Journey Beyond Travel

Full Itinerary Description:

Day 1-2: Fez
You have two days to explore what this Imperial City has to offer, such as the Kairouine Mosque, spice market, tanneries and leather market, pottery quarter, henna market, woodcrafters, metal workers, and Koranic schools and old hotels. You'll be staying in the old medina, which is a World Heritage site and one of the oldest and still thriving medieval cities in the World!

Day 3: Ifrane | Midelt | Errachidia
In the morning, you'll head towards Errachidia in the south of Morocco. Drive past the cedar forests of Ifrane and Midelt in the Middle Atlas. It will take about six hours. Enjoy dinner and spend the night in a kasbah-style hotel with pool.

Day 4: Ziz Valley Oasis | Erfoud | Sahara Desert
Following breakfast, your Ziz Valley guide will meet you and take you to his village located 25KM outside of town. Here, you'll explore his village to see the sustainable agricultural practices in the area. This jaunt takes about two hours. After the day hike, you'll enjoy lunch with his family in their humble home before heading off to Merzouga. The drive to the desert is about two hours. Once in Merzouga, you can ride a camel to view the sunset and stay in a Bedouin tent amid the dunes.

Day 5: Boulmane Dades Valley or Skoura
If you would like to rock climb or hike the Todra Gorge, you can stop here and spend the afternoon. Or, you could simply enjoy lunch in the gorge before heading to Dades or Skoura. An alternative lunch spot is in the Tinejdad ksar that houses one of the best cultural museums in the country. Spend the night in a hotel overlooking the Dades Valley or in a renovated 18th-century Kasbah that is now a guesthouse. The drive will take four to six hours.

Day 6: Ouarzazate | Ait Ben Haddou | Marrakesh
This morning you'll be driving through Ouarzazate, where you can visit the Taorirt Kasbah and the Atlas movie studio where blockbusters such as Cleopatra, Kundun, and the Mummy were filmed. Next, you'll be able to stop by the UNESCO World Heritage site—the ksar in Ait Ben Haddou where Gladiator was filmed. The drive from Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakesh will take four to five hours. Stay in a riad guesthouse the old medina, also a World Heritage Site, visit the lively Jemaa el Fna Square to watch the circus-like performers and sample some tasty delights at different stalls.

Day 7: Marrakesh
Today, you have the whole day in “Marrakesh the red”. You might visit the Koubba Baadiyn and the Ali ben Youssef Koranic School, or the Badii & Bahia Palaces and the Saadian Tombs. You might also opt to walk through the souk (covered market) and peruse the wares and souvenirs. Be prepared to bargain for a good deal.

Day 8: High Atlas Mountains | Marrakesh
After breakfast, you can take a day trip to either the High Atlas mountains or to the Ouirgane and Nfiss valleys at the foothills of the High Atlas. Have lunch in a Berber family's home and take an afternoon hike if desired. You can also venture farther through the Nfiss valley to the 12th-century Tin Mal Mosque. Choose this as a day trip or spend the night in either region.

Day 9-10: Essaouira
After coming down from the mountains or departing Marrakesh, you can head straight to Essaouira. The drive takes three hours. You will have today and tomorrow to relax in this small coastal town with lots of character. Walk along the ramparts, enjoy local seafood, stroll the beach, wander the white-washed medina, or shop for Thuya wood handicrafts. This is the Wind Capital of North Africa, so try out kayaking, kite surfing, surfing and wind surfing. Horseback riding is also available.

Day 11: Return Marrakesh | Depart
Today is departure day. You will have transportation back to Marrakesh. Remember, this trip can be extended or shortened to meet your requirements.