Hit Morocco's highlights on a mesmerizing adventure holiday in Morocco by Cox & Kings. Wander through kasbahs, spice markets and cities pulsing with energy on this comprehensive trip. Experience the energy of imperial cities as you explore souks stuffed with exotic wares. Log on to know more! http://adventure.coxandkings.com/destinations/north-africa-and-middle-east-adventure-holidays/morocco

1. Highlights Of Morocco
15 Days , CASABLANCA to MARRAKECH
What's Included
● Overseas Travel Insurance for the duration of the tour (Sum of USD 2,50,000 covered).
● 12 nights accommodation at the hotels as mentioned or similar.
● 1 night accommodation at the gite (multi-share).
● 1 night accommodation at the nomad camp ( multi-share).
● Meals Included: 14 breakfasts, 3 dinners.
● Tangier guided tour.
● Meknes guided tour.
● Volubilis guided tour.
● Fes medina guided tour.
● Sahara Desert excursion with camel ride and overnight Berber camp.
● Todra Gorge stay with walk through local villages. Ait Ben Haddou kasbah visit. Amred
village walk (High Atlas). Gite stay with traditional meals. Essaouira orientation walk.
Marrakech medina guided walk.
● Transportation is by a Private air-con van, camel, walking.
● Services of Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout the tour.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to
review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect
your plans.

2. Itinerary
DAY 1 Casablanca
You are welcome to arrive in Casablanca at any time, as today is a designated
arrival day with no planned activities.
Please note that there will be an important welcome meeting this evening at
our joining hotel. Please check the hotel notice board for more information on
the location of this meeting or ask at the reception. Please bring your passport
and travel insurance documents to this meeting, as you will be required to fill
out some important pre-trip admin documents.
Please note, this tour does not spend any time in Casablanca. You may wish to
come a day early in order to explore Casablanca's small medina, beachfront

3. and classic examples of Art Deco architecture. Be sure to visit the spectacular
Hassan II mosque. Entrance is only permitted via guided tours which operate
from Saturday to Thursday (closed Fridays) at 09h00, 10h00, 11h00, and
14h00. Please refer to optional activity section of these notes for prices. These
times are subject to change (particularly around Ramadan) please double
check these times with your hotel.
A general note about this tour. This is a very fast paced itinerary which covers
lots of ground. While this is great as it allows us to see a huge amount in the
available time, it also means some early starts, some long drives in the mini
van and less free time than many other G Adventures.
After learning more about our tour and plans for the following day, you are
welcome to join the CEO and your travelling companions for an optional dinner.
DAY 2 Tangier/Chefchaouen
Depart in the morning by private van for Tangier. Take a guided tour of the
city including the medina kasbah Grand Socco (a bustling square at the
entrance to the medina) and Petit Socco a little square in the medina perfect
for people-watching and mint tea-drinking. In the afternoon continue on to
Chefchaouen.
Tangier is an exotic mix of influences located at the northern tip of Morocco.
With culture cuisine and language coming from North Africa Spain Portugal
and France this bustling port city is unique and fascinating.
Chefchaouen is a gorgeous mountain town in northern Morocco. It is often
skipped when travelling the standard route around Morocco but is truly one of
the most special places to visit. Set in the Rif Mountains this town's
white-washed buildings with blue accents make it one of the most picturesque
places in the country. Known as the Blue City the distinctive blue colour was
added by the city's jewish population who lived as refugees in the 1930s. The
main square is lined with cafes and shops selling a multitude of handicrafts
often not available elsewhere in the country.
Estimated travel time to Tangier: 5 hrs
Estimated travel time to Chefchaouen: 2 hrs
DAY 3 Chefchaouen
Enjoy a free day in Chefchaouen. Options to hike in the Rif mountains explore
the town take a traditional hammam or visit a local weavers cooperative.
DAY 4 Meknes/Volubilis/Fes

4. This morning we drive from Chefchaouen to Meknes. In the afternoon we enjoy
a guided tour of Meknes.
We start our guided tour in front of the impressive 18th century Bab Mansour
the ornamental gate to the imperial city of Meknes built by Sultan Moulay
Ismail in honour of himself. The gate faces Place el-Hadim where after dark
fills with many Moroccan families coming to be entertained by story-tellers
snake-charmers horse rides & medicine men. To the left of the square you'll
find one of Morocco's most colourful & friendliest fresh produce souks and
home to the city's famous confectionaries. Behind the square is the entrance to
the rambling souks where you can discover the many artisans and their crafts.
From here we enter what is left of the imperial city (Meknes was flattened by a
huge earthquake in 1755) and visit the small but impressive Mausoleum of
Moulay Ismail. Then we will pass by the entrance of the Meknes Royal Palace
and end up at Moulay Ismail's massive Heri es Souani. This was his personal
stable & granary for his 12000 horses.
After we'll make our way through the rolling hills for a guided visit of the
impressive Roman ruins of Volubilis the best preserved Roman ruins in this
part of Northern Africa. Once an important Roman town the site is situated
near the westernmost border of the Roman Empire. In 1997 Volubilis was
listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wandering through the deserted
streets where chariots once passed you can envision the vibrance the town
once had. Listen to your certified local guide explain about life in the Roman
Empire as you peer into old bathhouses marveling at the still-present mosaic
floors and gazing up at the towering marble pillars.
We leave the Roman Empire to make our way to Fes. We will be staying in the
the new city of Fes built by the French during their Protectorate of Morocco.
This area has the feel of a French provincial town with its cafes restaurants
and wide boulevards.
The Fes medina is the world's largest medina with over 9000 winding streets
lying within 365 hectares. Buildings within the medina date back to the 9th
century during the 11th century Fes was the largest city in the known world.
There are 350 mosques in the medina where the locals can enter to pray which
devout Muslims do five times a day as part of the five pillars of Islam.
We enter through one of the great gates into the chaotic confusing and melee
that is the Fes medina. We explore the medina's many artisans' quarters such
as the brass copper and wedding adornment souks. The carpenters bakers
butchers & spice sellers also have their area of the medina that they call home.
A highlight is a visit to the famous Fes tannery where we have great views
from a panoramic viewpoint over the men hard at work treating and dying the
different hides.
We'll also get to see its religious and historical heart when we visit Moulay

5. Idriss II's Mausoleum (the founder of Fes) the 9th century Al Karaouine
University and one of the many Medersas (Koranic school).
Approx travel time: Meknes to Volubilis 45 mins. Volubilis to Fes 2 hrs
excluding stops.
Approx travel time: Chefchaouen to Meknes- 4.5 hrs excluding stops
This evening why not head off for a Moroccan feast at one of the many
restaurants and finish off the night with some famous Moroccan mint tea.
DAY 5 Fes
Day 5 is free for you to explore more of the Fes medina or the new town (Ville
Nouvelle) at your leisure. Your CEO will provide you with options for your day
including transport options to get you from the hotel into Fes medina.
(Please note only certified local guides are allowed to guide in the medina so
for the free day your CEO cannot accompany you here but will be able to help
you find a local guide if you wish. Of course you are also welcome to just
wander at your own speed -just remember to find a map!)
DAY 6 Merzouga
'Today we have a full travel day through the diverse landscapes that make
Morocco so unique. Pass through the cedar and pine forests keeping an eye
out for Barbary apes. Pass over the Middle Atlas Mountains through the
pre-desert countryside with its deep gorges filled with splendid oasis of green
palm groves finally arriving at the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert.
We spend the night in a desert auberge (simple hotel) located right on the
edge of the dunes. Here we will have dinner local-style and spend the night.
Please note some rooms may have shared bathroom facilities at the desert
auberge.
Approx travel time including stops: Fes to Merzouga 10-11hrs
DAY 7 Merzouga
Taking only our day packs with what we will need for this evening we set off on
an hour's camel ride to our desert camp deep in the dunes. Your local guides
will teach you how to mount and dismount and other handy camel-related
safety tips. Be sure to get them to teach you the trick of tying your turban to
keep the desert sun off your face and add a little flare to your photos. From
your first cup of mint tea you'll enjoy a warm welcome at our desert camp. A
traditional dinner under the stars cooked by our hosts awaits. In the evening
there will be time to hear stories about life in this region and perhaps if we are
lucky we might be treated to some traditional music on the drums.

6. Facilities are very basic - each Bedouin tent sleeps approximately 4 people but
most people prefer to relax and enjoy the sounds of silence during a night
under the starry desert skies. Mattresses and a sheet and blanket are provided.
For those travelling in the winter months (Nov- April) we highly recommend a
sleeping bag for additional warmth. It is back to nature as far as bathroom
facilities go.
Today is free until we head out on our camel safari in the late afternoon. Why
not spend the cool of the morning exploring the undulating golden sands of the
dunes. Or simply relax by the pool or read a book in the cool communal couch
area.
We also offer an optional activity of a 4x4 safari into the sand dunes of the
Sahara desert. Ask your CEO for more details and current price of this exciting
adventure.
DAY 8 Todra Gorge
We rise early for a morning departure by camel from the camp and return to
our auberge where we have our breakfast.
Continue by bus to Tinehrir and into the Todra Valley. Enjoy a walk in the lush
palm groves and learn more about local life in this region including which
crops are grown and how the land is farmed. You may even be lucky to taste
some of the fruit in season straight from the source.
Head to the stunning Todra Gorge we spend the night in this beautiful and
peaceful area. The Todra River has carved out cliff-sided canyons through the
mountains with the final 300m of the gorge being the most spectacular as the
canyon narrows to a flat stony track as little as 10m wide in places with sheer
and smooth rock walls up to 160 m high on each side.
Today the Todra River looks more like a stream as it runs its way through the
gorge with hotels and restaurants huddled against the steep walls. It is easy to
walk through the gorge there is a well-maintained dirt road to walk along. The
scenery is spectacular.
While staying in a hotel nestled in between the sheer cliffs of the gorge you
will have the chance to enjoy a relaxing evening indulging in local Berber
cuisine. Please note that due to location the hotel power is run by a generator
and the electricity is turned off every night at approximately 11pm. We
recommend bringing a headlamp for getting around at night if necessary.
Approx travel time: Merzouga to Todra Gorge 4-6 hrs with stops.
DAY 9 At Ben Haddou
This morning we continue along the 'Route of a 1000 Kasbahs' to Ouarzazate
where we will take our lunch break.

7. We continue on to the village of Ait Ben Haddou. Ait Ben Haddou is a
wonderful example of a collection of kasbahs (a type of fortress). Carefully
restored over the years and now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site it
is considered to be one of the best preserved kasbah villages in Morocco. A
few families still call the kasbah their home but the majority of locals have
gradually moved to the nearby settlement. During our visit to the Kasbah lose
yourself in the narrow windin g passageways and feel the magical atmosphere
of this incredible structure.
Approx travel time including stops: Todra Gorge to Ait Ben Haddou 5-6 hrs.
This evening there may be the chance for an optional cooking class. Learn the
secrets of how to make the perfect tagine and then sample your skills for your
dinner. Once at home you can impress your friends with your culinary skills!
DAY 10 High Atlas Mountains
We leave the pre-desert country for the magnificent High Atlas mountain
landscape crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2260m before heading into the
splendid Toubkal National Park passing through small villages on winding
mountain roads arriving at the village of Imlil. With our main luggage
transported by mule we embark on the walk from Imlil to the little village of
Aremd (1 hour) arriving at our simple mountain gite for the night.
While the walk to the gite is uphill we will take it at a slow pace and it is
achievable by anyone of average fitness. Accommodation is multi-share up to 6
beds in each room. Bedding is provided but you will need to bring a sleeping
bag for additional warmth if travelling in the months Nov-April. You will also
need to bring your own bath towel. Bathroom facilities are shared.
Tonight we enjoy a homemade dinner of local produce in the cozy salon. Settle
in and enjoy the tranquility fantastic views and clean mountain air of this
magical region.
Approx travel time: Ait Ben Haddou to Imlil 5hrs
Approx walking time: Imlil to Aremd 1 hour
DAY 11 Essaouira
After breakfast we'll walk back out to meet our transport in Imlil and head to
the coastal town of Essaouira arriving in the mid-afternoon.
Rest of the day is free for your explorations tomorrow.
Approx travel time including stops: Imlil to Essaouira 5hrs
Approx walking time: Aremd to Imlil 1 hour

8. DAY 12 Essaouira
Day 12 is free to browse the many shops for the many crafts on sale, watch the
brightly painted ships bring their catch into the busy harbour or take a stroll
along the long, sandy beach. It's a perfect place to enjoy some local seafood
and unwind. You might even like to enjoy some of the wide variety of activities
on offer such as wind surfing and horse riding. Your CEO can arrange camel
riding on the beach in Essaouira for you, please ask them for more details if
you are interested.
DAY 13 Marrakech
In the morning we continue our journey to Marrakech. Once arriving in the red
city join your certified city guide for a tour of the Marrakech medina. Visit the
historical Koutoubia Minaret and gardens Bahia Palace the Mellah and the
Saadian Tombs. Take note as your guide takes you through some of the local
souks with their narrow winding streets.
Approx travel time: Essaouira to Marrakech 3-4 hrs
Once the tour is finished you are free to discover the secrets of this amazing
ancient city at your leisure. Once you've tired yourself out relax at one of the
tea houses around the square indulging in the ubiquitous sweet mint tea
watching the hustle and bustle from your shady spot.
DAY 14 Marrakech
Day 14 is a free day to explore. A great place to start your adventure is Djemaa
el Fna square in the heart of the medina. The square changes its offerings
throughout the day. In the morning you can wander past the fresh orange juice
stalls water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water bags
brass cups and snake charmers reminiscent of an era past.
As the day progresse s the snake charmers are replace d by Chleuh
dancing-boys story-tellers magicians and peddlers of traditional medicines. As
the sun sets the square fills with dozens of food-stalls packed with locals and
the entertaining chefs and waiters. Grab a spot on a bench with the other
diners and try the Tanjia (slow cooked lamb) Harira soup grilled seafood
famous Moroccan couscous tajine snails or even sheep's head for the truly
adventurous and wash it all down with some spiced tea.
To really get a taste of everyday life in Marrakech head into the maze of tiny
streets and alleyways of the ancient medina. Tourists and locals alike will find
everything they desire in the souks whether it's spices traditional jalabas and
slippers or famous Moroccan lanterns the selection here is exhaustive and
don't forget to bargain it's definitely part of the fun. Perhaps end the day like a

9. local with an optional group dinner in the famous food stalls of Djemaa el Fna.
DAY 15 Marrakech
You are free to depart Marrakech at any time. Please note that hotel check out
time is normally mid-morning but luggage storage is available (possible extra
charge to be paid locally). We are able to organis e extra nights '
accommodation if you wish to extend your stay. Please enquire at the time of
booking.