What are the highlights of this 9 day adventure:
- Afer Association Community Lunch
- Meknès city tour
- Volubilis guided tour
- Fez Medina guided tour
- Sahara Dunes & Culture excursion
- Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah tour
- Moroccan foodie experience
Itinerary:
Day 1: Casablanca. Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
Accommodation: Kaan Hotel Casablanca (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Casablanca - Casablanca, 1 hours. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group: Your opportunity to meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Please note that if you are travelling to Morocco between November and February, your tour will have a level of flexibility based off of winter weather conditions on roads in the mountains. Heavy snow is not uncommon, so plan on packing warmer clothing to suit conditions.
Day 2: Casablanca to Fez. Set out on a guided tour of two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit the remains of the medieval city of Meknès, which served as Morocco’s imperial capital in the 17th century. Then, venture to Volubilis and discover the soaring columns and remarkably well-preserved mosaic floors of this ancient Roman outpost. Continue to Fez and enjoy lunch at a G Adventures–supported women’s cooperative before checking in to our hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Nour Plazza Fes (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Casablanca - Fez, 7 hours. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Volubilis Guided Tour: Listen to a certified local guide explain life in the Roman Empire at this UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the impressive, well-preserved Roman ruins. Peer into old bathhouses, marvel at the still-present mosaic floors, and gaze up at towering marble pillars. Hear stories about life in this Roman city that will leave you in awe of just how far their empire stretched.
- Meknès City Tour: Enjoy a guided visit of the Imperial City of Meknes. The least visited of the Imperial cities; Meknes has a unique feel to it. Visit the Bab Mansour historic landmark, and 18th-century Bab El Khmiss, the ornamental gate to the city. Wander the bustling souk to browse the vast array of clothes, spices, handicrafts, and of course food. The visit also includes stops at Dar Jamai: The National Museum of Music and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.
- AFER Association Community Lunch: Enjoy a traditional lunch that benefits rural Moroccan women and children with disabilities. The association provides vital services including literacy and vocational training, health services, disability assistance, and the operation of a local ambulance. AFER’s training center hosts culinary programs recognized by the state, and each year it graduates 30 students, many of whom go on to work in the project. Through this work, AFER creates sustainable employment, fosters community cohesion, and showcases Moroccan culture to travellers. During your visit, enjoy a traditional home-cooked Moroccan meal, featuring classic dishes such as vegetable tagine or roasted chicken with onion sauce, and meet some of the women that are part of this important community program. This experience not only supports livelihoods but also celebrates Moroccan heritage and rural resilience.
This is a long and busy day. The times listed are actual driving times and do not include stops at Meknès and Volubilis. We will not arrive in Fez until evening.
Day 3: Fez. Step back in time on a walking tour of the medina of Fez, a spellbinding World Heritage site dating back to the 9th century. Skirt past donkey carts as you take in the dazzling sights, from colourful mounds of spices to vividly painted ceramics, and observe Fez’s famous tanners treating and dying hides in the traditional manner. Pay a visit to the breathtaking Madrasa al-Attarine, a masterpiece of intricate Islamic architecture, and pass by the famed Al-Karaouine Mosque—home to the longest continually operating university in the world.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Nour Plazza Fes (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Fez Medina Guided Tour: Follow a local guide through the Fez medina, one of the world’s largest medinas with more than 9000 winding streets lying within 365 hectares. See buildings in the medina that date back to the 9th century; there are 350 mosques in the medina that are still in use today. Enter through one of the great gates into the chaos. Explore the artisans’ quarters as well as the many carpenters, bakers, butchers, and spice sellers. Visit the mausoleum and the Al Qarawiyin University. A highlight of the tour is the view of the famous Fez tannery from the balcony of a leather shop, where you can observe the men hard at work treating and dyeing the different hides. Take some time to shop for leather goods before returning to your hotel.
Day 4: Fez to Merzouga. Watch cedar forests give way to palm groves as we travel through the Middle Atlas Mountains to the fabled Sahara. Spend the night in a kasbah-style hotel at the edge of sweeping sand dunes.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Kanz Erremal (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Fez - Merzouga, 6 hours. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 5: Merzouga/Tinghir. This morning, explore the Sahara on a thrilling 4x4 excursion. Visit the village of Khamliya, where we’ll meet a group of Gnaoua musicians. Learn about the history of this famed genre of Moroccan music, and enjoy a hypnotic performance. Later, share mint tea with Amazigh (Berber) nomads in the Sahara, and gain insights into their way of life. Transfer to Tinghir this evening.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Tombouctou (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- 4x4: Merzouga - Merzouga. Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
- Sahara Dunes & Culture Excursion: View the golden dunes of the Sahara desert on a 4x4 excursion. Drive around the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi and take in the view of the seemingly endless sea of sand. Watch the dunes as the colours creep across the landscape and look out for the kohl mine en route to the village of Khamlia. Here you will meet Gnaoua musicians and learn about the history of Gnaoua music in the Sahara. Enjoy a performance by these talented artists. Depart back through the desert region and visit local Amazigh living in the area, learning about their way of life and sharing in some mint tea in one of the homes.
- Private Vehicle: Merzouga - Tinghir, 4 hours. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 6: Tinghir/Ouarzazate. Venture into the Dades Gorge, admiring its dramatic rock formations. Continue along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs and pause at the maze-like Taourirt Kasbah. In Ouarzazate,home to one of Morocco’s largest film studios, choose to take a lesson in traditional Amazigh medicine with a local herbalist.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Berbere Palace (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Tinghir - Ouarzazate, 6 hours. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Dades Valley and Route of 1,000 Kasbahs scenic drive: Drive through the scenic Dades Valley and “Route of 1,000 Kasbahs”, passing by many of the mud-brick fortresses and abandoned villages. Stop at the Dades Gorge to admire the formations of the rock and the kasbahs built with their backs against the rock for protection.
- Guided Tour Ouarzazate: Visit the Taourirt Kasbah, a palace built in the 19th century for the relatives and servants of the ruling el Glaoui family. Originally, the Kasbah had hundreds of rooms and riads, but now the structure is partially destroyed. UNESCO has helped with the restoration of the Kasbah, allowing travellers to wander through the halls and rooms. It feels like you’ve stepped back in time.
Day 7: Ouarzazate/Marrakech. Discover the magical, twisting lanes of Aït Ben Haddou, an ancient fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage site, then continue along high mountain roads to Marrakech. Take some free time to wander this legendary city, a melting pot of Amazigh, West African, Mediterranenan, and Arab influences and venture off the beaten path into hidden neighborhoods and artisan quarters.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Plaza Marrakech (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Ouarzazate - Marrakech, 5 hours. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah Tour: Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site and kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, the most famous ksar in the Ounila Valley, located in the foothills of the southern slopes of the High Atlas Mountains. Of all the remaining kasbahs in Morocco, the walls and interior of this area are the most intact. It's a collective grouping of dwellings inside defensive walls and was once one of the many trading posts on the route linking Sudan to Marrakech. The kasbah still houses a few families, but many now live in the adjacent village. Like many of the earthen built fortresses in Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou has been used in many film and television productions like Gladiator, Babel, and Game of Thrones.
- Free time: Take time to explore Marrakech at your own pace.
Day 8: Marrakech. Visit a historic riad for a hands-on cooking class with a renowned Moroccan chef, learning how to roll semolina and measure out spices for an exquisite tagine. Enjoy your creations for lunch, and spend the afternoon exploring Marrakech at leisure. Choose to immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of Djemaa el-Fna, the city’s main square, where storytellers and magicians captivate passersby; or tour the elegant Majorelle Gardens.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodation: Grand Plaza Marrakech (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Moroccan Foodie Experience: With its unusual combination of cultures – Amazigh (also known as Berber), French, Jewish, Andalucian – Morocco is known for some incredible flavours that visitors talk about (and miss) long after they return home. In the heart of bustling Marrakech, visit a historic riad for a hands-on cooking class led by a renowned Moroccan chef who will discuss key ingredients and techniques. From the making of different salads to measuring out spices for a mind-blowing tagine, learn the culinary tricks of a master while preparing lunch as a group, which we’ll all sit down to eat (and marvel at).
- Free time: Spend free time relaxing at one of the tea houses around the square, indulging in the ubiquitous sweet mint tea, watching the hustle and bustle from your shady spot. Or head to Djemaa el Fna Market for some lively entertainment.
Day 9: Marrakech. Depart at any time.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today's activities:
- Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your Expedition Leader can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Please note that check-out time from the hotel is normally mid-morning, but luggage storage is available.
Next Steps
Ready to go? Simply request a spot via your MyIVHQ profile, and our team will reach out with availability and seasonal pricing details.
This tour can be completed before or after your volunteering experience in Morocco, we'll help with recommendations to bridge any gaps between your volunteer program and the tour. These arrangements are your responsibility and we can provide you with personalized transit and accommodation advice to make your travel straightforward.
Best of all, you’ll be in great hands with our trusted partners who have led sustainable, community-first travel for 30 years. Your adventure makes a real, positive difference every step of the way.
Please note that exact activities and timing can vary depending on the season and availability. Don't worry, your tour provider will share your final, confirmed itinerary once your dates are set!
Let’s get your journey started!
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