Snowcapped mountains separate the cool Atlantic Ocean from a sea of desert sand dunes. Vibrant geometric tiles swirl around the walls of historic mosques. Minarets offer an ethereal song for the day. This hand tailored tour of Morocco will take you along the footsteps of shahs and desert pirates, Berber culture and Roman ruins: showing all the wonders Morocco has to offer. When the sun sets over the sand dunes the stars provide almost as much light as the day. Old cities sing with modern life....
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Casablanca – A Present Charisma
Arrive in Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, which brims with the energy of the country’s modern economic and cultural capital. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel at the center of the city. The aroma of sweet sea drifts inward from the coastline. Palm trees line the street like a graceful wall along the center of Boulevard de Rachidi in the Lusitania district. The beachfront district known as the Corniche shines with locals wearing their weekly best. The aroma of fresh grilled fish mixes with tempting herbs and spices that are uniquely North African. After you settle in to your hotel your guide meets you in the lobby to take you on a half-day exploration of the city.
Located northwest of the Corniche is the wondrous Hassan II Mosque. The stunning structure was consecrated in 1993 and can hold a up to 105,000 worshippers between the main hall and the outer grounds. The minaret is the tallest in the world, standing at 689 feet. Outside, the Atlantic Ocean splashes quietly against the shore and fishing boats idly wade on the cobalt water. The central hall contains a succession of domes. Glass chandeliers made of Murano glass add prisms of delicate light to the gallery. The mosque is an image of grace and discipline, providing just enough embellishment for elegance.
What's Included:
Day 2
Marrakech – Allure of the Labyrinth
Day 3
Marrakech – Finding the Pearl
Day 4
Ouarzazate – Bordering the Desert
Day 5
Ouarzazate – Land of Desert Bastions
Day 6
Rissani – Passing Dates
Day 7
Fes – Importance of Sunrise
Day 8
Fes – Imperial Regards
Day 9
Fes – Daily Proximity
Day 10
Fes – Artisan Morning
Trip Highlights
- Journey along the Road of 1,000 Fortresses to discover an array of desert Kasbahs
- Explore the incredible Roman ruins at Volubilis and its surroundings
- Spend a desert night in luxury with an unadulterated view of the starry sky
- Enjoy a camel ride along the unparalleled view of rolling sand dunes in the Sahara desert
- Stroll through the winding alleyways of celebrated ancient cities, from Marrakech to Fes
- Traverse a true desert oasis that leads into the Dades Gorge
- Discover the countryside on a series of 4x4 adventures
Detailed Description
Morocco is a country of mystique and culture, history and tradition. The wonders of the Moroccan landscape provide fertile plains and rugged mountains, calm ocean tides and vivacious gorges. Discover the mystical ambiance of an entire country on this 10-day Morocco expedition. Spend time under the shimmering starlight and learn about the life of an artisan shopkeeper. Every day takes you further into the depths of the medinas, brimming with snake charmers and secret blends of spices. Morocco is a country where you will always find more than you expect in inspiring ways.
Arrive in Casablanca, a city that maintains its place in the hearts of romantics and explorers all over the world. The cosmopolitan atmosphere brings a modern touch to the historic streets. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and soon you are exploring the boulevards with your guide. Make your way through the city’s oldest neighborhood before departing for the charming city of Marrakech. The imperial city has a picture-perfect old square that takes you into the city’s past that spreads along the narrow median streets.
A full day tour of the city takes you into the old Madrasa and the Museum of Marrakech. Traverse the High Atlas Mountains, traveling through the Tichka Pass, to board a 4x4 that takes you to the distinctive ruins of the Telouet Kasbah. Continue through the Ounina Valley, from the village of Aït Ben Haddou to the desert fortress town of Ouarzazate, known for its location shooting in Lawrence of Arabia. Tour the town and the local Kasbah in the morning.
Follow the legendary Road of 1,000 Kasbahs, which takes you to Boumalne Dades and the dramatic landscape of the Dades Gorge. Continue along the road to Erfoud and travel alongside tremendous rock formations and oases. Climb aboard a 4x4, and travel through the town of Rissani, settling in a luxury Berber camp to enjoy time under the unobstructed stars. Watch the colors of the sunrise over the mythical sand dunes and transfer to the imperial city of Fez.
Your guide meets you at the hotel and escorts you through the remarkable highlights of the city, especially the medina. Your final day in Fez is at your leisure, which affords you the opportunity to people watch in the old city or venture out to explore the exceptional Roman ruins at Volubilis. Follow the ruins with a visit to the oft-overlooked imperial city of Meknes, the 17th century capital of Morocco. Your private transfer, arranged by one of Zicasso's Morocco travel agents, meets you at the hotel and takes you to the airport where the charm of Morocco will follow you home.
Starting Price
$3,700 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
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.88 stars based on 744 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.