11-Nights Morocco: Historic Cities & Sand Dunes of the Sahara - Classic

11 nights from: $1,039

Morocco: Historic Cities & Sand Dunes of the Sahara
Morocco - where history, vibrant cultures, and tantalizing flavours meet across breathtaking landscapes, ancient cities, and bustling souks. Immerse yourself over 12 unforgettable days, exploring epic sites like the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the iconic Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. Feel the magic of the Sahara as you ride a camel across golden dunes, and connect with local communities steeped in centuries-old traditions. Wander Chefchaouen’s dreamy blue streets, dive into the lively medinas of Fes and Marrakech, and savour Morocco’s rich flavours through hands-on, community-led experiences. Let the warmth and passion of Morocco’s people leave a lasting mark on your journey.

Highlights
See the impressive ruins of Volubilis on a guided visit, Explore Morocco’s Blue City with a CEO-led tour through Chefchaouen’s vibrant streets and colourful alleys, Immerse yourself in the Fés medina on a guided tour and end with a delicious meal in a traditional riad, Ride a camel across the Sahara’s red dunes to a desert camp, Join local women for a homemade lunch at a community cooperative near Marrakech

Accomodation
On this trip you can expect to stay in local hotels or pensions (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run, with some traditional character, and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. Where a town has both an ancient medina and a "ville nouvelle" we generally stay in the ville nouvelle, both because the standard of hotels is higher, and because travellers (especially women) often find the medinas at night a little confronting. Please note that Morocco is a developing country and as such the infrastructure is not as reliable as you would expect at home. Expect quirky plumbing and the odd cold shower!

Group Leader
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officer's (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.

Group Size Notes
Max 14, avg. 10.

Meals Included
11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners

What's Included
Your G for Good Moment: Zarbiat Achbarou Cooperative Visit, Marrakech
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Foodie Moment: Traditional Dinner in Fés, Fès
Your Foodie Moment: Lunch with a Local Family Midelt, Midelt.
Visit to Hassan II Mosque. City visit of Rabat. Meknes medina walking tour. Volubilis guided visit. CEO-led walk of Chefchaouen. Guided tour of Fes medina. Lunch inside a traditional Riad. Stop in Ifrane for tea. Learn about the art of Henna from local women. Hike through Berber Villages in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Visit the town of Arfoud and learn about the production of dates. Ride on camels to the desert camp. Watch sunset atop a sand dune. Enjoy a Berber dance performance and dinner by firelight. 4x4 ride through Erg Chebbi's dunes. Medfouna cooking class in Taous village. Guided city tour to the Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs. Ait Ben Haddou visit. Cross Tishka pass en route to Marrakech. Optional CEO-led walk of Marrakech’s city centre. City tour with Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, Koutoubia Mosque, and Marrakech medina.. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

The imperial city of Meknes doesn't draw the crowds that Marrakesh and Fez do, which means you can explore its medina (a UNESCO World Heritage site) at a relaxed pace with relatively little hassle. From 1672 to 1727, Meknes served as the capital for Muslim ruler Moulay Ismail. His ornately decorated mausoleum complex is one of the city's architectural highlights, as well as one of the few mausoleums in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter. Free Meknes Travel
Vacation Package Quote

Meknes Travel Agents

Other architectural highlights include the Bou Inania Medersa (theological school) and Bab Mansour, a gate with stunning colored tiles, marble pillars and a lacy web of carved stucco. The Dar Jamai Museum houses an impressive collection of decorative arts. Two more impressive sights include the Dar el-Ma, a huge barrel-vaulted structure that served as the city's reservoir, and the adjoining Heri el-Souani, a monumental grain-storage facility. The covered market also warrants a visit.

The countryside around Meknes is pleasant—rolling hills planted with olive trees and other crops. Day trips to two nearby sites are highly recommended. Moulay Idriss, a beautiful hilltop town founded in the eighth century, is a holy city for pilgrims. (The mausoleum complex is closed to non-Muslims, but the rest of the town is open to visitors.) In Volubilis you'll find the well-preserved ruins of the 2,000-year-old capital of Roman Mauritania, home of Antony and Cleopatra's daughter, Sylene. The structures in Volubilis are comparable to other Roman ruins found throughout the Mediterranean area, and the mosaic floors are among the finest in existence. Meknes is 80 mi/130 km east of Rabat.