Trip Summary

You don’t have to sacrifice your comfort for a great adventure! On this 8-day discovery of the classic sites of Morocco, you’ll explore sacred sites like the Hassan II Mosque, Moulay Idriss and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, gaining a deeper understanding with passionate local guides. Explore the cultural heart of Morocco in Fes, navigating the bustling medina full of colours, smells and culture. Head into the Sahara Desert for a memorable experience – riding camels through the sand dunes during sunset, before spending the night camping under the stars. Hike through Todra Valley and see how the locals farm their produce, stopping for some epic views in the Atlas Mountains. Explore the silver-screen favourite of Ait Benhaddou and try the most delicious mint tea in the world at Tawesna teahouse – run by local women who support their village. Top it all off with a vibrant night in Marrakech, where you explore the famed Djemaa el-Fna and feast on Moroccan favourites like seared meats, fresh salads and chickpea soup.

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 some time in one of Morocco’s most picturesque towns – the 11th-century kasbah of Ait Benhaddou – and participate in a painting class with a local artist.
  • Rub shoulders with the locals in Todra Valley, Volubilis and Fes and gain a deeper understanding of sacred sites and the history and culture of Morocco with local and passionate guides.
  • Indulge in a memorable street food experience in the medina of Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakech, eating your fill of Moroccan favourites.
  • Prepare for the best mint tea of your life on a visit to the Tawesna teahouse. This experience is more than just a cuppa – it’s about discovering a culture, sharing a true moment and contributing to the economic inclusion of women.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, the High Atlas Foundation. Donations help manage their sustainable agriculture programs in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountain region, which builds plant nurseries and provides skills training for locals. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. There are a few long days of travel, as you’ll be covering a lot of ground. You will, however, make stops at interesting locations to break up the longer drives. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
  • 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.

 

Trip Overview

classic morocco map
  • Start Casablanca, Morocco
  • Finish Marrakech, Morocco
  • Theme Explorer
  • Destinations Morocco
  • Physical rating
  • Style Comfort
  • Ages Min 15
  • Group size Min 1 – Max 12

Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco and the great city of Casablanca. If you’re arriving today, your trip includes a private transfer from the airport to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive with time to spare, maybe you’d like to 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’re looking for a different cultural experience, you can discover a unique and fascinating part of Moroccan history at the Museum of Judaism. There’s a lot to see and do in Casablanca, so if you’d like to spend more time here before your trip begins, just speak to your booking agent.

Accomodation

  • Hotel (1 night)

included activities

  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer

Meals

There are no meals included on this day.

Add on activities

  • Casablanca – The Medina and Beyond Urban Adventure – MAD700
  • Casablanca – Jewish Museum (entrance fee) – MAD50
  • Casablanca – Villa des Arts Gallery & Museum (entrance fee) – Free
  • Casablanca – Hassan II Mosque – MAD130

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 advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised guides.

After breakfast this morning, visit the Hassan II Mosque – one of Casablanca’s most impressive sites and the Islamic world’s third-largest mosque. This colossal building sits partly on land and partly on the sea, allowing visitors to look through a glass floor in one area, straight down to the water. This is one of the only religious sites open to non-Muslims. Travel by private vehicle to the village of Moulay Idriss, the holiest Islamic town. Head out on a leader-led walking tour, stopping for an optional home-cooked lunch before setting off again. Your next stop is Volubilis – a partly-excavated Amazigh-Roman city outside of Meknes. Explore the ruins and abandoned stones with a local guide, which are covered in wildflowers in the spring. Arrive in Fes, your final destination, and sit down for an included pastilla dinner. This Moroccan specialty is a delicious sweet and savoury pastry parcel of shredded chicken and almonds.

Accomodation

  • Hotel (1 night)

Included activities

  • Casablanca – Hassan II Mosque
  • Moulay Idriss – Leader-led village walk
  • Volubilis – Entrance and guided tour
  • Fes – Pastilla dinner

Meals

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Special information:

Your travel time today is approximately 5 hours. The sun can be incredibly fierce in summer at Volubilis, so bring a hat and plenty of water.

Today, you’ll discover the city of Fes. The spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco – Fes is a visual and aromatic feast for the senses. Join an expert local guide and head into 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 – where the squawk of chickens, the smell of spice, and the sound of hammering copper fills the air, it’s not hard to imagine yourself back in the Middle Ages in Fes. Visit the Al-Attarine Madrasa, built by the Marinid sultan Uthman II Abu Said in 1323-5. Functioning as a religious school, this is one of several such schools located within the medina. You’ll then explore the tanneries and the Fondouk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th-century inn with a beuatiful courtyard. Stop for a refreshing mint tea at a local café and take in the views of the bustling medina. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon for a free evening.

Accomodation

  • (1 night)

Included activities

  • Fes – Medersa El Attarine
  • Fes – Tannery visit
  • Fes – Medina walking tour
  • Fes – Funduq al-Najjarin

Meals

  • 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 re-joining the group can be difficult.

After breakfast, hit the road again and drive through ever-changing scenery, from barren mountainsides to fertile valleys, on the journey to Merzouga. Stop for coffee in Ifrane in the Atlas Mountains and spot some macaque monkeys in the Cedar Forest along the way. Take in the views over Ziz Valley and stop for lunch in Midelt – a town in the high plains between the Middle Atlas and High Atlas Mountain ranges. When you arrive, leave your gear at your overnight camp next to a simple hotel and then climb aboard your designated camel for a ride into the edge of the Sahara Desert – what better way to enjoy the spectacular sunset? The dunes shine as the evening light plays across them and sets off the colours of the desert. Tonight, marvel at the expansive night sky and try some fantastic local cuisine while you sit around an open fire, enjoying live music and dancing in this unforgettable location.

Accomodation

  • 1 night

Included activities

  • Sahara Desert – Camel ride

Meals

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Special information:

Your travel time today is approximately 9 hours. 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 and 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..

Rise and shine nice and early this morning and climb one of the sand dunes to watch the sunrise over the Sahara. Then 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. When you arrive, head out on a leisurely walk through the Todra Valley with your leader. You’ll walk through shaded palm groves and local farms – thanks to the abundance of water here, there are orchards of almost every variety! Think apples, pears, plums, apricots, quinces, pomegranates, figs, almonds and peaches as well as tomatoes, mint, squash, carrots, turnips, beans and grapes. All these plantations belong to locals, who you’ll meet along the way, learning how they take care of the land using traditional irrigation techniques. Tonight, you might like to enjoy an optional dinner of all the local produce you’ve seen growing around you.

Accomodation

  • 1 night

Included activities

  • Todra Gorge – Palmeraie and farm walk

Meals

  • Breakfast

Add on activities

  • Todra Gorge – Hike – MAD350

Special information:

Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.

This morning after breakfast, you’ll drive to Ait Benhaddou. Perched on a hilltop and almost unchanged since the 11th century, this 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 and ksar, making your way to the top of the hill, from where you can enjoy views of the surrounding plains. Then, join a local artist for a painting workshop. You’ll create your own image of the iconic view of the ksar – giving you the perfect opportunity to really take it all in (and then take it home)! Visit the Tawesna teahouse on the river, a community-run establishment that provides local women an income to support themselves and their children. Using ingredients sourced from local cooperatives, the women prepare delicious mint 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 before an included group dinner.

Accomodation

  • 1 night

Included activities

  • Ait Benhaddou – Leader-led ksar walk
  • Ait Benhaddou – Tawesna Tea Break
  • Ait Benhaddou – Panoramic painting lesson

Meals

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Special information:

Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.

Today, you’ll head to vibrant Marrakech. When you arrive, meet your local guide who will lead you through the medina, sharing the city’s history and hidden tales during the walk. From the Koutoubia Mosque to Marrakech’s Photography Museum, there’s so much to absorb in this brilliant city. Take your time, exploring the museum’s exhibition of images taken by travellers to Morocco between 1870 and 1950. Head to the great square of Djemaa el-Fna, one of the largest public spaces in the world. When night falls, it transforms into a hive of activity. Henna painters, performers and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar of stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies that you’ll have the chance to indulge in for dinner tonight. Enjoy a selection of the best local tastes from the various food stalls – including harira (chickpea soup), barbecued and slow-cooked meats with Moroccan spices, fresh salads, fried fish, eggplants and peppers. Wash it all down with some traditional mint tea and share stories, photos and a warm moment with your group before your farewell tomorrow.

Accomodation

  • 1 night

Included activities

  • Marrakech – Tasting Trail
  • Marrakech – Medina walking tour
  • Marrakech – Photography Museum

Meals

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Special information:

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

There are no activities planned after breakfast today, so you’re 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, just speak to your booking agent.

Meals

  • Breakfast

Add on activities

  • Marrakech – Tajine Cookery Class Urban Adventure. – MAD640
  • Marrakech – Hot Air Balloon Ride – MAD2090
  • Marrakech – Heart of the Atlas Mountains cycling day trip with lunch – MAD2000

Meals

7 breakfasts, 4 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Camel

Accommodation

Hotel (4 nights), Desert camp (1 night), Riad (2 nights)

Activities

  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Casablanca – Hassan II Mosque
  • Moulay Idriss – Leader-led village walk
  • Volubilis – Entrance and guided tour
  • Fes – Pastilla dinner
  • Fes – Medersa El Attarine
  • Fes – Tannery visit
  • Fes – Medina walking tour
  • Fes – Funduq al-Najjarin
  • Sahara Desert – Camel ride
  • Todra Gorge – Palmeraie and farm walk
  • Ait Benhaddou – Leader-led ksar walk
  • Ait Benhaddou – Tawesna Tea Break
  • Ait Benhaddou – Panoramic painting lesson
  • Marrakech – Tasting Trail
  • Marrakech – Medina walking tour
  • Marrakech – Photography Museum

Add on activities

  • Casablanca – The Medina and Beyond Urban Adventure – MAD700
  • Casablanca – Villa des Arts Gallery & Museum (entrance fee) – Free
  • Casablanca – Jewish Museum (entrance fee) – MAD50
  • Todra Gorge – Hike – MAD350
  • Marrakech – Tajine Cookery Class Urban Adventure. – MAD640
  • Marrakech – Hot Air Balloon Ride – MAD2090
  • Marrakech – Heart of the Atlas Mountains cycling day trip with lunch – MAD2000

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Original price was: $1,400.00.Current price is: $1,000.00.

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