Moroccan Caravan

On arrival at Tangier Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. This is simply an arrival day so you may arrive at any time. Note that hotel rooms are generally only available after midday. The balance of the day is free to explore your surroundings and our tour leader may make contact in the evening.

Named after the Goddess Tinge, lover of Hercules, Tangier was originally settled by the ancient Greeks and Phoenicians as a trading base. After a short orientation tour of this vibrant city, we take a short drive west to the Caves of Hercules. The Caves are partly man-made and partly natural and it is said that the mystical figure of Hercules came here to rest after finishing his 12 labours. They are a place of stunning natural beauty and at high tide put on a spectacular show as the water rushes up through the holes in the ground and the hillside. We then head back to Tangier where we spend the afternoon exploring the medina.

This morning we visit the Kasbah museum which is located inside the Dar el-Makhzen, the former Sultan’s Palace. Here we will learn about the history of the area dating from pre-historic times to the 19th century. We then head to the Spanish influenced city of Chefchaouen. This afternoon we visit the restored Kasbah and Uta el-Hamman which are located in the beautiful and compact medina. The next morning we take a walk to the falls of Ras El-Maa which lie beyond the Eastern gate of the medina. We continue to the ruined mosque past the falls, which provides a spectacular view of the blue hued town of Chefchaouen. The afternoon is free to explore further and bargain for some souvenirs in the medina.

We have this morning free before heading toward Meknes. On our way here, we travel through the wine country which provides the perfect backdrop to enjoy a relaxing lunch. After our meal we stop at a couple of wineries to sample the local wines arriving in Meknes late afternoon.

Volubilis was once a provincial Roman capital, a distant outpost of the empire, and as we approach it we can see it prominently sited along the edge of a high plateau. Today it is the most impressive Roman site in Morocco and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. We explore the many public buildings and at the House of Orpheus we see several fine mosaic floors intact. Back in Meknes we discover the charming streets of the old medina - a perfect prelude to Fes. From the northern gate, Bab Berdaine, we walk to the shrine of Moulay Ismail who, in the 17th century, turned Meknes from a provincial town to a spectacular Imperial city. We visit the lovely Bou Inania Medresse (religious school) and after time to explore the old souk we drive to Fes for the night.

Spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco, Fes is vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming - a visual and pungent assault on the senses. It is made up of three distinct 'cities', or quarters, and we are based in the elegant 'Nouveau Ville', or New City, which has a distinctly French/European character. Today we head into the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali, arguably the world's most fascinating and confounding old city. Medieval Fes was one of the world's great centres of education and culture: both Islamic and Jewish. Its religious institutions and its libraries are legendary. Its mosques are of great renown. And it was to Fes that many of the Muslims (and Jews) expelled from Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella came in 1492. As we walk through the streets and alleyways, passing historic khans, medresses and dye-pits, it is not hard to imagine ourselves back in the Middle Ages. We spend the day exploring the old city, visiting the Belghazi Museum, Medresse el Attarine, the tanneries and the splendid Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th century inn. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon.

Fes el Jedid, meaning New City (but not to be confused with the Nouvelle Ville) is also well worth a visit. Unlike Fes el Bali, which grew organically over the years, Fes el Jedid was an entirely planned city, built by the Merenids in the 13th and 14th centuries. The imposing gateway of Bab Boujeloud leads us into broad streets, where public and private gardens add a splash of colour to the surroundings. Later, we drive to nearby spa village of Moulay Yacoub. Here you can enjoy a swim (separate areas for men and women) or descend to the old thermal baths for a traditional hot bath. We return to Fes in the late afternoon. PLEASE NOTE: Due to traveller feedback, our leaders have proposed changing this side trip to a small village called Sefrou, about 30k from Fes. It's a lovely little town, once home to one of Morocco's largest Jewish communities. Your leader will explain the 2 options and you'll have to make a group decision. Alternatively, you can spend the whole day in Fes.

Leaving Fes we drive south, passing through a variety of spectacular scenery as we make our way towards Midelt. Midelt is a smallish market town, nestled between the Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains, at an elevation of just over 1500m. It's a perfect spot to break the journey to the Sahara, being a great base for some easy walks. Many of the locals are Berber, and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. After lunch, we can stretch our legs for a few hours on an easy hike in the nearby hills.

There time to haggle for carpets (mainly Kilims), take another refreshing walk, or visit the nearby Franciscan convent where the sisters teach local girls and women weaving, tapestry and embroidery. In due course we reach Merzouga, where we drop off our gear at a simple Auberge and then ride camels into the edge of the Sahara Desert, enjoying a spectacular sunset along the way. The dunes are stunning, especially at this time of the day, and tonight we camp out, enjoying lively music and dancing under the stars.

We enjoy a further sunrise ride today before we return to our Auberge and make our way towards Todra Gorge, a massive trench that rises over 250 metres and one of the most dramatic natural sights in Morocco. We take a short walk in the area before continuing to the beautiful Dades Valley, where we stop for a break, take some photos of the remarkable scenery and continue our journey. We arrive in the M'goun valley and overnight in a Berber house.

We have a full day to explore this beautiful area, and a good trek is the best way to do it! There are a couple of circuits to choose from, but the most popular choice, and the one we recommend, is a 10km circuit that will take about 4 hours. On the walk, you'll pass Berber villages, meeting Berber along the way. The mountain scenery and the famous Rose Valley make this a truly sensational setting.

Leaving the Dades Valley we set off on the fabled 'Road of 1000 Kasbahs'. Our first stop is at Skoura Oasis, home of several privately-owned Kasbahs, where we visit the splendid Kasbah Ameridhl with its extravagant decorations and mud-brick fortifications. Continuing our journey we reach Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco's greatest paradoxes. If you think it looks like something from a Hollywood movie you are forgiven, as its list of movie credits is substantial. However, Hollywood aside, it is still, in its own right, one of the most spectacular sights in Morocco and its superb collection of mud-brick kasbahs are without equal. We enjoy a walk through the old town before heading to our nearby hotel for the night.

We drive for several hours through the winding roads of the Atlas, bound for Marrakech. We can take our time as the scenery is magnificent and keen photographers may call for a few photo stops! On arrival in Marrakech you check in to your beautiful Riad hotel. This evening, why not head to Jemaa el Fna, the great square, one of the largest public spaces in the world and unique to Marrakech. Every night it comes alive with snake-charmers, musicians, story-tellers, fire-eaters and hundreds of small outdoor restaurants.

After breakfast we meet our Marrakech local guide and set off on a morning tour of the old medina. We visit the beautiful Bahia Palace, a splendid mansion built in 1866 for a former slave who had risen to a position of importance in the government of Moulay Hassan. We explore the tranquil inner courtyards, fragrant with orange blossom, and the many salons and chambers that make up this elegant home. We continue to the Marrakech Museum, itself a former palace, which houses a fine collection of Moroccan art and sculpture and we then walk through the streets of the old medina as we make our way back to the Jemaa el Fna. The rest of the day is free to explore further, or shop in the bazaar.

Your trip ends today, after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12.00 noon and you are free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up time. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Marrakech.