Morocco

Morocco Highlights

7

Take in stone-walled cities, the sands of the Sahara, and the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains, all while staying in an incredible mix of unique locations.

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet in Casablanca

Meet at your hotel at 7pm in Casablanca - it's a short train ride from the airport. Here your guide will do introductions with the group.

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After breakfast, we’ll head to Rabat - the famous blue-walled capital of Morocco! Then to Mekns after lunch, we’ll head on to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, to explore this UNESCO world heritage site. Afterwards we continue to the city of fez. Night in BB included.

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Today we tour and stroll in Fes - the world's largest stone-walled city. It’s the site of the famous Chouara tannery, where workers have been dyeing clothes in giant colorful pits since the 11th century. BB hotel.

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After breakfast, you will drive through the cedar forests of Azrou, to reach Ziz valley. Passing through the middle of the Atlas Mountains, you will reach the edge of Merzouga - a region of the Sahara Desert. As dark begins to fall, you will climb onto your camels and ride off into the sunset, through the desert. You will spend the evening in a local Berber camp, where you will enjoy dinner and an unforgettable night in the world's largest desert with the group.

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After a traditional breakfast, you'll continue through stone desert to Todra Gorge. Explore the local Berber villages before enjoying some free time to go hiking, or just relax by the side of the river at the bottom of the gorge. Half board hotel.

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Today you will visit the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, a UNESCO world heritage site. You will take the 'highway of 1000 Kasbahs', before arriving at one of the most striking ancient cities in Morocco - Ouarzazate. You may recognise the city from Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia! Half board hotel.

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On day 7 we head to Marrakech to explore the old Medina (stone-walled city). after check in at the hotel, you will meet your local guide and go for a 2 hours visit to explore the city. free choice diner

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Today you will say goodbye to your guide and the rest of the group. Your guide will take you back to the airport for 10.30 am, or you can choose to taxi later (15 minutes to Marrakech airport).

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What's Included

Included
  • English speaking driver-guides
  • Camel ride in the Sahara Desert
  • All accommodation (6 nights in hotels, 1 night in a traditional Berber camp)
  • All breakfasts, 1 lunch (Todra Gorge) , 2 dinners ( Merzouga camp & Marrakech)
  • All transport for the duration of the trip in an air-conditioned vehicle
Not Included
  • International flights
  • Tips for guides and porters
  • Meals not mentioned in 'included' section (we recommend bringing €200 - €300EUR)
  • Travel insurance
Have a question?

If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.

We're ready to help.

Team Images
Team Images
Team Images

Rated 5.0

7 verified reviews

Paul
Paul

(Jul 2023)

My wife and I went on this trip, we combined it with 3 day Toubkal so as we finished in Imlil, our tour was the reverse way around. Our driver Youssef picked us up from our hotel in Imlil and we set off to . It was just the 3 of us for the whole week. A nice AC car getting to know Youssef as the we travelled from place to place. What a great guy! Certainly a friend for life. Very well organised by Atlas Vertical and Lahouceine. All the accommodation was good, maybe the last night in Marrakesh could have been better (unclean room) Lots of memories across all the places we visited. Highlights, tedra gorge, Sahara (ensure you get luxury camp - check with Skyhook, basic in my opinion is awful, we transfered - thanks to Lahouceine) and Casablanca - fantastic mosque Honestly, a trip of a lifetime made better by meeting Youssef. This is a must do! Thanks Lahouceine and Youssef

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Suze
Suze

(Oct 2022)

My trip was absolutely memorable. Rachid the driver was absolutely calm and a relaxed person to be around with. And his boss kept checking in to make sure everything was running smoothly. It was easy and enjoyable the sightseeing and travelling. Unfortunately, I got the flu during my trip with the worst case of it. I have never had it this bad. I was travelling alone with another couple and Rachid the driver. The group was cohesive and easy to be with. Despite being sick I enjoyed my trip very much. I am definitely planning to do it again. I highly recommend going on this trip. It's okay if you are a woman travelling alone, the tour company will accommodate you and you will have the most amazing experience. Oh and riding a camel in the Sahara desert is quite an experience in itself. Its indescribable how awe striking beautiful the desert can be in the different shades of the sun light. And even more stunning the night sky. This is a must do, it is once in a lifetime experience. I give it a 5 star even though I was sick. I still enjoy myself.

Eamon
Eamon

(Oct 2022)

Fantastic trip. Got to see all of the main sites of Morocco without the stress of having to organise transport and tours ourselves. Rachid our driver was very accommodating and happy to fit the schedule around us. The majority of our guides over the week were great. Muhammed in Fes was brilliant. I would avoid the Atlas movie studio in ouzazarte if given the choice. Very pushy tour guide who expected to be tipped for a rubbish tour (this had nothing to do with the trip or the organisers but was an optional tour we chose to take ourselves). Overall I would definitely recommend.

Magdalena
Magdalena

(Sep 2022)

What a fantastic trip! It definitely exceeded my expectations in every way. My favourite part was of course the camel ride and the overnight stay in the Sahara desert - out of this world experience! I would recommend the trip to everyone. I travelled alone, but met lots of lovely people throughout the whole trip.

Maria
Maria

(Sep 2022)

If want to spend hours at the shops or eat and sleep and sleep at fancy places this is not a trip for you. If you want to have a nice experience of real Morocco and see as much as possible in just 7 days this is the ideal trip. Everything worked fine with the guides and the tour. Have necessarily cash for tips with you and be prepared to eat the same dishes again and again (its a general moroccan thing). September in Morocco was very warm for europeans, 35-40 celcius.

FAQs

Before you go

Please refer to the 'Inclusions' section above.

Yes, you will need to arrange and book your own flights. Arrival: Fly to Casablanca Airport any time up to 6 PM on the first date of your trip, and then take the 45-minute direct train ($3 USD) to the city centre. Departure: Fly out of Marrakech Airport after 10 AMam on the last date of your trip (you’ll be dropped off at the airport). Alternatively, take the train back to Casablanca Airport to fly back from there (3:30 PM and about $25-25 USD). Most guests chat in the group and arrange to take the train from the airport together.

The trip is not too challenging - There will be some light hiking which is suitable for most fitness levels.

Absolutely! We get lots of solo travellers on the trips. Once you sign up you'll also be added to a chat group, where you can meet all the other people before you go.

The minimum age is 18, or 16 with a guardian.

You can find the latest advice at https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/africa/morocco.

Yes - we recommend bringing $200-$300 for food, as well as extra for souvenirs and tips. The currency used in Morocco is Moroccan Dirham (MAD). You can take out cash at ATMs in the airport, as well as various locations on the trip. Please check with your bank that your card is accepted in Morocco before travel. We highly recommend bringing two cards in case you have any issues. Please note: your bank may charge transaction fees when you use your card in Morocco.

You can take a taxi from the airport to your meeting point. This takes around 1hr and costs approximately 300dh/£25 You can take a train from the airport to Casa Voyager Station. From there you can take a 10 minute taxi to your meeting point which costs approximately 20dh/£1.75

If travelling between Nov – Feb, then the weather can be colder. Ensure you bring warmer clothes if travelling then. Temperatures can vary in different regions. Documents • Passport • Visa if applicable • Travel insurance details • Boarding passes for flights • Wallet • Pen for filling in arrivals form Conservative Dress • Long pants • Long skirts • Shirts that cover the shoulders • Scarf or Shawl for mosque or temple visits Other Dress • Underwear & socks • Sweater or fleece • Long trousers/Jeans • Shirts/T-Shirts • Sleepwear • Windproof rain jacket • Shorts • Swimwear • Sun hut Footwear • Flip flops/sandals • Relevant footwear (Optional for short hikes) Bags • Day bag – For carrying things during the day • Larger rucksack – For carry all other luggage Other • Cash (Moroccan Dirhams) • Credit/Debit card • Sleeping bag (Optional but recommended for the winter months) • Camera (Battery packs and storage) • Ear plugs • First aid kit (Optional for personal medication) • Sunscreen and lip balm • Headtorch or flashlight • Padlock/lock for bags • Money belt • Plugs and chargers • Reusable water bottle • Book/MP3 • Travel towel • Watch with alarm (You can use the alarm on your phone) • Sunglasses • Toiletries

All countries require a valid passport, with a minimum of 6 months validity. To date, UK and USA nationals do not require a visa to enter Morocco for the purpose of tourism, up to a 3-month period. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements Please contact your local embassy to check the visa requirements for your nationality, as the above information could have changed from the time of writing this.

On your trip

You will need to be comfortable carrying your own bags between transport and hotels (max. 20 mins).

You mainly stay in local hotels (with the exception of a night in a Berber tented camp), which vary in standard and facilities: some may be without air conditioning, English speaking staff and require you to use stairs. However, they are locally run with traditional character and in fantastic locations to allow you to fully optimise your time. Morocco is a developing country and the infrastructure is not as reliable as what you would expect at home. Hotels generally have intermittent Wi-Fi, some power cuts and the occasional cold shower. Rooms are twin or triple-sharing basis. A single supplement is available in Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech. The cost is 35 euros per night. You can pay the guide in the country for this when you arrive. Whilst subject to change depending on conditions, the hotels used are: - Day 1 - Hotel Diwan, Casablanca - Day 2- Riad Passiflora, Fes - Day 3 - Riad Passiflora, Fes - Day 4 - Berber tented camp Aubere de Sud - Day 5 - Dar Ayour Todra - Day 6 - La Rose du Sable - Day 7 - Hotel Oudaya

Some of the hotels offer a laundry service for a charge.

Start: You will meet your guide in Casablanca at 7 pm on day 1 of your itinerary. You will meet at Hotel Moroccan House, 04 Rue Mohamed Smiha, Casablanca, 20000, Morocco. End: Your trip ends in Marrakech at 10 am on day 8 of your itinerary. Your guide can drop you off at the airport or the centre of Marrakech.

Winter (Nov – Mar) Winter in Morocco can vary in temperature. In Marrakech the average temperature is around 10 – 14 degrees Celsius, with some infrequent rainfall. However, this temperature can drop a lot lower in other regions. Shoulder season (Apr– May & Oct) Temperatures in Marrakech are quite pleasant at this time of year, with an average of around 18 – 22 degrees Celsius. Rain is infrequent. High Season (Jun – Sep) June to Sept in Marrakech can be hot. The average temperatures can be between 25 – 32 degrees Celsius, with little/no rain.

Solo travellers will be paired with other solo travellers of the same sex. If this is not possible (for instance you are a woman and there are only men on your trip) you will get your own room, at no extra charge. A single supplement is available in Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech. The cost is 35 euros per night. You can pay the guide in the country for this when you arrive.

Other FAQs

You don't meet your guides until the evening on day 1. It is worth getting an early flight so you can explore Casablanca first. We would recommend a visit to the Mosque of Hassan ll, the second largest in the world!

While visiting mosques and other religious areas of interest, you should ensure that you cover up your shoulders and dress modestly. Avoid wearing short shorts and skirts. Men and women are recommended to wear loose fitting clothing with your shoulders covered.

Morocco has a strong tipping culture – It is customary and even expected to tip in places such as bars and restaurants. At the end of your trip, if you feel that your guides did an outstanding job, then tipping is also appreciated. A good rule of thumb is around 30 – 50 Euros per traveller.

There are several options to get from Marrakech to Casablanca.

Trusted bus companies include CTM or Supratours. Bus journey’s take around 4hrs and depart Marrakech hourly.

The train journey to Casablanca takes around 3.5hrs. You can book tickets in advance here: https://www.oncf.ma/en/

Arabic is the official language of Morocco. Just under half of the population speak Berber (mainly in the rural areas), but there are several dialects. The second most spoken language in Morocco is French, as they are taught this language in school and university. English is also widely spoken in Morocco. Islam is the official religion with much of the population being Muslim.

Your head guide is Lahouceine

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip your guides run Atlas Vertical, based in Asni.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Lahouceine