Merhaba! We arrive in Marrakesh Airport and are warmly welcomed outside the terminal before being transferred to our hotel. Relax and recover, or start exploring this world famous city before our evening welcome dinner.

Overnight: Grand Plaza Hotel, Marrakesh (2 nights) (D)

An exciting day awaits as we explore Marrakesh. Since its founding in the 11th century, this imperial city has been a political and cultural hub, serving as the capital for three of Morocco’s most influential dynasties.

Our tour begins with Marrakesh’s architectural gems, including the iconic Koutoubia minaret and the Bahia Palace, a prime example of 19th-century aristocratic life. Next, we visit the Dar el Bacha Museum of Confluences, an opulent palace built in 1910 by Pasha Thami el Glaoui, with its beautiful gardens and intricate zellige tilework. Later, we stop at Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakesh’s lively main square, where street performers such as fire-eaters, mime artists, snake-charmers, and musicians put on captivating shows. We also explore the city’s famed labyrinthine souks, teeming with goods of every kind. The remainder of the day is free for leisure, and in the evening, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)

We leave Marrakesh behind and head for the High Atlas Mountains. Our route follows the same one caravans used to take when travelling to Marrakesh centuries ago, bringing gold and precious wood from the other side of the ocean of sand, the Sahara. We will be crossing Tizi n Tichka pass, sitting at an elevation of 2,260 metres. Once over the pass, take in amazing panoramic views of the Atlas Mountains and the houses of its indigenous villages. We then skirt past Ouarzazate and stop for lunch (at your own expense). We continue on to yet another lush area, Skoura palm grove. Then, our trip reaches Kelaa des Mgouna, famous for the nearby Valley of Roses and its Rose Festival, where, at the end of a 3-day celebration usually held in May, a local girl is crowned the ‘Rose Queen’. The most sought after product here is eau-de-rose, and two factories in the area still distill and export it. Further on, we reach Boulmane Dades, the starting point to explore the spectacular Dades Gorge, offering geological rock formations of tan, gold, red and mauve carved out by the river here. Enjoy dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Overnight: Xaluca Boulemane, Dades (1 night) (B, D)

Back on the road, our next stop is Tinerhir (Tinghir), with its extensive palm grove, elaborate ksours (“desert castles”) built into the rocky hills and mysterious, decaying Jewish quarter. For generations, Tinghir has been a stop for nomadic Berber tribes travelling from the mountains to the desert during the winter months. A hidden gem is the 19th century adobe mosque nestled within the crumbling ksour, a haven for photography enthusiasts. Only 15 kilometres from Tinghir, Todra Gorges present an arresting spectacle with their crystal clear river and towering walls, changing colour as the day unfolds. More than 150 bolted rock climbing routes can be found here, and, at any time of day, we can catch a glimpse of someone making their way up the steep walls. Before reaching Merzouga, where the tarmac ends, we pass Erfoud and Rissani. In Erfoud, we may stop for an optional visit at Musee des Oasis, if time allows (at own expense). Rissani used to serve as a last stop on the great caravan routes heading south, with gold and slave auctions taking place here as late as the 1800’s. Before the caravan trade, the most important city in Morocco was Sijilmassa, the ruins of which lie opposite Rissani. From its gates, Ibn Battuta and Leo Africanus left Morocco to embark on their illustrious journeys across the Sahara into other African countries. Soon after, we reach Merzouga. In the distance, we glimpse the first leviathans of sand forming the Sahara: the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Dinner and overnight is enjoyed at our riad.

Overnight: Riad Madu, Merzouga (1 night) (B, D)*

*Spend the night in the luxurious desert camp Madu Camp, including round trip 4x4 transfers from Merzouga and a sunset camel ride, for an extra cost of US$ 150 per person.

*Spend the night in the luxurious desert camp Madu Camp, including round trip 4x4 transfers from Merzouga and a sunset camel ride, for an extra cost of CA$ 216 per person.

Enjoy an optional sunrise camel ride (at additional cost, contact Bestway to pre-book) along the golden sand dunes in Merzouga. Return to our riad for breakfast before transferring to Zagora via the Amazigh (Berber) villages of Alnif and Tazarine. The road to Tazarine sees almost no traffic, providing a scenic link between Tafilalet and Draa Valley. Aside from the landscape, fossils and prehistoric rock carvings are this region’s main attraction. The scenery grows wilder as we approach Tazarine, set in a grassy oasis surrounded by bare mountains. Continue to Zagora, famous as the location of one of the largest palm valleys in Morocco.

Overnight: Kasbah Hnini, Zagora (1 night) (B, D)

After breakfast, embark on a tour of Zagora, including visits to some of the oldest villages in Morocco. Stop by Tamegroute to visit the village’s famous library, which houses ancient Koranic scripts dating back to the 12th century. Explore the pottery section of Tamgroute, then transfer to Ouarzazate along the Draa Valley. Optional lunch stop (at your own expense) at Agdez. Upon arrival in Ouarzazate, we enjoy dinner and overnight at our riad-hotel.

Overnight: Riad Chay, Ouarzazate (1 night) (B, D)

Begin the day by exploring Ouarzazate, a city originally built as a French garrison in the 1920’s. Today, the city is a regional trade centre, known for its pottery and carpets. See the Taourir Kasbah, consisting of simple clay houses and crenellated towers that are beautifully decorated with geometric motifs. After the French left in 1953, the movie business flourished here. Optional visit to the Film Studios (at additional cost), where some of the most famous desert landscapes are filmed. Continue to elaborate Ait Ben Haddou*, dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of the region’s most exotic kasbahs, where structures all but defy the laws of gravity as they perch upon the steep slope. Some of these buildings have been featured in films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Enjoy a scenic drive over the High Atlas Mountains, observing everyday life in remote rural towns and villages, to Marrakesh, where we started our Kasbah & Oasis experience of Morocco.

Overnight: Grand Plaza Hotel, Marrakesh (1 night) (B, D)

After an incredible exploration of the kasbahs and oases of Morocco, we are transferred to the airport in either Marrakesh or Casablanca for our departure flight. Flights departing from Casablanca should be booked for 2:00 PM or later. (B)