9 nights Casablanca to Marrakech with Back-Roads Touring
Overview
Kasbahs rising out of the desert, legendary mountain passes and ancient cities brimming with a thousand-and-one sights. This tour will take you on a magic carpet ride through magnificent Morocco, where adventurous days give way to Arabian nights.
Trip Highlights
- Learn how to cook a traditional tagine in Ouarzazate
- Spend the night amidst the dunes of the Sahara Desert at an authentic Berber camp – complete with a traditional feast and local entertainment
- Enjoy a guided walking tour of the World Heritage-listed city: Meknes
Package Details
Travel dates: selected departures in April 2025
Prices from: R51,509 pps
Map
Itinerary
Once an old pirate lair on the Atlantic coast, the sophisticated city of Casablanca is where we’ll meet to begin our intoxicating journey through Morocco. Tonight, we’ll have the opportunity to get to know one another better over a delicious welcome meal at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Idou Anfa Hôtel (or similar)
Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll hit the road to our first stop: Rabat, where we’ll see the marble Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the similarly spectacular Hassan Tower on a guided walking tour. When we arrive in Fes, the evening will be ours to explore at our leisure or relax back at our accommodation. Accommodation: Riad Reda (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
After a stop in the pretty whitewashed town of Moulay Idriss, we’ll make our way to Meknes. Enjoy a relaxed walking tour of this enchanting UNESCO World Heritage-listed city – winding up at the stunning Bab Mansour Gate. Next we’ll savour an included lunch and sample some delicious local wines, before returning to Fes for an evening spent at our leisure. Accommodation: Riad Reda (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
First on the agenda today is a walking tour of Fes’ maze-like medina before we move on to a Moroccan must-see: a leather tannery. We will also visit a workshop that specialises in creating a range of local artisanal products, before having the afternoon free to explore Fes at our own pace. We recommend returning to the buzzing medina and exploring the many colourful storefronts and medieval streets bursting with exotic food stands. Accommodation: Riad Reda (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Today our path leads us out of the city and on a voyage through the striking, jagged landscapes of the Atlas Mountains, covering some distance as we go. We’ll pay a visit to Midelt; nestled in a valley, this golden-hued town offers breathtaking vistas of the surrounding peaks. Afterwards, our scenic journey continues towards the welcoming oasis town of Erfoud, where we’ll enjoy dinner as a group at our hotel. Accommodation: Kasbah Hotel Chergui (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
Our first stop of the day will be Rissani, where we’ll be treated to a walking tour of this historic town, once the site of the renowned desert capital Sijilmasa. Afterwards, we’ll swap the mini-coach for four-wheel drives and venture into the spectacular Sahara Desert – where our camp just outside of Merzouga awaits. Tonight’s dinner will come in the traditional form of a Berber feast, complete with local entertainment. Accommodation: Golden Camp (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
Rise early this morning to catch the mesmerising sunrise over the expanse of red dunes, before we set off on a day’s travel. First we’ll make the picturesque journey to the dramatic Dadès Gorge. After taking some time to explore the gorge at our own pace, we’ll make our way to our hotel for the night. It’s situated a short drive from the fortified village of Aït Benhaddou: a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accommodation: Kasbah La Cigogne (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
We’ll begin our day uncovering the secret to cooking the perfect tagine during an included cooking class. Taking its name from the conical clay pot in which this sumptuous dish is cooked, we’ll sample our own attempts at this slow-cooked stew of meats, dried fruit and vegetables for lunch. Following this, we’ll take a visit to Ouarzazate to find out more about its role on the silver screen at Atlas Film Studios, before an evening spent relaxing at our accommodation. Accommodation: Kasbah La Cigogne (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast | Lunch
After stopping off at Aït Benhaddou Kasbah for a photo opportunity, we’ll move onwards to Marrakech via the awe-inspiring Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass. Tonight, we’ll come together to toast the end of our adventure with a farewell dinner. What an incredible journey we’ve had! Accommodation: 2Ciels Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
Before we say our final goodbyes, we’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour of the ‘Red City’ – where we’ll have the chance to view the incredible Bahia Palace. Following that, we’ll conclude our tour and part ways.
Meals: Breakfast
Includes / Excludes
Inclusions
- 9 nights – hand-picked accommodation
- Meals: 9 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 4 Dinners
- Experienced Tour Leader & Driver
- Premium mini-coach transportation
Exclusions
- International flights and taxes
- Visas (if required)
- Travel Insurance
- Meals and drinks not specified
- Activities & services not specified
- Anything of a personal nature
Terms & Conditions
- Prices are per person, capacity controlled, subject to availability and further subject to rate of exchange fluctuations at time of booking.
- For standard booking terms & conditions see: Back-Roads Terms & Conditions.
- Valid for sale until 30 September 2024.