Ancient Cultures of Morocco Tour

Ruins of ancient Merenid tombs in Fez, Morocco

What to expect on this itinerary

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.

Countries Visited

Morocco

Places Visited

Marrakech, Fes, Ouarzazate, Merzouga

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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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:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
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.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 85 reviews

Morocco Vacation Review: Marrakech, Merzouga, Fes, Chefchaouen, Medinas, Desert, Camel Ride, Gardens, Museums, Cooking Class, 11 Nights

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!

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Morocco Trip Review: Agafay Desert, Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Sidecar Motorcycle Ride, Mosques, Tanneries, 2-Week Tour

We enjoyed our tour in Morocco, mainly for the opportunity to explore different places and learn more about their customs and history. The people has been very attentive and the itinerary was very interesting and well organized.

Our driver did a very good job, he was always available and on time. The hotel and riads were excellent, but in some cases their location was not the best.

Many things to remember, but we just would like to mention the Sidecar motorcycle tour and the Agafay desert visit, both from Marrakesh. We also liked the visit to the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the city tour in Rabat and the visit to the tanneries in Fes.

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Morocco Travel Review: Marrakech, Atlas Mountains, Sidecar Ride, Farm Tour and Dinner, Hiking, ATV, 6 Nights

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!

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Morocco Tour Review: Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fez, Merzouga, Marrakech, Desert Camp, Camel Ride, Riad, 10-Day Trip
"It was truly one of the trips of a lifetime, thanks to our Zicasso agent."

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Morocco Vacation Review: Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech, 9 Nights

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.

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Morocco Trip Review: Atlas Mountains, Fes, Marrakech, Atlas Mountains, Chefchaouen, Food Tour, Photography, 11 Nights

Our trip with Zicasso’s tour company was wonderful. The agent really listened to our specific needs and designed a great trip for us. The country, of course, was wonderful, but the agency was what made the trip amazing. They chose the properties and knocked it out of the park. We loved all our riads and each had fabulous food, so we rarely went elsewhere.

Our trip around Morocco from north to south included a lot of driving. The driving agency, specifically our driver, was amazing. He spoke excellent English and knew his country well. He also had a fun personality and the heart of a servant. He literally made our trip. We were sad to say goodbye. We also enjoyed all our guides at each location. 

Besides the Fes market foot tour, the best was the two photo tours arranged by our travel company. We had one in Chefchaouen and one in Marrakech. This entailed a professional photographer leading us to beautiful architectural or scenic spots and capturing us in them. What a memory. My Instagram will be blowing up!! Ha ha. Seriously though, we have some great shots and memories. 

Another highlight was horseback riding in the Atlas Mountains. It was just us and our guide, and we saw no other people in the stunning countryside and mountains during our three-hour ride. So fantastic. I can't say enough good things about this trip. We loved it.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews