Starting in the medieval city of Fes, long considered the spiritual capital of Morocco, this is a journey through historic Morocco and the many landscapes that make this country special.
The old city of Fes has a vast Medina with many historic buildings and an intricate network of narrow lanes. Visit the Roman ruins at Volubilis then traverse the Atlas Mountains to the Berber fortresses of Erfoud and the mighty Sahara Desert. Leaving here, drive north through rugged, spectacular scenery, past fortified Kasbahs vibrant Marrakech ending your journey by the coast in beautiful Essaouira.
Casablanca – Fes – Erfoud – Ouarzazate – Marrakech – Essaouira
Trip Highlights
- Sip on sweet Moroccan tea in a rooftop café in Marrakech’s Djemaa el-Fna square
- Travel by four-wheel drive vehicle to witness the incredible Saharan sand dunes
- Follow the spectacular ‘Kasbah Route’ stopping at both the Todra and Dades Gorges
- Stay in Essaouira which boasts a laidback atmosphere and scenic seaside location
Itinerary
Day 1
UK to Casablanca
Fly from London Gatwick with Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca.
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 where you will stay at Riad Fes, a former residence of a noble Fassi family dating from the 1930s and situated in the heart of old Fes.
- Breakfast
Riad Fes
Day 3
Fes
Today enjoy a full day sightseeing with your local guide. Fes is a magnificent city; a treasure trove of mosques, palaces and fountains, which are among some of the most beautiful in Morocco. Venture in to the Medina of Fes el-Bali, declared by UNESCO as one of the world’s cultural jewels, where the souks are filled with fragrant spices, colourful shoes and traditional rugs.
- 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 Erfoud – 430kms
Leave Fes after breakfast for the scenic drive to Erfoud. The road from Er Rachidia to Erfoud offers some spectacular scenery and the Ziz Gorge, with its ancient Berber fortresses, is a particular highlight.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Kasbah Hotel Xaluca
Day 6
Fes to Erfoud – 430kms
This morning follow the Ziz River to Rissani the last settlement and the end of vegetation before the dunes of the sand sea begin. Later return to Erfoud and in the afternoon travel by four-wheel drive vehicle to the incredible Merzouga Sand Sea.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Kasbah Hotel Xaluca
Day 7
Erfoud to Ouarzazate – 315kms
Today drive through some of the finest scenery in Morocco following the ‘Kasbah Route’ to Ouarzazate, taking time to stop en-route to visit the Todra and Dades Gorges. On your arrival stay 40kms outside of Ouarzazate at Les Jardins de Skoura, an old farm dwelling that has been beautifully developed into a charming guesthouse.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Les Jardins de Skoura
Day 8
Ouarzazate to Marrakech – 230kms
This morning visit the magnificent Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, the best preserved, and most famous, of the entire Atlas region. Afterwards continue through the mountains to visit Kasbah Telouet a former palace of the Berber chieftain Oash El Glaoui. From Telouet cross the Tizi-n-Tichka which at 2,260 metres is the highest pass in Morocco. In the afternoon arrive into Marrakech. Alternatively, break your journey in the Atlas Mountains with a stay at Kasbah Tamadot or Kasbah du Toubkal.
- Breakfast
Les Jardins de La Koutoubia
Villas des Orangers
Royal Mansour Marrakesh
Day 9
Marrakech
Framed by the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh is one of the world’s most exciting and vibrant cities. The colourful Medina, surrounded by ochre walls, is the beating heart of the city. Today, tour Marrakesh with your guide visiting the 12th Century Koutoubia Minaret, the beautiful carvings of the Saadian Tombs and the magnificent Bahia Palace. Wander through the souks teeming with shops and craftsmen and barter for artisan souvenirs. Arrive at the famous Jemaa el Fna Square which comes alive at sunset with its vibrant mix of entertainers and food stalls.
- Breakfast
Les Jardins de La Koutoubia
Villas des Orangers
Royal Mansour Marrakesh
Day 10
Marrakech to Essaouira - 192kms
This morning leave Marrakech and drive to the beautiful coastal town of Essaouira. With twisting lanes, low white–washed buildings and picturesque harbour, Essaouira is a relaxing and atmospheric place to spend your remaining few days in Morocco.
- Breakfast
Heure Bleue Hotel
Le Jardin des Douars
Day 11-12
Essaouira
At leisure to relax and enjoy Essaouira.
- Breakfast
Heure Bleue Hotel
Le Jardin des Douars
Day 13
Essaouira to Marrakech – 192kms / Marrakech to UK
Today leave your hotel and return to Marrakech Airport in good time to catch your return flight to London Gatwick with Royal Air Maroc.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Spend an extra day in Casablanca before you continue on to Fes. The city's French colonial past is evident in its art deco buildings and wide boulevards whilst the seafront is dominated by the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, the second largest functioning mosque in Africa.
Charming Chefchaouen is a hill town set within the Rif Mountains of northwestern Morocco. Instantly recognisable by its distinctive blue-washed buildings, explore the labyrinthine medina with its narrow, winding streets and spend time visiting the 15th century kasbah fortress.
Tangier, in the far north of Morocco, is one of the country’s principal ports and has long held strategic importance since Phoenician and Roman times. Tangier is positioned at the western entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Explore the mighty Atlas Mountains. Visible from Marrakech and stretching across Morocco, the Atlas Mountains are renowned for their dramatic peaks, lush valleys and traditional age-old villages. Marvel at Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, hike and birdwatch.
Guide to Price
13 days from £4995 - £5350 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 £4995 - £5350
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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