Handcrafted with Morocco’s most intimate cultural experiences, this one-week tour will lead you from Berber villages to Gnawa backroads and artisanal cities to glasses of mint tea in ancient medinas. Morocco is a melting pot of fascinating cultures, where traditions ring true, and heritage is part of daily life. This is a journey that is defined by the people you meet and the traditions you can experience, from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Marrakech – Berber Storytelling
Today, you will land in Marrakech and be greeted at the airport by a local guide. It is a short transfer to your centrally located hotel, where you will have time to rest and refresh before gathering your first impressions of the mazy streets. Rather than visit set attractions, today’s Marrakech walk will focus on absorbing the atmosphere. So, you can wander the lively labyrinthine streets and use all your senses to admire what is happening before an evening of sunset colors and Berber traditions on the main square.
What's Included:
Day 2
Marrakech – Highlights of an Imperial City
Day 3
Ouarzazate – Exploring Berber Villages
Day 4
Merzouga – Intimate Experiences
Day 5
Fes – The Sahara At Sunrise
Day 6
Fes – Artisanal Culture in Meknes
Day 7
Fes – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy intimate experiences with the Gnawa people and feel how their mystical drumming calls on another world
- Discover traditional Berber culture, from listening to storytellers on Djemaa el-Fna to lunch and community involvement in small High Atlas villages
- Marvel at the artisanal culture of Meknes, which is Morocco’s lesser-known imperial city
- Inhale the atmosphere of yesteryear with a journey along the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs, which is an almost mythical landscape that showcases the ancient Saharan culture
- Absorb ancient Islamic heritage and celebrate charming old customs
- Explore fabulous landscapes that hold incredible cultural secrets, including a camel journey into Saharan sand dunes and the mazy streets of Fes
- Immerse yourself in Morocco’s old-world culture, especially in the imperial cities and their souks
- Feel the past by visiting old Saharan caravanserai towns and tanneries that have not changed for over a millennium
Detailed Description
Morocco’s culture is a mixing pot of exotic histories and influences. This cultural melting pot is peaceful and invites visitors to come and explore. This is not a culture that you witness in museums, but one that is omnipresent across Morocco. On this one-week tour, you will immerse yourself in Morocco’s wonderful complexities.
You will begin your Morocco tour with two nights in Marrakech, which is a Berber-dominated city that is packed with souks, vibrant streets, and an immersive atmosphere. Here, you will listen to traditional storytellers, explore millennia of heritage, discover the city’s essential sites, and watch the sunset from a rooftop terrace. From here, it is an easy journey into the High Atlas, where Berber villages offer insight into community and tradition. Following a road of mud-brick kasbahs, you can really experience cultural tradition.
After a night in Ouarzazate, you will reach Merzouga on day four, where the Gnawa people can further your cultural immersion. Through drumming and Sufism, you will experience the culture of these people who came across the Sahara from Sudan as slaves. The following morning, you can experience some desert history. In the Sahara, you will ride a camel and acquaint yourself with the unique landscape. You will fly to Fes the same day, where an Arab and Moorish history will provide a brilliant cultural contrast.
Fes has the greatest of all the medieval centers in Morocco, and with two nights, you can get to know tanneries, cafe culture, and the city’s surprisingly laid-back lifestyle. There will still be time to discover Meknes and Volubilis. You will only have one week in Morocco, but you will experience three very different histories and cultures in addition to the mountains and desert.
Starting Price
$2,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.88 stars based on 739 reviews.
We had an amazing time in Morocco. The entire trip went very smoothly and we truly felt immersed in the Moroccan culture. Our guide and driver were efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly.
Reviewed By Jeff E.
We enjoyed a spectacular journey encompassing Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains. Our guide and driver were very professional, knowledgeable, and entertaining. Each of the special events enabled us to interact extensively with everyday Moroccans. Our accommodations were superb and gave us a real feel for the country. We loved every moment of the adventure!
Reviewed By Ryan D.
If you are looking for a white-glove, red-carpet experience, Zicasso's tour planner and his company are your go-to. He created an amazing itinerary that fit our budget. He was terrific with communication and follow-up. The minute we set foot in Morocco, his team was there, ready to go. They were 10 to 15 minutes early every day. We traveled through four cities, with wonderful stops, sights, commentary, and tours.
Our tour guide first introduced himself as the fixer. I was wary. Four days later, it proved true. He saved me and my dresses. I left my dresses in the Casablanca hotel room. Five hours later, I discovered the "Oh no!". Our guide hopped on the phone, called the hotel numerous times, contacted several colleagues, and found someone to drive my dresses three hours to our Marrakech hotel. The dresses arrived by noon the next day.
Most of all, our tour planner created and delivered a magical, memorable experience, without mishap. My 80-year-old mother said it was the best vacation she's ever taken. We are truly grateful.
Reviewed By Tracey R.
We had the most amazing time in Morocco, thanks to our wonderful Zicasso trip planners. From the very beginning of the planning stages, our agents were not only super-accommodating, but provided great ideas to make our trip as special as could be!
Once we landed, our guide and driver made sure we were comfortable throughout our trip. We visited Marrakech, Merzouga, Fes, and Chefchaouen. Each of these destinations were special in their own way and we had amazing tours in the medinas, visited gardens and museums, had a cooking class and, of course, a wonderful night in the desert.
None of this could have been possible without the expertise of the entire team at the travel agency. The logistics were impeccable, the hotels so beautiful, and suggestions for shopping and meals were perfect as well!
We cannot thank the team enough for such a special experience and we hope to work with them in the future! Thank you so much!
Reviewed By Florencia T.
I had the most unforgettable experience traveling through Morocco from May 22 to 30, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible team at Zicasso's travel company. From start to finish, everything was thoughtfully curated and exceptionally executed.
A huge thank you to my agent, who was not only responsive and patient during the planning process, but also served as my guide for the city and food tour. His knowledge of Moroccan culture, history, and hidden gems made each day meaningful and memorable. From navigating the medinas to introducing me to some of the best local dishes I’ve ever tasted, he brought the country to life with warmth and insight.
And then there was my amazing driver, who truly went above and beyond. When my luggage was delayed, he jumped into action without hesitation, reassuring me with calm and kindness, ensuring I was comfortable and even helping to coordinate efforts on the ground to locate my bags. Beyond that, his genuine hospitality, great conversation, and thoughtful surprises made each leg of the journey special. He was much more than a driver; he was a steady and essential part of the experience.
If you’re looking for a company that provides not only beautiful itineraries, but also incredible service, with heart and humanity, this is it. This trip fed my soul and it was made extraordinary by the people who brought it to life.
Reviewed By CENINA S.
Overall, we had a fabulous trip and enjoyed it immensely. Our driver was wonderful – he was knowledgeable, attentive, and very patient. He always had a smile on his face and was happy to interact with us. All the tour guides were excellent (extremely knowledgeable and accommodating).
Hotels:
Marrakech: excellent rooms, staff, and service – the best breakfast (highly recommend).
Skoura: Understanding this is an old building – adequate rooms which were clean, but could do with an update. The service and staff were excellent (recommend).
Sahara tents: excellent tents, staff, and service – delicious dinner (highly recommend).
Fes: Our room was nice. However, the kids’ room had no internet (we told the staff several times; it was never fixed), electric sockets didn’t work properly so they couldn’t charge phones/laptops, the room door would not lock and we had to call staff several times to help lock the door. The kids had to sleep every night with the door unlocked. This was the only hotel where our room and our kids’ room were at the opposite end of the building (needed to walk across the lobby and take an elevator to get to the kids’ room). This was an inconvenience. All other hotels made sure our rooms were next door. Staff were very nice, but the service at breakfast was so slow as they were totally understaffed (would not recommend this hotel).
Rabat: excellent rooms, staff, and service (highly recommend). If possible, you may consider changing the photos of the hotel in the trip planner as the rooms and space were so much nicer than in the photos.
We would totally recommend your company to friends planning to visit Morocco. We loved our time there and plan to come back and visit other places!
Reviewed By Anis C.
