This is a flexible tour beginning and ending in Marrakesh.

Our tour routes are fully customisable and can be tailored to your preferences, travel style and arrival airport.

Our prices are based on two persons. 

Discounted rates for children and for larger groups.

Customised Morocco is the only link between you and a great tour of Morocco!

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Marrakesh

Upon arrival at Marrakech Menara Airport, you will be met by your specialist guide and transferred by private car to your deluxe riad accommodation in the medina where you will be greeted with a glass of hot, sweet mint tea, a much-loved tradition in Morocco, signifying hospitality and friendship, ordinarily accompanied by delicious almond paste sweets.  Once you have settled in to your accommodation for the next three nights,  your discovery of the Imperial City of Marrakesh, known as the Red City, will commence.

A welcome dinner will be served at your accommodation this evening.  Moroccan food is as diverse and vibrant in colour and flavour as is the Kingdom of Morocco itself.  Prepare for your senses to be rocked and your mind to be opened.  Your Ultimate Moroccan Adventure starts right here!

Day 2 Marrakesh

After a restful night’s sleep you will wake to enjoy a traditional Moroccan breakfast served at your riad.  Today you will embark upon a full day’s privately guided tour of the Red City, visiting some of Marrakesh’s most historical and important monuments.  The possibilities are endless but, whatever your preference, today’s Imperial City tour can be completely tailored to suit your own particular interests and pace and includes lunch.   Perhaps you may wish to visit the 19th century Bahia Palace (its name meaning brilliance in Arabic), or the Saadian Tombs (Morocco’s opulent final resting place for royalty). You will not want to miss the famous Jemaa el Fna square which lies in the shadow of Koutoubia Mosque and its 77 metre Minaret.  You may wish to visit Les Jardins Secret, a restored 19^th century palace and gardens, or enjoy the peace and quiet provided by the famous Jardin Majorelle (a botanical garden and artist’s landscape garden created by French painter Jacques Majorelle over forty years between 1886-1962).   Menara Gardens and Pavilion is the local’s favourite and a great place to watch the sun set over the High Atlas Mountains.  For sure, you’ll want to explore the labyrinthine souks.  The smells, colours and the vibrancy of these brimming markets crammed full with various products including spices, leather goods, metal work, carpets, arts and crafts, clothes (basically anything you can think of), will overtake your senses as you engage in some friendly haggling with merchants wearing djellabas.  Marrakesh has it all.  It’s exotic, it’s a fusion of old and new with museums, textiles, pottery and jewellery, crafts and decorative arts, stunning architecture, beautiful open spaces, ornamental gardens and lush green parks packed with interesting sculptures. It’s chaotic in parts while tranquil in others.  It’s a former Imperial City.   Just outside the borders of the historical old town is the modern and trendy ‘New Town’ of Gueliz where you will find up-market shops and cafes, flashy bars and stylish restaurants.

This evening  you will enjoy dinner on the lively Jemaa El Fna square at the heart of Marrakesh.

We guarantee to show the most important highlights of this Imperial City but also some of the lesser known hidden gems like ANIMA Andre Heller Garden (described as one of the most beautiful and imaginative gardens in the world).  We have the expertise to ensure your experience is unique and personal to you.  We can Customise Morocco.

 

Day 3 Marrakesh

Further explore or simply relax, today is completely at your leisure.   Your specialist guide will be on hand should you require assistance or transportation.  You may like to pay a visit to ANIMA Andre Heller Garden in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains or book a cookery lesson and learn to cook authentic Moroccan dishes.  Maybe you’ll treat yourself to a couple of hours of wellness and enjoy a deep cleansing Moroccan hamman, famous for its black soap made from olives, with a fabulous Argan oil massage to follow.  Perhaps you’ll head back down the narrow alleyways and dive deeper into the souks and spend a few Moroccan Dirhams with the locals.   Whatever you choose to do today, lunch is on us and dinner can be enjoyed in the comfort of your riad or outside at your pleasure.

Day 4 Marrakesh - Ouzoud

Today you take a scenic 3 hour drive to Ouzoud, in the province of Azilal.  Ouzoud has the highest cascading waterfalls in Africa at an impressive 110 metres.  It is one of Morocco’s natural wonders.  Here you will enjoy a private walking tour with lunch overlooking the mesmerising falls.  It’s highly likely you will spot some Barbary monkeys along the way and catch a glimpse of a rainbow in the mist of the cascade created by the sun.  Your accommodation tonight will be a traditional riad guest house situated in the village and close to the falls.  Dinner will be served here this evening.

Day 5 Ouzoud - Casablanca

This morning you will make the 4 hour drive from Ouzoud to Casablanca with a stop off en route for lunch.   In the afternoon you will enjoy a half-day privately guided city tour.  Casablanca is Morocco’s most populous city bordering the Atlantic Ocean.  You will have the opportunity to visit the city’s top attractions including the Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral and Cathedral du Sacre Coeur, along with the Royal Palace, Mohammed V Square, Central Market and the elegant Habous quarter (Casablanca’s new Medina).  Your accommodation tonight will be a beautiful riad or hotel.  Dinner can be taken inside your accommodation or outside entirely at your pleasure.

Day 6 Casablanca - Rabat

This morning you will continue your time in Casablanca visiting the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco.  Its minaret is the world’s tallest at 210 metres.  Afterwards you will have plenty of free time to stroll along the beautifully scenic promenade of Corniche.  Bordering the western seafront of Casablanca and lined with palm trees,  restaurants and swimming pools,  Corniche d’Ain Diab is a district in Casablanca where the rich come out to play and tourists line the streets to enjoy the vast aray of attractions and activities.  Pause here to enjoy a spot of lunch before the short hour’s drive to Rabat.  Tonight you will stay at a perfectly situated deluxe riad in the Medina of Rabat.

Day 7 Rabat

Rabat has been Morocco’s coastal capital since 1912.  It has a beautiful marina located at the mouth of the Bouregreg River.   The grand city has many fascinating sites.  Its famous landmarks speak to its Islamic and French-colonial heritage and include the unfinished Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the 17th century walled medina and the opulent Royal Palace.  You will witness stunning views from the clifftop Kasbah of the Udayas and visit Rabat’s jewel in the crown highlight, the gardens and Roman ruins of Chellah, a UNESCO World Heritage listed site since 1981.  A truly delightful capital, enchantingly cultural and richly historical.  With so much to see and discover you will need a full day to lavish on this grand Capital City.

Day 8 Rabat - Tangier

After a wonderful night’s sleep you will wake and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading northwest and our next destination, Tangier.  Tangier is a Moroccan port city on the Strait of Gibraltar and has for centuries been Europe’s gateway to Africa.  A fascinating city, Tangier has unspoiled beaches and a whitewashed hillside Medina overlooked by former Sultan’s palace of Dar el-Makhzen, now the Museum of Moroccan Arts and the archaeological Museum of Antiquities.  Tangier was loved by artist Henri Matisse.  His work ‘Window at Tangier’ was influenced during his visit to Morocco in 1912.  And even 007 has paid a visit; in the 2015 James Bond movie, Spectre, the plot hinges on documents found in Hotel L’Americain in Tangier.

Following lunch you will embark upon a privately guided half day tour in order to experience all that this cosmopolitan coastal city has to offer.    This evening you will enjoy dinner out.

Day 9 Tangier

Today you will be treated to a visit of the Caves of Hercules, an archaeological cave complex located in Cape Spartel, just 14 km west of Tangier.   According to mythological tradition, it is here that the Roman god Hercules rested before carrying out his 11th of twelve labours bestowed upon him which was to gather golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides.  The Caves of Hercules has a sea opening known as The Map of Africa as a result of its shape. The caves are a must see when on a visit to Tangier.  They are quite spectacular and well worth the walk.  After lunch we return to Tangier where you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring entirely at your leisure.

Day 10 Tangier - Chefchaouen

Following a leisurely breakfast, we bid farewell to Tangier and take a short 2 hour drive to the Blue City of Chefchaouen nestled in Morocco’s Rif Mountains.  Today is an ultimate adventure in itself as you explore the winding alleys and steep cobbled streets of this picturesque old town with endless photo opportunities.  The central square of Place Outa el Hammam is dominated by the 15th-century red-walled Kasbah fortress and dungeon, and the town’s Grand Mosque.  The pretty medina is lined with cafes, restaurants and artsy blue-tinted buildings housing dozens of hotels and shops.   It’s a hive of activity with locals and tourist mingling easily.  Here you will stay for one night in a traditional blue-washed guest house.

Day 11 Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Meknes

Today is a day packed full of adventure and exploration.  Your first stop is Volubilis, now a ruined Roman city of Morocco.    Founded in the 3rd Century BC and abandoned in the 11th Century AD, the ancient city of Volubilis is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.   The archaeological remnants of this site bear witness to several civilisations.  Just 5 km from Volubilis is the holy city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, one of Morocco’s most important pilgrimage sites and the burial place of Moulay Idris el Akhbar, a great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the man who brought Islam to Morocco over fourteen hundred years ago.

Just 30 km from Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and the ancient ruins of Volubilis is the Imperial City of Meknes, and your final stop for today.  The historic city of Meknes is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre.  Highlights are the Royal Palace,  Bab Mansour (a beautifully decorated gate of the old Medina),  the Sehrij Swani water reservoir built by Moulay Idriss for watering his gardens, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail (second ruler of Moroccan Alaouite dynasty), his Granaries and Royal Stables.  After a long day sightseeing you’ll be sure to enjoy dinner and an overnight stop-off in Meknes at a delightful and comfortable boutique riad.

Day 12 Meknes - Fes

From Meknes we head to Fes, and your home for the next two nights.  Fes is Morocco’s oldest Imperial City, often referred to as the country’s cultural capital.  Fes Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site peppered with alleyways that see far fewer tourists than those of Marrakesh. Its passages are narrower, making it impossible not to get caught up in the comings and goings of daily life here.  Vibrant in colours and with heady aromas abound, you’ll dive deep into the medina as you twist and turn through its cramped and crooked alleyways with just a glimpse of sunlight as you pass through.  Cat-calls, vast activity, billowing smoke from stoves, and the pungent pits of the tanneries welcomely obscured by barrow-fulls of fresh mint, conjure up mystery and intrigue. The Medina of Fes is as enticing as it is stomach-churning.  With over nine thousand tiny streets dating from the 9th Century, The medina of Fes is enthralling and wonderfully raw.

Main highlights include the University of Al Quaraouiyine and Mosque.  Al Quaraouiyine is recognised by UNESCO as being the oldest university in the world, dating back to the 9th Century.  The Royal Palace of Fes, with its imposing golden doors and mosaic tiling, is spectacular and well worth a visit, as is Batha Square and Museum, Madrasa Bou Inania, Medina of Fes, Chouara 11th Century tanneries and the Jewish Quarter.   You will enjoy a day’s privately guided tour of this Imperial City and stay at one of our hand-selected riads situated in the historic old town of Fes with panoramic terrace views of the Medina.

Day 13 Fes

This morning you will visit the dramatic ruined Merenid Tombs, a crumbling necropolis situated high above Fes.  The views over Fes are spectacular and well worth the climb.  Later you’ll return to the medina of Fes. The afternoon is free to explore entirely at your leisure.  Perhaps you’ll make a return visit to the strikingly colourful if a tad smelly Chouara tanneries or you may wish to take a cleansing hamman and massage and relax by the pool.  This evening’s dinner can be taken at a restaurant overlooking the historic Medina.

Day 14 Fes - Merzouga

Today you leave the majesty of Fes and head for the Sahara.  The 474 km journey is long but there will be plenty to see en route to the desert.  Not long after leaving the Imperial City of Fes and its universities on the outskirts of the city, you’ll travel across La plaine du Saïss, a vast fertile plain between the Rif and Middle Atlas Mountains, vital for the countries’ agricultural industry and where olive groves, apple and orange trees, vegetables, cereals and even grapes are grown.   On your journey through this region you will likely observe long caterpillar-like structures dotting the landscape.  These are strips of storage technology, known as onion caves. The farmers in Morocco build these onion caves (essentially a man-made ditch using rock walls and a straw roof and then covered in plastic) to keep the onions off the ground and away from moisture.

Just a little over an hour away from Fes is the alpine city of Ifrane with its Atlas cedar forests home to rare Barbary macaques and its National Park.  Ifrane, nicknamed Little Switzerland, as a result of its alpine-styled architecture, is a popular ski resort and university city.  A stone statue of a lion near the leafy Parc la Prairie is a well known landmark.  Further along you will enjoy more stunning scenery as you pass through the incredible and winding Ziz Valley.  On arrival in Erfoud, a town famous for its dates and fossils, the impressive sand dunes of Erg Chebbi will begin to take shape and rise in height until your arrival in Merzouga and just in time for sunset, where your camels will be waiting to transport you into the desert for a night under the stars at Borj Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp.

Day 15 Merzouga

This morning you will wake from your night spent under the stars in the Sahara Desert to witness a majestic sunrise. Following a breakfast fit for a King you will transfer back via your Ship of the Desert (camel) to Merzouga village and the 5* Riad Madu for a spot of relaxation by the pool.  You will have the opportunity to visit the Gnawa music village to watch a show, or you may decide to head out to the sand dunes again perhaps on a quad bike, 4×4 or camel!  Whatever you decide to do today, there will always be time to head into town for a spot of shopping.  Here you will find your souvenirs, rugs and carpets far cheaper than in the souks of the Imperial Cities.

Day 16 Merzouga - Quarzazate

This morning you will leave the magic of the Sahara Desert behind and begin your journey back towards Marrakesh.  Today your destination is the city of Ouarzazate.  As you drive towards the oasis town of Erfoud you will pass numerous shops selling fossils, minerals and marble products.  From the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert the rocks are rich in minerals and fossils.  Further along you will journey into the Valley of Roses (M’Gouna Valley), the land of pink and red, where you will stop off at a local co-operative selling produce from the valley.  The Damask rose buds are harvested by local families and dried for their use in cosmetics, home decoration and cooking.  The rose petals are distilled into rose water and, ultimately, rose oil, before making their way into many of the world’s perfumes.  Every year sees a Festival of Roses in May, quite unlike any other, which showcases the year’s harvest in all its glory.

Onwards, once more, and as you crisscross the Draa Valley and its lush oases tracing some of the old caravan trading routes located along the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, you will visit both the Dades Gorge and Todra Gorge before arriving at your boutique riad accomodation in Ouarzazate.

Day 17 Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakesh

Today you will continue your journey along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou.  Here you will enjoy a walk around the village and take in the 360 degree views from atop The Granary.  Ait Ben Haddou is a Ksar, a fortified village with its history dating back almost one thousand years and has been used as a scenic backdrop for many a blockbuster movie including Ridley Scott’s Gladiator.  You will pause here for a spot of lunch before heading to Kasbah Telouet, a ruinous Kasbah often overlooked by most visitors, built in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Continuing onward to Marrakesh you will journey across the Tizi n’Tichka pass through the High Atlas Mountains.

As you come full circuit and your Ultimate Moroccan Adventure draws to a close, you will enjoy your penultimate meal in the medina of Marrakesh overlooking the Jemaa El Fna Square with, perhaps, just enough time to purchase some last minute souvenirs.

Day 18 Marrakesh - Home

Today we say Bislema (‘goodbye’ in Arabic) and a bon voyage, and hope very much that you have enjoyed your time in the Kingdom of Morocco as much as we have enjoyed guiding you.  Before you depart, you will enjoy one last Moroccan breakfast at your Riad.  Your private taxi will be on hand to transfer you to Marrakesh Menara Airport in accordance with your flight departure time.  Should you have an afternoon or evening departure, you can rest assured your luggage can be stored safely at your accommodation until your taxi transfer to the airport.

Accommodation

For this Ultimate Moroccan Adventure we have hand-selected 3-5* accommodation throughout chosen for location, styling, comfort, and exemplary service.  Below is just a taste of the quality accommodation you can expect on your tour.

All our tours are fully customisable and offer the freedom and flexibility to design an itinerary and accommodation that is perfect for you. 

Please contact us should you wish to upgrade your accommodation for this tour. 

MARRAKESH

In Marrakesh we have chosen Riad Bindoo.  An exceptional, well-styled riad located in the Medina, it has comfortable lounges, a rooftop terrace with sunbeds and views over the Medina.  The rooms are spacious and harmoniously arranged.  A truly stunning riad.

Also in Marrakesh is specially selected Riad Le Jardin d’Abdou. A boutique 9 suite riad with views to the Palmeraie, it offers comfort and serenity.  It has a Hammam and beauty treatment room providing a calm oasis.

Ouzoud

In Ouzoud we have chosen La Kasbah d’Ouzoud for its lush gardens and refreshing outdoor swimming pool.

CASABLANCA

In Casablanca we have chosen Hotel & Spa Le Doge for its central location, stunning Art Deco styling and sumptuous rooms.

RABAT

In Rabat we have chosen Dar El Kebria Salam for its magnificent terraces, panoramic views and rooftop swimming pool, plus its stunning architecture and luxurious rooms.  A truly magical place in the heart of Rabat.

Also in Rabat, Riad Sidi Fatah has been chosen for its charm and location in the heart of the Medina and its traditional Moroccan architecture.

TANGIER

In Tangier we have carefully selected Kasbah Rose set in the Kasbah of Tangier for its light and airy feel, sun terrace and mountain views.

Also in Tangier is the stunning Mimi Calpe, hand-picked for its quiet garden oasis and swimming pool.

CHEFCHAOUEN

In the fabulous blue city of Chefchaouen we have selected Dar Elrio for a perfect mix of traditional and modern.

Also in Chefchaouen is Dar Echchaouen, specially selected by us for its fantastic pool views of the Rif Mountains.

MEKNES

In Meknes we have specially selected Riad Yacout.  Located in the heart of the Meknes Medina and dating back to 1830.  It was completely restored in 2008.  If you wish to treat yourself and indugle in a Moroccan Hamman, Riad Yacout offers the perfect environment to help you recoup your energy and relax. There is also dipping pool and private sun terrace in which to further relax.

FES

Our choice of accommodation in Fes is the exceptional Palais Houyam, a sumptuous Arab-Andalusian palace restored and reopened as a luxury hotel in July 2017.  It has a stunning outdoor dipping pool and a luxurious hammam and spa.  Here you will spend two nights whilst you experience all that this wonderful Imperial City of Fes has to offer.

Also in Fes is the fabulous Riad Braya for its contemporary design. This beautifully restored old house of the noble Fassi family has a terrace with unobstructed views of Fes old Medina.

MERZOUGA

Welcome to the Sahara Desert and the village of Merzouga.  For one night you will camp under the stars amongst the dramatic sand dunes of Erg Chebbi staying in comfortable tents at Borj Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp where you will be treated to a roaring fire, music, a five course meal, hot showers and wonderful beds.

For your second day and night in Merzouga, you will transfer to the simply stunning 5* Riad Madu where you can relax and take a dip in the pool overlooking the impressive golden sand dunes.

QUARZAZATE

Riad Bouchedor in the town of Ouarzazate has long been a favourite of our guests travelling into the Sahara Desert.  A warm and welcoming riad with a rooftop terrace and outdoor swimming pool, the riad is styled in keeping with the old Kasbahs of Ouarzazate.

Also in Ouarzazate is Kasbah Riad Hotel Dar Chamaa situated amongst a lush palmeraie oasis with its inviting swimming pool and sun terrace.  A warm welcome awaits.

How to Book

Our booking process is simple.  Just fill in the form below and we will get straight back in touch.  Feel free to use our price calculator to estimate the final cost of your chosen tour.   Please be assured, our tour prices are not subject to seasonal price fluctuations. The price you see is the price you pay.  Our tours are not inclusive of flights and these will need to be booked and paid for separately.  When filling out the booking form please give an indication of your preferred dates of travel.  Once we have confirmed availability for your chosen tour and its start date, we will hold your booking for a period of 5 working days to allow you time to arrange your flights.    When you have notified us of your flight details, your booking will be confirmed and only then will your deposit become payable. Payment can be made via bank transfer.  The final balancing payment for the tour will be payable on arrival in Morocco.  We are able to modify your tour in accordance with your time of arrival and departure. Please let us know your exact requirements.  We can customise Morocco!

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is essential when visiting Morocco. As Morocco is outside of the EU there are no reciprocal healthcare agreements and you will not be covered by an EHIC if you have one. A travel insurance policy that covers emergency medical assistance and repatriation, and also covering all activities you are planning to participate in is a mandatory requirement for all our tours and we reserve the right to ask for proof of such.

It is wise to buy your Travel Insurance at the same time as booking your flights and tour as you will be covered from the outset.

Top Tip

Through experience we have found travellers with pre-existing medical conditions may find cheaper comprehensive travel insurance through specialist insurers such as staysure.co.uk, insurancewith.com and bootstravelinsurance.com.

For further travel and safety advice we would suggest reviewing the following websites:  www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco

Customised Morocco does not sell Travel Insurance and has no affiliation with any of the insurance companies referred to above.

Financial Protection for You

The final balancing payment for your tour is due only upon arrival in Morocco.   Deposits can be made via bank transfer.

We understand that sometimes your plans may change. Should you need to cancel your trip, your deposit, whilst non-refundable, can be credited to the cost of an alternative trip, less any costs incurred, i.e. hotel reservations, etc, if taken within six months of your original booking.  We are is committed to being completely honest and transparent with our customers and places integrity at the forefront of everything we do.  Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.