Back-Roads - Majestic Morocco 2019

Casablanca, Fes, Ait Ben Haddou, Marrakech

Kasbahs rising out of the desert, legendary mountain passes and ancient cities spilling over with a thousand and one sights. This tour will take you on a magic carpet ride through Majestic Morocco, where adventurous days give way to Arabian nights.

THE BACK-ROADS DIFFERENCE

• Learn how to cook a traditional tagine in Aït Benhaddou
• Become a Berber overnight and sleep in a Sahara Desert camp
• Channel your inner Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman with dinner and drinks in Casablanca’s Rick’s Café

Map

 

 

ITINERARY

DAY 1 CASABLANCA – RABAT – FES

In Rabat we’ll see the elaborate marble Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the similarly spectacular Hassan Tower. When we arrive in Fes, we’ll relax with a welcome dinner at our riad. (D)

DAY 2 FES – MOULAY IDRISS – MEKNES – FES

After a stop in the town of Moulay Idriss, we’ll make our way to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Meknes. Here, we’ll enjoy a group lunch before moving on to our next stop: a wine tasting session. Whistles whetted, we’ll move on to Fes, where the evening will be yours to spend as you wish. (B,L)

DAY 3 FES

Sightseeing in Fes will come courtesy of a medina walking tour. After an included lunch, we’ll make a stop at another Moroccan must-see: a carpet cooperative, where Fes’ artistic heritage is woven into vivid rugs. We’ll sample a mint tea here before moving on to a ceramic cooperative. The rest of the evening will be yours. (B,L)

DAY 4 FES – IFRANE – MIDELT – ERRACHIDIA

Today we’ll move on to Ifrane in the Middle Atlas mountains, driving past lakes and waterfalls along the way. Here, we’ll venture into the cedar forest, which is famous for its resident Barbary apes and its panoramic views over the mountain valleys. After an included lunch in Midelt, we’ll make tracks to Errachidia – our home for the night. (B,L)

DAY 5 ERRACHIDIA – RISSANI – MERZOUGA

Our first stop today will be Rissani, where we’ll be treated to a walking tour and included lunch. The dish of the day will be madfouna, an oven-cooked local speciality. Afterwards, we’ll venture into the desert in a four-wheel drive, where our camp in Merzouga awaits. Tonight’s dinner will come in the form of a Berber feast, complete with a traditional dance display. (B,L,D)

DAY 6 MERZOUGA – TINGHIR – DADÈS GORGE

After breakfast, we’ll move on to the limestone canyons of Todra Gorge, and then on to Tinghir – where we’ll enjoy lunch together. Our final stop of the day will be the dramatic Dadès Gorge. Cameras full of photographic evidence, we’ll dine together tonight in our hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 7 DADÈS GORGE – OUARZAZATE – AïT BENHADDOU

En route to Ouarzazate, we’ll make a pit stop at the beautiful rose-strewn fields of Kalaat M’Gouna. After lunching together in Ouarzazate (where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed), we’ll pay a visit to CLA Movie Studios. Then, it’s on to the fortified village of Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B,L)

DAY 8 AïT BENHADDOU

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll roll up our sleeves for today’s main activity: a cooking class! After a local expert has revealed the secrets behind cooking the perfect tagine, we’ll attempt the recipe for ourselves – with a chance to taste the fruits of our labour, of course. This evening, we’ll take some time to relax back at the riad. (B,L)

DAY 9 AïT BENHADDOU – TIZI N’TICHKA – MARRAKECH

This morning, there’s a photo stop at Aït Benhaddou Castle on the cards. Then, it’s onwards to Marrakech via the famous Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass. We’ll toast the end of our adventure with an included dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D)

DAY 10 MARRAKECH

There’s still plenty of time for a sightseeing tour of Marrakech before we say goodbye this afternoon. (B)

 

Prices shown based on low season travel - details on request

Travel Dates

Specific travel dates apply

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