A Taste of Morocco - Imperial Cities and Deserts

9 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
View all 12 photos
4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
98%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
premier

Health Safety +

Cancellation Policy
Small Group Tour
Get a flavour of Morocco on this foodie tour that traverses the four Imperial Cities as well as the majestic Atlas Mountains. From Rabat to Fes, journey through the very heart of the country, winding through spice scented souks, dining on street eats and refreshing with mint teas. Along the way, sleep under the stars in the Sahara, dine with a local Berber fa...
12%
$1,611
From$1,410
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous

Highlights

    • Explore the highlights of Morocco's vibrant cities and culture with a foodie focus
    • Try your hand in a tagine cookery lesson, sample street food in a tour of the night markets
    • Experience colourful cities, bustling medinas, mountains and deserts

What's this trip about?

    Get a flavour of Morocco on this foodie tour that traverses the four Imperial Cities as well as the majestic Atlas Mountains. From Rabat to Fes, journey through the very heart of the country, winding through spice scented souks, dining on street eats and refreshing with mint teas. Along the way, sleep under the stars in the Sahara, dine with a local Berber family and learn to cook up a traditional tagine by yourself. Why we love this trip The Imperial Cities and Atlas - drink in the stunning scenery and historic wonder of the heart of Morocco, from the Imperial Cities to the High Atlas. Explore the Red City - take a foodie tour of Marrakech followed up with a tagine cookery lesson. Dine on Berber treats - get a taste for local flavours, snacking on street foods and even dining with a local family.

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range16 to 85 years
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityCasablanca
End CityMarrakech

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

  • Africa
  • Morocco

Attractions

  • Ait Ben Haddou
  • Atlas Mountains
  • Casablanca
  • Fes
  • Marrakech
  • Merzouga
  • Midelt
  • Rabat

Activities

  • Hiking

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Join trip in Casablanca

Our foodie tour of Morocco begins in Casablanca. Situated on the Atlantic coast, here French colonial buildings blend with traditional Moroccan architecture. For those arriving on time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meet...

Day 2 Guided tour of Rabat and journey to Meknes for wine tasting

This morning, we'll travel along the coast, heading north for about 90 minutes, towards the country's capital city, Rabat. Rabat was established as the capital of their protectorate by the French in 1912 and, since independence, has served as the capital of modern-da...

Day 3 Explore Volubilis, Moulay Driss and walking tour of Fes spice market

From Meknes, we'll travel for 45 minutes to the nearby ancient site of Volubilis, the capital of the Roman province of Mauritania Tingitana. A local guide will educate us on the well-preserved mosaics and the layout of the provincial settlement before we visit an anci...

Day 4 Drive over Middle Atlas to Midelt

This morning to begin travelling south into the dramatic landscapes of the Middle Atlas, heading first towards Ifrane where we have a cafe break, before passing by near the small mountain village of Azrou, which in the Berber tongue translates as 'the rock'. This is t...

Day 5 Drive to Merzouga, take 4WD vehicles into desert to Berber camp

Heading into the mountains, the road we'll take today crosses the High Atlas over Tizi n Talghemet (which translates as the Camel's Pass) and drops down through the Ziz Gorge leading to the large oasis of Tafilalete, home to the largest date production in Morocco. It ...

Day 6 Visit old caravan centre of Rissani and journey on to Boutaghrar for cooking lesson

We'll leave the desert behind us this morning and drive along the southern slopes of the High Atlas. After 45 minutes, we'll reach our first stop in the old caravan centre of Sijilmassa, known now as Rissani, where we'll visit its market for spices, traditional herbs,...

Day 7 Ait Ben Haddou, High Atlas and Marrakech for tasting tour in Djemma al Fna

This morning, we'll continue our journey to Ouarzazate, a drive of around two hours, through the road of 1000 Kasbah's. Afterward, we'll head to the World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou, one of the most well-preserved Kasbahs in the south and the setting of many famo...

Day 8 Guided tour of Marrakech and cookery lesson

This morning, a local guide will take us on a guided tour of the Red City. Like many North African cities, Marrakech is divided into two distinct parts, the Gueliz (the modern French-built city) and the Medina (the Old City), a place where trade and barter amongst the...

Day 9 Tour ends in Marrakech

Our tour ends after breakfast at our hotel in Marrakech. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfe...

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $1,410
Price per day$157
Last Updated: 5/3/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Single Room (Optional)
Availability
11 May 2024
19 May 2024
$1,520
$360
3 spots left
25 May 2024
02 Jun 2024
$1,470
$370
9 spots left
07 Sep 2024
15 Sep 2024
$1,610
$360
8 spots left
05 Oct 2024
13 Oct 2024
$1,610
$360
5 spots left
19 Oct 2024
27 Oct 2024
$1,410
$360
10 spots left
12 Apr 2025
20 Apr 2025
$1,610
$370
12 spots left
26 Apr 2025
04 May 2025
$1,610
$370
12 spots left
10 May 2025
18 May 2025
$1,610
$370
12 spots left
24 May 2025
01 Jun 2025
$1,610
$370
12 spots left
07 Jun 2025
15 Jun 2025
$1,610
$370
12 spots left

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Explore!.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Explore! Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
6,582
Great
2,187
Average
375
Disappointing
116
Terrible
56
J

Janice

Nov 2023

Written on

A Taste of Morocco - Imperial Cities and Deserts

The night in the luxury desert campsite. The accommodation ...

D

Dione (Alison)

Nov 2023

Written on

A Taste of Morocco - Imperial Cities and Deserts

The highlight for me was the Sahara desert visit and stay. And we had t...

T

Trusted Customer

Nov 2023

Written on

A Taste of Morocco - Imperial Cities and Deserts

A fabulous trip. Visiting Cities and amazing tour across the Atlas mountains giving a huge experience of the diversity of landscapes. The Luxury Sahara Campsite was...

B

Beverley

Oct 2023

Written on

A Taste of Morocco - Imperial Cities and Deserts

The highlight of the trip was the tented camp in the desert. The tour felt quite rushed with no time to appreciate the areas that we visited, it covers a huge area i...

T

Trusted Customer

Oct 2023

Written on

A Taste of Morocco - Imperial Cities and Deserts

Camping and Desert sunset Staying in a luxury camp to ourselves... opportunity to go by camel or walk up the dunes to see the stunning sunset... the peace and quiet ...

Write a Review

Other Explore! Reviews

S

Shannon

May 2024

Written on

Amalfi Coast Walking - Hotel Risorgimento

It was a great experience. The walking was sufficiently challenging to make it interesting and the vistas were amazing. The food at the hotel was excellent and the ...

T

Trusted Customer

May 2024

Written on

Very helpful

Patient and worked hard to get the best solution for me

Write a Review

Tour Operator

Explore!

premier
View Profile

About Explore

We've been taking small groups on adventure vacations for over 41 years. Our authentic adventure travel experiences explore the sights and culture of a country, with hand-picked accommodation that balances comfort and location. Our average group tour size is just 11; perfect for meeting new people and getting to the heart of our destinations. Explore is one of the world's most trusted adventure travel companies with over 350 trips to more than 100 countries. We are passionate about travel and have developed a wide range of unique activities and adventures which give our customers an unforgettable experience with a team of award-winning Explore leaders. With Explore, you'll get to see your destination from a whole new perspective that takes you away from the typical well-trodden tourist track. You'll have the chance to meet, dine and stay with local people, rest in authentic accommodation with other like-minded explorers and travel to must-see destinations with a unique Explore twist. From family holidays to trips for solo travelers; cycling tours to wildlife safaris; trekking on mountains or exploring miles of scenic coastline, there is something for every kind of traveler with Explore. We will provide our expert knowledge, exciting itineraries and outstanding service as part of our sustainable travel experiences which take you under the skin of the country you're visiting for the adventure of a lifetime.


Why we love this operator
They explore a place beyond the typical tourist traps and offer exciting activities that bring the “wow factor” intrepid travelers want.
What they’re known for
Famous for our expert local guides that help ease the unknowns of adventure travel while bringing a unique richness and spontaneity to each and every

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Transportation & Flights

Bus,

Transportation & flights

Bus
Guides
Explore Tour Leader, Driver(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Morocco: Visas are not required by UK, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office. UK passport holders are requested to have at least 3 months validity from the date of entry into Morocco. All other nationalities please check with your nearest embassy for requirements of passport validity.
Health & Safety
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against tetanus, typhoid, infectious hepatitis and polio. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at <a href="https://www.explore.co.uk/essential-information/know-before-you-go/travel-health">Explore Travel Health</a> and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 8
  • Dinner : 6
  • Lunch : 3
Age Requirements
16 to 85 years
Additional Information
Trip ID
explore-XMR

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!