This leisurely paced itinerary combines the many diverse facets of this absorbing and welcoming North African country of Morocco.
From the magnificent Imperial Cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech, travel into the Atlas Mountains, snow capped in winter, to Ouarzazate set in rugged scenery and one of the last outposts before the Sahara. End your journey in Taroudant, known locally as the ‘grandmother of Marrakech’ this ancient ochre-red walled town was an important staging post on the caravan routes in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Casablanca – Fes – Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Taroudant
Trip Highlights
- Casablanca is known for its Neo-Moorish style architecture and impressive mosque
- Morocco’s capital until 1925, Fes is defined by the intricate alleyways of the medina
- Explore Marrakech’s medina, a maze of bustling souks selling spices and handicrafts
- Ouarzazate is the gateway to the desert, home to Berber communities and kasbahs
Itinerary
Day 1
UK to Casablanca
Fly from London with Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca where you will be met upon arrival and transferred to the Royal Mansour Hotel for your overnight stay.
Royal Mansour Casablanca
Day 2
Casablanca to Fes – 300kms
This morning leave Casablanca by chauffeur driven car to Rabat the capital of Morocco where you will have the opportunity to explore the Kasbah des Ouadaïas with its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses. In the afternoon continue to Fes.
- Breakfast
Riad Fes
Day 3
Fes
Today explore this fascinating city, one of the largest medieval cities in the world, with your local guide. Venture in to the Medina of Fes el-Bali declared by UNESCO as one of the world’s cultural treasures and where the palaces, mosques and fountains are among the most beautiful in Morocco.
- Breakfast
Riad Fes
Day 4
Fes
Drive out through rural countryside to visit ruins of the Roman City at Volubilis and the nearby Imperial City of Meknes.
- Breakfast
Riad Fes
Day 5
Fes to Marrakech – 480kms
Leave Fes for the scenic drive south to Marrakech. On the way visit the mountain resort of Ifrane and arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon.
- Breakfast
Les Jardins de La Koutoubia
Villas des Orangers
Royal Mansour Marrakesh
Day 6
Marrakech
Marrakech is one of the world’s great cities with the High Atlas Mountains, normally snow-capped until late spring, forming a dramatic backdrop to the magnificent ochre walls that surround the vibrant and colourful Medina. Today, tour the city with your guide visiting the 12th Century Koutoubia Minaret, the beautiful carvings of the Saadian Tombs and the Bahia Palace which is noted for its fine architecture. Walk through the souks teeming with shops and craftsmen to the famous Jemaa el Fna Square which comes alive at sunset with its vibrant mix of entertainers.
- Breakfast
Les Jardins de La Koutoubia
Villas des Orangers
Royal Mansour Marrakesh
Day 7
Marrakech
At leisure to further explore Marrakech on your own.
- Breakfast
Les Jardins de La Koutoubia
Villas des Orangers
Royal Mansour Marrakesh
Day 8
Marrakech to Ouarzazate – 230kms
Leave this morning by chauffeur driven car for the spectacular drive across the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, 2,260m, to Ouarzazate. Visit Kasbah Telouet and the stunning Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou en-route arriving in Ouarzazate in the afternoon. Surrounded by austere mountains, this former French outpost forms a natural gateway to the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert and the regions beyond. Stay for two nights 40kms outside of Ouarzazate at Les Jardins de Skoura, an old farm dwelling that has been beautifully developed into a charming guesthouse. Alternatively, break your journey in the Atlas Mountains with a stay at Kasbah Tamadot or Kasbah du Toubkal.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Les Jardins de Skoura
Dar Ahlam
Day 9
Marrakech to Ouarzazate – 230kms
Visit the Draâ Valley with its red earth coloured Kasbahs and villages. The road from Ouarzazate is spectacular, first crossing the Jbel Anaouar Mountains, before dropping down to the Draâ Valley with its river hedged by date palms and the desert beyond.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Les Jardins de Skoura
Dar Ahlam
Day 10
Ouarzazate to Taroudant – 290kms
Continue onto Taroudant in the heart of the fertile Souss Valley.
- Breakfast
Riad Dar Zitoune
La Gazelle D’Or
Day 11
Taroudant
Today you are at leisure to further explore Taroudant and the surrounding area with your driver.
- Breakfast
Riad Dar Zitoune
La Gazelle D’Or
Day 12
Taroudant to Agadir – 65kms / Agadir to UK
This morning leave Taroudant and drive to Agadir in good time to catch your return flight to London.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Discover the distinctive blue-washed buildings of Chefchaouen, a charming town set within the Rif Mountains of northwest Morocco. Established in the 15th century, explore the labyrinthine medina, fortress and Grand Mosque. Chefchaouen is around a four-hour drive north of Fes.
Tangier is located in the north of Morocco. A city of great strategic importance and shaped by civilisations including the Phoenicians and the Romans, Tangier guards the western entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar. Explore the historic buildings and markets of the atmospheric medina.
Experience the extraordinary landscapes of the Sahara Desert, where camel caravans commenced their long journeys across this vast expanse of golden dunes. View the Erg Chebbi dunes which tower 150m in height and marvel at the breathtaking desert sunrise and sunsets.
Include a stay in beautiful Essaouira which is a morning’s drive west of Marrakech. Located on the Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Essaouira’s medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a warren of narrow streets, whitewashed houses with blue shutters and bustling souks.
Guide to Price
12 days from £4370 - £4800 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Private car and driver
- Sightseeing with accompanying English speaking guide
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Meals unless specified
from £4370 - £4800
Travel Information
Getting There
There are regular flights between the UK and Morocco with services from all the major UK airports to Marrakech including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester and Bristol. There are also direct and indirect flights to other Moroccan cities. British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, EasyJet and Ryanair all offer non-stop services.
Flying Times From UK
Direct flights from the UK take around 3 hours. Flights with stops en-route take an hour or two longer.
Time Zone
Morocco follows GMT. During daylight saving adjustments between March and October, Morocco is +1 hour ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
A visa is not needed for British Citizens but the passport needs to be valid for the duration of your stay. Visitors from the UK are permitted to stay in Morocco for up to three months so, if your passport is valid for less than this length of time, you may face difficulties when trying to enter the country.
Do’s & Don’ts
Do not wear very short shorts or show bare arms or shoulders.
After shaking hands with someone, touch your right hand to your heart as a sign of respect.
Use your right hand for shaking hands, eating out of a common dish and handling merchandise or money.
It is considered rude to use your left hand.
Always ask permission before taking pictures of people. In rural areas women will almost never agree and men only occasionally.
We would also recommend taking a small French or Arabic phrase book which may come in useful.
Money
The currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham and there are 100 centimes in a dirham. The best place to exchange currency is in Morocco and this can be done in hotels, banks and airports. ATMs are found throughout the country and also in some hotels although in rural towns they may be unreliable. All major credit cards are accepted in Morocco but taxis and stall holders in the souks, as a rule, are only able to accept cash.
Tipping
There is no set rule for tipping in Morocco, but 10% for good service is appreciated. In some restaurants a 10% charge may be added to your bill automatically. A guideline for tipping your drivers and guides will be advised prior to travel.
Food & Drink
The cuisine in Morocco is famous the world over and is a highlight of travelling in the country. Moroccan lamb is a popular dish, slow roasted with spices in a traditional tagine and served with couscous. Bread and pastry also form a big part of the Moroccan diet, which is heavily influenced by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dining. Olives, dates, grapes and pulses are grown and exported and form an integral part to most meals. Fresh mint tea is the national drink and is served with sugar and in a tall glass. Although some places are alcohol free, you will be able to find beer and wine in most restaurants in the larger cities.
Accommodation
Morocco has a wide range of accommodation on offer from elegant riads and traditional guesthouses to desert camps and luxury resorts. In particular, the medinas of Marrakech and Fes conceal a number of luxurious riads – usually located on unassuming lanes – complete with original interiors and beautifully tended courtyard gardens. The larger cities also have a number of larger modern hotels which have a greater range of facilities and tend to be located just outside of the medina. Aside from the main towns, most areas from the Atlas and Rif Mountains to the Sahara Desert and the Atlantic Coast have excellent accommodation options with the majority in an authentic Moroccan style.
Shopping
Morocco is famed for its market, bazaars and souks and there are plenty of treasures to find. Marrakech and Fes have probably the best markets in the country and it is usually possible to find almost anything here! Traditional craft items such as lamps, pottery and jewellery are always popular, leather is best in Fes and rugs can be found throughout the country. For food, dates, nuts, spices and herbs are found in abundance. Remember to haggle as this is expected.
Suggested Reading
Footprint, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and Bradt have excellent guide books whilst Nelles Maps have up to date mapping of Morocco. ‘A Year in Marrakech’, by Peter Mayne, originally written in 1953, captures the very essence of the people and the place, ‘A House in Fez’, by Suzanna Clarke retells the restoration of a dilapidated house in the old medina of Fez, ‘Valleys of the Casbahs’ by Jeffrey Tayler is an account of the writer’s epic modern day camel journey from the Draa Valley to the Atlantic Ocean and the ‘Gardens of Marrakech’, by Angelica Gray focusses on the traditional gardens and green spaces of Marrakech. Novels set in Morocco include ‘The Sheltering Sky’, by Paul Bowles and ‘Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits’, by Laila Lalami.
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on Morocco the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
We'd just like to thank you for organising such a fantastic holiday
GT & ST - Morocco - November 2023
We'd just like to thank Pettitts Travel very much for organising such a fantastic holiday in Morocco. It was just what we needed and it was the perfect place to celebrate my birthday.
We found Morocco to be extremely friendly and the scenery is stunning. The countryside is just vast and unspoilt...and choice of hotels and most guides were all very good.
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