A once-in-a-lifetime road trip adventure through the magical country of Morocco!  We'll stay in beautiful riads and unique hotels, explore the ancient cities of Fes, Marrakech, Rabat, and Chefchaouen with local guides, ride camels into the golden sand dunes of the Sahara to sleep overnight in Berber tents and so much more!  I can't wait to introduce you to this enchanting place.

Since I am a yoga teacher, I will offer a smattering of yoga classes throughout the trip.  Classes will mostly be held in the mornings before we start the day, but there may be an occasional evening class.  Yoga is completely optional and you don't have to do yoga to come on this adventure! 

Travelers will be picked up in the morning at Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport (or local hotel if they arrived earlier).  Enroute to Rabat, we'll visit Hassan II Mosque, the 3rd largest mosque in the world, and one of the few in Morocco that allow non-muslim visitors. We'll arrive Rabat in the afternoon and for a stroll of the Medina, and spend the night at a hotel.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

We'll depart Rabat early to arrive in Chefchaouen for lunch.  After lunch, our local guide will introduce us to the the history and charm of Chefchaouen while leading us on a walking tour through the old medina and onwards to a scenic overlook in time for sunset. The Blue City is truly breathtaking and picturesque. You will not be able to put your camera down.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

We’ll depart for Fes in the morning, arriving in time for lunch and a free afternoon that might include an optional visit to a local hammam where you can partake in the classic Moroccan spa experience.

Dinner will be at our private riad, lovingly prepared by our hostess, Chantal.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

We'll enjoy a guided tour of the labyrinth that is old town Fes, or Fes-El-Bali. Every one of the over 9,000 alleyways is walled, so you feel like you are walking through a maze. Our guide will keep us on track as we tour this ancient city founded in the 9th century and home to the world's oldest university. We'll visit the famous leather tanneries (Terrasse des Tanneurs) and the markets of the old medina, as well as spend some time with the moorish architecture of the 14th century Al-Attarine Madrasa.

In the evening, we’ll feast once again on the brilliant food prepared by our hostess, Chantal.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

In the morning, we'll depart Fes and head south towards the Middle and High Atlas Mountains. Along the way we will visit with some wild Barbary apes who live in the cedar forest. This part of the trip takes us through the beautiful and rugged Moroccan countryside. We'll see nomadic farmers herding their flocks, ancient earthen-colored towns, and a fair number of donkeys along the way. We’ll drive through the hightest pass in this part of the Atlas Mountains and make our way to the dunes of the Sahara.  We will overnight at a hotel in Merzouga, right at the edge of the dunes. 

{lunch not included, dinner included}

You’ll have the morning free:  you can chill by the pool, or rent a quad or dune buggy! In the afternoon, we’ll mount our camels for the ride to our overnight camp in the desert. You’ll have time to traverse the dunes, get a lay of the land (sand), and watch the sunset from your dune perch. We’ll have dinner sitting on rugs spread over the desert floor and afterwards enjoy (and maybe participate in) some berber music and dancing. You'll sleep in beautifully appointed tents with fully equipped ensuite bathrooms.

 
{lunch not included, dinner included}

We'll wake up in time to see the sunrise over the dunes and enjoy a hearty breakfast.

Our drive will take us from Merzouga towards the Dades Valley + Gorge. Along the way, we’ll see some ancient fossils, pass by hillsides clustered with red-clay dwellings and valleys of green oases.

Our riad for the night is in the Dades Valley surrounded by stunning gorges. 

{lunch not included, dinner included}

We'll spend the afternoon enjoying our accommodations in the Skoura Oasis nestled in the lush green of the oasis. Take a dip in the pool, or nestle into cushions under a tree with a book, or go for a stroll.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

In the morning, we’ll tour the Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate, where sets exist for Gladiator I +II, Prince of Persia, and Game of Thrones. After, we’ll journey onwards to Ait Benhaddou, the earthen clay ksar and UNESCO World Heritage Site that was a stop on the old Salt Road, but in modern times was made famous as a backdrop for the movies Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Alexander. 

After lunch, we'll descend the High Atlas Mountains, through the Tichka Pass, onwards to Marrakech.. 

We'll arrive in Marrakech for dinner at our luxurious riad that will serve as our oasis for our last three nights in the middle of the lively and kinetic city.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

After breakfast we'll embark on a guided tour of the important sites and markets of Marrakech.  We'll visit Dar el Bacha and the Medersa Ben Youssef, marveling at the breathtaking plasterwork and mosaics, and learning about the history of each location. We'll wander through the medina, visit the souks + the heartbeat of Marrakech, the Djemaa el-Fna (the centuries-old square surrounded by cafes, vendors, and snake charmers).

You'll have free time in the afternoon to explore, shop, visit a local hammam, or relax at the riad (with a rooftop pool and lounge area). In the evening, we'll gather again for a group dinner at a local restaurant.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

You might choose to start your day with a hot air balloon ride over Marrakech (optional).  Or maybe you'll sleep in.

Most of the day is left free for you to use as you wish. You can visit the vibrant  Majorelle Gardens, previously owned by Yves Saint Laurent, decompress in a local hammam, explore the medina, shop for the perfect piece of pottery or leather bag, go on a motorcycle tour, or just relax in the serenity of the riad. In the evening, we'll regroup for a cooking class at the riad where we’ll prepare our final Moroccan dinner together.

{lunch not included, dinner included}

Depart after breakfast, delighting in the memories created, friendships made, and the adventure undertaken.