre. Your day is then free until we have a pre-departure meeting at 6.00pm where you will meet your fellow travellers. If you arrive early this morning, or add an extra day to the start of the tour, you can join any members of the group who started the tour in Marrakech yesterday and visit the incredible Hassan II Mosque this afternoon. This is the largest mosque in Morocco and has a great location right next to the sea. Please contact us if you would like to book any pre-tour accommodation. (Note - the Hassan II Mosque visit is not available during Ramadan).
Day 2 : Rabat, Meknes & Volubilis
Location: Rabat
Accommodation Name: Fes hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our first stop today is the capital of Morocco, Rabat. Strategically located on the Atlantic coast, Rabat was formed way back in the third century BC and we'll visit the Oudaia Kasbah in the oldest part of the city today. We'll also be able to see Rabat's most famous landmark, the Hassan's Tower, as well as the Royal Palace. Next stop is the Berber walled Imperial City of Meknes, a former capital of Morocco. The ramparts rise up to 40m tall, and inside them are many beautiful gardens and intricate gateways. Our final visit of the day is then the UNESCO listed Roman site of Volubilis, which dates back to AD40. This is the largest ancient site in Morocco and has many impressive ruins. We finish our day by making the short drive on to Fes.
Day 3 : Full Day Exploring Fes
Location: Fes
Accommodation Name: Fes hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Considered the largest and oldest medieval city in the world by many, Fes is over 1,200 years old and is famous for its busy Medina. Home to 400,000 inhabitants this is packed with narrow winding streets, mosques, souks and is a heady mix of sights, smells and sounds. We'll spend plenty of time exploring the Medina, seeing various palaces and mosques (which non-Muslims will not be able to enter), and many different crafts on sale. Our guided tour will also include the Fes's famous dye-pits and tanneries, as well as a traditional Moroccan pharmacy and pottery. Finally we'll return to our hotel to relax after a long day of walking and exploring. This evening there is the option for a traditional meal inside the city with live Moroccan entertainment including music, belly dancing and magicians.
Day 4 : Atlas Mountains & Sahara Desert Camp
Location: Atlas Mountains
Accommodation Name: Berber Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today is a long driving day, but packed with spectacular scenery as we cross the Atlas Mountains and head towards the mighty Erg Chebbi sand dunes on the edge of the Sahara Desert. During the summer months we'll aim to find a spot for a relaxing swim on the way. After descending out of the hills and arriving at Merzouga, we will transfer to camels and take a trek in to the vast Sahara Desert dunes in time for the sunset. We'll then return to an authentic Berber camp on the edge of the desert and spend the evening enjoying some local food, music before settling in for a hopefully clear night under the Saharan stars.
Day 5 : Todra Gorge
Location: Todra Gorge
Accommodation Name: Todra Gorge hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We'll leave the desert sands reluctantly this morning and travel on to the impressive Todra Gorge. With 1,000ft high vertical cliffs surrounding the base of the canyon, the gorge is popular with rock climbers and there is an option to try this during some free time here this afternoon. You can also walk through the Palmerie area or take a hike through the Gorge, enjoying the changing colours of the cliffs as the sun moves across the sky. We will also visit a favourite Berber co-operative today where you can see and buy authentic locally made Berber hand-made rugs, kilims and carpets.
Day 6 : Ouarzazate & Ait Benhaddou
Location: Ouarzazate
Accommodation Name: Ait Benhaddou hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We leave the gorge this morning and follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs as we make our way past Ouarzazate to Ait Benhaddou. There are several options available today, including a quad biking trip on the desert sands with the Atlas Mountains in the distance, or an optional tour of the world famous film studios just outside Ouarzazate. These have helped create hundreds of famous movies and TV series, inclduing Lawrence of Arabi, The Living Daylights, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Man who would be King, The Mummy, Gladiator, Asterix & Obelisk, Kingdom of Heaven, Kundun, Legionnaire, Hanna, and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, as well as part of the TV series Game of Throne. The main highlight today though is our guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou. Sitting on a hill next to the Ouarzazate river, Ait Benhaddou is a fortified city or ksar (a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls), with clay built houses and some great examples of traditional Kasbahs crowding together on the hillside protected by the defensive walls. We'll wind our way up through the winding streets to the fortified granary at the top of the hill which affords great views over the surrounding valley and to the high mountains we'll be crossing tomorrow.
Day 7 : Cross The Atlas Mountains To Marrakech
Location: Marrakech
Accommodation Name: Marrakech hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
It is another beautiful morning drive today as we head up and across the High Atlas mountains , en-route stopping at the Tizi N'tichka col, which at 2,260m is the highest pass in North Africa. Snow caps the surrounding peaks for several months of the year, making for spectacular views. After arriving in Marrakech, your afternoon is free or you can book an optional guided tour of the city with our guide. The tour will feature Marrakech's pride and main landmark, the Koutoubia Tower. A companion tower to the Giralda Tower in Seville and the Tower of Hassan in Rabat, it is said that the sultan who built them had the eyes of his architect cut out to prevent him from ever building a more beautiful tower elsewhere. Our tour of course will also take in Marrakech's UNESCO listed medina, which is packed with stalls packed with spices, crafts, and seemingly everything else under the sun. We'll finish at the Djemaa-el-Fna, which is Marrakech's famous large open square. This really comes to life at night with masses of street food stalls, entertainers and local people packing it for the evening. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax by the hotel pool, explore the markets further, or do some souvenir shopping, before we meet up for a final group evening meal. You may then wish to head back to the square for a final exciting taste of Moroccan life.
Day 8 : Tour Ends In Marrakech
Location: Marrakech
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your Moroccan tour with us ends after breakfast today and your time is free until you depart. Our guide or the hotel will help you arrange a taxi for the short drive to the airport, or you can add extra days to explore Marrakech further if you wish.
What's Included
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24hr Arrival Airport Transfer Service
A 24-hour arrival airport transfer service is provided.
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Accommodation
Accommodation in 3-4 star hotels and 1 night in an authentic Berber Desert Camp.
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Transport
Transport in air-conditioned minivan, minibus, or coach.
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Meals
7 breakfasts and 5 dinners, including a Berber camp dinner.
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Guided Tours
Guided tours of Rabat, Fes, Volubilis, and Ait Benhaddou.
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English Speaking Tour Guide
An English-speaking tour guide, plus a driver.
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Sahara Camel Trek
A camel trek in the Sahara Desert.
What's Not Included
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International Flights
International flights are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory but not included.
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Visas
Visas are not included.
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Tipping Kitty
A tipping kitty of USD 50 is not included.
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Tour Guide Tips
Tips for the tour guide are not included.
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Meals Not Indicated
Meals not indicated in the itinerary are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Drinks, snacks, and personal expenses are not included.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities are not included.
More Info
This classic small-group tour spends 8 days exploring Morocco's highlights, from the Imperial Cities, medinas and ancient cities of the north, to the Atlas mountains and Saharan sand dunes to the south. You'll get a real taste for everything that this most beautiful of North Africa's countries has to offer. Starting from Casablanca you'll head to the old parts of Morocco's capital Rabat, and then take in the high ramparts and gardens of Meknes, and the UNESCO listed Roman ruins at Volubilis before arriving at Fes, the third of Morocco's Imperial Cities for the day. With its huge medina packed with tiny streets wide enough only for donkeys and bikes to provide transport, Fes is a delight to explore. Next, the scenery changes dramatically as you cross the Atlas mountains for the first time before arriving at the edge of the Sahara Desert and the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes. You'll enjoy a camel trek through the dunes at sunset here, before spending the night at an authentic Berber camp with your local hosts on the edge of the desert. After this memorable night, you head to the dramatic Todra Gorge, and the iconic Ksar of Ait Benhaddou. The tour then finishes by crossing the High Atlas again, via North Africa's highest mountain pass, before arriving in Marrakech. With another famous Medina and the huge and busy Djemaa el Fna square to discover in the evening, Marrakech makes a perfect place to finish your time in Morocco. Accommodation is in comfortable mid-range hotels plus one night in the desert camp, with extensions available at either end of the tour if you have more time available. The tour can also be arranged privately if you would rather not join a small group, or if our group dates do not work for you. Please contact us for details.
Mode of Transport
Transport is by minivan, 4x4 Land Cruiser and Camel!
Accommodation
Accommodation is in shared rooms (between 2 people of the same sex from your trip unless you are a couple). We use basic 3 star hotels along with a night camping in a traditional Berber camp in the Desert. Some hotels even have swimming pools and sun-lounge areas. In some hotels you may be able to upgrade to a single room (at your own expense).
Check out our Q&As
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What type of transportation will be used during the tour?
Transport is by minivan, 4x4 Land Cruiser, and camel.
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What kind of accommodation is provided on this tour?
Accommodation is in shared rooms (between 2 people of the same sex from your trip unless you are a couple). We use basic 3-star hotels along with a night camping in a traditional Berber camp in the desert. Some hotels even have swimming pools and sun-lounge areas. In some hotels, you may be able to upgrade to a single room at your own expense.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour includes 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners, including a Berber camp dinner.
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Is there an airport transfer service available?
Yes, a 24-hour arrival airport transfer service is provided.
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Will there be guided tours during the trip?
Yes, there will be guided tours of Rabat, Fes, Volubilis, and Ait Benhaddou.
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Is a camel trek included in the tour?
Yes, a camel trek in the Sahara Desert is included.
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What is the policy on tips and gratuities?
Tips for the tour guide are not included, and a tipping kitty of USD 50 is also not included.
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Are international flights included in the tour package?
No, international flights are not included.
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Is travel insurance included in the tour package?
No, travel insurance is mandatory but not included.
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Are there any optional activities available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional activities such as a quad biking trip on the desert sands and a tour of the world-famous film studios in Ouarzazate.
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What happens on the first day of the tour?
On the first day, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Casablanca. There will be a pre-departure meeting at 6:00 PM where you will meet your fellow travelers. If you arrive early, you can visit the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco, located next to the sea.
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What can I expect during the visit to Fes?
In Fes, you will explore the Medina, which is over 1,200 years old and packed with narrow winding streets, mosques, and souks. The guided tour will include visits to dye-pits, tanneries, a traditional Moroccan pharmacy, and pottery. There is also an option for a traditional meal with live Moroccan entertainment in the evening.
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What activities are available at Todra Gorge?
At Todra Gorge, you can try rock climbing, walk through the Palmerie area, or take a hike through the Gorge. You will also visit a Berber cooperative where you can see and buy authentic locally made Berber hand-made rugs, kilims, and carpets.
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What is the highlight of the visit to Ait Benhaddou?
The highlight of the visit to Ait Benhaddou is a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will explore the fortified city with clay-built houses and traditional Kasbahs, and climb to the fortified granary at the top of the hill for great views over the surrounding valley.
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What can I do in Marrakech on the last day of the tour?
In Marrakech, you can take an optional guided tour of the city, including the Koutoubia Tower and the UNESCO-listed medina. You can also explore the Djemaa-el-Fna square, relax by the hotel pool, or do some souvenir shopping. The tour ends after breakfast, and you can arrange a taxi to the airport or add extra days to explore Marrakech further.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes, if you are travelling solo. On our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions, we will pair you up with a tent buddy of the same sex when we camp and the same goes for twin & shared rooms in hostels, so there is no need to go it alone! If you specifically would like to request your own single room whilst on the trip, this may be requested subject to availability and additional fee.
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How many people do you take on your Trips?
On most of our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions our vehicles can carry a maximum of 24 travellers, the average however is around 16-20 on any one trip. Our Small Group Adventures have a maximum of 18 people per Tour Leader, although again the average is around 10-14 people.
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Low Deposit
Oasis Overland requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of oasis overland charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 33% of booking price.
At 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.