Join Cross Cultural Journeys and our Morocco partners for the inaugural experience of a new  series of WALKING tours! Pack your most comfortable hiking boots! This journey offers a balanced combination of invigorating treks, fascinating walking tours, and the comfort of a coach bus as we cover a vast and diverse territory. From the breathtaking Atlas Mountains to the imperial cities, Berber communities, and vibrant souks, you’ll experience Morocco like never before.

Partly on foot, you’ll explore ancient trade routes, the peaceful solitude of the desert, and the lively energy of Morocco’s bustling markets, where spices, fabrics, and rugs paint a colorful tapestry of the country’s rich traditions. With the convenience of a coach bus, we’ll comfortably travel between destinations, allowing you to take in Morocco's stunning landscapes and historical landmarks, while still embracing the intimate experience of hiking the land between some of its most iconic locations. Join us for this unforgettable adventure that brings together the best of exploration and comfort in one of the most culturally vibrant countries in the world!

INCLUDED: 

• Private Transportation and all related costs 

• Cross Cultural Journeys Tour manager

• English Speaking Local Guide

• 10 Nights of Accommodations

• 10 Breakfasts

• 6 Dinners & 3 Lunches

• Welcome Dinner in Rabat

• Dinner in Chefchaouen

• Dinner at Desert Camp

• Dinner at Vallee des Figues (2)

• Farewell Dinner in Marrakech 

• Lunch during Chefchaouen Walk

• Lunch during Moulay Idriss Zerhoun to Volubilis Walk

• Lunch during Valley of Roses Walk

• Guided Tour of Fes

• Guided Tour of Volubilis

• Guided Tour of Meknes

• Camel Trek & Overnight Luxury Desert Camp

• Guided Walk in Tinghir Palmeraie

• Guided Tour of Marrakech

• All Entrance Fees to Sites Listed

Optional Mt. Toubkal Extension Includes:

• Guided trek with mountain team

• 3 Nights of Accommodations

• 3 Dinners

• 2 Lunches

• 3 Breakfasts

Excludes:

• Airfare to Morocco/Ferry Fare from Morocco

• Alcoholic Beverages

• Gratuities and tips for local guide(s) and driver(s)

• Personal Expenses

• Travel Insurance (not required, but recommended)

• Water on the bus and in hotels

Accommodations listed are subject to change based on availability.

NOTE ABOUT ACCOMMODATIONS: To make your experience as close to the local people as possible, and based on the size of our group, Cross Cultural Journeys and our local partners in Morocco will secure the best available; clean, comfortable and centrally-located accommodations in the cities and villages that we visit. The accommodations will range from higher end local Rhiads, Khasbas and luxurious desert tent camps, to more basic, local and simple hotels. 

This itinerary is subject to change to take advantage of the serendipity of the moment when we are in Morocco; to meet someone special, to engage in an activity that might occur unexpectedly, or to accommodate circumstances beyond our control.

NOTE: Due to the outdoor focus of this itinerary, local weather conditions, hiking and trekking tours may be subject to last-minute schedule changes. Based on additional unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, restaurants and hotels may change at the last minute in similar category.

TRAVEL PROTECTION: Cross Cultural Journeys is not responsible for cancellation expenses that you might incur before or during our trip.  You may want to check first to see if your current insurance policy covers travel abroad, but we have found that most do not. We strongly encourage considering taking out travel interruption and evacuation insurance to cover any emergencies abroad such as evacuation, or reimbursement for cancellation due to your own illness or an illness in your family. We encourage you to choose a plan covers travel interruption before you depart, as well as during the trip. CCJ is not responsible for events beyond our control in this regard.  

This morning, we'll meet at the airport in Casablanca and transfer together to the current imperial city of Morocco: Rabat. We'll have an easy day today to rest and recover from our travels. We'll regroup this evening for our welcome dinner.

Please try to arrive to Casablanca by 11 AM. One complementary transfer will be included at that time. Additional transfers can be arranged for $100 USD per transfer (max 6 PAX per transfer).

This evening, you'll meet your tour manager in your riad and enjoy a welcome dinner to get your first taste of the adventure to come.

Meals included: D
Sleep: Hotel des Oudaias

Upon your arrival, you will enjoy a guided tour of this modern-day imperial city. Your tour will include visits to the important monuments of the city such as the Royal Palace, the Hassan Tower, and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. You will also explore inside the blue and white painted streets of the Kasbah of the Udayas. 

After your tour, you'll have the evening free to explore on your own. Of course, your tour manager will be available to you should you need any assistance or recommendations. 

After the guided tour of Rabat, we will start our journey to the beautiful blue city of Chefchaouen nestled between two peaks of of the Rif Mountains.  Upon your arrival in this charming city, you'll check into your accommodations and have a little time to rest.

Evening Walk in Chefchaouen

At 4:30 PM, you will head out for an evening walk of the city. You'll start by heading up along the Ras el Ma, past the local laundromat (aka the river) to the wall of the city. From here you’ll wind your way down through the blue alleys and streets to Place Outa el Hammam, the central square of the city, where you will enjoy a group dinner before returning on foot to your accommodations.

Meals included: B, D 

Sleep: Riad El Palacio & Spa

Optional Morning Hike to the Spanish Mosque (1.5 Hours)

After breakfast, at 9:00 AM, you'll have the option to hike up to the Spanish Mosque for panoramic views of the city. This will be a fairly challenging walk.  It will take approximately 30 minutes to hike up and 30 minutes back with 15-30 minutes at the top to rest and enjoy the view.

Walk through the Villages of the Rif Mountains (5.5 Hours)

11:00 am, you will be transported into the Rif Mountains to the starting point of your walk and make your way to the village of Kalaa where you will join the El Khyati family for lunch.  After lunch, you'll continue walking for another 2 hours.  Upon reaching the end of the walk, you'll meet the bus and head back to Chefchaouen, stopping along the way for tea, panoramic pictures, and toilets.  You will arrive back in Chefchaouen by late afternoon and will have the rest of the day and evening free to explore on your own.

Sleep: Riad El Palacio & Spa. 

Meals included: B, L

Check out at Riad El Palacio & Spa. After breakfast, we will depart Chefchaouen and head south towards Fes. Our first stop today will be the sacred city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun which is home to the Idriss I’s tomb. A pilgrimage site, this city was until recently forbidden to non-muslims. 

Walk to Volubilis

We will enter the hillside city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and head to the very top. From there, we will have a panoramic view of the city to our right and see the Roman ruins of Volubilis in the plains below us.

We'll start an easy walk down the hill through the streets of Moulay Idriss. When we reach the bottom of the hill, we'll walk through some small villages, stopping for lunch at the home of a local family where the matriarch, Lalla Fatima, will treat us to a delicious home-cooked meal. We'll enjoy the food and the company in their garden house surrounded by olive trees.

After lunch, we will walk another 10 minutes to the entrance of Volubilis where we will meet our guide and have a tour of the ruins.

Transfer to Fes

After our guided tour, we will transfer the rest of the way to Fes where we will check into our riad and have some time to rest and relax.

Note: dinner is not included, but can be arranged o be served at the riad upon arrival. 

Sleep: Riad Dar Farouzi 

Meals included: B

Today after breakfast, your local guide will meet you at your riad at 8:30 AM for a brief discussion about the day's tour. At 9 AM you will depart the riad and drive to the Royal Palace and then walk through the old Mellah (Jewish Quartier) of the city. From here, you will rejoin the bus and drive to one of the Borj (towers) and get a panoramic view of the entire medina. Next, you’ll head to a mosaic house where you will have a demonstration of the traditional pottery methods utilized by Fassi artisans – you’ll see every step of the process from the formation of the clay to the piecing together of the mosaics. After this, you'll head back into the medina of Fes to begin your walking tour of this old city. You will discover the ancient streets and neighborhoods, visit the various artisan sections, and the important historic monuments (including the tomb of Idriss II and the Al-Qarawaiyin University - the oldest continually operated university in the world). You'll stop for lunch and a little rest and then walk to the famous tanneries of Fes. After your visit here, you'll walk back to the riad and have the rest of the afternoon free to explore on your own.

Optional Dinner: Palais Medina
Enjoy traditional Fassi cuisine while watching a show that includes traditional music, folklore, belly dancing, and even a little magic. 

Note: This dinner is not included in the tour price, but we can make it an optional add-on (including wine). Price$50.00 USD

Sleep: Riad Dar Farouzi

Meals included: B

After breakfast, you will depart from Fes head to the desert. Your first stop on the way will be the interesting Alpine-like city of Ifraine. Driving through this city, you will think that you have been teleported to Switzerland. The city's biggest claim to fame is a statue of the now extinct Atlas lion that once roamed the lands, but the best part of the city is the European-like cafe in the main square that serves great coffee and delicious sweets. After a quick stop here for coffee and a snack, you'll continue into the Middle Atlas Mountains and through the largest cedar forest in Africa which is also home to the barbary apes (aka Atlas Monkeys) which are sure to entertain. Just be prepared to pay a toll in peanuts. These little guys may not let you pass without it!

After you've crossed through the Middle Atlas Mountains, you'll arrive to the city of Midelt located on the high plains between the Middle and High Atlas Mountains. You'll likely stop in this area for lunch and then continue through the High Atlas Mountains via the Ziz Gorge. You take note of the change of landscape as you enter the desert region and make the final leg of the journey to Merzouga and the great sand sea of the Sahara, Erg Chebbi. You’ll have a little time to relax and unwind from the days driving and just before sunset, you will climb aboard your camel and trek through the dunes to your luxury Berber camp for the night. Once there you will watch the sunset and the stars come out. Dinner will be served and traditional music will be played while you lounge around the campfire gazing at the stars. When you are ready, you can retire to your tent for the night… or, if you wish, you can sleep under the stars.

Sleep: Sahara Stars Camp

Meals: B, D

This morning, your camel guide will wake you early so that you can watch the sun rise over the dunes.  After watching the sunrise, breakfast will be served at camp and you’ll have time to shower and prepare for your day before taking to your camels one more time. You'll trek back to the edge of the dunes and then transfer to your more conventional transportation (your bus) to head to the breathtaking Dades Gorge.  

Along the way, you’ll stop to visit Khettaras, the ancient irrigation system that once brought water to the desert from the distant Saghro Mountains.  

After this, you’ll head to the oasis town of Tinghir where you will have a guided walk of the palmeraie and Mellah (old Jewish area). This walk will include a stop at a local rug cooperative where you will have a demonstration of the this traditional art form and then you will walk into the most impressive part of Todgha Gorge.

After your visit here, you'll drive a short distance to your hotel where you can relax before a delicious dinner.

Sleep: Chez Ichou
Meals: B

After breakfast, you will depart from the hotel and drive along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs from the Dades River Valley to the M'Goun River Valley.  After this scenic drive, you'll stop at Kasbah Tamaloute for tea and toilets and then set off on your walk along the M'Goun River through the local Berber gardens adorned with roses that bloom every May. You'll visit Kasbah El Hott, one of the oldest kasbahs in the region and enjoy tea with the family that still lives here. After tea here, you'll walk back through the Berber village and enjoy lunch with a local family. 

From here, you'll meet your transportation and head to the small city of Kelaat M'Gouna in the heart of the Valley of Roses to visit a local rose cooperative where you will get to see how this valuable crop is distilled into rose oil and rose water. After this, you'll head back to your accommodations where you can relax by the pool before enjoying dinner.

Sleep: Chez Ichou

Meals Included: B, L, D

Check out from Chez Ichou. After breakfast, follow the Dades River into Kelaat M'Gouna, the heart of the Valley of Roses. Here you will stop at a local rose cooperative for a demonstration of the distillation process of the region's most valuable crop.  

From here, you'll continue through the city of Ouarzazate (pronounced: Wor-za-zet, also known as the Hollywood of Morocco) and then the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou. After visiting here and eating lunch, you'll make your way over the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass reaching an altitude of over 7400 feet above sea level before beginning the descent into Marrakech. Upon your arrival in Marrakech,  you'll check into your hotel and then be free to have dinner on your own.

Sleep: Riad Nesma
Meals included: B

After breakfast, your local city guide will meet you at your riad and show you all around Marrakech. Your tour will include visits to Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, and Koutoubia Mosque. After you’ve visited these monuments, your guide will escort you to the souks of Marrakech where you'll have a chance to visit the various artisans and to learn about their crafts. Your tour will end by mid-afternoon and you’ll have the rest of the afternoon/evening to explore on your own.

Farewell Dinner! This evening, we will enjoy one final meal together where we can process our journey.

Sleep: Riad Nesma

Meals Included: B, D

After breakfast, transfer to Airport. Complementary transfer to the Marrakech Airport. Additional transfers to Marrakech Airport can be arranged for $20 per transfer and to Casablanca for $160 per transfer (if needed).
For those staying on, prepare for Mt. Toubkal!

Meals included: B

Distance: 12 km (7.5 Miles)
Duration: 6 hours
Altitude Gain: 1467 m (4813 ft)

This morning you will depart with your tour manager/driver from the Red City (Marrakech) at approximately 1175 ft (535 m) above sea level and drive about 1 hour and 40 minutes to Imlil Valley located at an altitude of 5708 ft (1740 m).

Upon your arrival, you'll meet your trekking team including your mountain guide and drink a glass of tea before beginning your ascent with your guide and mule team. The first landmark of note is the shrine of Sidi Chamharoche (7808 ft/2380m). According to legend, this shrine is dedicated to the king of the Djenn and is a pilgrimage site for those seeking healing. Forbidden to non-muslims, you will be able to see it from a distance, but still close enough to feel the energy. You'll have about a 30 minute break here, before continuing.

After this, you will continue your ascent, hiking through some mountain villages where there will be the opportunities to have a break at one of the many local cafes. You'll stop for lunch - about 2 hours after passing Sidi Chamharoche - in Imi n'Tfrit (9416 ft/2870 m).

After lunch the ascent continues to the Toubkal refuge (10,521 ft/3207 m) where you will find hot showers and team and a warm dinner, followed by a good nights sleep.

Sleep: Toubkal Refuge

Meals included: B, L, D

Distance: 9 km (5.5 miles)
Duration: 7 hours
Altitude Gain: 960 m (3150 ft)
Altitude Loss: 960 m (3150 ft)

This morning, you will wake up early, have a good breakfast, and then attempt to reach the summit of Mt. Toubkal. At 13671 feet (4,167m) above sea level, this is the highest peak in North Africa. 

You'll ascend for approximately 4 hours to reach the peak. Once you reach the summit, you will have about 30 minutes to enjoy the views and celebrate your achievement, before descending for approximately 3 hours back to the refuge for the night with the option to take a different return route.

Sleep: 

Meals Included: B, L, D

Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Duration: 4 hours
Altitude Loss: 1467 m  (4813 ft)

This morning after breakfast, you'll depart the refuge and continue your descent to Imlil.. On the way, you'll stop again for a break at Sidi Chamharouch before making your final descent to Imlil Valley. Upon reaching the valley, you'll enjoy lunch and meet your tour manager/drive once more. From here, you'll head to your accommodations and enjoy some much deserved relaxation for the rest of the afternoon.

Sleep: Riad Jnane Imlil

Meals included: B, L, D 

This morning, after breakfast, transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport in plenty of time for your departing flight.

Transfers available to Casablanca Mohamed Airport for an additional fee. Flights should be scheduled for the afternoon if at all possible.

Meals included: B